Remodeling discussions and local services.
kmitchell97
Discussion activity
Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: When the fence is a highway, not a wall
I hear you on the runaway vines. At our place, I tried letting Virginia creeper do its thing on the old picket fence - looked great for about a year, then it started sneaking under the boards and popping up in the neighb...
RE: WHEN DOES A "WEEKEND PLUMBING JOB" EVER ACTUALLY TAKE A WEEKEND?
That’s the story of my 1920s bungalow. Every time I open a wall, it’s like plumbing archeology - galvanized, copper, even a random bit of PEX. I once found a lead drain line capped off with a wine cork. Honestly, I don’t...
RE: HOW LONG DID YOUR POOL MAKEOVER REALLY TAKE?
That’s the truth about color - my pool plaster looked almost gray in the sample but reads blue-green in the actual pool, especially midday. The contractor warned me, but it still threw me. I’m with you on documenting eve...
RE: Smart lights vs smart switches for yard setup?
I get where you’re coming from with the hassle - digging up old brick paths here was a nightmare. But I’ll push back a bit on “good enough” being smarter, at least for older homes. The solar lights I tried just didn’t cu...
RE: got denied for a permit - what would you do next?
I hear you on the documentation - photos have saved me more than once. Last year, I got dinged for using a “non-historic” trim profile on my porch, even though it was an exact match to the original (just newer wood). End...
RE: If You Had to Redo Your Kitchen Lights, What Would You Pick?
Yeah, compatibility is key. When we redid the kitchen lighting in our 1920s bungalow, I initially went for those vintage Edison-style LEDs because they matched the home's aesthetic perfectly. Big mistake...they flickered...
RE: my house is getting smarter than me, and it's kinda weird
I feel your pain on the thermostat front. When I first installed mine in our old Victorian, it was like the house itself was fighting back. The thermostat would randomly crank up the heat at 3 AM or decide to chill the p...
RE: NAVIGATING LAST-MINUTE PERMIT NIGHTMARES: ANYONE BEEN THERE?
Been there, done that. Reminds me of when we renovated our historic home - thought we had everything squared away until the inspector casually asked about the "historical preservation approval." Cue instant dread... Spen...