The DIY Home Improvement Thread

[Grog6]

If you're building a large structure, you buy straight from the maker.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

In preparation for my fence, I tore out my bush-fence. It took me all of Saturday afternoon to complete. The contractor will be pulling up the stumps from the ground.

Not quite a picturesque "before" picture as I was already halfway through cutting down the first bush, but still.





This is about halfway done.



Completely done!

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Debating real hard now on my sewer line. Do I pay $9,400 for an SIP liner or ~$2,700 for DIY, brand new ABS piping, and 3 to 4 days of my time.

 

[Grog6]

How long will they guarantee the liner? If it's comparable to the replacement,how does 9k compare to 3k cash, plus 4 days salary? Abs is unlikely to fail in your lifetime, is that true for the liner? Would it be worth 4 days of hard labor?
What's the cost of having someone else do the replacement for you?
I paid 3k to get my sewer replaced completely; sinks, commodes, bathtub, and a cleanout. But tn is cheaper than ca.
They dug my stuff out with a backhoe.
These decisions are a bitch, but no way I was going to do the sewer line.
When it came to the supply lines, I didn't have to think too hard; I know copper, and solder.

 

[Zep5.0]

I'll do about any job, but sewer and water lines that far underground scare me. The cost sucks but I recommend paying a professional. You can certainly ask which type of fix is better or more cost efficient

 

[CDsDontBurn]

How long will they guarantee the liner?

It's (I believe he said) a polyurethane based spray on liner and is guaranteed to last 10yrs with a 5yr warranty. And this right here is the part that I'm not liking about the cost. He danced around what the product is that was being sprayed in and I didn't like that. It's like he didn't really know what the product was. He even had a few days to research and learn more about his product before coming out to my place to give me the quote.

There's a CIPP liner that's an epoxy of some sort and that's supposed to last at least 50yrs. As far as cost goes, I'm not sure what it is, but I hear it's more expensive than the spray on place liner my plumber offered. For the sake of work and overall quickness, I'd like to go with that product, TBH.

Would it be worth 4 days of hard labor?

Hard labor for me, lol. I have an office job!

Part of my $3k in costs is that of $800 rental for a backhoe from Home Depot. I'll just have to learn how to use it on the fly, essentially. I'm sure it can't be much harder to learn than a forklift, which I do know how to drive / operate.

What's the cost of having someone else do the replacement for you?

Not sure, I never got that far. Pretty sure it'd be at least as expensive as this $9,400 quote I got for this spray liner.

These decisions are a bitch, but no way I was going to do the sewer line.

The decision here is to weigh in the pros and cons of DIYing for all new stuff, have it last essentially the rest of my life, and save roughly $6k, or spend $9,400 for something that will last 10-15 years.

From a cost and product life expectancy perspective, DIYing the job makes more sense. But if I'm being honest about myself, I loathe in doing this type of work. I wouldn't mind doing most everything else, but digging a hole is not what I enjoy doing as far work goes.

I'll do about any job, but sewer and water lines that far underground scare me

Then being underground doesn't bother me. They're 3ft at the structure of my house and 4ft at the sidewalk.

 

[Grog6]

I'd get a different company to quote doing a replacement; 9k for a spraypaint liner doesn't sound like something I'd do.
A crack in the paint,and you're back where you started. 6k for labor on a replacement seems reasonable.
Get it quoted by a few companies before you decide.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

I'd get a different company to quote doing a replacement; 9k for a spraypaint liner doesn't sound like something I'd do.
A crack in the paint,and you're back where you started. 6k for labor on a replacement seems reasonable.
Get it quoted by a few companies before you decide.

Yeah, this is what my wife is leaning on as well.

 

[Grog6]

This may be the first time a woman has agreed with me, lol. I understand about diy; some jobs are just too hard.
There are videogames that teach you to run a backhoe, check out steam.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

I received the quote from the plumber to dig up the line and replace everything came back at $15k.

Yep, it's looking more and more that I'm going to be DIYing this myself .

 

[Grog6]

Site Error

store.steampowered.com

I'd check this out, before you rent one. I learned to run a bulldozer in an hour, when I was 14. A buddy had a business reclaiming strip mines.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Site Error

store.steampowered.com

I'd check this out, before you rent one. I learned to run a bulldozer in an hour, when I was 14. A buddy had a business reclaiming strip mines.

Oh, I'm going to YouTube University that shit, lol

 

[dDUBb]

Yep, it's looking more and more that I'm going to be DIYing this myself

 

[CDsDontBurn]

@dDUBb any tips on my approach?

 

[Grog6]

Looks great so far. How long did it take to dig all that?

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Looks great so far. How long did it take to dig all that?

That's not me. That's @dDUBb at a job site in November 2024.

 

[dDUBb]

@dDUBb any tips on my approach?

You're going to need at least 4 people to do this job. One person digs while everybody else just stands around.

 

[Rodeo Joe]

Do you need any permits for this job?

Joe

 

[CDsDontBurn]

View attachment 12264

You're going to need at least 4 people to do this job. One person digs while everybody else just stands around.

Got this covered already. I have 2 of my friends confirmed to come out to help, and the guy I'm hiring to do the job itself, lol.

Do you need any permits for this job?

Joe

IDK, probably.

I know my city requires permits to hang even a single drywall sheet. I've never gone to them for that because it's my home and I didn't add square footage to my home when I was hanging the drywall.

 

[dDUBb]

Got this covered already. I have 2 of my friends confirmed to come out to help, and the guy I'm hiring to do the job itself, lol.

Should do it. Get everything prepped for the repair because as soon as you cut into that sewer line you're in a world of shit.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Oh, I'm aware.

Anything you suggest to make the smell be not so terrible? I'm sure I could handle it as I've done plenty of sewer fixes before, but not sure if the sewer main has the same smell as other drain pipes.

 

[dDUBb]

Same smell. Jim cap, stuff a towel, or throw a weenie into it.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Same smell. Jim cap, stuff a towel, or throw a weenie into it.

Then I'm not worried about it.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Sunday afternoon into early evening. This was some work to do. All in preparation for this Saturday...

Still not done either, lol. I still need to knock down the cinder blocks.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Show time is tomorrow. Contractor will be here tomorrow morning at 7am. I've done my part, and he gets to do his part.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

No longer in the "DIY" phase, but still cool to post.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

I'm curious to know what the math on this is. How many of these bricks will be needed to make a full circle?

Wife and I are planning on making a raised planter with these guys in the front yard.

 

[dDUBb]

I'm curious to know what the math on this is. How many of these bricks will be needed to make a full circle?

The correct answer is on the other forum but it turns out that you can just buy like 30 and return what you dont use.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

While true, I'd like to not have to carry more than I don't need.

Also, this planter will be two, maybe three, rows high.

 

[Grog6]

There's a calculator on home depot's website.