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November 4, 2009
DIY Beginner Project?
I'm going to start some DIY projects around and wanted to start easy. What would you recommend as a starter project?
1) install crown moulding
2) replace (but not move) bathroom fixtures (sink, toilet, medicine cabinet)
3) replace flooring (take out carpet, install either wood or cork flooring)
Thanks for any suggestions!!!
Comments
#2 requires the least amount of skill followed by #3.
When cutting the 90 degree corners on crown molding, remember to cut them upside down in the miter saw. Get a good coping saw to join the corners. Read up on the right way to do this.
And if you anticipate further projects invest in a few nail guns. Porter Cable usually has a good package available at HD...three guns and the compressor. It's a real time saver especially if you're not good with a hammer...which is even more difficult with molding work.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 4, 2009 8:59 AM
thanks dibs. i knew you'd have some good suggestions :) i am not a skilled handy person, but hoping to get better.
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 9:05 AM
oh yeah, and
4) put in a fireplace mantel (figuring this will be similar skillset to moulding
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 9:07 AM
Different people have different skills and can master different types of projects. My brother does fine cabinetry like a grandfather clock but can't do plumbing to save his life. I think one of the key talents is patience for the more detailed projects.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 4, 2009 9:10 AM
Google fieplace mantels. there are a lot of places that will build you a really beautiful one to your own specs and ship it to you for far less money than you could do it yourself.
www.mantelsdirect.com would be one of many, many sources.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 4, 2009 9:13 AM
that's helpful, thanks. i always see them building them on HGTV and they make it look so easy but if i can buy one then that might actually end up looking nicer. :)
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 9:34 AM
Further down the Forum someone's selling a mitre saw from yesterday.
Posted by: Arkady at November 4, 2009 9:37 AM
OOOOhhhhh! I like this kind of stuff! Can I help you?
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at November 4, 2009 9:51 AM
Yeah, DIBS is right... 2 --> 3 --> 1. The crown moulding is a bitch with the miters and making it look clean and "seamless" But honestly, none of those projects are terribly advanced.
If your bathroom project includes simple copper pipe installation... that's a lot of fun. Lots of fun little (cheap) tools: pipe cutter, sand paper, flux, solder, and... A BLOW TORCH! Yes!
Posted by: tybur6 at November 4, 2009 9:55 AM
I would put #3 before #2, just because it's mostly the same skill, repeated across the floor. If it's all new to you, consider asking a friend who's done it before to begin the work with you; whole thing will go easier. If not familiar with power tools at all, consider a hands-on intro to home maintenance class at a place like NHS of East Flatbush.
Posted by: vinca at November 4, 2009 10:04 AM
I agree with Dave on the difficulty scale. If you so with the fireplace project, you will learn a lot of basic carpentry skills, which will help you with some of the other projects. Measuring and cutting wood, construction, tiling, etc. All skills that will be used often.
Nail guns and a table saw are some of the best tools ever invented. I've used both in workshops, and want to invest in both when I start some real projects here. Is HD the best place to go?
Posted by: Montrose Morris at November 4, 2009 10:07 AM
Arkady - too funny, i actually got inspired by the mitre saw posting. heheh
Snappy - heck yeah you can help me! :)
holla!
Vinca - that is great, i am a power tool newbie and i do enjoy all of my fingers so that is a great idea. thanks!
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 10:08 AM
ps snaps, no stoli vanil and lemonade until AFTER we finish with the power tools ;)
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 10:09 AM
MM - I'd go on a Fine Woodworking Forum to research the table saw - there're some real duds. FW might also have offerings of people selling them.
Posted by: Arkady at November 4, 2009 10:15 AM
"Lots of fun little (cheap) tools: pipe cutter, sand paper, flux, solder, and... A BLOW TORCH! Yes!
