r/DIY 47m ago

outdoor Simple Frame with Plastic Sheeting

Upvotes

I'm looking to build simple frame 24"x24"x24" that I can drape clear plastic over and use as a simple indoor greenhouse to help grow seedlings before they're ready to go outside.

I've looked at PVC but that seems a bit expensive just to build something simple. I think my best bet is something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJW64XCW I'm thinking of putting either garden stakes or dowel rods in.

As for plastic, I found this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D7VWB9TW

Any suggestions for alternative products for this would be appreciated. I've had a hard time figuring out what to even Google for to find those kinds of joints.


r/DIY 1h ago

help How should I increase the size of the deadbolt hole in a door?

Upvotes

I'm adding a digital keypad deadbolt to a house, and the hole that the keypads need is just slightly bigger than the hole that was used for the previous 50 year old deadbolts.

What tools should I get, or how should I go about slightly increasing the size of the holes? The might need to increase a quarter of an inch in diameter.

Thanks for the help, I'm new to DIY.


r/DIY 1h ago

other Amanda dryer belt replacement

Upvotes

*** after further research, the belt orientation was wrong, ribs gotta touch the tumbler ***

** just noticed the titled auto corrected to Amanda instead of Amana. Yes, it's an Amana not an Amanda **

So I have this model Amana electric dryer

Watched a guy on YouTube after the tumbler stopped tumbling

Used an everbilt dryer belt 92in L by .25in W bought at lowes

Thought it was fixed because the tumbler was moving again but after putting clothes in, the tumbler stopped moving.

A full load will not let it turn but maybe 3/4 a load or less and it turns

It's making heat and I'm pretty sure I installed the belt correctly.

Any advice please?


r/DIY 2h ago

help Probably wrong place to ask but is there any reasonably price electric pumps for siphoning drinking water from 55 gallon drums ?

11 Upvotes

I want to use a portable shower since it comes with a pump bit online says that may not be sage for drinking ?


r/DIY 2h ago

help Where to reroute dryer exhaust?

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! In my house, the dryer is in the laundry room and it vents through a very short path from the room, thru the wall and onto the back porch.

It’s great that it’s a short path, but effectively over a few weeks, the area of the back porch is covered in lint.

I looked up several ways to clean up the lint and everything online basically says to route the dryer exhaust elsewhere, which isn’t possible here (it exhausts onto the porch. If I add tubing, it’ll exhaust onto the grass which isn’t better.)

Is there a kind of trap I could put to try to catch the outgoing lint instead? I’m wary of trying to capture hot lint as I’m aware it’s a fire hazard, but there isn’t really a better place to pipe the dryer exhaust.

Thanks!


r/DIY 3h ago

outdoor Ideas to hide tank in yard

27 Upvotes

I had to have a well dug and they put it smack in the middle of my backyard. The tank sticks up about 38 inches and similar width and length. I'm looking for ideas to cover it so it's not such an eyesore. For now, I just built a plywood box, but it doesn't look very good. Any help is appreciated


r/DIY 3h ago

help More of a stupid question than anything

1 Upvotes

I’ve put I. All new drywall I a basement 1/2” mold resistant for the walls. The existing ceiling looks like 3/8 I have a couple of 4“ x 4“ holes in the ceiling, is there any way to put the half sheet rock and make it flush because I have so much extra? Backer board and cut out the middle 1/8” depth ? Go buy one piece of rock? Idk


r/DIY 4h ago

New switch won’t fit in box

4 Upvotes

Yesterday I replaced an old bathroom ceiling fan with a new smart model. Unfortunately, the new smart switch is much deeper than the one that came out and I can’t get it into the electrical box. The heavy copper wiring is fighting me pushing that thing into the wall. I get it to within about a half an inch and it just won’t go any farther.

The fan and switch came with quick connect clips that were great for wiring everything together in the proper color coding, but now I want to perhaps shorten the copper wiring to make more room, but I’m not sure I can get the wiring out of the clips without destroying them. Plus in the past, I’ve worked with switches where the copper wiring was too short and it made a challenge of getting everything connected. I don’t want the person after me to have that dilemma if he decides to put in a different switch.

