DIY alternative to AeroGarden..?
tolledot
17 years ago
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db805
17 years agotolledot
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Do you agree with these figures?
Comments (3)I think it isn't a terrible baseline but there is so much variability. I just built $250k (roughly) Permits - 3% (included water tap-in) Septic - 7% Roofing - 3% Siding - 3% (vinyl) HVAC - 4% Drywall -2% Floor - 5% Windows - 4% (but relatively very high for this house) Plumbing - 3% Foundation - 5% (pilings) I've spent 10% on others. So I think that is a pretty low number but not bad for basic house. So the numbers aren't terrible. I don't know who separates out "rough labor". The roof cost $7500 and that was labor included. Ditto with the siding. I definitely think the drywall is a little high. I've built with appliances at 1.5% and 5% so there is a lot of variability there. Cabinets (and tops) can also be more like 7% on a nicer home. But 4% isn't bad for basic stuff. These numbers are for a basic house, generally, and things like well, septic, permits, excavation are very local....See MoreContemporary-Looking Alternative to the Traditional Fireplace?
Comments (15)I googled the ThermArt site, and the word portable did not come up. If you email them, they are very responsive. I called recently and the inventor, Nick Barber, answered the phone. He is the real McCoy. He obviously loves what he is doing and is very generous with information, of which he has quite a lot. Here are some things I have learned: They look the best at highest flame. That means you want to have your ThermArt provide fewer BTU's than you will need at the coldest times, in order to have healthy flames on days that are not bitterly cold. (So you will want some supplement for the coldest days of the year). The material they use for designs can be cut like wood. They are very accomdating with original designs. Their wave design was actually done by a customer. If you want to wall mount the unit and can't vent directly out the wall, you will need about 15" or 16" of clearance. There are two units, as of now, a fireplace insert and a wall-mount unit. This is not clear on the website. They are planning to introduce a new unit in March that is two and a half times as wide. These are the main components: Gas component  Mertik - Maxitrol G60 series is their newest design and is taking off like wild fire in this industry for use in the top models of each manufacturer, and weÂve found that it is the best control system in the market today. We had sample controls before the certification testing was completed to check out its performance. This component is made in Germany. Ceramic glazing  Shott, Robax glass has inherent qualities better than other ceramics available, this product is also made in Germany. Refractory  Skamol, this product has been used in many applications, it is ideal for use because of its machining qualities, rigidity or durability in handling, the product does not soften or disintegrate when exposed to heat the material is inert and is environmentally friendly. Burner  Aeromatix stainless steel burner from England. High efficiency burner. We are currently waiting for a proposal from our fireplace installer (he did our wood fireplace rebuild). Our installer said the the price was reasonable given that you're not just getting a fireplace, but a work of art....See MoreVinyl Flooring: Do It Yourself Planks vs. Sheet Vinyl Install
Comments (10)I put a high quality, floating floor in my apt kitchen in NYC to help with pet wear and tear. NOT the best option. If one piece needs to be replaced (and with pet accidents it bubbles very easily), you have to undo a whole section because they are interlocked. Also, they just don't look that great, no matter what we paid. So when it came time to make the rest of the apt floor look decent, we switched to vinyl planks from Lowes. Sounds gross, but they're actually amazing looking. Our apt was built in the 1880's, (the original floor was long destroyed and removed before we got it),and I found a dark gunstock in a wider cut that almost matched our neighbor's original floor exactly. You ready for this? 98 cents a sq foot! If one gets damaged you peel it off (with some effort) and put a replacement. Echoflooring is sooo right about batch colors. Get it all at once and mix up the boxes as you lay it. We have a bunch of mixed ones for replacement and haven't used one, not one, but I know we have them. Lowes will recommend their sealer,but we didn't use it. They self stick just fine. One or two spots came up after we were first done and someone on line told us to use a hairdryer to reheat it and lay a book on top overnight. Worked like a dream. Our apt in NY is 800 sq ft and our current tenant is a photographer with two rescue cats and she loves the floor. Even with her keen eye, we had to tell her they were vinyl and how to replace it if she had a pet accident. She was blown away! I will try to post a picture of our NY apt floor for you. To be fair to our tenant the photographer, I took the horrible quality pics w my cell, not her! LOL! Choose wisely for your space and go with your fave, not what everyone says you should do, incl me. And pls do remember the color batch issue echoflooring brought up. Good luck :) Here is a link that might be useful: NYC vinyl plank floor...See MoreDo-It Yourself Water Softener Installation?
Comments (8)If you are reasonably handy, yes, you can plumb a water softener. One issue is what type of piping (copper, PEX, CPVC, etc.) to use to make the connections. CPVC is probably the easiest, soldering copper takes a little skill but is doable (it's all in the prep work), and PEX requires tooling that you probably don't have and don't want to buy ($$$). You've run conduit as an electrician, so you should be able to transition to water-based conduit. lol! When you buy the softener, be sure to know what the pipe fittings/connections are going to be. Probably most accept threaded pipe or adapters, some are sweat-soldered. Plan for a bypass valve setup either on the softener or in the supply lines. Do the softeners come ready to install? Most don't, which requires one to assemble a few items and put the resin in the tank. It's not hard. You only need a twin tank softener if you will be using soft water in the middle of the night (when a typical softener regenerates). The computerized on-demand control valves can predict water usage and maintain enough reserve that you won't run out of soft water before the unit regenerates. Do get a softener that regenerates based on gallons of water used (demand type). It will save salt $$ in the long run. A good valve to consider is the Clack WS-1. Just google it for some softener vendors. It has a computer chip that does a lot of nice things for the softener. Fleck has a model to compete with the Clack (Fleck 7000??). A big issue is how big a softener do you need? Most softener vendors figure on 60 to 70 gallons of water usage per day per person. You will have to use some sort of adjustment factor to estimate your dog water usage (based on people). You probably want to bathe the dogs with soft water,but if you can replumb and use hard water for the dog drinking and kennel washdown water, I think you would be way ahead....See Moredb805
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