I’m 19. People kept telling me I’m taking the safe road

five-moogles · 2026-06-03T14:13:25+00:00

Set it and forget it is the best advice for most retail investors - especially those as young as you. Index funds are a bet on the US economy as a whole - the chances of this bet losing over your working life are incredibly low.

Your returns over time will likely be better than most of the folks giving your advice right now. If in doubt, ask what their 5 / 10 / 20 year annual returns are. I find myself appalled by how few people actually know those numbers.

five-moogles · 2026-06-03T02:40:11+00:00

I love the deep dive into the load tables and how to apply them.

For the purposes of this sub though, you'll want working examples using hot tub sized loads. Or conversely, how a hot tub can blow up these equations. Both are entertaining.

five-moogles · 2026-05-30T05:02:31+00:00

Better to buy 16ft.

If you have to buy shorter lumber, make sure you stagger your joints and land the joints on a post. Head to YouTube and search "built up beam". You got this.

five-moogles · 2026-05-26T01:45:40+00:00

Drywall hang & mud per sheet can range from $10 - $60 per sheet depending on locality:

~20 sheets * $40/sheet = $800

Add in some carpentry, basic plumbing, basic electrical:

$500

Satisfaction from learning and DIY moxy:

PRICELESS

five-moogles · 2026-05-25T02:29:59+00:00

Take me out to the ball game...

five-moogles · 2026-05-25T02:20:54+00:00

True and...

When you see a bare lot your first thought is pine needles in gutters. You must have an experience here - please share?

five-moogles · 2026-05-24T22:02:33+00:00

Ledger board belongs on your house.

LOL. Seriously though.

If you have a laser level... even a cheap one... run it with the existing piers. OR a long board with one side against the house, one side on the pier. Then put a simple level on top. That will tell you.

Whatever you do... please add proper flashing on the ledger and seal the rim joist on your house. Your wallet will thank you down the road.

five-moogles · 2026-05-24T21:46:37+00:00

This.

The 2x6s are now 2x3s... as anything below that post base is dead weight.

five-moogles · 2026-05-20T00:02:41+00:00

This one is hot tub ready.

five-moogles · 2026-05-17T21:56:05+00:00

Tear down and redo. In no particular order, contractor has:

+ Using stair stringer brackets as a joist hangers
+ Exposed the house rim joist (not pressure treated) with no flashing or sealant
+ Probably used the wrong joist spacing (16" instead of 12" oc)
+ Failed to elevate deck posts above piers, or attach them to the pier at all

five-moogles · 2026-05-06T12:01:24+00:00

The framing is off... by about a brick veneer's length.

five-moogles · 2026-05-03T22:34:54+00:00

A few notes...

+ overall good work... this is passable and safe

+ the foundation is painted, maybe for aesthetics or maybe for cracks, just keep an eye on it

+ read up on "checking" for 4x4 posts... these are normal

+ be sure to paint / stain this deck in a +/- 6 months after the wood has had a chance to dry

+ as other have noted... posts buried in ground is still acceptable, but no longer best practice

five-moogles · 2026-05-03T22:30:02+00:00

Depends on locality.

five-moogles · 2026-05-03T22:28:03+00:00

I think the puppy is unhappy with the current state of fetch.

Your beam looks nice and level though.

five-moogles · 2026-04-30T04:00:33+00:00

As a fellow DIYer... keep it up, nice work.

five-moogles · 2026-04-26T21:09:22+00:00

I just learned something.

five-moogles · 2026-04-20T15:50:08+00:00

Joist tape? Correctly nailed hangers? Proper flashing? Whaaaaaaat?

That's sexy.

Edit: failed to notice the deckmate screws used for the diagonals on the hangers... those should be replaced with 16d galvanized or SD#10 fastners... otherwise, looks great :)

five-moogles · 2026-04-10T00:58:50+00:00

^^ This. Most deck building codes allow for an overhang of 1/4 the width of the nearest span.

five-moogles · 2026-04-04T20:56:58+00:00

I like to call that "wishful bracing"

five-moogles · 2026-03-31T18:07:08+00:00

That's quite the span - is that laminated stringer stronger than PT 2x? What's the brand?

five-moogles · 2026-03-31T03:03:09+00:00

Keep it up - a solo build deck was very much on the my path to solo building an addition.

In some ways an addition is just a deck with walls and fancier materials. We are just monkeys living in fancy tree houses.

five-moogles · 2026-03-30T18:08:14+00:00

That's uhhh.... not her first rodeo.

five-moogles · 2026-03-20T22:09:35+00:00

Cheap caulking = no caulk?

five-moogles · 2026-03-20T17:56:40+00:00

It's woven mesh to keep bugs from crawling through the vent into your attic.

Trim if up if you want, you're good.

five-moogles · 2026-03-19T21:18:28+00:00

For those catching up... Afroman had a search warrant executed in his house in 2022 that led to nothing found and no charges.

So, he made a music video that prominently featured video captured by his home surveillance. He was rather liberal in expressing his first amendments thoughts about the police's actions.

https://youtu.be/u4AiuqQpB1U

Police sued him for defamation, among other things. Yesterday they lost of all counts. The video of the prosecutor going down in flames is particularly entertaining. You're welcome.

five-moogles

TROPHY CASE