the home improvement thread

[gaseousclay]

...for random projects around the house. post your tips, tutorials and any general advice for noobs like me.

ok, i'm gonna install a door sweep on our exterior door, however, there's a 1 5/8" gap between the bottom of the door to the floor. is there anything special I should do here or should I just install the door sweep like normal? any tips would be appreciated.

 

[RBE17]

Buy good tools and only work on one project at a time. Be patient and know where your limitations lie.

 

[jwhite]

...for random projects around the house. post your tips, tutorials and any general advice for noobs like me.

ok, i'm gonna install a door sweep on our exterior door, however, there's a 1 5/8" gap between the bottom of the door to the floor. is there anything special I should do here or should I just install the door sweep like normal? any tips would be appreciated.

Is that with the threshold in place?

 

[kwk285]

My best advice is to hire somebody to do it for you. With how clutzy I am, I need to add the cost of a trip to the ER to any project that I do.

 

[paulboeck]

Get a Dremel Tool! I've had mine for a couple years now and every single time I use it I think to myself "This thing is friggin awesome, how did I exist without one?"

I don't know that it'd help with your door sweep install, but I'm sure you could find some way to use it if you tried hard enough. And if you're like me, once you have it, you'll try.

 

[mmack66]

Is that with the threshold in place?

+1. That is a huge gap. Something isn't right. Is this when the door is open?

 

[Monkeydad]

...for random projects around the house. post your tips, tutorials and any general advice for noobs like me.

ok, i'm gonna install a door sweep on our exterior door, however, there's a 1 5/8" gap between the bottom of the door to the floor. is there anything special I should do here or should I just install the door sweep like normal? any tips would be appreciated.

Wooden door or metal storm door?


If wooden, I'd highly recommend adding wood to the bottom of the door to extend it. Use some dowels and plenty of glue, make sure the width is the same. Also, doors are always easier to work on when removed from the hinges.

If storm door, you may want to consider replacing the door. As others said, that's a huge gap.

 

[gaseousclay]

+1. That is a huge gap. Something isn't right. Is this when the door is open?

I think i'm confusing everybody . to clarify, the door shuts fine and there is no 1 5/8" gap where you can see outside if you were to crouch down and look. I think it's the door frame. there's a 1 5/8" gap from the floor up to the bottom of the door. if you were to open the door the potential to trip and do a face plant is high. I hope i'm making sense

 

[jwhite]

just thinking .... If you mean from the door to the floor when its open that's not too unusual, although a little big, otherwise you couldn't have a mat or rug in front of the door.

But regarding recent home improvement projects, I recently (two weeks ago) replumbed the wet wall in the master bath with copper pipe and brass fittings, added new tub and shower fixtures, and a new shower surround.

 

[gollum83]

I think i'm confusing everybody . to clarify, the door shuts fine and there is no 1 5/8" gap where you can see outside if you were to crouch down and look. I think it's the door frame. there's a 1 5/8" gap from the floor up to the bottom of the door. if you were to open the door the potential to trip and do a face plant is high. I hope i'm making sense

Pictures might help. Got any?

 

[tpoof]

I wouldn't worry on the gap between the floor and door bottom IF the space between the bottom of the door and the threshold is not showing any gap.

If there is some then you may want to install one of those "cup" style sweeps that fit over the bottom edge and attach on the inside with screws (they seem to hold better than the just one side ones..
also with that trip hazard you can perhaps place a piece of 1/4 round in that gap to lessen the toe stubs and make a smoother transfer to the floor.
Hopefully I got some of that right

 

[Austin]

I tackle one project at a time. I set a time limit to get it done and I research the job prior to starting it. Make sure you have the right tools prior to starting any job. And most of all, know your limitations. I enjoy working with my hands.

 

[Commander Quan]

However long you think the job should take double it! and then multiply that number by 3! Divide that number in half and that's how many trips to the hardware store you will have to make.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

I tend to gravitate towards projects involving tiling. Dont know why, but I'm pretty good with ceramic tile and I've tiled a project or two at every place I've been stationed.

Ceramic tile floors change the whole feel of a house...but doing it without a wetsaw is INSANE!

 

[Gruder]

When working in the attic, be sure to step on the joists -- not between them. (Don't ask me how I learned this...)

 

[gaseousclay]

When working in the attic, be sure to step on the joists -- not between them. (Don't ask me how I learned this...)

haha. I hope you didn't fall through the ceiling

 

[gaseousclay]

I tend to gravitate towards projects involving tiling. Dont know why, but I'm pretty good with ceramic tile and I've tiled a project or two at every place I've been stationed.

Ceramic tile floors change the whole feel of a house...but doing it without a wetsaw is INSANE!

know any good tutorial sites on tiling? the missus and I want to re-tile the washroom in the near future. it would be a major project because the washer/dryer have to be moved as well as a few cabinets.

 

[gollum83]

When working in the attic, be sure to step on the joists -- not between them. (Don't ask me how I learned this...)

But I wanna know about that time you fell through the ceiling.

 

[Monkeydad]

I tend to gravitate towards projects involving tiling. Dont know why, but I'm pretty good with ceramic tile and I've tiled a project or two at every place I've been stationed.

Ceramic tile floors change the whole feel of a house...but doing it without a wetsaw is INSANE!

I did it without a wetsaw when I tiled my bathroom with slate tiles. Wasn't bad at all, I used a cutter that scores the tiles and you snap them, along with a snipper. Wasn't bad at all. I mis-broke only a few tiles and I bought plenty of extras anyways. I used sections of the ones that didn't break right to fill in along the wall anyways.

The trickiest part was the hole needed for under the toilet, but I snipped out the holes on 2 separate tiles instead of trying to get a hole in the center of a single tile and that resolved that potential problem.

However when you're done, I can't emphasize GROUT SEALER enough. 3-4 years later and my floor's white grout is still bright white. Says it's good for 15 years, but I'll probably add another coat far before then just to keep it looking fresh.

 

[Mojo88]

I recently remodeled the half bath in our home. Put in a pedestal sink,toilet and new ceramic. I used wonderboard over the top of the plywood. I will never do another floor without it, wonderboard gives a strong foundation to work off of. I also rented a wetsaw, it saved time and frustration as I had some difficult cuts. For the tile around the toilet I used a plastic lid as a template,them found a carbide blade and made that circular cut with a grinder. It came out exactly right. I also bought a multi- function power tool from Harbour Freight. I have a Roto-ZIp and the multi-function cuts much cleaner. It's great under door jams and tight cuts.