Handy-Man Corner

[Iowanian]

I'm tired of bad Chiefs news.....


I thought it would be a good idea for a thread on the Handy-Man.

Do you have any Home remedies, gadgets you've made, advice on car repair, home maint, sollutions to kill weeds in your yard, bugs in your garden?

Use Coke to clean your batteries? That type of stuff.
Home made floor dry?

[NewChief]

BTW, my slate foyer is probably still our favorite renovation that we've done to our current house. It turned out really nice. I'm hoping that the bathroom will be even nicer, if it ever gets done. I've had it demo'd since first part of November (had to go down and scab the joists and replace the subfloor due to a leak). Just now getting the sheetrock back up. Unfortunately, my wife doesn't seem to understand that working a full time job and traveling to Chiefs games on the weekends doesn't leave a lot of time for major remodels.

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by Phobia

What's your budget? Do you have any experience?

I alwasy recommend slate for inexperienced tile setters. It's my own personal choice. I have it in every bathroom of my house, the fireplace surround, and in my downstairs kitchen. Plus you can cut slate with an angle grinder. Good stuff.

No experience on tile directly. I have watched it go down numerous times though. As for budget, I'm thinking the cheaper the better, but about $4 a sq ft will be about the most I want to spend on the tiles.


I hadn't even thought about slate. I'll do some looking into it.

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Good point. I always seal my slate right out of the box with a cheap (or used) paint roller. Don't even try to clean the roller after you use it on sealer, it's done.

This way any thinset (tile adhesive) will clean off easily and grout will as well.

Most tilesetters seal it after they put it down, but I think it's better to do it before.

People clean paint rollers?

[NewChief]

Here are a couple of pics of our entryway. Yes, I'm aware I layed tile on hardwood. It's a long story and was, unfortunately, necessary due to the dildo that lived in our house before us.

I should also add that the grout that's on the wood trim and floor has been cleaned up and no longer shows.

[RJ]

You can use a stone sealer or a product called grout release. Either way, do it before you grout. Stone is porous and will absorb the grout color if you're not careful.

Personally, I would recommend a nice ceramic or porcelain tile over stone. No sealers are needed except for the grout, which I would suggest for kitchen/DR use.

You might also consider a laminate floor. Like ceramic and porcelain tile it is very easy maintenance. Advantages over tile are easier installation and warmer under foot.

Is your subfloor wood or slab?

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

No experience on tile directly. I have watched it go down numerous times though. As for budget, I'm thinking the cheaper the better, but about $4 a sq ft will be about the most I want to spend on the tiles.


I hadn't even thought about slate. I'll do some looking into it.

Oh you'll love slate then. It's half that price and the finished product is VERY forgiving to novice setters. If your grout lines aren't perfect, that's okay because it's a natural stone. I love the stuff.

Originally Posted by RJ

Is your subfloor wood or slab?

I thought I read "slab" which is really good. He'll save a lot of underlayment costs.

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

People clean paint rollers?

Absolutely.

[PastorMikH]

It's kinda cool getting to plan and do stuff without getting approval first. The floor is minor compared to what I hope to pull off if $ and the local building inspector allow this summer.

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Absolutely.

I'll send you mine when I get through with them then.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

I'll send you mine when I get through with them then.

I think I sense a new enterprise coming for Phobia. Cleaning paint rollers has to pay better than Athan.

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I thought I read "slab" which is really good. He'll save a lot of underlayment costs.

I'm hoping. We'll have to see what the floor looks like when the carpet comes up. I've looked things over as close as a prospective buyer can with realtors looking on and the owner's stuff in there. I haven't seen any signs of ridges from cracks in the concrete anywhere in the house or other houses we've seen in the same developement but I won't know for sure until I see the concrete itself.


Dad has a slab house back in MO. He had some MAJOR slab problems to fix when he put his laminate in.

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by NewChief

I think I sense a new enterprise coming for Phobia. Cleaning paint rollers has to pay better than Athan.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

I'm hoping. We'll have to see what the floor looks like when the carpet comes up. I've looked things over as close as a prospective buyer can with realtors looking on and the owner's stuff in there. I haven't seen any signs of ridges from cracks in the concrete anywhere in the house or other houses we've seen in the same developement but I won't know for sure until I see the concrete itself.


Dad has a slab house back in MO. He had some MAJOR slab problems to fix when he put his laminate in.

He must have had some serious problems because laminate is the most forgiving flooring product in terms of floor prep. Laminate floors are "floated", meaning the planks don't actually attach to anything but themselves. As long as your slab is reasonably level you can use a laminate floor. They can also be installed over vinyl, wood and most tile....anything but carpet, actually.

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by RJ

He must have had some serious problems because laminate is the most forgiving flooring product in terms of floor prep. Laminate floors are "floated", meaning the planks don't actually attach to anything but themselves. As long as your slab is reasonably level you can use a laminate floor. They can also be installed over vinyl, wood and most tile....anything but carpet, actually.

Yeah, he had some cracks where one slab had risen over an inch! My guess is the contractor didn't reinforce the concrete when the slab was poured (Or didn't use enough steel). Several of his neighbors have had problems with their floors too.