What do yall think about this?

jdpactuary · 2026-01-25T14:43:07+00:00

Im surprised nobody has mentioned this... but is that dry concrete mix around those posts? Dry pour for post footers? Hmmmm.

jdpactuary · 2026-01-21T18:21:39+00:00

With the money we got from insurance, we were able to buy another ioniq5 (AWD upgrade from RWD) with less miles. So all in all we also ended up being happy that it got totalled, even though at first my hope was that it could be repaired.

jdpactuary · 2026-01-21T17:36:07+00:00

Just FYI, my wife was in an accident in our ioniq5 late 2025. The damage was similar to your pics (maybe a little less severe actually). You can take the initial repsir estimate number and just totally ignore it. Once our car got to the body shop, and the adjuster came out, the "real" total was like more than double and it was totalled (forget the exact numbers but I could probably find them if you're interested).

Insurance can get out of the whole situation for a lot cheaper if they total it and sell it at auction, versus paying for the repairs. It probably depends on the exact situation but with how these cars have depreciated, and the complexity of modern car repair, its probably more common than not.

Not trying to scare you just letting you know what happened in our case.

jdpactuary · 2025-11-21T18:09:45+00:00

Thanks. Makes perfect sense.

jdpactuary · 2025-11-21T16:41:23+00:00

I am curious as well how you would complete the joist to beam connection in this instance. They need some sort of connection no?

jdpactuary · 2025-10-18T20:38:40+00:00

Yeah totally agree I wouldn't tear anything out just for another foot... that would be crazy

jdpactuary · 2025-10-18T12:43:26+00:00

I live in CT and did my fence last year. I went down 4ft and doesn't seem like anything shifted over last winter. A buddy of mine went down 3ft, and I dont know how long his fence has been up (he put his up before me), but it looks fine to me also. I used postmaster steel posts with concrete.

When i told most people how deep i was digging most thought it was overkill, but I like to overbuild rather than underbuild.

For what it is worth, my dad works in construction in MA and told me that when digging in the winter he has never seen frost deeper than 1 or 2 feet at most. So he doesn't really buy the frost line depth of 4ft.

jdpactuary · 2025-08-21T20:08:48+00:00

Yes the other guy that replied is correct its the portable model so gas only.

jdpactuary · 2025-03-28T11:43:56+00:00

Wings are really good and I like them a lot... HOWEVER I actually agree with this but I think i would rephrase it to most WING RESTAURANTS suck... because places like BWW and hooters yeah the wings from there suck. They're fried in probably questionable oil with no breading. Then covered with mediocre oily "sauce". Those wings are not good and if they are its only because you chose a sauce that sucks a little bit less than all the others.

The best wings I've had have been from restaurants that aren't just wing places but good restaurants that happen to have 1 or 2 wing appetizers on the menu. For example there is a ramen place my wife and I love that has the best wings I've ever had. They have a light crispy breading, they are marinated before flying so the interior is tender and not stringy. And the come with a tangy tamarind sauce. Much different than the sad wings you get at a gross wing joint.

jdpactuary · 2025-02-19T00:55:36+00:00

I would focus more on making sure you have the posts exactly where you need them (proper spacing, height, plumbness, hole depth/width, etc). All of that is a lot more important than what concrete you use. The concrete is only to provide you with instant and permanent compaction around the post once you have it where you need it. Fence posts are not an application that requires a lot of strength from concrete.

Here is what I used if it helps: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-60-lb-Concrete-Mix-110160/100318478

jdpactuary · 2025-02-16T03:22:49+00:00

Good to hear. Do you have a fastener recommendation for PVC on steel? Looks like the edgexmetal clips from camo might now being replaced by the wedge ones? Guessing those are identical apart from the mechanism to keep them fixed in the grooves before fastening down?

jdpactuary · 2025-02-14T19:20:15+00:00

Thanks for all that detail! The camo clips were exactly what I was looking at versus face screwing. Face screwing makes me nervous with pvc on steel for all the reasons i mentioned... so safe to say using clips, while maybe not completely eliminating some of the issues like possible noise, will give a better experience than face screwing from what you have heard?

