What was your last home project and what is your next home project?

[pete6032]

For me it was upgrading a closet. Ripped out all of the old crappy shelving, old window treatments, old fluorescent fixture. Fixed all the holes in the wall, primed, and re-painted with white paint to replace the awful dark gray color that sucked all the light out. Replaced the fluorescent fixture with a much brighter LED. It looks about a hundred times better and cleaner now.

Next project will be adding some outlets to my kitchen. I'm adding a two gang box that will have a standard outlet plus four USB outlets for charging. Sorely needed as family members leave devices on the counter overnight to charge.

 

[sdifox]

You could just buy a usb charging station...

example, not recommendation

Amazon.com

 

[K1052]

Swapping dimmers into the last two lights in the house that didn't have them. Next up is new toilets and bathroom faucets plus all new angle stops but I have to hire that work out.

 

[Greenman]

My last project was a shaker style wainscot in my hall. I also cut a hole through the wall for storage access under the stairs. Hid the door in one of the wainscot panels. I keep telling myself that I'm going to firewall the space, but I think we all know that's a lie.

I have a fairly substantial list of upgrades I've done over the last 15 months. Being retired and lazy I can work on my house for a couple hours a day and get quite a bit done.

 

[Brovane]

Current in progress home project is replacing 400' feet of split rail fencing with 6' Chainlink fencing. The split rail fencing had so much rot it was falling part. We are doing this work ourselves. So far we have replaced about 240' of the fencing. Future project is we have another 900' feet of split rail fencing to replace but that fencing is in better condition so we will probably wait until next year to tackle those other sections.

Next project is to add a Generator Connection to my Solar+Storage home system so I can charge my batteries if necessary from a generator. I am on propane so I want to get a propane powered generator. Also I want to add a whole house surge protector to my main panel.

 

[Greenman]

Current in progress home project is replacing 400' feet of split rail fencing with 6' Chainlink fencing. The split rail fencing had so much rot it was falling part. We are doing this work ourselves. So far we have replaced about 240' of the fencing. Future project is we have another 900' feet of split rail fencing to replace but that fencing is in better condition so we will probably wait until next year to tackle those other sections.

Next project is to add a Generator Connection to my Solar+Storage home system so I can charge my batteries if necessary from a generator. I am on propane so I want to get a propane powered generator. Also I want to add a whole house surge protector to my main panel.

My wife want's me install a backup generator, I've been dodging the issue. I can't even try the "I don't know how" routine. She knows better.

 

[jmagg]

I installed a transfer switch/portable gen a couple years ago, and have only used it 3x. The third time (last week) came in handy since night time temps dropped into the teens. Less worry and much comfort in the cold. I'm considering a nat gas fed whole house that senses an outage and starts itself. As for a recent projects, I sided a large shed last fall, my next project will be power washing the deck and re coat sealer.

 

[skyking]

Nothing recent. The last flurry of remodel was 2015.
The next will be freshening this place up for sale.

 

[Paperdoc]

My last larger projects were last summer (2023). We had a new garage built by contractors in 2022 for which I did all the wiring. In preparation we also upgraded the house main breaker panel to 200 Amp service. Last summer I built my workbench. Spruce lumber for legs and top rail frame with diagonal cross-braces ends and back, a couple short 45° braces for the front legs. Top is 32" deep by 72" wide, composed on one sheet of ½" plywood under solid Oak boards about ¾" thick in various widths. All joints are glued and screwed. All surfaces sealed with two coats of a good polyurethane varnish. I mounted a 5" wide vise on it using a steel plate underneath like a giant "washer" under the mounting bolts. It is against the north wall of the garage. On the wall above and one end I installed white pegboard sheets with varied hooks and bins for all my tools. Under the rafters above I have two twin-tube 48" T8 fluorescent light fixtures on a switch for good lighting. I have several metal shelf units standing on the floor adjacent for tools, parts cabinets, etc.

Last summer also I built a Rain Garden near the new garage. If you are not familiar, this is a slightly sunken flower garden on soil with a good water absorption rate. Rain water from some nearby collection system (in this case, the roof of the garage) is routed into the Rain Garden which acts as a collecting pond but mainly as a place for the collected water to soak down into the ground rather than flowing somewhere else. It is sized so that It can collect and get rid of a heavy rainfall in less than 24 hours. It is planted with durable plants that can handle both a short-term soaking and extended drier periods, preferably plants that are natural to this area. Ours is small - maybe 75 square feet area - on very fast-draining soil so it handles the garage roof rain collection easily and quickly.

As part of the work in that area I also re-installed some flagstones for the path from our back door to the garage.

My only small project so far this summer will be to install the garage door opener system. My son designed the Ethernet network cabling system for the garage which we installed last fall. We have fibre optical cable to the house for Gigabit download, and a wired Gigabit Ethernet system in the house including WiFi. When wiring the garage in 2022 we buried the 120 / 240 VAC 100 Amp supply line to the garage from the house main breaker panel. In that same trench we buried twin (redundant) CAT6 Ethernet cables. So in the garage there is a mounting box for a small Ethernet switch that feeds to a high-performance tri-band WiFi Point of Access device. Thus we have WiFi connectivity for my automobile ODBII code reader system, for two smart switches for certain lights on the garage exterior, and for the new garage door opener. The WiFi range appears to be 75 to 100 feet.

