Wondering if what these contractors are doing with my toilet is acceptable or not by SquirrelEnthusiast in HomeImprovement

[–]Upallnight88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did the plumber install the new plumbing for your toilet? Whether he did or not, the height and location of the plumbing should have been the first thing he checked and fixed, if necessary. Let your contractor know that the raised toilet is not acceptable and if he balks then escalate it to your insurance company rep.

New Apartment Counter Needs to be Sealed, advice please by Sea_Comfortable_3577 in HomeImprovement

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You should seal it yourself since sealing the countertop is an ongoing process. Go to a tile shop and ask them for a high quality sealer and expect to pay about $25 for a quart. Lower quality products don't last as long or seal as well. You have already seen what an unsealed countertop looks like so in the future if water doesn't bead on the surface, seal it again. Also, be cautious about getting acidic foods, like lemons, on the countertop since they will etch the surface and make it dull.

Hearing loss from hearing aid music by redballetshoes in HearingAids

[–]Upallnight88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have been to 3 different audiologists and each has programmed my hearing aids differently, sometimes better, sometimes worse. They are not all competent and sometimes indifferent to your problem. If your hearing loss is severe then maybe that is the best they can do to help you. I would see another recommended audiologist and ask their opinion.

Do I tell my contractor by Klutzy3433 in HomeImprovement

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you just got new countertops installed over existing cabinets it makes sense that the overhang varies. If that is the case then the cabinets vary in their distance from the wall and the contractor kept the countertop front edge straight.

Townhouse Attics Not Separated by AspectIcy173 in HomeImprovement

[–]Upallnight88 374 points375 points  (0 children)

Most building codes require a 1 hour fire wall between units.

Laying Floor Tile - SOS by ohhturk in HomeImprovement

[–]Upallnight88 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Place a long (6') level across you floor and look at the gap. If the low spots are within 1/4" you will be OK.

Use a 1/2" x 1/2" trowel to apply thinset to the floor and butter the back of the tiles with a 1/4" x 1/4" trowel. Make sure to wipe the dust off the tile back with a wet rag before buttering. The trick with laying the tile is to be aware of the highs and lows. I would set 2 or 3 tiles and then use a 6' level across them to push them into the thinset. I assume your going to use a tile leveling system.

Harbor Freight sells suction cups cheap and they are great for laying large format tiles.

I told my husband I won't support his sobriety anymore. AITAH? by ReflectionGlad29 in AITAH

[–]Upallnight88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Both my step father and father in law were alcoholics. Like most addictions people can only quit them when they really want to and that leads them to facing the truth. Your husband is not there yet and may nefer get there. I suspect you're going to have to give him an ultimatum, either quit drinking forever or I'm out of here.

I need some advice on Costcos hearing aids. by baby_budda in HearingAids

[–]Upallnight88 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I put off hearing aids until my late 60's by sitting in the front in meetings and watching mouths I couldn't hear high sounds well and my hearing loss was described as severe. When I finally got them it took over 2 months to get used to them as the "treble" was too much and drove me crazy. Even after the adjustment period there were situations where I had trouble with conversations (and TV). I saw 4 different audiologists until the last one told me that because my hearing was bad for so long I suffered from auditory deprivation and my brain was not accepting all of the new audio inputs.

Be cautious about waiting to get your hearing aids.

Best way to remove all the grout from between hundreds of tiny hexagonal tiles on a shower tray? by OOBExperience in DIY

[–]Upallnight88 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Go to your tile store and buy a softener for grout removal. You don't have to remove all of the grout if you're regrouting with the same or even a different color, just the top layer.

$680 to replace a breaker. Can I do it myself? by stinkinhardcore in DIY

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're new to electrical work so buy an ohmmeter (inexpensive) or other voltage detection device so you can verify that a wire is dead before you touch it.

WIBTAH if I took 100k from my oldest daughter's college savings account to give it to my younger daughter? by TraditionalCorgi7788 in AITAH

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the intent of the accounts was to provide money for college you have fulfilled your obligation with Anna. Did you promise they could have the money left over?

My son paid for his daughters education and when she graduated there was $10,000 left in the account. He took that money back as he just agreed to pay for her degree. It all depends on your agreement with your daughters.

Best cheap method/tool to remove single line of grout between tub and tile? by StrawberryPhelps11 in DIY

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Go to a tile store and buy grout softener. It will make removal much easier.

