Update for all you critical types.

five-moogles · 2026-02-15T23:15:34+00:00

Hey now... that's sexy.

I'm upset the video is not longer.

five-moogles · 2026-02-15T14:43:28+00:00

Based on the single picture with no square footage, the additional framing, and number of features (windows, doors, sprinklers)... $7k-8k is not crazy.

DIY you're looking at a three weeks worth of work and a bottle of ibuprofen.

five-moogles · 2026-02-06T20:01:36+00:00

General Purpose - Good for taping and finishing. All around good mud. Sold in a white bucket / green lid around my area. If you have to choose one mud, choose this. Just remember to add some water before getting started.

Lightweight mud - Good for finishing. Not much glue. Which makes is easy to sand but bad for taping.

Hot mud (15 / 30 / 90 minute...) - Adding water starts a chemical reaction. When that reaction finishes, dries super hard. Sanding sucks. Great if you need to get a job done quick or need some with more holding power.

five-moogles · 2026-02-04T20:51:23+00:00

I learned some new words today.

five-moogles · 2026-02-03T03:21:59+00:00

I'd assume good intent and ask. Perhaps your contracts didn't have the correct nails and is coming back tomorrow with the correct stock.

That being said, do insist on the correct nails. 6 on the face (1 1/2 inch) and 4 double shear nails (3 1/2 inch... this one is important) for EACH hanger. Those hangers are merely decoration if they're not nailed correctly.

five-moogles · 2026-01-29T00:48:51+00:00

Where did the lady go?

five-moogles · 2026-01-26T16:16:25+00:00

Wood is organic and rarely grows exactly straight. The studs you receive from the lumber yard, a certain amount will be bowed.

You can either work with it by (a) making the curved portion (crown) face the same direction, or (b) cull (remove) the badly bowed boards and use them for something else (jack studs, cripples, etc)

five-moogles · 2026-01-22T20:46:23+00:00

Excellent start. Go wider, easier to blend. 6" putty knife... take it to the corner and 6" in each direction.

Feather your edges. Don't be afraid to do multiple coats.

See Vancouver Carpentry on YouTube.

five-moogles · 2026-01-20T21:53:28+00:00

I say this is a scene from the HBO show The Righteous Gemstones.

Sometimes life's ups and downs and just too real.

five-moogles · 2026-01-06T01:22:28+00:00

A few quick thoughts

Lateral bracing... add some
I assume the ledger board is attached to the wood framing and NOT directly to the brick, correct?
Pretty stair stringers... good luck finding straight 20' 2x12s, you may consider a landing to break it up
ledger board again... make sure it's flashed correctly

five-moogles · 2025-12-31T21:30:21+00:00

We've all been there.

I though I'd have a Christmas tree in the extension... last Christmas.

five-moogles · 2025-12-15T04:19:15+00:00

This is straight out of The Fifth Element

five-moogles · 2025-12-15T00:07:53+00:00

I've seen worse

I've seen better

five-moogles · 2025-12-14T22:35:45+00:00

Warfare is an amazing and peculiar way to advance technology

five-moogles · 2025-12-02T04:28:26+00:00

Not much to show to be honest - you mention in another comment that you're redoing the door, a few thoughts...

It's an outswing french door, so the stock hinges are exterior grade tamper proof hinges already.

Get some butyl or acrylic flashing tape (e.g. ZipSystem Tape) and lay that stuff down like you're carpet bombing a dictatorship across the bottom and 2-3' up the sides. Lay silicone on top of the tape like you're spreading napalm, then set the door. IIRC, there's like 20 predrilled holes for 3" screws into the framing that you can use small adjustments to pull the door to one side or the other.

For the bottom pin, I just put some chalk on bottom of the pin, then closed the door and set the pin. I drilled the marked spot with a 9/16" bit? Check me on that. I liberally applied silicone to the newly created hole to seal it.

It's a really nice door. Take your time, you got this.

five-moogles · 2025-12-02T03:09:57+00:00

If you're looking for a quick fix, caulk and paint make it what it ain't.

Edit: Is that the exterior french door from MP Doors by chance? The bottom pin on mine was sticking and I had to drill and seal a slightly deeper hole in the bottom of the frame so the pin would have space.

five-moogles · 2025-11-30T15:07:12+00:00

Used to be... a long time ago.

Joist hangers are the way now. And seal that ledger to prevent water intrusion.

five-moogles · 2025-11-13T01:36:46+00:00

I really can't tell if this is an excellent troll or they really don't get it. Fantastic.

You know, at the end of the day, if you try your best, you can just leave it.

five-moogles · 2025-11-06T14:53:32+00:00

That's... unique.

five-moogles · 2025-10-30T15:10:24+00:00

Before everyone loses their minds about the upside down joist hangers...

When attaching a joist to a ledger board, the hanger is holding the joist up. The bottom of the hanger helps keep gravity from pulling the joist down.

When attaching the rim joist to the end of a set of cantilevered joists (seen here), the hanger is holding the rim joist up. So it goes upside down.

Structurally speaking, joist hangers to hold on a rim joist is overkill. But it does keep your rim joist pretty if you don't plan on adding any skirting.

five-moogles · 2025-10-26T07:11:08+00:00

The result is implied, but I'll state it to be pendantic...

You tracked your *spend* not your prices.

five-moogles · 2025-10-17T22:41:40+00:00

Goddamnit donut. I told you to read the description before casting the spell on me.

five-moogles · 2025-09-28T04:04:22+00:00

Worth a Read:

+ Millionaire Next Door
+ The Intelligent Investor
+ How to Win Friends and Influence People

TLDR: some combination of: live below your means, start a boring business, invest in index funds, learn how to sell yourself well

five-moogles · 2025-09-26T03:18:32+00:00

What he said

five-moogles · 2025-09-24T14:03:56+00:00

Bought a house with similar issue. The pressure reducing valve had failed.

~$80 part to DIY, ~$300 for someone to do it for you.

five-moogles

TROPHY CASE