 

[deadlyapp]

Last big big project was converting an under stair closet into a wine cellar. Still have a few things to finish on it (I love starting projects but terrible at finishing them, I blame ADHD) but it's functioning.

Also redid my living room wall around the same time.

We just had another 200 Sq ft of concrete poured for our patio and I laid a drain between the slabs, but now I need to run those drains to a dry well and then run some French drains and a line out to the front of the house.

Before I do that I need to build a bunch of pergolas for the aforementioned patio before the summer and my wife gets pissed about the lack of shade.

 

[BoomerD]

Last big big project was converting an under stair closet into a wine cellar. Still have a few things to finish on it (I love starting projects but terrible at finishing them, I blame ADHD) but it's functioning.

Also redid my living room wall around the same time.View attachment 96153

We just had another 200 Sq ft of concrete poured for our patio and I laid a drain between the slabs, but now I need to run those drains to a dry well and then run some French drains and a line out to the front of the house.

Before I do that I need to build a bunch of pergolas for the aforementioned patio before the summer and my wife gets pissed about the lack of shade.

It sucks when before you can do a project...you have to do a different project...and another one before that.

 

[deadlyapp]

It sucks when before you can do a project...you have to do a different project...and another one before that.

Unfortunately I find that most of my projects are actually not one but closer to 10 individual and typically not simple projects. Truly annoying.

 

[Greenman]

Unfortunately I find that most of my projects are actually not one but closer to 10 individual and typically not simple projects. Truly annoying.

Last big big project was converting an under stair closet into a wine cellar. Still have a few things to finish on it (I love starting projects but terrible at finishing them, I blame ADHD) but it's functioning.

Also redid my living room wall around the same time.View attachment 96153

We just had another 200 Sq ft of concrete poured for our patio and I laid a drain between the slabs, but now I need to run those drains to a dry well and then run some French drains and a line out to the front of the house.

Before I do that I need to build a bunch of pergolas for the aforementioned patio before the summer and my wife gets pissed about the lack of shade.

That's a very nice design and well done. But I don't like the way it extends into the opening on the left. Filling in a bit of the opening would really improve the appearance.
Drywall is cheap, spray texture is easy, it's well within your skill set.

 

[deadlyapp]

That's a very nice design and well done. But I don't like the way it extends into the opening on the left. Filling in a bit of the opening would really improve the appearance.
Drywall is cheap, spray texture is easy, it's well within your skill set.

Yes, it bothered me for a long time, but bumping that little wall out further to enclose the end of the shelving was denied by the boss, thinking it would feel like the living room would feel separated from the dining area.

I had other ideas like rounding the shelving or putting an angle on it but ultimately just left it simple.

So far nobody has gashed themselves on it yet.

 

[jmagg]

Was also considering giving the house a fresh coat of paint just to shine it up. Grabbed a gallon to paint the deck railings. At 74.00 a gallon i may just pressure wash it instead.
Also a 1 dollar "paint handling fee" in NY. Really, for latex paint? lol.

 

[Greenman]

Was also considering giving the house a fresh coat of paint just to shine it up. Grabbed a gallon to paint the deck railings. At 74.00 a gallon i may just pressure wash it instead.
Also a 1 dollar "paint handling fee" in NY. Really, for latex paint? lol.

I've recently become hooked on SW Emerald. At a hundred bucks a gallon it's painful to buy, but the stuff lay's down extremely well, and wears like iron.

 

[jmagg]

I've recently become hooked on SW Emerald. At a hundred bucks a gallon it's painful to buy, but the stuff lay's down extremely well, and wears like iron.

I've been using Behr Marquee satin for the last two trips around. Its been 3 yrs since the last, and it doesn't really need it although a bit dull. The Behr goes on and adheres well but doesnt clean up well after a couple years. I may consider SW for that reason.

 

[bbhaag]

The last project we did was opening up the stairwell and redoing the stairs themselves. All new risers and treads were installed. It was a hassle to try and match the stain for the treads to the already existing woodwork in the home.

Making the opening was much easier and just required some drywall work afterwards. Thankfully there was no ductwork or wiring in the wall to complicate the project.

Overall it turned out really well and we are happy with the results but it was a lot of work. Here is a photo taken from the main entry. This is what you see when entering our home.


The next home project is remodeling the main floor laundry room. It was slated as a 2024 summer project but has been put on hold for the time being.

 

[deadlyapp]

The last project we did was opening up the stairwell and redoing the stairs themselves. All new risers and treads were installed. It was a hassle to try and match the stain for the treads to the already existing woodwork in the home.

Making the opening was much easier and just required some drywall work afterwards. Thankfully there was no ductwork or wiring in the wall to complicate the project.

