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1500 questions
27
votes
3 answers
How much gap to leave between basement concrete floor and bottom of drywall board?
We have a dry basement with a concrete floor. When putting on the wall boards, how much (if any) gap should there be between the concrete floor and the bottom of the board? The boards are 3/8 inch, I was thinking about using a scrap piece drywall…
Jon Raynor
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27
votes
4 answers
What is the best tool for cutting up scrap wood?
I have some wood left over from building a patio, mainly some planks. Normally when I'm creating firewood, I just use an axe a split the wood, but these are too long for that. I really don't want to try and cut them with a wood saw or an Axe. The…
AidanO
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26
votes
8 answers
Why do my toilets flush slowly and often incompletely?
I have three toilets that all flush slowly and incompletely. I've adjusted the chain to ensure the flap raises completely. I've raised the float to ensure the tank fills nice and high. Yet I have this nagging issue on all my toilets. It often takes…
allnightgrocery
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26
votes
9 answers
Is there a freezing-water-resistant metal pipe?
I want to install a water outlet on the outside of my house for gardening etc. Outside temperatures here in Latvia fall to -25°C sometimes, so I cannot use a common water pipe; it would burst when the water freezes. Is there a formula to tell how…
AndyZ
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26
votes
28 answers
How do I remove polyurethane spray foam from my hands?
I should have worn gloves but sadly I didn't. Now I have yellow stuff all over my hands. I got most of the stickiness to go away by using WD-40. Is there anything that will get this off without giving me chemical burns?
user209
26
votes
4 answers
How can it be dangerous to feed a water heater from two separate panels?
In a recent question, a user asked "Can a water heater be installed between two apartments and wired to both apartments' breaker boxes, effectively splitting the bill between the two?". One of the answers suggested that it was okay, and the poster…
Tester101
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26
votes
5 answers
What is the proper way to run Category 6 underground?
I'd like to run some Category 6 cabling underground, for a distance of about 120 ft, between a main home and a 2nd unit, for ethernet connectivity between the two homes. I've run Category 5 indoors before, but running Category 6 and underground is a…
DuckMaestro
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26
votes
6 answers
Safe/professional way to transport lumber with just a roof rack
I'm doing some home improvement, and have the necessary skills, tools, etc, for the job. There is one thing I'm lacking: a large pickup truck for transporting lumber. A buddy of mine used to have one, but he had to trade it in for an SUV to get the…
Cloud
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26
votes
1 answer
Humidity Levels
What is a healthy and safe humidity level that I should try to keep my house at?
Sam Erde
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26
votes
6 answers
What is the proper 'per code' method for running nonmetallic sheathed cable above a ceiling in the attic?
Can the wiring be run over the top of the ceiling joist, or must it be run through bored holes when running perpendicular to the joists?
This is a non-habitable space, will have an attic entrance only for the purpose of blown-in insulation and is…
Tim
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26
votes
13 answers
What grit sandpaper should I use between coats of polyurethane?
I'm planning on applying polyurethane to a pine bench I've finished staining. I decided on foam brushes for application, but I wasn't sure what grit sandpaper I should use between coats. Is 400 good enough? Or should I use 600? Or both?
Also, if…
Doresoom
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26
votes
7 answers
Should I release the pressure out of an air compressor when it is not in use?
Just got a new compressor and I wondering if I should be releasing all of the pressure out of the unit when it is not in use? Or is it better to leave the pressure in so that the unit does not have to work as hard to build up the pressure next…
Milos Petrovic
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26
votes
5 answers
Is this baseboard installation a good job?
We had new baseboards installed (alongside our new floor). The result looked surprisingly rough to our eyes but we have no notion about what to expect. The installer and floor store told us that this is perfectly normal -- we just have to caulk and…
delacoder
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26
votes
2 answers
What tool has a ring on the end of a threaded handle shaft?
Does anyone know what this is? I got it in a box lot of tools. The handle reads "General Tool USA".
JPB2
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26
votes
3 answers
Why are 2x4s really 1.5"x3.5"?
Just curious as to the reasoning. Is it a spec, or is it simply for backwards compatibility?
esac
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