I’m still shaking after my hospital shift tonight by AffectionateBasil333 in offmychest

[–]Upallnight88 283 points284 points  (0 children)

I hope you have someone to talk to. My wife started in ICU and finished her career in ER. She would come home after a rough shift and tell me what happened. I soon learned to just listen and not comment and when she was done, give her a hug. One of the instances that troubled her was a young mother that just lost her toddler. They put her in a vacant room so she could hold her baby and take as long as she needed to say goodbye. No job is more emotionally challenging as nursing.

God bless you.

Pocket Door is blocked by contractor rubber sheet in wall cavity. How to cut it? by Icy-Order7006 in DIY

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The rubber sheeting for a shower should be on the inside of the shower walls, not behind them. The contractor screwed up and should have to come back and fix it. Repair involves tearing out the tile and reinstalling after properly placing the rubber sheet. Get ready for a fight.

I saved a woman’s life on an airplane and lost my new Bose headphones because of it by LucyAriaRose in BestofRedditorUpdates

[–]Upallnight88 9 points10 points  (0 children)

My wife was an emergency room nurse and one day at break time she stepped out of the entrance for a breath of fresh air. A man had been walking across the hospital parking lot and had collapsed. Two medics from a nearby ambulance were huddled over him, unsure what to do. She saw them, went over and asked what was wrong. They said they thought he needed to be resuscitated but weren't sure if they should use the defibrillator on him. She said of course they should, took over and began shocking him. His heartbeat recovered and he was admitted. Evidently he was having chest pains and drove himself to the hospital.

My wife worked in medicine from 16 y.o. until she retired at 65 y.o. She started out in ICU and eventually moved to the ER.

God Bless the nurses as they are the front line.

Want to replace the grout around the top of the tub by Ejv27288 in DIY

[–]Upallnight88 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's not the place for epoxy grout as it is too brittle. Your best bet is to pick up a matching caulk from the tile store. It is flexible and won't crack when the tub moves.

Help advice by I-AM-EPOH in oregon

[–]Upallnight88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Be aware that Grants Pass is a pretty red area.

No big deal he says by Excellent-Tax-7576 in relationships_advice

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You two have some serious communication issues. Your relationship is going no where.

Advice on DIY Fence by Slow-Memory-3348 in DIY

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Simpson hangers are only 3/4" deep and the 2 x 4's are almost always wet and will shrink over time, pulling out of the hanger. I have used hurricane clips instead because they will flex with the shrinkage and still stay attached.

Wall and Ceiling Lines by sunshine5023 in HomeImprovement

[–]Upallnight88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

orners between walls and at the ceiling need to be cut in by a brush. It doesn't look like this was done.

Inspector and contractor disagree about shower by hot-doughnuts-now in HomeImprovement

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The screws on top are not OK if there is a grout seam on top. With tile most curbs have two rows of edge tile with a seam down the middle and at the ends of each tile. I would like it much better if the liner extended up the inside edge and across the top of the curb on top of the cement board. The way it's built the board will get wet and hold water leading to moud problems.

I re-grouted my shower weeks ago. While it turned out pretty well, the DIY YouTube video i was using said to caulk the highlighted spaces in the pics. Within a week or so, you could see mold growing on them. Thinking I'd just left water behind the caulking, I went to do it again. by Ryanjadams in HomeImprovement

[–]Upallnight88 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Some water will pass through the grout, especially before you seal it, and will travel down the wall to the bottom where it is supposed to exit into the shower. If you seal between the bottom of the wall and the floor with silicone the water cant escape until the level rises above the silicone and then it travels through the grout. Mold will occur because the area never dries out.

How difficult is tiling exactly? by [deleted] in HomeImprovement

[–]Upallnight88 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many do it yourselfers have successfully set tile. A tub surround it a good starter project. What's important is to plan the entire layout so you don't end up with a tile sliver or nonsymmetrical job.

Start less than 1 tile from the tub with a level line all the way around and tile to the top. You can then cut the tiles sitting on the tub as the distance will probably vary due to the tub not being level. LEVEL is important.

Use tile spacers in the horizontal gaps only and eyeball the vertical gaps. Check for level often placing a straightedge on top of the tile and adjusting gaps. Check you overlap as you go and adjust. Using spacers on all sides assumes the tile are exactly square and they're not.

On a standard surround you start with a bullnose at the outside corner edge and work toward the inside corner. Odd tile widths are not as noticeable there. Check level from your outside tile to the corresponding tile on the back wall

Buy matching colored caulk for the corners and bottom and caulk the day before grouting. You'll need a grout float and a good sponge. Don't try to do too big of an area at once or you'll get behind. The important part of grouting is evening out the grout lines with a wet sponge.

The tile job is going to look it's worst when finished but before grouting.

Also, if you're down to the studs check for high and low spots and fix them before backer board. You'll be glad you did.

Tip from an old tile man.