Category Archives: diy

How to Rebuild a Plywood Deck

Posted on 2020-09-06 by jimbelton

This summer’s big DIY project has been rebuilding my second story back deck. It’s a smallish (12′ x 8′) plywood deck that is partially covered on two sides by the eaves of the house and the laundry room. I’ve had … Continue reading →

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DIY: Fixing a Cut Power Cord

Posted on 2020-05-10 by jimbelton

I managed to cut the cord on my skill saw. As I’ll need it for my deck project, I had to fix it. Here’s how. You need a knife (wire strippers or even cutters are better), soldering iron, solder, electrical … Continue reading →

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DIY: Replacing a Plywood Deck

Posted on 2020-05-10 by jimbelton

It seems like about every ten years or so, my back deck, which is unroofed, needs to be replaced. The deck is roughly 11’x9′, made out of 3/4″ plywood. The outside 8’x8′ corner is pretty easy to replace, since it’s … Continue reading →

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Installing a Gutter: Preparing the Gutter

Posted on 2019-08-24 by jimbelton

The laundry room roof I rebuilt four years ago (see Roofing: Installing Certainteed Flintastic Roof Cap) never had it’s gutter reinstalled. This meant the deck below it has rotted out for probably the third time in twenty years. Before rebuilding the … Continue reading →

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Vinyl Grip Strip Flooring is Awesome

Posted on 2019-08-11 by jimbelton

If you have a smooth concrete floor, the easiest way to cover it is with vinyl grip strip flooring. All you need is a pair of sheet metal sheers, a pencil, a ruler, and a tape measure. Lay it staggered … Continue reading →

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Installing a Waterpik PowerSpray Shower Head

Posted on 2018-04-14 by jimbelton

I picked up a Waterpik PowerSpray shower head at Costco. They claim it’s easy to install, and it is. All you need is a wrench. I actually used a pair of pliers. First, I took the old head off and … Continue reading →

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DIY: Replacing a Toilet Fill Valve

Posted on 2018-03-05 by jimbelton

What should you do if your toilet stops filling up? First, take the back off. Make sure the fill valve isn’t stuck closed (push down on the arm, water should flow). If not, you may need to replace the fill … Continue reading →

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Changing a Kitchen Faucet

Posted on 2017-05-07 by jimbelton

Our old kitchen faucet was becoming more of a sprinkler; the button that switched from stream to spray had broken. Here what it looked like: The first step in replacing a faucet is to shut off the water supply. This … Continue reading →

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Replacing a Window – Part 1

Posted on 2016-08-28 by jimbelton

I’m building a fifth bedroom in the back of my garage, which used to be an open car port until a previous owner enclosed it. The existing window was an ugly single pane with Mylar instead of glass. I picked … Continue reading →

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Roofing: Installing Certainteed Flintastic Roof Cap

Posted on 2015-09-26 by jimbelton

Previous Post: Installing the Underlayment Here’s the finished product. The Certainteed Flintastic roof cap looks great! Very easy to apply. I just cut the strips on the deck, then carried each one up to the roof. The peel and stick … Continue reading →

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