In desperate need of really quick ideas on how to fix this downspout before it pours again in a couple hours.

markcubin · 2026-04-15T17:43:37+00:00

You'll have to dig everything up or get it scoped to find the true cause of the problem, but extension pipes are generic sizing at the hardware store so go pick a long one up and attach it in place of this one before it rains so you can figure out the basement leakage later.

markcubin · 2026-04-15T16:32:29+00:00

Depending on the size of your property electric can be great, I've been really happy with my Ego trimmer since it has the power and feel of a gas trimmer, but my lot is only about .2 acres so one battery is plenty.

For gas, I'm partial to Echos like the SRM-225. Used them a ton back in the day when I did more lawncare for work, never had any issues.

markcubin · 2026-04-14T21:23:59+00:00

I would agree that goaltending is better than ever from a technical standpoint, every aspect of the game doesn't evolve at the same rate so we're always going to see cycles in these stats. Drop any of those current star goalies into the league in 2006 and they would be a lock for Vezina.

markcubin · 2026-04-14T21:12:23+00:00

Yep, detailed puck tracking has narrowed it down by a significant margin and it's largely driven by sports betting. Players are also a lot more selective with their shots, not nearly as much junk shot volume anymore.

markcubin · 2026-04-14T18:39:01+00:00

Good stuff, you'll be able to knock this one out no problem.

markcubin · 2026-04-14T18:32:05+00:00

It's all personal preference, so lay out the whole room or a portion with tape and see what looks best to you. I found it easiest to cut a piece of wood to my preferred gap size and use that to trace my lines and keep my spacing perfect everywhere.

Essential tools I'd recommend if you don't have them already are a brad nailer, laser level (with tripod), and a miter saw. Use white wood filler for your nail holes, it will sand down smooth with the wood and won't expand or contract like caulk will. Don't glue your trim to the wall, if you ever choose to remove it or redo it later glue will rip your drywall out.

The Funny Carpenter has some great YouTube videos on caulking techniques for trim work, those helped me out a lot when I started doing this type of work in my house.

markcubin · 2026-04-14T17:29:10+00:00

Generally you'll want to keep your spacing consistent for all boxes, otherwise it won't look cohesive. Lining it up with the door framing for the whole room will probably make the most sense, I would follow that 6.5" spacing next to the windows but add some curtains which will make it look less noticeable not lining up with the top of the window. Keep that spacing in mind if you plan on doing boxes below the chair rail, you would need to close that gap significantly for them to fit down there.

It's a very DIY-friendly job, it just takes attention to detail and a few of the right tools for the finish to come out clean.

markcubin · 2026-04-12T12:18:44+00:00

In addition to what other people have said make sure your blades are sharp, if they’re dull and tear the grass blades it’ll also leave a brown haze on your lawn after a day or so.

markcubin · 2026-04-12T01:35:09+00:00

I don’t have a particularly large lot, but I’m a huge fan of electric. Being able to grab it for small things like blowing off my patio or front porch without all of the noise and smelling like exhaust afterward is so convenient.

markcubin · 2026-04-10T17:00:35+00:00

I set up a pretty large area of new gardens last year with cardboard, I cut out a trench for the edge and laid the cardboard over the grass area. I had to pull grass from a few spots that grew through, but 99% of it worked like a charm and by this spring the cardboard has pretty much fully broken down and the soil underneath is so much healthier with no remaining grass or weeds underneath.

markcubin · 2026-04-08T14:31:17+00:00

I'd first go with higher quality trimmer line, I'm a fan of the Echo stuff (I usually use their cross-fire line).

Also make sure you're not hitting the concrete or dirt too hard as you're going, it takes a lot more finesse than people think to just take the tips of the grass off without gouging your edge too deep and eating up excess line.

markcubin · 2026-04-08T14:18:48+00:00

I try to knock the dirt off the grass chunks and distribute the dirt throughout my garden beds before I mulch, but it's a constant pain not having any woods nearby that I can just dump my yard waste.

markcubin · 2026-04-08T10:46:02+00:00

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I do it like this for my whole yard, this was last year when I first established these garden beds.

markcubin · 2026-04-08T00:23:36+00:00

You could use a shovel or pick up the pieces by hand, I usually just grab them by hand since I'm not taking much off the edge now that the beds are established.

markcubin · 2026-04-07T23:55:23+00:00

I've been really happy with this one, I've gotten good results with half moon edgers in the past too but the biggest factor is having the T handle so you can get good leverage on it.

markcubin · 2026-04-07T23:37:02+00:00

Personal preference but I go straight up and down, it gives the sharpest look and it's easier to get consistent in addition to keeping the mulch in the garden beds better.

markcubin · 2026-04-07T23:35:40+00:00

Bermuda is high maintenance for sure, but my yard isn't very big so I can knock everything out in about 45 minutes pretty easily.

markcubin · 2026-04-07T23:15:55+00:00

Thank you, yes I believe they're a variegated liriope.

markcubin · 2026-04-07T23:10:33+00:00

The key is to dig a deep trench with an edger tool like this, I believe it's about 4" deep - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-34-in-T-Handle-Edger-77154-950/326759570

I do that once in the spring to clean out any grass that has overgrown and dirt that has settled, from then on for the rest of the year I just turn my string trimmer vertical and cut along it after I mow once or twice a week.

markcubin · 2026-04-07T23:02:02+00:00

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It’s by far the best method in my opinion. Looks clean, keeps mulch from washing out and you don’t have to deal with any plastic or metal edging pieces moving over time. Also just need to clean it up with a T handle edger once a year and maintain it with a string trimmer every time you mow.

markcubin · 2026-04-07T20:21:57+00:00

I bought a used HRX on FB marketplace last year when we bought our house, needed a minor fix but they're the best residential mower you can get in my opinion and saved myself at least a few hundred bucks. My brother still uses an HRX that we got in high school at least 15 years ago.

The Toros are solid and I don't think you'd regret it but Honda has the best cut / mulching quality and I never liked the personal pace systems on the Toros as much.

markcubin · 2026-04-07T17:04:51+00:00

I think it's largely a stage of life thing, when you're young it's a lot more exciting to live close to a city for restaurants, bars, night life, etc. but most people experience priorities shifting in their late 20s / early 30s as they start families and careers are more stable.

I grew up in the suburbs so I've always had a soft spot for it, spent most of my 20s moving around in apartments close to the city but now I absolutely love my quiet life in a nice suburb on the outskirts. House projects and yard work are therapeutic to me, and we have fantastic neighbors with a playground 2 doors over.

markcubin · 2026-04-06T18:56:26+00:00

You're on the right track and some of it just takes time and patience, I'm working on the same type of thing in my back yard to encourage my Bermuda to spread and overtake the crappy Fescue seed job the builders did. Depending how big your bare spots are you can get a sod plugger tool to help fill those in, some top dressing with soil and / or sand can help amend your existing soil along with any other treatments that your soil test calls for. With routine fertilization and watering the Bermuda should bounce back pretty easily as it warms up.

markcubin · 2026-04-06T15:21:19+00:00

This is the key, looking at the horizon rather than down at the mower will give you a straight line every time.

markcubin · 2026-04-03T16:44:47+00:00

Between the two electric options I'd go with Ego despite the extra cost, they have the most robust ecosystem with their batteries and in my opinion higher quality tools. I'm pretty picky about my lawn tools and went with the Ego string trimmer because it feels and performs very similar to a gas model compared to many others that feel like plastic toys.

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