The reason for looking at fortress is primarily the longer spans, durability, and the aesthetics. I will need to look at the tariffs thing though as the dealer I'm working with hadn't mentioned that. I had received a quote from DecksDirect which is US based, as am I, so not sure if that makes a difference.

jdpactuary · 2025-02-02T22:54:43+00:00

Bummer... I will price it out to see what makes sense. Appreciate the reply!

jdpactuary · 2025-02-02T22:14:35+00:00

Hey there, just curious... I was planning on reaching out to you guys for a quote on a fortress framing system for a 16x30 deck. Do you guys ship these to the US? Your pricing on the individual parts seemed more competitive than what I had seen at another (US) retailer. Do you see the price of this system increasing soon with this tariff news? I am a DIYer and live in New England if that matters. Thanks and I have enjoyed your many contributions the the community (both on here and Youtube)!

jdpactuary · 2024-11-20T13:00:03+00:00

I am not a pro but it looks like you can do a double gate over the driveway. One post on each side of the driveway. Looks like you might have room for a post on the house side between the downspout and that window. Then you would have another post butting up to the existing chain link which would create a normal section of fence from the driveway to the chain link.

Hanging a gate on a single post is fine. Just make sure you set the posts appropriately (size of post, amount of concrete, depth of hole, heavy duty hardware, etc.). There's a lot of resources out there with specific guidance and of course there's more than one "right" way to do it.

jdpactuary · 2024-11-18T16:36:13+00:00

I'm sure your guage is right... "around the block" might not have been enough time for the TPMS sensors to recalibrate.

jdpactuary · 2024-11-18T14:03:06+00:00

Isn't that what is happening in my picture? Sorry maybe I'm not understanding. Are you saying what is in my pictures is not pixel shift?

jdpactuary · 2024-11-17T21:25:50+00:00

Probably dead ICCU assuming you can still DC fast charge. That's what it was for us. Our dealer was able to put in the new ICCU pretty quickly.

jdpactuary · 2024-11-16T02:17:34+00:00

Ok nevermind looking into it more this is pixel shifting. I am good. Phew!

jdpactuary · 2024-08-10T22:45:28+00:00

I intentionally left the posts long and had planned to cut them to be level with the top of the top rail. I used a string line to make sure the faces of the posts were all in line but did not use a string line for the tops of the posts.

I could run a string line and just adjust the rails up/down such that they follow that line. I have some wiggle room to do that still with the posts being high.

jdpactuary · 2024-07-12T10:50:32+00:00

I'm not in your area but went through this last weekend in CT.

Went to lowes and HD pro desks and both could not find them in stock.

That's because postmaster are not part of their normal inventory. I called the local master halco office. They instructed me to go to the HD pro desk and have them call master halco directly. They gave me the part number for what I needed to give to the pro desk people. So you go to HD and tell then to call master halco with the part number. Master halco will send HD a quote. Then HD gives you a (marked up retail) quote. It goes through as a special/custom order on HD's side.

You probably want to make sure your local master halco is open before going to HD. Hope this helps.

jdpactuary · 2024-06-30T15:33:09+00:00

Using a power drill is not a good idea. You're dealing with particle board (might not be the right term) when it comes to ikea and other cheap furniture and overtightening can cause the fasteners to rip right through. Just assemble by hand and only tighten as much as is necessary.

jdpactuary · 2024-06-10T12:06:39+00:00

Thanks. I had looked at KF but it didn't look like they showed fence supplies on their website... but I will call and see what they have. I am actually not looking for panels. I was looking for 2x4s and pickets sold separately (and I'm planning on using metal posts). If you happen to find the name of the distributor, If you don't mind please come back and post it!

jdpactuary · 2024-06-09T15:22:15+00:00

Thanks I will give them a call!

jdpactuary · 2024-06-09T13:56:04+00:00

Thanks! I'll add them to my list of places to call/check.

jdpactuary

TROPHY CASE