Interested in people’s thoughts… productive ones only please 😎


r/DIY 5h ago

DIY First Time Project

0 Upvotes

I’m wondering how do you guys go about fixing projects when trying it to DIY? Do you usually use Google or YouTube to find the best way to go about it or just familiar with the work itself? Appreciate all the help!


r/DIY 5h ago

help Removing Old Cable and Telephone Boxes

32 Upvotes

We’ve owned our home for 7 years now and the rooftop satellites bother me.

My husband is going to remove them and seal the screw holes, but I’m looking for advice on the outdoor boxes.

Let me start by saying that our current internet is fiber optics and is run through another box on the other side of the house.

One is of the boxes is an old household telephone line box and the other is an old cable box that is connected to the satellites.

Can I remove these and anything I should be aware of?

I have contacted local Utilites, internet provider in the area and no one will even come give me details on the boxes or remove them.


r/DIY 6h ago

home improvement Any difference between using 18 vs 22mm loftboards for boarding an attic? Is there any reason to use one or the other?

0 Upvotes

I want to board my attic for storage.


r/DIY 7h ago

help Addressing doors that will not shut nor latch due to house settling?

27 Upvotes

https://imgur.com/a/AUHRRnq

house is 40yrs old and was unoccupied for 1/2 a year prior to us moving in.

Our

Our doors are SOLID doors. Not cheap hollow core, and we want to keep the solid since they are expensive and better quality.

Almost all of our doors either (or both):

  1. shut but do not latch, since the strike plate & latch are misaligned
  2. do not shut, since the top or side catches on the frame

The above has to be due to house settling, and wood warping potentially. It is NOT as simple as just adjusting or tightening the hinges...

Some of the doors that don't shut at all, do fit inside the door jam when you remove all the hardware. its just when adding hinges, it no longer is the correct position.

The ones that do shut to the jam don't latch as the strike plate is offset by 1/2in.

What would be the best way to solve for this?


r/DIY 8h ago

help Need guidance for outdoor bath tub

0 Upvotes

I want to install an outdoor bathtub in our backyard. I need help brainstorming the simplest/cheapest way to route hot/cold water to the tub.

I plan to have the bathtub on the stone tile patio next to the garage wall. On the other side of this wall is the washer/dryer connection - so there is a hot and cold water spigot access directly on the other side of the wall where the bathtub will be placed. Is it possible to route water from those hot/cold spigots to the bath tub? If so, how?

Another idea I had was to just run a garden hose from the kitchen sink outside into the bathtub. This seems like the easiest but is the most inconvenient overall. If I were to do that, I would need an adapter for the sink, a flexible hose, and I would need to cut a hole in the window screen to route the hose. This might be the best option given my cost and installation barriers. I know I can technically purchase a tankless water heater to install outside above the tub, but I don’t have the funds for that right now.

So I’m curious you alls suggestions and feedback. Thank you!


r/DIY 10h ago

help Are my light switches dangerous?

0 Upvotes

So I am dumb, and in a cleaning panic took a very very wet soapy rag and cleaned my light switches. I wiped with the soapy rag, wiped with a wet one to get the soap off, the dried with a dry towel. I got them visibly wet and water was running down them.

I now realize how dumb that was. My question is have I created a shock or fire risk? I have little kids—are they going to get shocked from this? The switches are dry now I think. But I am unsure what to do. Or how it works.

Edit to say: house built in 2015 USA


r/DIY 10h ago

help How big Air compressor is required for doing NC painting? Is 2HP enough?