Overall it turned out really well and we are happy with the results but it was a lot of work. Here is a photo taken from the main entry. This is what you see when entering our home.
View attachment 96527

The next home project is remodeling the main floor laundry room. It was slated as a 2024 summer project but has been put on hold for the time being.

I really like that although probably would have gone more industrial personally.

Is there not some code in which you'd need to fill that opening with protection? I guess you don't need to worry about it until you sell.

 

[Greenman]

I really like that although probably would have gone more industrial personally.

Is there not some code in which you'd need to fill that opening with protection? I guess you don't need to worry about it until you sell.

There is a code that covers that opening. There has to be a guard that won't allow a 4" sphere to pass through. A home inspector will call it out. The buyer may want the rail or the cost of it knocked off the price.

 

[bbhaag]

I really like that although probably would have gone more industrial personally.

Is there not some code in which you'd need to fill that opening with protection? I guess you don't need to worry about it until you sell.

Thanks! I'm glad you like it. I'm not really worried about it being to code and if the next buyer is a moron and wants to close off the opening with rails more power to them. It would totally ruin the look so my guess is that they won't.

They will probably ask for a discount like @Greenman mentioned and I'm ok with that as long as the total purchase price of the home is acceptable.

 

[iRONic]

Ohman… if you're a homeowner you're always doing something. Or having something done. When does a repair turn into a project? When does a project turn into a remodel, involve hiring a contractor and you have to leave the damn house?!?!

Due to my disability I've had to remodel our last two homes for wheelchair accessibility. Some major things we've done with a pro and the rest we've done with family and friends like hanging speakers high in the covered back patio corners, building ramps, installing my pool lift etc. My Schluter roll-in shower project is posted in here somewhere. That was done by a pro. The “Refrigerator” thread here & in OT are what got our current project started.

My middle daughter’s SO, my neighbor, me, my wife, and her nephew are the ones doing this project. I supply the tools, materials, technical/experience advice, and motivation. lol! I’ve even taught copper soldering on this one.

The current project that has turned into five individual projects: The new fridge is great. Wife hated the dumb layout of this galley kitchen from the get. So, take the overhead cabinet down and move the sink/dishwasher peninsula 9” forward into the dining room space. Sounded easy enough…

Demo: That overhead cab was screwed to the ceiling with ~35 sheet rock screws!! Shitlol! The bottom particle board cab was destroyed by an unknown amount of years of water damage. Yep, the subfloor underneath it too!

We purchased enough stranded bamboo T@G flooring when we bought the house 6 years ago. A contractor installed it back then and I’ve had the remainder stashed in my garage.

Cutting out the subfloor revealed the layers of peel n stick flooring! Ugh! Setting the blade depth on the Makita circular saw (another OT thread reference) just so it went in deep enough but not too deep scored that shit up. Scrape scrape scrape…That was a fucking mess!





Relocated the plumbing to accept the new sink, drain, and dishwasher configuration. Blocked and layed down some new subfloor. Weaved the bamboo into the existing floor. What a bitch that was! The bamboo is so hard every fourth or fifth nail wouldn’t sink flush. That meant using a hammer & nailset.

We purchased the bottom cabinets, quartz countertop, and sink as a package from a local design store. Everything came flat-packed. Off the shelf cabs at Lowe’s weren’t right dimension-wise and I wasn’t comfortable cutting them down to fit. As previously configured I could only get in the kitchen by going in through the hall because my wheelchair was too wide. Now I can enter from both the dining room side and hallway.


Roughed in the wiring and sheet rocked the half wall. (should have done the whole wall from the ceiling down!!) Layed just a single coat of mud for now. Built the cabinets and peninsula up and leveled/plumbed everything.

The stone contractor did the template a few weeks ago for the countertop. We’re going to finish the sheet rock and paint after they’re installed. That wall needs to be skim coated by a pro. All of us know we don't have the skills to make it look good.

 

[iRONic]

 

[jmagg]

Painting deck railings with a chance of rain. The dementia must be setting in.

 

[iRONic]

Monday's project was another five projects broken down into several individual ones done over the course of the last ~5 years! I don't have ATOT $, and I’m retired.

My property is the corner lot, highest elevation on the streets in our subdivision. They put culverts and drains in the roads, but not the individual lots. When the builders put individual homes on those lots I guess it was up to the homeowner/ contractor to properly engineer a drainage plan for the lot.

The idiot that plopped this house here decided to dump all the downspouts from the garage and covered patio gutters onto the driveway! I have rerouted everything insitu as much as I can. I cannot afford the heavy machinery and excavation of connecting to the sewer system!

My main objective is just to slow the water down so the river that runs in front of my pool during a rain storm doesn’t wash out the wall posts.





This catch basin is in front of the lowest point of the rain runoff. Steel edging, dug down 4 inches, put down an inch of crushed stone, and then the tube. The water will exit down my backyard slope towards the street. Any leftover water in the basin will drain down into the crushed stone we put below it.