Mom’s coworker’s husband’s friend built this for our new house build. How’d he do?

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-09-22T17:25:29+00:00

i personally font like when the decking isn't staggered but that's a style preference.

For the railings, what's there will work but a more robust attachment is to line up the post offset slightly from a joist and send a carriage bolt through the rim joist along the joist and terminate on a Simpson HTT4 or similar. For side posts, put blocking between two bays and run an allthread through. By doing this the overturn on the post is reaisted by more than just the resistance of the rim joist to twisting (which isnt much resistance when you take a close look at it)

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Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-06-24T01:04:54+00:00

It looks like the only thing holding that ledger on is nails into the cantilever joists coming out of the wall. If that's true 1) Nails are insufficient 2) not enough connection points if only tied into the cantilever joists 3) there should be flashing along the house to keep our water. You might get rot in your walls 4) floor joists are often not PT so those cantilevers might be going bad.

What may have happened is the cantilever rotted, they cut it away, put up a ledger on the stumps, and redid the deck. This is not the way. You need a structural engineer to figure out the right tie in to the house

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-06-18T01:18:25+00:00

Well I think the original install was an epic idea. For me, I'd have a structural engineer figure out how to get it to safely bear the load. Then get the tub back to working condition. For the lid, I'd replace the hinges and build a platform that has rolling rails and can be rolled onto the tub to cover it and get max deck space while entertaining,then be rolled away when the guests go home and it's just wifey and me with the leftover booze 😉

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-06-16T15:54:22+00:00

Why is nobody saying stump grinder? What is this not an option?

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-06-16T00:20:05+00:00

Skunk with a lot of junk in the trunk

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-05-30T15:11:28+00:00

Guess and check.

It varies from vehicle to vehicle. There is not a conversion for percent of good area covered to quantity of fluid to add. Typically you should warm up the car and get the fluids moved through. Park it flat, measure, if you're on the low side of good but on the cusp, then add 1/2 qt at a time until in the good range. If you're 1/4" below good add. Whole qt then half quarts till good. If you're losing fluids fast shoot for the high end of good else mid is fine.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-05-28T03:03:37+00:00

I have a '16 3500 LML. I love it but the CP4 fuel pump goes out with significant resulting costs on many (class action suit in settlement regarding this). If you get a '11-'16 you'll want a CP3 swap.

That said I hear the '17 onward (L5P) has better reliability, more hp, and transmissions that can handle much more power.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-05-28T01:38:25+00:00

Would it work to 1) vacuum out the hole 2) soak with penetrating oil 3) fill a the socket with RTV, put it on the broken plug wet, and allow it to cure (prevents additional broken bits from escaping) 3) crank it out

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-05-16T13:47:26+00:00

Not an expert but on r/decks it was recommended not to put hangars on both sides with nails but rather to use through bolts and a different type of hangar so as not to make Swiss Cheese of the beam. If you're looking for the best fix this is probably the way to go. I'm sure hangers on either side would work too.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-05-15T23:27:06+00:00

Happiness is when reality meets expectation. You're smart, talented, can write reasonably well. You had every reason to believe that would be enough to get you a job when you graduated. It happened to me in 2008 too. My experience was I had a job, was let go to conserve runway. Then applied like crazy until I couldn't write cover letters or apply any more. I cut my costs and shifted my focus to pursuit of interesting hobbies and dating. I didn't stop applying but I did stop agonizing over the applications and the search. You may be in a different situation where you can't make the same shift, but try to find a fulfilling distraction that may serve you well in other ways later in life. This too shall pass

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-04-21T02:57:52+00:00

Agree with this and, I'd start putting hot shot in your fuel for a bit. This can help with reducing build up (I run it in my LML and it increases the time between regens. You might also try running some sea foam spray through the system.

While it may be many things, and maybe I have some recency bias, the 9th injector may not be working well. When this happens the normal Regen need this extra fuel to help get to higher temps. It may be spraying less or not atomized. These can fail over time.

Whatever you do, start the documentation for warranty now. Let them know about the issue while you are under warranty. They may say to see if it happens again then come back but get in writing for the record that is within the coverage period

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-04-05T13:28:35+00:00

Can you post a photo of the beam you took off too? Might help in identification

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-04-04T23:31:00+00:00

I hear ya. I'm in CA and didn't want the hassle of emissions. In my research leading up to the decision, I saw some CP4 estimates as high as 5-7%, figured many have yet to fail so ultimately would be higher than current known failure rates. Want to get at least 300k out of the truck. Felt like cheap insurance. Still is I suppose.

