More things need to be fixed

[nisryus]

So there are more things with the new house which need to be fixed..

First, the first floor toilet has a rusted bolt. Haven't tried to remove the nut yet, afraid it would be rusted through and stuck. If that is the case, can I cut the nut and just replace it? or cut the screw and nut and replaced them? (without replacing the flange and screws?)

Second, two of the second floor windows are foggy..

On some DIY forum, people said I can drill a tiny hole from inside to let the moisture out, without replacing the windows.

http://www.diychatroom.com/f2/defogging-double-pane-windows-gimmick-3301/index2/

Third, the back door was patched.. not too perfectly. Shall I cut the patch and re-caulk it, then nail a piece of wood veneer on top? And what is that L bracket on the door frame is for?

 

[hardhat]

The L bracket is almost certainly there to stabilize the door frame because it wasn't properly anchored and had come loose because the door opening and closing caused vibrations. It may also be that the door was catching on the frame, which would contribute as well.

 

[paperfist]

1. Is the toilet loose? If not just get a bolt cover cap and use a dab of silicone to hold it in place.

If it's loose then I think they only way your getting the nut off is if you can grab the stud under it with a pair of needle nose channel locks; spray it with penetrating oil and let it sit over night and then with the needle nose try to back the nut off with a socket.

If the nut and stud come out then you have to pull the toilet and replace the flange.

2. How old are the windows? Is it foggy between the pane or on the inside of the window?

3. They patched it with caulk?

 

[pcgeek11]

1. Is the toilet loose? If not just get a bolt cover cap and use a dab of silicone to hold it in place.

If it's loose then I think they only way your getting the nut off is if you can grab the stud under it with a pair of needle nose channel locks; spray it with penetrating oil and let it sit over night and then with the needle nose try to back the nut off with a socket.

If the nut and stud come out then you have to pull the toilet and replace the flange.

You don't have to replace the flange if the flange isn't broken. The toilet bolt is replaceable without replacing the flange.

Turn off the water to the toilet and drain the tank and bowl.

Remove or Cut both bolts off.

Lift toilet off flange.

Clean off old wax seal.

Remove and replace flange Bolts.

Install new wax seal.

Install toilet onto flange.

Install retaining nuts and snug them down making sure the toilet is sitting flush on the floor. make sure the toilet doesn't rock as this will break the flange seal and leak. It could also break the flange if it is PVC.

Install nut covers. You will probably have to trim the flange studs shorter in order to install covers.

I advise you to Not seal the edge of the toilet to the floor with silicone or caulk. It could hide a leaking toilet flange and allow the flooring to rot and not be noticed.

 

[paperfist]

You don't have to replace the flange if the flange isn't broken. The toilet bolt is replaceable without replacing the flange.

Turn off the water to the toilet and drain the tank and bowl.

Remove or Cut both bolts off.

Lift toilet off flange.

Clean off old wax seal.

Remove and replace flange Bolts.

Install new wax seal.

Install toilet onto flange.

Install retaining nuts and snug them down making sure the toilet is sitting flush on the floor. make sure the toilet doesn't rock as this will break the flange seal and leak. It could also break the flange if it is PVC.

Install nut covers. You will probably have to trim the flange studs shorter in order to install covers.

I advise you to Not seal the edge of the toilet to the floor with silicone or caulk. It could hide a leaking toilet flange and allow the flooring to rot and not be noticed.

Good point. I was just assuming he would damage the flange trying to get that stud and nut out.

 

[gururu2]

toilet bolt- is it loose or something? Why fix it, when you can do it when you actually need to change the wax ring. If the nut breaks off when you start twisting it, then just replace the toilet wax seal and put a new bolt/nut.
window- blow dryer to heat up window? Drilling holes in glass, not sure if that's the best idea.
door- take off the old patch and glue a piece of plastic/wood to fit. paint over with some external paint and caulk the edges. the bracket may be there as others have said or to hold down the threshold over tile.

 

[nisryus]

Thx all.

The toilet is not loose. Just the bolt is rusty. Tried to took the nut out but it is stuck. So might need to cut it and then follow pc's advice to replace the bolts.

The windows are original with the house, so 11+ years old and the fog is inside. I just can't afford to spend money to replace both windows, so might have to wait until i have saved more money before replacing them. For now they just don't look good. It is spring in Texas, so goign to be hot soon. Therefore, this can wait.

I will not touch the bracket then, just remove the old patch and cover the surface like guru suggested. Hopefully it is not rotted inside.

 

[paperfist]

Thx all.

The toilet is not loose. Just the bolt is rusty. Tried to took the nut out but it is stuck. So might need to cut it and then follow pc's advice to replace the bolts.

The windows are original with the house, so 11+ years old and the fog is inside. I just can't afford to spend money to replace both windows, so might have to wait until i have saved more money before replacing them. For now they just don't look good. It is spring in Texas, so goign to be hot soon. Therefore, this can wait.

I will not touch the bracket then, just remove the old patch and cover the surface like guru suggested. Hopefully it is not rotted inside.

Hard to tell from the pic, but you could try caulking around the outside of the window were the glass meets the frame. If they are old wood windows you can re-glaze them to fix the seal issue.

The door, it looks like the bracket is what messed up the patch. The bracket must not be recessed and is pressing against the base of the door.

 

[herm0016]

So there are more things with the new house which need to be fixed..

First, the first floor toilet has a rusted bolt. Haven't tried to remove the nut yet, afraid it would be rusted through and stuck. If that is the case, can I cut the nut and just replace it? or cut the screw and nut and replaced them? (without replacing the flange and screws?)

If its not loose, i would not screw with it, if it is, unmount the toilet, replace the bolts/nuts and wax ring, ring could be leaking causing the rust.

Second, two of the second floor windows are foggy..

On some DIY forum, people said I can drill a tiny hole from inside to let the moisture out, without replacing the windows.

this can work. you may still be under warranty for the glass though, I would call the manufacture. Years ago, my parents got new glass for all of the windows in the house under warranty and the house was more than 10 years old.

Third, the back door was patched.. not too perfectly. Shall I cut the patch and re-caulk it, then nail a piece of wood veneer on top? And what is that L bracket on the door frame is for?

Did you actually touch the "bracket" it looks like the little foam pads we gave to people to seal the corner when i worked at a door factory. I don't believe its a metal L bracket. Does the door still have a sweep on the bottom? You could patch with bondo, get a small can at depot, dig out the old patch. bondo will be much stronger and easier than other patches, it will also not degrade over time like wood or wood filler. no need to use any wood, just bondo and paint.

 

[herm0016]

Hard to tell from the pic, but you could try caulking around the outside of the window were the glass meets the frame. If they are old wood windows you can re-glaze them to fix the seal issue.

The door, it looks like the bracket is what messed up the patch. The bracket must not be recessed and is pressing against the base of the door.

it's a lost seal with the insulated glass, none of the above has anything to do with it.