Home improvement projects this summer?

[tnf]

Anyone doing something substantial around the house?

I had a huge break from my basement finishing project from last year and am just getting back to it, finally wired some new lights yesterday and am building a frame for a new wall this afternoon.

I'm also re-landscaping the backyard - let the backyard die off so I can try and dig out the shit causing the fairy ring back there, rented a sod cutter and cut and rolled all the stuff, and hauled most of the rolls today (115 rolls of sod). Shitload of work getting rid of it...was going to have 1-800-GOT-JUNK do it, but their price quote was absolutely ridiculous ($550) The total dumping fees for me to do it myself were $80 - but they rip you off with their policy of only being able to pile sod about 1-2 feet high in their truck because of its weight. The have a pretty sturdy truck that I am sure can handle more sod than that per load - I managed to do it in 3 trips with my neighbors old beat up truck filled to the brim each time. So if you ever feel like hiring someone to get rid of crap like that because you don't want to deal with it, I would not recommend them.

Now I have to bring in new topsoil and then have the yard hydroseeded after I get the new shape of the lawn laid out.


Fun stuff.

[YourGrandpa]

I did a similar yard project a couple of years ago. I had bahia grass (which is more like a weed) for grass in my yard. They use this type of grass a lot in Florida because it can withstand the heat and doesn’t require much water. But I wanted floratam grass which is a much fuller, greener grass and makes for a nicer looking yard. So what I did was bought a commercial grass killer that you mixed with water and sprayed on the lawn. I then used a sod cutter to remove the grass along my property line and driveway, so the new grass would line up with the existing edges. I waited a week to let the grass killer dissipate and had the new sod put down right over the old sod. I couldn’t imagine having to remove every square inch of sod. That must have sucked.

[bitWISE]

I repainted my master bedroom and the next step is putting up new white trim and doors. I'm also trying to get my garage cleaned out so I can park my car in it.

[Dr_Watson]

i'm thinking about buying one... that's a pretty big improvement project right there.

[obsidian]

A couple of weeks ago, I dug up the back yard along with a pile of tree roots and laid down patio pavers. Then had a really big BBQ.

Photo of the work in progress. The second photo isn't finished yet, the finished work extends another 2 feet or so.

[7zark7]

We're going to kill the front lawn this year. Cover it all in black plastic for a month or two to kill off the grass. Today I cut down all the bushes around the front of the house. I'll probably spend most of the weekend digging out the stumps. I'm also going to paint the front doors and garage doors Red.

[bitWISE]

We're going to kill the front lawn this year. Cover it all in black plastic for a month or two to kill off the grass.

Wait what?

[AmIdYfReAk]

When your grass isn't worth the time to re-do, the easiest thing to do is kill it and re-see.

[YourGrandpa]

We're going to kill the front lawn this year. Cover it all in black plastic for a month or two to kill off the grass. Today I cut down all the bushes around the front of the house. I'll probably spend most of the weekend digging out the stumps. I'm also going to paint the front doors and garage doors Red.

Just spray it with a weed killer...

Do you really want your lawn covered in plastic for several months?

[7zark7]

Not even going to re seed. I never want to cut grass again. So I am going to kill all the grass. We're gonna make the front all flowers, rocks and ground cover. Its gonna royally piss off all my neighbors for a while...who's front lawn are like putting greens.

I also plan on painting the inside of my garage bubble gum pink.. So it'll feel like I'm driving my car into a giant vagina. I already have the paint.

[7zark7]

Just spray it with a weed killer...

Do you really want your lawn covered in plastic for several months?

Most weed killers are illegal to use here now.

and yes I do want to cover my lawn in black plastic... I think it'll be hilarious.

[YourGrandpa]

Is it because you have a an unfulfilled desire for attention or do you really hate your neighbors?

Because it seems pretty stupid to do something like that.

[7zark7]

Its the best way to kill grass without using chemicals. Perhaps I should buy a shotgun and shoot my lawn till its all dead...would that satisfy you?

[tnf]

Lots of people in arid areas are moving towards that no-lawn landscaping, using rocks, local plants, etc., to do some creative stuff that doesn't require much water.

I'm a yard fanatic though. Couldn't handle not having a lawn to mow.

[Chupacabra]

Its the best way to kill grass without using chemicals. Perhaps I should buy a shotgun and shoot my lawn till its all dead...would that satisfy you?

arent there environmentally safe lawn killers?

[7zark7]

Boiled Vinegar is the best... But I dont want to boil vinegar... not even a small pot.
We're gonna cover the lawn in newspaper...then cover it in black plastic. That will kill and mulch nicely.....this is the best way to kill grass without poison.
Sounds weird I know..but its true.

[AmIdYfReAk]

what about having a Clover lawn?

[7zark7]

I'd rather have hens and chicks as ground cover.

[MKJ]

much liks obsidian, I overhauled the backyard

got rid of the patio (~1500 bricks :s ) and planted grass and an appletree \o/
kept a bit of the patio for bbq, which already commenced.

[plained]

its like a hobby so ive always got something on the go

i re-did my whole thing about 3 years ago, got rid of the old yard useing a bobkat!

the yard was only a few years old too!

[YourGrandpa]

Its the best way to kill grass without using chemicals. Perhaps I should buy a shotgun and shoot my lawn till its all dead...would that satisfy you?

No, because that would be even more stupid than your original idea. I just think it's incredibly inconsiderate of you to force your neighbors to live next to/look at a shit-hole for several months.

[YourGrandpa]

Double Post....

Shitty fucking web host.

[Massive Quasars]

[plained]

i'm not so convinced a flower/rock arrangement will be less upkeep

plus the actuall difficulty level o the maintenence is a concern as well

for me anyways lol

and i guess gramps is a home owner/ niebor so some of ur neibors may fell something who knows.

easiest way out is a tricked out ultra riding mower with mega-boombox blasting ur selff made tunes , fuckinf keg on the back, hotplate warming some cheeps on there , mount a steven king scary face thing on the front.



lol

[Dark Metal]

This year I've built 2 decks, 1 shed and done a bunch of landscaping work at the cottage. One of the decks needs stairs, which is a small project for this weekend. I also reinforced the existing deck at the side of the cottage as it was cracking and sagging along one side, and was getting somewhat unstable. I still need to buy and install a gazebo on one of the decks, put the dock in the water (the dock that floated down in the high waters of the spring), and get some decent sized rocks to put on the outside of the chipped wood path I made between the 2 decks and the BBQ.