Posted by: tybur6 at November 4, 2009 9:55 AM
And when the project is finished be sure you have enough propane left in that torch for some creme brulees.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 4, 2009 10:15 AM
this is going to be exciting. right now my only power tools are a drill and a dremel (dremmel?).
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 10:18 AM
CG, by all means, PLEASE take the NHS class in East Flatbush. It's dirt cheap and taught by an awesome instructor (Mark). I am taking it now and you will learn hands on how to do all of those things.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at November 4, 2009 10:20 AM
LOL CG! I'm still down despite you holding my Snappy Cocktail hostage! Seriously, drop me an email when you are going to start and I'll help you.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at November 4, 2009 10:20 AM
Nothing like a nice crème brûlée after running the water lines to a new slop sink!
Posted by: tybur6 at November 4, 2009 10:20 AM
thanks kens and vinca. i am definitely going to sign up for the class. looks like both brooklyn locations are already done with beginner level 1 for 2009, so i guess home reno will start 2010. it will be one of my new year's resolutions. heh
oh snap snappy! i invent a cocktail and it gets named after you?!? though i guess the cg_ups cocktail doesn't have quite the same ring. :)
montrose - thanks for the suggestion. i thought the mantel might be a good "try out your skills" project too.
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 10:26 AM
CG_Ups: If buying new tools, bigger is basically better (more amperage, more strokes per minute, etc.). But not always, and especially for new users. Here's a link to NHS Class: http://www.nhsnyc.org/eastflatbush/services/home-maintenance.htm
Posted by: vinca at November 4, 2009 10:28 AM
Is polystyrene crown moulding available in New York? If so, then that is the easiest stuff in the world to work with:
1) It's really light so you can hold up lengths of it one-handed
2) It's really light so even a light adhesive will keep it up
3) It's really cheap so if you get a cut wrong, you can throw it away and get another piece
4) It's slightly flexible so easy to accomodate slightly out-of-true walls
5) It's installed at the highest point of the room so hard to inspect up close. Even then, you can't tell visually once it's painted (only by tapping).
For my money, 1 is definitely the easiest job to go for out of the three.
Posted by: the chicken at November 4, 2009 10:34 AM
i wonder what my mom is going to say when i ask for a table saw for christmas
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 10:35 AM
Here's one place I found online.
http://www.sosimplecrown.com/installing-crown-molding.html
Posted by: the chicken at November 4, 2009 10:38 AM
Yes, get the polystyrene crown moldings. How high are your ceilings?? Go wild with a very complex & detailed crown...dentil moldings, egg and dart. You'll be amazed at what it adds to a room
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 4, 2009 10:41 AM
chicken - thanks, that is fantastic!
dibs - i'm doing it to one low ceilinged area and one floor with regular height so i probably need to keep it simple though now you're making me curious as to what your parlor floor looks like. heh
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 10:46 AM
CG, I've got several tools: drill, stud finder w/ electric wire alert, power sander, 7 1/4" circular saw, and various levels, hammers, mallets, etc.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at November 4, 2009 10:46 AM
I went with something like that in my ground floor rooms but was advised to go for something simple on the upper floor. The Victorians did their parlours as ornate as possible to show off for guests but the rooms where guests wouldn't go would be kept simple (even so far as to have no mouldings on cheaper houses) to keep costs down.
Posted by: the chicken at November 4, 2009 10:47 AM
Forgot to add one other advantage of the polystyrene moldings:
Paint them before you glue them up and have them in a contrasting colour to both the ceiling and wall. The colour break will be amazingly crisp and people will think that you hired the world's most careful painter!
Posted by: the chicken at November 4, 2009 10:49 AM
"CG, I've got several tools: drill, stud finder w/ electric wire alert, power sander, 7 1/4" circular saw, and various levels, hammers, mallets, etc.
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at November 4, 2009 10:46 AM"
Marry me, Snappy!
Posted by: the chicken at November 4, 2009 10:50 AM
Chicken, you got it! But at our wedding, you gotta wear the dress :)
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at November 4, 2009 10:52 AM
No way! I already don't wear the pants in my current marriage. I'll be damned if I'm gonna be whipped in both of them!
