Home Improvement Newbie (1 Viewer)

[Anthony Martino]

Recently purchased our first home and starting to dip my toes in some home improvement projects

Picked up the glass case housing to put over the old outside fixtures, but the housing was so worn it was cracked and crumbling and wouldn't hold the glass covers in place

So just did a complete remove and replace job, managed to not die from electric shock

When I put power back on and got it to light-up I shouted out "HA HAAAAAA! HELEN!" Clark Griswald-style

Just did a broken bathroom hand towel holder as well

Up next is the other outside light plus replacing our mailbox. Might need to watch some reruns of Tool Time

 

[trever]

I like the new light. Before you jump into anything big; live in the house for a while and see what still bugs you 3 months from now. I think you'll find that some of the stuff that bugs you today, totally fades from your notice as you get used to the place. (obviously this applies only to cosmetic updates).

 

[Anthony Martino]

Finished up the other outside light, it was a bitch to do. The stairs leading up to that entrance don't have a platform you can hang around on, just the steps. I don't have a real ladder, just a two-step fold-up ladder, and I'm 5 foot 1 inch "tall"

So needless to say it was quite the stretch to have the step stool balanced inside the house while I leaned outside to reach at the light and get it all switched. And of course the first time I got it installed, I turned the lights on and nothing, one of the wires had come loose so had to go back in, but got it in the end (and again shouted HA HAAAA, HELEN! which prompted my wife to yell "STOP DOING THAT! I THOUGHT YOU WERE BEING ELECTROCUTED!"

Changed our our mailbox since the old one was pretty beat up, put new numbers on the house and had a plumber replace two leaking bathroom sinks (and he's converting our dual basin shallow kitchen sink to a single basin deep sink this coming week)

But the real victory this weekend was finally getting these bad boys hung

 

[Hobbyphilic]

It is always exciting getting a new home. Looks like you have everything under control. Poker first! I mean, interior design to make the place more cozy.

 

[Anthony Martino]

It is always exciting getting a new home. Looks like you have everything under control. Poker first! I mean, interior design to make the place more cozy.

Lol, unfortunately I won't be hosting poker at this home. I work 70+ hours/week generally so have very little free time generally. And the layout isn't really conducive to hosting except in the living room. Plus, we're in an extremely rural area so don't have a big network of players to draw from like I did when I lived 45 minutes south in the Brandon/Tampa area.

Regardless, a poker room is in my future plans for our 2nd home (ideally we'll have an "in-law" above the garage with a kitchenette and that would be dedicated as a poker room)

 

[joepro]

Get some tools. Forget about power tools for now, except maybe one of those cheap sets from home Depot which has a battery operated drill, circular saw, and maybe a recip saw. Get a 6ft fiberglass ladder. When you can afford it, buy a four ft and eight ft, ladder same thing. Get vinyl saw horses, a socket wrench set, various hammers, a set of drill bits, some shovels, a set of screw drivers, adjustable wrenches including a decent plumbers wrench or two. Various tapes and a drywall repair kit. Not all at once, but you will need all of these. You need a second cordless drill, just for hanging pictures and shelves alone this will be huge, as you can drill with one and screw with the other. Buy all the cordless tools of the same brand and battery. Buy beer. You're welcome.

 

[Anthony Martino]

I'm not THAT handy. I build computers, I have zero experience with power saws

 

[pltrgyst]

Agreed, all but this:

Get a 6ft fiberglass ladder. When you can afford it, buy a four ft and eight ft, ladder same thing.

Huh?

Unless you have ceilings under eight feet, and plenty of tool storage area (which doesn't seem likely), the 8-footer should do everything.

I have a six and a ten, but then I have ten foot ceilings...

Oh, and with a 1/4 inch hex socket, you don't need two cordless drills. You just pop in and out your various bits, with no tightening or loosening necessary.

 

[Chicken Rob]

Get one of these:

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Werner-22-...-Capacity-Type-IA-Duty-Rating-MT-22/100658955

I love mine. Watch the video. Super versatile.

 

[mike32]

I'll chime in to say buy good tools. You don't have to buy top dollar, but good tools just work better and last a lifetime. This includes garden tools, power tools etc. Good luck and enjoy!