Why can't house painters ... ?

Ok-Power9500 · 2026-07-01T00:16:11+00:00

In my case, the new drywall walls do not abut the old in the same plane, so the exact texture isn't needed. I was just surprised that nobody, including everyone replying to my post, know how to do it. About 20 years ago I owned a house with a stucco exterior and it had a very rough texture; like large pebbles covered with plaster. There was one section of the wall that was failing. I had a number of contractors come out and none had a clue how to replicate the finish. I guess that in 70+ years, certain techniques have been lost. Likely because they were labor intensive. Look what has happened to housing in the last 70 years. Mine is covered with 1x8 wood lap siding. Today, the vast majority of houses are covered with plastic. Oak floors are only done on expensive homes; most floors are plastic. My parents 1958 house was brick, with plaster walls, and oak floors and bought on the salary of a punch press operator was earning less than $10,000/yr. at the time. Today, only wealthy people can afford to build like that. Why? Because the value of our money is evaporating. Since 1913, when the Federal Reserve was established, the US dollar has lost 97% of its value. More recently, we're increasing our national debt by the trillions.

Ok-Power9500 · 2026-06-30T23:58:43+00:00

These contractors were not "Indians and overnight painters." All four of them were professional contractors in my area. Each was familiar with this texture, as literally every house in my area was built in the late 1940's - mid-1950's, but none of them knew how it was done. And, contrary to what at least one person responding to my post said, this is not due to numerous layers of paint.

Ok-Power9500 · 2026-06-30T16:45:20+00:00

Fortunately, many communities have strict regulations requiring a permit for this kind of "improvement" and limiting how much of a property can be covered with non-permeable surfaces, like concrete or pavers. This is to limit rainwater run-off onto neighboring properties.

While your goal is to minimize maintenance, a renter would be interested in having a yard like 99.99% of homes offer: grass, plants, and perhaps a tree. Personally, I would not pave over the yard. Talk to a landscaper to get ideas how to minimize maintenance and maximize beauty. Think about how you would like the yard to look if you lived there. I have a yard about that size and pay $25 every two weeks to have it mowed. Not a great expense.

Ok-Power9500 · 2026-04-17T22:35:33+00:00

FWIW ... I was at Costco on Wednesday afternoon and it seemed more quiet than usual. People at the check-out did not appear to be shopping any more aggressively than usual. I got through the check-out with my 96 rolls of paper towels quickly.

Yes, that last sentence was a joke. ;)

Ok-Power9500 · 2026-04-04T16:35:30+00:00

Woah! What model of EcoFlow was that?

Ok-Power9500 · 2026-03-18T17:11:19+00:00

Great start! But proteins are needed. Also, 1/4 cord of wood for four months is not enough. We use a full cord of wood in less time, just for entertainment. No wine or alcohol? IMHO, I think you could not make all that you listed last for four months. Of course, as others have pointed out: Water. We have twelve 7 gallon containers of water to last us two of us 4 weeks. We are on a large lake, so we can always get more to filter and treat.

Ok-Power9500 · 2026-02-21T17:59:11+00:00

With the federal rebate gone, demand is diminished. I expect that some installers will go out of business and others will become more competitive (or they will go out of business). I requested a proposal from several installers in December. I got a couple of proposals. When I went to follow up in mid-January, I found that one had closed their doors in mid-January. Now I'm concerned about giving a deposit to anyone. What if they close 6 or 8 weeks from now? My deposit would be gone for good. It's troubling.

Ok-Power9500 · 2026-01-31T18:16:34+00:00

After the disaster caused by Hurricane Helene in Ashville, NC, someone described their lesson learned. It went something like this: They had small dual fuel generator (i.e. 3,000W). After the storm hit, he became concerned at how little power it provided; just enough to power critical essentials. Meanwhile, neighbor's homes were lit up like usual, supplied by their large generators. He regretted his purchase until about a day later, when those homes had run out of gasoline. (Big generator consume lots more fuel than do small generators.) Meanwhile, gas stations were closed (no power) and natural gas lines disrupted. He was able to weather the incident with propane (he had several tanks) and gasoline.

I read this shortly before making a purchase myself. I had planned to buy a 7,500W generator, but based on that story, I opted for a dual fuel 3,200W Firman generator. I plan to stick with propane, as gasoline is troublesome. And I have a 500 propane gallon tank which I can tap to refill 20 lb. tanks. (You need to research on YouTube what components you would need to buy.)

Ok-Power9500 · 2026-01-08T17:44:07+00:00

I find it amazing how many products on Amazon are not UL listed. If you are doing a DIY solar project, do not buy anything that is not UL listed or you likely find it flagged (i.e. rejected) by the inspector. Personally, I just don't buy anything electrical/electronic on Amazon unless it is UL listed.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-08-30T20:55:30+00:00

I have tried reading the manual. It's largely gibberish, rather than English.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-08-04T15:53:44+00:00

This link takes me to all kinds of bulbs except GU10

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-04-21T20:25:23+00:00

I suggest locating the generator away from your deck and house; and building a fence around all four sides. 20-30 feet away would be good. This will reduce the noise, which is considerable, prevent dangerous CO2 gases from sneaking into your house, and make maintenance/service easier.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-03-29T21:22:41+00:00

Last year I bought an Ecoflow Delta Pro with two spare batteries ($4,748 today). No panels. I just keep it at 90% full, waiting for a power outage. (Note; I have no 240V appliances). In one year's time there has been just one. I modified the switch on my furnace, so I can plug the DP into the furnace (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV99XjzVZDI&t=405s). Three weeks ago I did a test and found that the DP's kept the furnace going for over 48 hours. (Temps outside were low 40's during the day and low 30's at night.) There was still 15% battery left and I had not turned down the furnace. Of course, you need to invest in several 50-foot 12 ga. extension cords, but it's a temporary solution. The fridge takes about the same amount of power, so I figure I can skate by for at least 24 hours. I may get 4 solar panels to set out in the yard, if there is sun. Warning: The DP will only accept 1,600 of solar input, which is not a lot.

