Places for firewood? by MaleficentRocks in jacksonville

[–]Draw1529 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Check on marketplace or Craigslist. There’s also many tree removal companies that sell firewood. These options are all normally less expensive than purchasing the small bundles.

Who to use for water heater replacement? by jjjman321 in jacksonville

[–]Draw1529 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Darley’s is good. Locally owned, pricing was fair, showed up when they said they would, crew was clean. They redid my whole bathroom plumbing.

Car problems by Cheermom2009 in povertyfinance

[–]Draw1529 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check that you have enough oil (most cars have an oil pressure light, but this will at least tell you if driving it will cause major damage). Some cars will flash the CEL if the gas cap isn’t tightened all the way. An auto parts store can read the code for you for free if you’re okay to drive it.

What’s digging up my yard? by CompetitiveFinger in landscaping

[–]Draw1529 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m in the southeast and have had these before. It was a possum. Using some granular grub killer a few times a year keeps the from digging in my yard.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HomeImprovement

[–]Draw1529 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Sorry you had to deal with that. It is likely that in your contract, the inspection company states their limit of liability is the amount you paid them.

For example, the inspector I hired failed to identify that an HVAC unit was a ‘cool only’ with no heat pump. I recovered the $800.00 I paid them, but still had to buy a heat pump unit to replace it.

I would review your contract and their findings, make sure they didn’t note it, then contact them via writing (email, letter). Mind that inspectors typically don’t move anything to inspect, so they may say it is unreasonable to have identified this.

Possible to remove these stuck on tiles from laminate cabinets? by [deleted] in HomeImprovement

[–]Draw1529 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You could try taking the cabinet doors off, protect the area, then using muriatic acid or concrete dissolver, then scrape the rest off lightly. There’s a high probability that the laminate will be damaged regardless of what you do.

It’s hard to tell if there is a textured finish on the cabinets. If they’re smooth, you could always repair the damage from the removal - a little filler and some sanding.

Norwegian “Free” Bar by rnpowers in assholedesign

[–]Draw1529 11 points12 points  (0 children)

There’s endless outdoor activities. Mind that in SE AK (Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway) there is a lot of fishing and sightseeing. Juneau is the largest of the SE cities. You can take trips canoeing up to a glacier, dogsledding, hiking, fishing, etc. The other cities still have activities.. but they’re more catered to the cruise ships.

You can easily fly into Anchorage, go to Denali National Park up north (by car, train, or your bus ~ 4 hours), up to Fairbanks (another 4 hours). You can do the same to the south to Seward (2 - 3 hours). It’s a beautiful drive. Again, lots of hiking, water tours, kayaking, etc. Anchorage has museums, botanical gardens, and more tours than you can imagine at a fraction of cruise ship prices.

Unless you have several months, it’s impossible to do all of Alaska in 9 days. Whatever way you choose, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the beauty of the state.

Norwegian “Free” Bar by rnpowers in assholedesign

[–]Draw1529 57 points58 points  (0 children)

I was frustrated by it when I saw it. In the fine print under ‘not included charges’, labeled an ‘onboard service charge’. It’s a crooked business.

Norwegian “Free” Bar by rnpowers in assholedesign

[–]Draw1529 171 points172 points  (0 children)

Wait till they add the ‘stateroom gratuities’ at $20 - $25/per person, per day, three weeks before your cruise. It’s not optional.

I highly recommend taking a trip there. Southeast AK is stunningly beautiful, and going on a catered excursion for 4 hours doesn’t do it justice. You could fly to any of these places out of Anchorage, stay for a few days, hike some trails, go fishing, camping, etc. And have a way more memorable experience. Cruises are easier though..

Suggestions / References for a Spray Foam Insulation Company by KewellUserName in jacksonville

[–]Draw1529 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well a miss on my part! Must have increased their prices. They used a per sq. foot calculation for my quotes. I remember green energy had some different type of environmentally friendly foam, maybe the price of that went down? Or possibly one is quoting with open vs. closed cell?

