French cleats have been my go-to for anything heavier, especially in my 1920s place where the plaster’s more suggestion than structure at this point. ...
Been there, done that—muddy knees and all. I used to think “outdoor-rated” meant invincible, but those plugs are always the weak link. I’ve tried ever...
Man, this brings back memories of my basement reno a couple years ago. I swear, every time I thought I’d nailed the code, the inspector would come up ...
I totally get the sitcom image—been there, minus the snacks, but I did have an armful of groceries once. Ended up sitting on my porch for an hour unti...
Title: Why does load distribution always trip me up? Man, you nailed it with the “stubbornness and luck” bit. I swear, half the time I’m convinced th...
I hear you on the wax—tried it once in my old place and spent more time buffing than actually enjoying the floors. Oil’s not as flashy, but when my do...
We had a similar experience when we converted our garage a few years back. Your comment about inspectors practically moving in made me laugh because t...
Inspectors definitely aren't looking for magazine-cover perfection. My last guy barely glanced at the wonky cabinet door I obsessed over—he was way mo...
Definitely good sense. Had a similar scare myself—stepped onto a friend's deck once and felt the whole thing shift slightly underfoot. Now I do random...
Totally agree on the pallet wood suggestion—did something similar in my workshop a couple years back. Just a heads-up though, pallets can be hit or mi...
Totally agree on the engineered hardwood—good call. I redid a friend's beach cottage a few years back, and we went with a thicker wear layer too. Hone...
Swamp milkweed has been a lifesaver for me too, especially after my own creeping jenny fiasco. That stuff seemed so harmless at first, didn't it? Then...
Oh man, tell me about it. When I remodeled my 1920s bungalow, I swear every time I thought I'd figured out the building codes, something else popped u...
We went with medium-dark walnut too, and honestly, I was a nervous wreck until it was actually down. I remember standing in the flooring aisle, holdin...