Home Improvement Today?

Great thought.

I gave up 100% on decks in the PNW. Yeah I need to pressure wash my concrete every couple years, but that's NOTHING compared to deck maintenance.

 

I mean I actually don’t see much rot. That one piece yes but overall solid. Am I missing something?

 

I desperately want to do a bunker back yard deck. Tony Stark 7’ shop w patio at door height. All concrete. I am WT at heart.



F this thing.

 

Decks are temporary structures no matter how well you build them

 

No. We actually had several plans made up to 1) eliminate deck altogether, 2) half deck to provide a couple steps out the door before stepping down, 3) raised paver patio and 4) complete composite replacement. Going with complete replacement. As much as I wanted to do away with the whole thing, it just works better all round and wife has final say.

 

Yeah. There were several other spots with rot at least half way through the beam. I didn't get all the pics.

 

Converting a deer stand to a 400 yard bench rest range for my Dad.

 

Take guests?

 

Dunzo!

 

measuring voltage in this situation is like bragging you get to drive a 700HP hellcat in a 20mph school zone...

you need a clamp meter to measure the current/ampacity. voltage plays almost no part in the concern you have.

theoretically, we could calculate the voltage drop by measuring the voltage at the disconnect, as well as at the main panel, and then use that in a formula for distance to come up with an anticipated ampacity of a 10ga wire.

or we can just measure the ampacity.

this is why asking the internet for trade-specific advice can turn really ugly really fast for those that don't actually know.

i was an electrician for 12 years...

first, this is not 120v circuit. this is a 240v circuit with a ground. the white wire is a current carrying conductor, and is no longer a neutral conductor.

second, this is a very standard situation, where they used a grounded 2-wire, with a black/white wire in it. NEC has an exception in it that firstly allows this type of wire to be ran, but secondly also calls for the white wire to to be re-identified as a black current carrying conductor to indicate it is no longer an appropriate current return path.

the trane document you posted indicates that the current ampacity requires 28A, with a max breaker of 50A. nec also requires circuits to be loaded no more than 80% of the wires ampacity. 10 gauge wire is rated up to 30A, or 24A max.

you really need new 8gauge wire ran to support that a/c size, however, the installation with the breaker, or the re-labeled wire is not entirely wrong. just the incorrect wire sizing for the size of the unit.

 

I don't have a current clamp so my point was that 1) it's not 120v and 2) the voltage isn't sagging much with the small wire. Thanks for the feedback on the wire size.

 

Well stated.

 

Deck stairs were a bit soft on the edge. As it was “investigating” the step became detached from the stringer. Not what I planned for a Sunday but it’s fixed for the party next week.


Following the rotten wood theme…..



Framed with correct PT wood.


Good as new(ish)

 

Back bedroom door used to look like a 5 year old stained and cleared it, stripped it down, put new stain and clear on it.

 

forgot to take progress photos, but it’s done. Pretty happy with how it came out and had a bunch of thunderstorms without introducing water to the basement, so I think the waterproofing plan is working

 

Tiling question - I tiled the back splash behind my range level with the counter top. But the new range is a different style and has exposed part of the wall that was previously hidden. I have left over tile for the spot, but I don't have any thin set or grout. There are any number of inexpensive ways to stick literally 2 tiles to a wall that will never see water, but what about inexpensive grout? I used the $54/tub fancy pre-mixed stuff on the rest of the wall. The dry mix version is $20/bag. All I need is maybe 1/4 cup to finish what I should have done to start with. Any suggestions on what to do?

 

Liquid nails and painters tape to hold it in place

 

Been working on this deck all week. House is on the Maine coast. Replacing the old PT with Western Red Cedar. Should wrap up that last section tomorrow. Using 316 SS #9 x 3" deck screws. I like the slightly smaller head on the #9 vs #10.

 

Done just in time for the long holiday weekend. Client is very happy.

 

Looks awesome!!