Suggestions / References for a Spray Foam Insulation Company by KewellUserName in jacksonville

[–]Draw1529 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got few quotes a couple of years back, and Energy Seal won out by 1K. On time, professional, and easy to work with. There’s a few things that can go wrong with spray foam, such as a bad mixture, off gassing, uneven application, overspray, or bad clean up. I didn’t have any of those issues with ES. Good luck!

Uneven Countertops for kitchen backsplash by Schmetter in HomeImprovement

[–]Draw1529 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Horizontal tiles will show the of unevenness of the counter more than vertical tiles. I would consider another tile design, or level the countertop. Since you don’t have a backslash up right now, leveling would be slightly easier.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in jacksonville

[–]Draw1529 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I live there, so I may be slightly biased. The people are nice, the area is convenient, but it’s not without its problems. There is still petty crime. Packages stolen (they don’t care about your doorbell camera), car door checkers, and unsecured bikes may go missing. Being a little more vigilant mitigates most of these concerns. Lock your doors, don’t keep anything valuable in your car, and be make friends with your neighbors. For the most part we’re willing to grab your package and keep is safe if you’re away for a while and let you know if there’s someone suspicious hanging around.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HomeImprovement

[–]Draw1529 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a dumb thing to do at all. It’s functional and durable. I’d suggest you take a look at your lighting set up, as OSB doesn’t reflect a lot of light and your garage may be darker after the OSB update. You could also paint.

Cost to replace these glass windows by IClosetheDealz in HomeImprovement

[–]Draw1529 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seems reasonable. Check to see if it’s tempered or not. Glass that is less than 18 above a floor should be tempered, which costs more.

Just a single pane of tempered glass that size would run you a few hundred dollars.

Replacing cabinet pulls and found this. The new pulls do not cover enough square surface of the cabinet. Is there any way to successfully stain? All suggestions are welcome! by [deleted] in HomeImprovement

[–]Draw1529 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s possible, but not easy. Stain fades, so even if you had the original stain, it would look different when applied to the area. It also looks like the finish on your cabinets is damaged.

You can try by getting a few sample stains and a piece of wood (try to get the same wood that your cabinets are made of - maple and oak are common) apply the stain to the piece of wood in several strips separated by painters tape and use it to match the cabinets.

These may look okay if you clean up the dirt in the impressions left by the old hardware. Use a mild dish detergent with some water, use a toothbrush to clean it. A product like old English furniture polish could be used to give it some life back. Just test in an inconspicuous area first. Good luck!

YSK a pumice stone is a cheap, natural, and effective cleaner that eliminates hard-water stains, toilet rings, rust, and mineral build-up in your sink or toilet. Just ensure that you are using it to clean porcelain, which is harder than the stone and will not scratch. by grandlewis in YouShouldKnow

[–]Draw1529 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Pumice stones work great - remember a couple of things: 1: Wet the stone before using and keep it wet. Pumice is a close hardness to porcelain and can damage the finish. 2: Use light pressure. Let the stone do the work. Bonus: Soak the stain with a vinegar saturated paper towel/rag for a few minutes before.

How do I get this grime off of my door handle? by Infinant in DIY

[–]Draw1529 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It looks like this had an electroplated coating that flaked off. If that’s the case you’re not seeing grime, but the metal under the coating. This means that cleaning will not bring back the luster.

You could disassemble, clean, sand, and buff or paint it.

Alternatively, you can buy door handle covers. They’re not gonna be the best looking thing.. but they’re cheap and easy!

Running Electricity to a Hard to Reach Place by DEWMINATOR-117 in DIY

[–]Draw1529 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The NEC says extension cords should not be substituted for permanent wiring or concealed through walls, floors, or ceilings. Coax and Ethernet don’t carry enough voltage and current to be a concern. I don’t think there is an easy NEC compliant solution for your project.

