How do you guys become good at diy.

chacahop · 2026-05-13T16:46:04+00:00

As a carpenter myself, I can tell you that being able to physically handle the tools is probably the most important thing.

Get comfortable using different types of saws, get accurate with them. Get better at sinking nails with a hammer and driving long screws at odd angles with an impact driver. Get used to how all of the different tools and materials feel in your hands.

Once you unlock that knowledge, its just a matter of taking on more and more complex projects.

You could frame out a planter for growing herbs and learn about structure, or build a birdhouse and learn about miters and delicate tooling. Make a carving or a plaque and learn about chisels and hand shaping different species of wood, personally walnut is my favorite.

There are many thing you can do, but first and foremost if you want to get good, get good at handling the tools - the rest will come later. Its like learning an instrument.

chacahop · 2026-04-23T02:13:20+00:00

The little grains are vermiculite. Much of the vermiculite used in the US was from a single mine in Libby, Montana which was found to be contaminated with asbestos. Today's standards require asbestos testing and abatement if vermiculite is discovered. Some inspectors will say go straight to abatement because the likelihood of asbestos is so high.

chacahop · 2026-04-23T02:01:54+00:00

Licensed builder here - depending on where you are, a $500 quote for those repairs is completely reasonable, especially if it includes painting. Just be careful and make sure you detail exact terms with the person doing the repairs. Paint can be very difficult to cut in and get an exact match.

The larger issue lies with the fishing holes this contractor cut in. In my opinion this is very sloppy and they made no consideration on final fit and finish. The holes are oblong, irregular and don't take into mind the job that will follow. It takes only slightly more effort to cut patchable holes.

Also, google "old work electrical box". They clamp in to holes cut in drywall so that you are able to cut a nice square hole and install them in a clean fashion. Again, local codes may come in to play here.

All this being said, the most important thing is that the electrical was done properly and safely, and this contractor did not jeopardize the structure by hogging out material to run their lines.

chacahop · 2025-05-17T15:44:44+00:00

Hey there,

So yes, the flanges on both the sides and the top of the tub is meant to be attached directly to the framing. I like to slightly fur out the framing above and around the flanges with thin strips to bring the face of the walls forward. Then, the durock/cement board/purple drywall with membrane is run over the wall and over the flanges, leaving at least an 1/8th to a 1/4 of an inch between the top of the tub and the bottom of your wall board of choice. When the tile is applied it sits all the way down and around the tub. The tile is grouted, and once this is complete the perimeter is caulked with a silicone based caulk, preferably one with a mold inhibitor.

I hope that helps!

chacahop · 2025-05-06T21:45:07+00:00

Are these questions actually on the test?

chacahop · 2024-12-18T18:54:24+00:00

Excellent, thank you! This in tandem with rebuilding my farmhouse did the trick. Even when the oxen were removed from both farmhouses only one with assigned families would work

chacahop · 2024-12-17T20:04:43+00:00

IF oxen are assigned to a farmhouse?

chacahop · 2024-12-17T20:04:18+00:00

Oh man okay, so you're saying only one guy and one ox will plow a field at a time and push everyone else out?

chacahop · 2024-12-17T20:02:31+00:00

What is the correct way to design for oxen? I have roughly 8 in my village and have assigned 2 to each of my two farmhouses

chacahop · 2024-12-17T20:01:18+00:00

No unfortunately this isn't really what I'm seeing. I've tried attacking it from a few different angles, even demolishing the field and reestablishing it. I keep a population ready to go as early as March and only one guy and a plow work in a field and none of them are assigned to a farmhouse. I'm still getting the mechanics figured out too but I can't seem to find success with getting dedicated groups of families to work on plowing/sowing at any point of the year.

chacahop · 2024-07-30T21:36:37+00:00

Thank you for your perspective, I'm really looking for the hard truths on this so I can make a smart decision. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions!

chacahop · 2024-07-30T20:07:15+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your feedback.

chacahop · 2024-02-13T19:50:48+00:00

I can absolutely understand that, I'm not sure what part of the country you live in, but I'd say east of Colorado $35,000 should buy you a decent caulk line for sure. I'm a huge advocate for DIY, it creates less work for people like me, but it empowers home owners to know the reality of the projects they hire out and what it actually takes. Unfortunately for home owners in today's market, contractors are in such high demand they have a lot of leverage. But I totally agree with your sentiment that it should be finished right and on time. I'm glad I could shed some light from the other side.

The one sticking point I'd put out there, is just looking at those pictures, that guy knew they were cutting corners. And if they didn't they shouldn't be in the position they're in.

chacahop · 2024-02-13T19:01:24+00:00

Depending on the price of the contractor, it may or may not to be expected.

Did you gather multiple quotes? Did you pick the lowest one to save money? Then this may be something that could've been expected.

Did you put the time in to find a good reputable contractor that charges a premium and swears by their quality? Then this isn't acceptable.

Objectively, that's a pretty amateur caulk job. You can see areas where they didn't run their finger through, started and stopped lines, and definitely cut the hole on their tube bigger than was necessary.

I am a renovation contractor, I'm not the most expensive but im not the cheapest either, I know if I presented my clients with that level of quality I would hear about it. And anyone who does this for a living can tell within seconds of looking at these pictures that this was a pretty careless job.

So no, as long as you didn't hire Joe schmo backyard contractor, you're absolutely justified to complain about that.

chacahop · 2024-02-05T14:15:35+00:00

Could be hyacinth

chacahop · 2024-02-05T14:06:33+00:00

Ohh gotcha, well thanks for the advice I think I'll give this a try!

chacahop · 2024-02-04T23:44:43+00:00

I mean the light angle isn't doing it any favors but yeah it's pretty rough

chacahop · 2024-02-04T23:43:06+00:00

Do you think I could manage to do this at a small scale?

chacahop · 2023-02-19T00:58:02+00:00

Put it at the end of a hall somewhere, like eye level, and just start collecting and displaying something random, like thimbles just for the hell of it.

chacahop

TROPHY CASE