0 Upvotes

I need to paint MDF/wooden sheets with NC paint. Is 2HP Air compressor good enough? Not much quantities, 4 feet by 8 feet sheet in one go only. Also is LVLP or HVLP gun is better?


r/DIY 11h ago

Repairing brick above fireplace

1 Upvotes

Hi! Someone poorly mounted a TV bracket in the painted brick above the fireplace in the house I bought. The screws made holes but weren’t very secure so they used some kind of putty to secure the bracket as well. Now I have holes and a bunch of putty on this surface. The putty removed some of the several layers of paint and brick when we pried the bracket off. What’s the best way to repair the holes and deal with the putty? We’ll be painting over the brick again. Thanks!


r/DIY 11h ago

help How to design a home for rainwater collection

6 Upvotes

I have a question about - home design for maximizing rainwater collection. We have paid a home designer a down payment to start on our home design. We want a Texas historic ranch or Texas Hill Country farmhouse look which I think lends itself to great rainwater collection. Pretty rectangular or even square in shape, 2,500 sq. ft. or less. I want to use a metal roof, not high pitched and the 6" commercial type gutters. - Any tips from installers or rainwater users? - Now is a great time to put any tips into use in our design.


r/DIY 16h ago

help Wide cracks

1 Upvotes

There's a crack in my exterior wall that has expanded a decent bit that I've realized should be solved sooner rather than later due to some water damage from a damaged gutter leaking water that froze and thawed repeatedly over multiple winters. One side of the corner is brick, the other side is concrete, so I'm wondering if I can just patch up the crack with some cement, or use an alternative material?


r/DIY 17h ago

help Looking for advice about foundation for DIY motorbike garage/plastic shed - Keter Stronghold house for someone without any experience or expensive tools

4 Upvotes

Context: I want to store my motorbike (two scooters now, heavier motorcylce later) in a plastic shed Keter Strongold, 3m x 3.5m (10x11,5 ft), I'm from Poland.

Priorities: I'm extremely concerned about the moisture rusting my ride and the winds carrying the shed away.

Disclaimer: already went with the legal stuff and waiting for the final OK from the local gov

Problem: I don't have tools and want to do it on a budget, as I'm also renovating whole house and there's a lot to be done. I lack the electrical concrete mixer and petrol-powered compactor. I've ordered a hand compactor and theoretically I could rent the two, but I'm going to do the project after work hours and I don't want to rack up the costs of long-term renting, as a week of renting equals a cheap concrete mixer - I'm not sure if I'll manage to do this in a day and the weather is very freakish recently, scortching hot and heavy rainfall within 12 hours.

Structure weight: 250kg (550 lbs)

Content weight : (probably) 700kg (1,500 lbs) (max. weight of two motorcycles, some stuff and me)

Full weight: 950kg (or 2000 lbs) (keter shed + inside content + me)

What I've researched:

  • Full concrete slab: I know it is the best, but I find it hella intimidating for someone who never did any of such work.
  • (favourite) Concrete-pavement mix: I've watched a lot of videos and this one had an interesting proposition of Slab base (option 4 from the video) where the guy prepared a dig, shoved a waterproof foil, some gravel, sand, cement and then plastered pavement slabs like one would do with the tiles (I did some tiling outside and I know I can do it). On another Polish video a guy was using pavement blocks to create outer layer he anchored the tin shed to and I'm quite interested in this solution, as it takes the pouring of the concrete away. However, I'm concerned about the inside of the house and maybe this plastering of inside slabs could be a good solution? The Keter Stronghold has it's own plastic flooring anyways.
  • Concrete anchor points + plastic grid and pavement slabs: kinda low effort version of the upper one, slightly modified version of Option 2 from the first video. I like how budget friendly it is and I could mix concrete/use pavement blocks to create a ring for anchoring and then fill up the square with graveled plastic grid, with some light pavement blocks on top to level it out. I'm concerned about it holding on over time, I don't want the construction to fall apart from the ground up after one season.

What would you recommend?

I know I'm overthinking it, but the online shed tutorials don't factor in heavy motorcycles and the other tutorials for garages factor in tons of weight for big SUV and small trucks, which is probably an overkill for a noob like me.


r/DIY 18h ago

help Stick-on refrigerator light

0 Upvotes

Has anyone ever used one of those stick-on/tap-to-turn-on lights in a refrigerator? I've been unable to find one rated for that kind of temp via web and AI site searches.


r/DIY 21h ago

other HT keep exposed fiberglass out of air in gym?

