I've been trying first a couple of weeks to find a steel fabricator to produce a custom chimney cap for this whimsical shed that I've been building. The chimney is non-functional but I wanted to have a storybook look to it. I've reached out to multiple metal spinning companies around the country, as well as steel fabricators. Most of them tell me they just don't have the equipment to produce this because of the angle. I used 5-in diameter b-vent pipe for my chimney stack to replicate what I... Cannot find anybody that can produce this cone shaped chimney cap ..read more

I have a 10 year old Bradford. All of a sudden the burner won't stay lit very long. I can go through the process of turning off the gas relighting the pilot and starting it up again but it does the same thing. I noticed indicator lights 5 flashes. Does that mean a gas control valve? Am I better off just getting a new water heater? Thanks, Brian ..read more

I am so stuck here, and hoping someone has a solution! I recently purchased a historic 1880's brick home that came painted with a latex-based product on the exterior brick. I'm experiencing interior water seepage (from the brick (penetrating damp), resulting in water damage to my plaster walls. I imagine this has been happening for a long time and was covered up by the prior owner who renovated... all the walls in the home are plaster, except two which were covered with drywall. Guess where... waterproofing painted brick ..read more

So one of my basement light fixtures had become faulty. I replaced it today. I noticed two things that i had a question about. This light was at the end of the electrical run. Or at least it was when i finished. It had a few outlets ran off it that i disconnected. Making the light the last in the run. - The wire coming into it was of course hot/neutral/ground. But the cheap light has no ground nor does the metal box. So that ground wire is just kinda hanging there doing nothing. I was... Ground wire question and White fiber question ..read more

Hello, I don't want to start a "hot" debate about paint brands, but just get some recommendations I'm looking for a decent brand for a flat or matte paint that would cover nicely with 1 coat. Current walls are painted with some kind of beige (satin) and I will have to do some drywall repairs in some spots I've tried SW Duration in another room, and was not impressed by the coverage even after the 2nd coat I've tried Behr Dynasty and also read reviews saying coverage after 1 coat was very... Decent 1 coat interior paint ..read more

Pan Fried Chicken Thighs with creamy gravy, stuffing and baked Potato…Recipe is in with the pics ..read more

I recently removed a gas fireplace and discovered that when they cut the hole in the wall for the direct vent it looks like they cut the electrical cable running between two outlets. The repair looks like a hack job wrapped in a wad of electrical tape and has left a few inches of wires without sheathing. This repair was probably done about 30 years ago. The house is from 1952 so the cable is just two wires and no ground. I thought about replacing the 7 feet of cable between the outlets. I... How to replace damaged cable between two outlets ..read more

Thanks to all who responded to my previous thread about stripping an old tinted sealer off my concrete countertop. Now I'm getting ready to re-seal it, (probably a clear sealer) but before I was hoping you could help me with a few more questions I have. 1. Have some grease spots on the counter. Am currently using a couple things to help get them off, Prosocco oil and grease stain remover (poultice) and Stonetech stain remover (see pictures) with some success (still some light stainage)... sealing outdoor concrete countertop ..read more

I'd like to get better water in my house. I was hoping the big water company would educate me and give me a good system, but their visit was just a big sales pitch and could have been a simple email. They quoted like $8000 for a sediment filter (~4' tank), softener (~4' tank plus salt), and RO system. I was taken aback at the price and he gave me a cheaper sediment/softener combo tank for a ~$2k less. A little more self-education and I'm looking at a RO system for a couple hundred that I'll... Water filters and softening. Please educate ..read more

I seem to remember you have to cement these connectors to the Smurf tubing. Now all I saw are the snap in kind. Is the snap in connectors strong enough to hold the corrugated tubing in place or simply to snap them together on top of the cementing? If only snap in is enough, will pulling conductors through with some persuasion risk busting them loose unknowingly ..read more