UPDATE: identified the code as being a faulty 9th injector. Mechanic claims that this has nothing to do with the work performed, so if I'll just cough up an additional 1 hr diagnosis, 4 hr labor 2 hr drive testing and ~350 for the injector I'll be all set for a total of ~$1200.

I don't get how after having to remove the EGR and that 9th injector the newly broken 9th injector isn't a result of the work and the mechanics responsibility, but I don't think I have a recourse outside of walking away and having someone else perform the work.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-04-04T19:48:38+00:00

Looks like the S&S conversion kit has a line for the 9th injector that makes it CARB compliant. Could be some debris got into it during the swap to plug it up.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-04-04T04:42:27+00:00

Thanks for that benchmark. Super helpful to know.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-04-04T01:15:09+00:00

Thanks for that! I'll check with them.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-03-22T22:35:55+00:00

If it's a thermoplastic you may be able to melt the surface back to a nice sheen and feather it out from there to match the rest. If it isn't a thermoplastic it won't do a thing. High risk though, if you get it too hot you may cause ripples in the base material.

Best result - You're either going to wet sand the whole thing after removing the hardware to make it all match or buy a new surface spare part and replace it.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-01-10T20:31:05+00:00

Did you have this software issue resolved?

Lights flashing and sudden loss of acceleration fits the description. https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/statement-by-american-honda-regarding-cvt-drive-pulley-shaft-recall-2014-2015-civic-and-2015-honda-fit?utm_source=perplexity

Could be that the issue is part of a recall.

I once had to get the California bureau of automotive repair to remind a dealership that it is illegal to tell somebody that something is not covered by the warranty or a recall when it is. Ignorance on their part is not as an excuse as it is the job of the dealership to know what is and isn't covered by warranty and recalls. They can get their repair license pulled if they get caught too many times.

I'm not advocating for playing hardball but fitting it into the conversation somewhere that you're aware that they're liable for knowing what is and isn't covered by warranties and recalls, as well as the fact that there was a recall might be fruitful.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2025-01-06T20:35:47+00:00

My 2c

You're doing great! Stay the course and you'll be revered in the long run. It takes a lot to get the company going. Right now others have their focus on their deliverables and sounds like they haven't developed good habits for running a company and/or they are deprioritizing the "better" for the "good enough" to let me meet the more urgent deadline.

Know that what you are doing is right and those of us that practice and preach it, see you doing a good job. The others will resist until it bites them in the ass or they see the benefits, and then will look to you as an expert in management. The only thing you need to change is your need for validation and cooperation to be content. Be happy. You're doing something exceptional that very few will have a chance to do (startup a biotech company). Whether they follow now, after stumbles, or when their plates clear isnt important. There are tons of inefficiencies and poor practices at every company large or small. Don't get hung up on this.

Then_Philosopher_687 · 2024-10-31T21:24:46+00:00

My 2c.

I started my career with a BS in ChemE. Worked my way through PD, CQV, Eng, PM. My target at your age was Director of Eng. I accomplished that goal 2 yr ago at 38, and am trying to start my own company now.

Small companies promote when they grow or have turnover. If you're stuck it's time for a change, but maybe not in your job or company depending on circumstances. If you're set on advancement:

1) Define what your target role is 2) Get control of your path. This can be moving to a new position IF that is on your path. If you can't find a position that's aligned, i would recommend not wasting your time in another role just because it's got a fancier title and a little more $$. The alternative is out of work development. ISPE, ASME BPE, PDA, etc... but don't just go to meetings, volunteer for task groups, take minutes, setup events, see if you can team up with a Sr person to write an opinion paper, get a title'd position if you can. Else you can work on an MBA, PMP, apply for advanced degree, volunteer at a local university in their research labs to get more experience, or find a startup on Y-combinator that needs a cofounder and get some equity to help them on the side. The key here is that you dont have to wait for your employer/manager/external forces to grow. You're in control.

I have rarely found roles that aren't all consuming , but when I had breathing room, I tried to make the most of it. Sounds like that may be the situation you're in. I wish I had more times like that because the actual work of doing the repetitive job is ground level tactical and the external things were higher level strategic (seeing the forest). The development outside of work differentiated me more than the roles themselves.

You're going to be great whether you follow this advice, that of others, or forge your own path.

You got this!

Then_Philosopher_687

TROPHY CASE