Home Improvement

Got at least a couple hours of work left. I’m ready to be done with this project. One day I’ll learn that doing something this size by myself is just an unnecessary test of the strength of my marriage. I got some false confidence at the start of it because my six year old was able to help me pry the blocks out with a crowbar. I didn’t think about the fact that he couldn’t really do much after that since the blocks are a little too heavy for him to repeatedly pick up and move.

The surrounding dirt is mounded up because I lazily shoved it aside instead of hauling it away properly. If after it’s all done and I find that I dun goofed and put the blocks too low I’ll run a french drain.

I need to clean up and do some grading, but the joint sand is in and cured. We’ll see how the drainage looks when it rains, but I think big dirk is right and I fucked myself with the height of the pavers. The problem is I was planning on putting 4” of stone under the patio (best practice) but budget constraints made it so I could only use 2”. That’s why the final height is so low

On the bright side, it’s smooth and solid like a fucking sidewalk. I was worried I’d put a lot of effort into this only to have a slightly less fucked up patio. Once the joint sand was in and I gave it a few passes with the plate compactor, everything got super rigid and flattened out. I haven’t taken my long level to it to confirm the slope I built into the stone base has survived, but eyeballing it it looks like an inch drop from the house to the yard side.



Edit: Set my 3' level on it this morning. It's definitely graded towards the corner farthest from the house (middle right (in the above picture), so that's exciting! When I get back from work today I'll put my laser on it and see if I've still got an actual one inch drop over the 8 ft span.

Was gonna put this in the FSR, but it feels more at home here.

GuardianX said:

Well I wanna "finish" this bathroom but I've been sick the last weekish, been trying to do some research on fixing some of the dry-wall fuckups that we did but I'm just debating cutting an extra dry-wall segment and just patching it in at a point of issue.

Had a question regarding wall boxes for switches. Installing outlets and these plastic boxes seem super flimsy even when anchored with metal support brackets.

Using:

https://www.amazon.com/Carlon-B349ADJ-Outlet-16-Inch-Length

Wondering if switching to something else would be better? I need a 3-gang, one of the switches is even pulling double-duty.

Looking at this:

https://www.amazon.com/S3-54-RAC-3-Gang-Plastic-Switch-Outlet

even though it's plastic having metal(?) attachments for the outlets seems like less of a "this will break over time" issue. I mean we won't be Screwing and Un-screwing things over and over but I expect with kids I'll do it more than twice.

Click to expand...

Do you have a hardware store nearby? Not all plastics are made equal. Could be a more agreeable box to be found at Lowe’s or Home Depot. You could use the commercial metal boxes, but I believe you have to ground the box, . They’re obviously way more expensive, but you won’t have to worry about rigidity (that’s what she said?).

GuardianX said:

So i was going to hit up:

Legrand Pass & Seymour S3-54-RAC Slater Wood and Steel Switch Outlet Box With Quick Click and Captive Mounting Nails, 3 Gangs, 3 Outlets

Quick/Click feature secures devices quickly and easilyDoes not strip when over-torquedIt has six auto clamps on each end eliminate the need for separate cable clamps with quick/Click entriesCaptive mounting nails on each endIt is easy-to-install with a rectangular cutoutIt is made with a...

www.lockesupply.com

and buy it if need be. I debated a metal box but I don't think they have those in 3-gang configurations do they? Unfortunately I have to have 3 gang.

Click to expand...

hm, now that I couldn't say. You can pretty much guarantee that place will have something that'll make you happy though.

GuardianX said:

and buy it if need be. I debated a metal box but I don't think they have those in 3-gang configurations do they? Unfortunately I have to have 3 gang.

Click to expand...

They absolutely, 100% have 3 gang metal boxes. Gangable and ungangable, masonry, old work, cut-in, bracket, no bracket, etc etc etc.

Guys!! I’m so excited that I may finally be getting a proper man’s grip! I’m not enjoying my hands being so sore that they feel arthritic though. Been pressure washing this ugly ass paint off of the brick in front of my building for three days. This is about 12 hours worth (we rented a second pressure washer so we could speed up the actual time to completion).



We’re getting messages from strangers on our Facebook page thanking us for fixing the eye sore that was this building lol. We’ve got a scissor lift coming tomorrow and gonna take the paint off all the way up. I think it’s 24 ft at the highest point.