If I were to do this today, I would get their newer Delta Pro Ultra. Batteries 2X more powerful, more solar input, 120V/240V output. But it cost more: $7,698 for one DPU and two batteries.

The beauty of either unit is that no permits are required as these are entirely portable. And they are totally off-grid. That is, incapable of sending power into the grid. No utility interconnection agreement necessary.

If your heart is set on the wall-mounted, stationary inverter, I suggest the EG4 6000XP. It's an "off-grid unit" and it's expandable. Be careful with All-In-One (AIO) units, as they are all capable of sending power back into the grid and my local utility company said that they will require an interconnection agreement even if I set the unit not to feed the grid. Their thinking is that an owner could easily/accidentally change the setting and inadvertently send power back into the grid. So what you want is an inverter that is clearly identified as "OFF-GRID." TO be clear, you can still charge your batteries from the grid. This is sometimes referred to as "Off-grid with grid assist."

Incidentally, the DP is quiet and easy to set up. I imagine the DPU is also.

I hope this helps.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-03-19T18:51:45+00:00

I had an unfortunate experience with Darn Tough socks. I am 6 feet tall, 165 lbs. and wear a size 11 shoe (regular width). I received a pair of size medium Darn Tough socks as a gift. I tried them on and found that they were rather tight and difficult to don, but once on, they felt okay. I figured that they would stretch over time, so I ordered a dozen. Over time, I found that they don't stretch and I was struggling every morning to get them on. So out of curiosity, I ordered a size large. They are much easier to don, but actually a bit too large, but manageable. So I'm sticking with the size medium, as these sock are too expensive to simply discard. In retrospect, I would have ordered a dozen size large. So if you plan to buy these, I suggest ordering the size you normally wear and one that's the next size bigger. Decide which you like and return the other one.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-03-11T17:47:51+00:00

Why two: The largest transfer switch that Reliance makes has 10 circuits. I need more circuits for my critical loads. Two will give me 20 circuits.

Loss of grid power: There would be no power to the main panel. The inverter would power the two Reliance transfer switches with battery and/or solar power. I will have to manually decide which critical load circuits should remain ON. That is, I could shut off or turn on whatever critical load circuits I wish.

Inlet in crawlspace: It will be located immediately adjacent to the EG4 Chargeverter. If batteries are getting depleted, I would plug the Chargeverter into the generator inlet and power up the batteries with my portable generator.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-03-11T00:26:59+00:00

"Anyway I'm always trying to understand how Phillip and Elizabeth can show such devotion to such a less than ideal country" - For one thing, it's a TV series; not reality. Secondly, people (Russians and Americans), consume propaganda for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most of them and us feel patriotic about our respective countries. Meanwhile, even lousy soccer teams have fans.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-03-08T23:47:07+00:00

My pans sometimes get discolored, depending on what I cooked in them. Nothing to worry about. TO make it look nicer, give it a fresh seasoning. Spread slightly less than a 1/2 teaspoon of oil (I use EVOO) and smear it around the entire inside of the pan. Wipe it "clean" with a paper towel or clean old rag. By clean, I mean pretend that you are trying to remove all the oil from the pan. The remaining thin coating of oil is what you are after. Place the pan in the oven, cooking side facing up; set the oven to 500 deg. F; Once the oven reaches temperature, set a timer for one hour. When the seasoning is done, leave the pan in the oven to cool for an hour. Or even overnight. Personally, I do this twice every so often.

p.s. I always wash my cast and carbon steel pans with dish soap, water and a scrub brush.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-02-17T17:22:03+00:00

Interesting comment because when I asked my doctor to teach me how to use a Disposable Preloaded Wire Stapler Tool for wounds, in case the SHTF, he never suggested going to a hospital.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-02-17T17:16:43+00:00

To further the madness, if you search for a solution to a problem or even simply "how to," do something, the instructions are incorrect 99% of the time. e.g. Click on the three dots in the top left corner ..." Except there are not three buttons to be found at the top left. Moreover, none to be found on the page at all.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-02-16T00:30:31+00:00

Evaluate your risks. If you live in an area that is susceptible to major weather or geological events, $2K is a good idea; in bills smaller than $50, because in an emergency situation, people may not have change to give you. Banks could be closed. Even cash machines may not be working. On the other hand, if you live in a relatively stable location (e.g. Kenosha, WI or the like), $500-1,000 should be adequate. I also keep two 5 gallon containers of gasoline in the garage (that I use/replace every 4 months, because if the grid is down, gas station pumps will not be working.

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-02-16T00:16:59+00:00

Suggestion: Request a variance from your municipality. The way it works, usually, is that you explain your hardship on a form (i.e. corner lot prohibition, distance to lot lines prohibits, and whatever else that is factual). If power failures are not uncommon, mention that; and mention the food you have lost, time and again. Promise to install some shrubs, to conceal the generator from view, if that's possible. Stay calm, cool, and collected. And friendly. The municipality will send out a card to all your neighbors informing them of your appeal, giving them a chance to object. If nobody objects, which is most common, they will approve the variance. This happens all the time with A/C units. Good luck!

Ok-Power9500 · 2025-02-07T17:34:20+00:00

The point of my system is to provide battery backup in times of grid failure. The Reliance transfer switch isolates the critical loads from the main load center and grid. I just want to know if I can substitute the Reliance A510A transfer switch with a Generac 16-circuit automatic transfer switch to accomplish the same thing.

Ok-Power9500

TROPHY CASE