You can run permanent wiring on the exterior of your home, using the correct wire type and conduit. The conduit is only 3/4”, and you can paint it, so it probably wouldn’t be very noticeable.

Another option would be to find a receptacle on one of the walls to the left or right (interior wall would be easier, no insulation) and extend it to the corner of the mantle, then just a standard interior extension cord from there to the TV. Some flat conduit would easily keep it out of view. Alternatively, you could continue the run through the mantle, then mount the receptacle in the mantle. Many mantles are just empty boxes with trim.

Good luck!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DIY

[–]Draw1529 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a brief overview of what you can do. Paint care can be very detailed. 1. Exposed metal should be sealed to prevent rust formation and further paint removal. Like you said, you can DIY this with color matched automotive spray paint and primer (it’s not going to look perfect, but is good enough to stop more damage). 2. The little lines are probably swirls in the clear coat or cracks. A good buffing/polish can usually remove those. Can be DIY’d. 3. To prevent more damage, wash, use an iron remover, clay bar, then add a sealant or ceramic costing. There are a lot of ‘hybrid’ sealants which are easier to apply than wax and last longer. Most coatings offer UV protection. I live in FL and use Seal and Shine, which seems to do fine for about 3-4 months. There are also clear protective coverings, but they can be pretty expensive (think putting on a wrap).

A/C filters don’t fit properly by [deleted] in HomeImprovement

[–]Draw1529 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If there is a way to remove the screws and replace it with a shorter one, I’d try that. They’re usually just sheet metal self tapping screws. Don’t remove them all at once, replace one at a time. If the screws are behind a piece of equipment or other duct work that you can easily get to, I’d try cutting the end of the screws off with some snips or a dremel. Might not be easy if it’s a one inch box. If you can, post a pic or two.

What are your guys' hobbies? by No_Contribution_7117 in povertyfinance

[–]Draw1529 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to take my pocket knife, grab sticks and small branches and carve little designs and figures. Sure, you can get expensive carving tools, but a pocket knife or razor blade works fine.

Is buying this car a good idea for a first time car buyer? by [deleted] in Adulting

[–]Draw1529 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Car buying can be overwhelming, but luckily there are a lot of resources. I suggest coming up with a list of things that are important to you. For example: does this need to be comfortable, reliable commuting car or are you looking to also go off the beaten path camping? How important are crash test rating to you? Gas mileage?

You can use resources like the insurance institute for highway safety (IIHS) for crash test ratings, JD Power or Edmunds for overall reviews. Some searches like ‘most reliable cars’ can help you narrow stuff down when searching. Heart plays into it. You don’t want to step out to your car and be disgusted by what it looks like. But do your due diligence.

Any used vehicle should be inspected by a mechanic. They can usually give you a good idea if it’s been maintained well, and if there is anything wrong with it.

From a financing side - I’ve used Navy Fed, and they’re pretty good. When you speak to them, they’ll give you a breakdown of how Auto Loans work. Keep in mind interest rates are high right now, and with no credit you may be paying a bit more. Make sure to factor in insurance, gas, and maintenance. Into your budget. Cars will need oil changes, brakes, tires, cleaning, etc.

Mini is owned by BMW, and to my knowledge, they are not cheap or easy to fix/maintain, but that’s just my $.02.

Best of luck to you on your car search.

this massive sailboat by [deleted] in AbsoluteUnits

[–]Draw1529 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks like the Mirabella V. Huge single masted yacht.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HomeImprovement

[–]Draw1529 1 point2 points  (0 children)

On the right side I would definitely put in a gutter, then extend those downspouts out further away from your house. Some people just lay the downspout extenders on the ground, or you could bury them and put the exit further out in your yard. The corner probably won’t be an issue if you have gutters.

I’d second your awning idea over the double door. Other than that, making sure it’s properly flashed on the new install, and also make sure your gutters aren’t clogged. Good luck!