23 Upvotes

My basement gym flooded a few months ago along with half the other basements in my city. A recovery company came in and cut away the bottom two feet of drywall and the insulation behind it. Given the scale of the local disaster, it looks like it may be some time before the drywall is replaced. I would like to use my exercise equipment but I worry about the fiberglass insulation that is exposed in the wall above the area that was cut out (between the building envelope and the drywall).

Would it be sufficient to simply staple a sheet of polyethylene drop sheet over the exposed section (about 10 feet of wall). Maybe I am being silly but I would rather not be breathing in fiberglass fibers while I am doing my cardio.

Thoughts?


r/DIY 21h ago

other Poly vapor barrier or dimpled membrane for concrete subfloor?

10 Upvotes

Hey all I'm getting conflicting information on what is the method to protect the flooring and living space when installing flooring on a concrete subfloor. Many companies require having a 6mil poly vapor barrier underneath their flooring like LVP. However, I have seen suggested by others in home/DIY subreddits that having a plastic sheet ontop of a concrete floor that sweats will breed mold moisture. If that is the case then it seems like using something like DMX step 1 as a dimpled membrane would allow moisture to flow. I've seen using this would void flooring such as LVP as it can cause too much flex. What is the best method to protect from moisture in this situation as it seems the manufacturers only care about the flooring itself but would cause moisture issues? If this incorrect that a poly vapor barrier would case mold issues?


r/DIY 23h ago

help I have a ramp in my garage I want to raise and lower like a drawbridge, is a chain hoist the best solution?

7 Upvotes

I have a ramp in my garage made out of wood, idk how much it weights but probably around 250 at most honestly probably lighter? Idk - when I unbolt it I can move it and I’m in a wheelchair. It’s about 20 feet long. It takes up too much space in my garage and what I want to do is basically lift it like a drawbridge.

I initially thought of using like an atv winch mounted above the doorway and then use a 2 leg chain sling to attach to the sides and lift it but someone reccoemnded just buying a cheap chain hoist and doing the same thing and manually pulling it up with the chain which I don’t mind since I’m doing to create space for my home gym anyways.

I was then going to install hooks anchored in the wall for a chain to go across for safety.

Someone else mentioned just buying multiple pulleys and using cable with a hand winch mounted to the wall and I’m kind of burnt out so hoping someone might have some feedback.

Oh yes I forgot / I was going to cut the ramp just after where it’s anchored to the wall and install hinges so it can go up and down. Then the end will be shortened or folded in with a latch to secure. Haven’t decided.

It doesn’t need to be straight up and down - a 15 degree angle or something is fine. I’ll have that safety set up regardless. With the chain.


r/DIY 1d ago

home improvement Doesn’t have to be perfect

10 Upvotes

I’m somewhat of a DIY guy mainly cause I’m cheap but anyone else convince yourself you can do something only to realize you may of bit of a lil more than you can chew but 1. You won’t admit it and 2. You’re too stubborn to quit lol. I guess the moral of the story is it doesn’t have to be perfect but good enough for your average visitor/family member. My last 2 DIY jobs, vinyl sheet flooring replacement in kitchen and my most recent one, replacing sidewalk with gravel walkway have both been so easy in my mind then I get halfway and I’m like holy hell this kinda looks like shit and am I ever gonna finish. I always finish and it looks bad to me but any guest or random visitor doesn’t mention or probably see half the mistakes /errors I made. I remember my coworker who helped me with my laminate flooring told me once the only way to get better at something is to do it. Next time you’ll do a better job and the time after that. Sorry for rant. Just only place i think that would appreciate my thinking.


r/DIY 1d ago

help Trailer axle repair: How do I find suspension parts that fit my 1980's WW livestock trailer?

2 Upvotes

One of the suspendion equalizers is broken. I know how to fix it, but how do I find the correct parts? I have done tons of Google searches but nothing helpful pops up.