Posted by: the chicken at November 4, 2009 10:53 AM
Ha!
Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at November 4, 2009 10:56 AM
I gave all of my power tools away because of the different voltage ;(
Still, I have a great excuse to stock up when I get there.
Remember that scene in "Commando" where Schwartzenegger fills up a shopping trolley around the gun store? That's going to be me in HD!
Posted by: the chicken at November 4, 2009 10:56 AM
heyoo! you have a saw?!? sweet! :)
Posted by: CG_ups at November 4, 2009 11:02 AM
to do a good job on the floor you'll need a table saw. This is a big investment for a good saw. Also a good taper jig is a must.
Posted by: lincolnlimestone at November 4, 2009 11:21 AM
ah. I saw that you might do cork. I take back what I said. Depending on the type of floor you put in, you might be able just to use a miter saw.
Posted by: lincolnlimestone at November 4, 2009 11:45 AM
We are taking the NHS class right now. Very nice, fun teacher who knows what he's talking about, fun students. I have a big complaint about the class though. The classes should be 1.5 hours long, not three hours long. One and a half hours into the evening, I got it, and everything else is just tortuous repetition. And isn't everyone really tired after working all day, and for some of us, the trip to Flatbush is long. I guess if I actually loved home repair, I would enjoy cutting 2x4s and drywall over and over and over again, but actually I can't stand it. I kinda like the plumbing though.
Posted by: mopar at November 4, 2009 12:41 PM
mopar, are you in the Monday's class? I am in the Wednesdays!
Posted by: Kensingtonian at November 4, 2009 3:11 PM
Kens! Yes, I am in Monday class. Damn, it would be so fun to be in the same class with you.
Posted by: mopar at November 4, 2009 3:47 PM
1. How much is the class?
2. How many days a week, for how many weeks?
3. Do you need to bring anything with you to the classes (tools wise)?
Posted by: CookieCutterBrownstone at November 4, 2009 5:01 PM
"stud finder w/ electric wire alert"
Snappy, you switching sides?
Posted by: denton at November 4, 2009 6:15 PM
Mopar, I wish I knew before, I would have taken the Monday class. Sign up for level 2 so we can do it together on Tuesdays!!!!
Cookie, class is $150 for 10 classes. classes meet once a week (for 10 weeks) and last for 3 hours (from 6-9pm).
No need to bring anything. They have all the tools. They just ask you to buy goggles, gloves and mask.
Posted by: Kensingtonian at November 4, 2009 10:20 PM
Hm, Level 2. I was thinking no way would I go through any more of this torture, but if you're in the class -- maybe it won't be torture!
Do you know what they cover in Level 2? The class descriptions don't seem to quite match up with what they actually teach.
Posted by: mopar at November 5, 2009 6:20 PM
My two cents.
Replacing bathroom fixtures is really easy if all goes as planned, but throw in a leaky shut off valve, corroded pipes, or any of the million other things that can go wrong and things get annoying very quickly. If I were a novice, I would make sure I had a friend on standby who knew what he or she was doing and could come over and bail me out if it came to it. Otherwise you may end up shaving (or worse) in the kitchen sink for a few days.
Installing crown molding in my opinion is more difficult to do than flooring, but it's going to be a lot less intrusive on your life style than the flooring.
If you're doing tongue and groove hardwood, you can get by with a circular saw since if you do it correctly, all of your cuts will be hidden by either baseboard or shoe molding so you have a little wiggle room. Rent the nailer, which will put you on a tighter timeline for getting things done, but it's one of those tools that you're not going to use very often. Laminate click and lock flooring is easier and requires very few tools.
I hate installing crown molding. It's a pain in the neck to get it perfect, and it looks terrible if you don't.
Posted by: Bond at November 7, 2009 12:17 PM
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