Home Improvement Thread

[GburgNatsFan]

How old are your current cabinets? What are they made of?

I think you'll notice the degradation first on shelves which are often also made of particleboard. The cases will probably be fine.

That's kind of what I was thinking. I mean, how else can I justify the $400 blender

But are IKEA cabinets going to hold up over the next five years?

[Slateman]

How old are your current cabinets? What are they made of?

I think you'll notice the degradation first on shelves which are often also made of particleboard. The cases will probably be fine.

They are from the original build and they are pure crap. They are particleboard.

[GburgNatsFan]

It does break down over time. That's where plywood has the advantage.

We got our cabinets at Home Depot. The prices were reasonable. The installers (independent contractors, but just barely) were excellent too.

They are from the original build and they are pure crap. They are particleboard.

[Slateman]

We'll be doing the installation ourselves, with my BiL's help. Judging by how well the floor and laundry closet has turned out, I have complete faith that there will be no problems with installation.

And, to be honest, I don't know if it's plywood or particle board. But your point is taken, wife seems open to looking at IKEA.

[GburgNatsFan]

I would give Home Depot a shot at it. See what they come up with. Our experience was very good. They know how to find value and help you pick out important features from bullcrap. Worse comes to worst, it's another datapoint.

We'll be doing the installation ourselves, with my BiL's help. Judging by how well the floor and laundry closet has turned out, I have complete faith that there will be no problems with installation.

And, to be honest, I don't know if it's plywood or particle board. But your point is taken, wife seems open to looking at IKEA.

[HalfSmokes]

That's kind of what I was thinking. I mean, how else can I justify the $400 blender

But are IKEA cabinets going to hold up over the next five years?

That's about how long we've had ours, they've withstood two kids pretty well. Even if they did get damaged, it would be pretty simple to swap a door or box for a new one (ours are white, so color matching wouldn't be an issue).

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

They've held up in my basement with snotty rich girl renters, who might as well be freaking anarchists or taliban when it comes to other peoples' crap. So I'd say yes.

But are IKEA cabinets going to hold up over the next five years?

[mitlen]

Hate to bring this up but   ...

I have a cranky downstairs bathroom.    I've had occasional blocked toilets.    Usually the plunger works fine.    Now I have "issues".    I tried a snake (3') and it really doesn't accomplish much.    I find that "plunging" over and over at least allows some of the water go down.    Anybody have any home remedies?    I don't wanna pour any corrosives down the toilet and I'm not ready to be gouged by a plumber yet.    Is there something like baking soda, etc. that can open up the plumbing?

Follow up:     Did some googlin' and found ...  put a large amount dishwashing liquid in the bowl.     Add as much very hot water as you can in the bowl.     It seems to have worked.

[varoadking]

Hate to bring this up but   ...

I have a cranky downstairs bathroom.    I've had occasional blocked toilets.    Usually the plunger works fine.    Now I have "issues".    I tried a snake (3') and it really doesn't accomplish much.    I find that "plunging" over and over at least allows some of the water go down.    Anybody have any home remedies?    I don't wanna pour any corrosives down the toilet and I'm not ready to be gouged by a plumber yet.    Is there something like baking soda, etc. that can open up the plumbing?

Follow up:     Did some googlin' and found ...  put a large amount dishwashing liquid in the bowl and put as much very hot water as you can in the bowl.     It seems to have worked.

I was posting this as you edited:

Some have suggested a cup of Dawn diswashing detergent, allow it to sit for 15 munites, then "flush" with a bucket of hot water.

Seems legit...

[mitlen]

I was posting this as you edited:

Some have suggested a cup of Dawn diswashing detergent, allow it to sit for 15 munites, then "flush" with a bucket of hot water.

Seems legit...

I was surprised.     I've been plungin' and nagin' all day.    Went to Home Depot and bought a heavy duty 3' snake.     Plungin' and snakin' didn't seem to accomplish alot.    The google search gave me the option of dishwashing liquid and hot (very hot) water.    Boom.    Water went right down.       

[varoadking]

I was surprised.     I've been plungin' and nagin' all day.    Went to Home Depot and bought a heavy duty 3' snake.     Plungin' and snakin' didn't seem to accomplish alot.    The google search gave me the option of dishwashing liquid and hot (very hot) water.    Boom.    Water went right down.     

Glad that worked...sometimes simple is better...

[mitlen]

Glad that worked...sometimes simple is better...

I told the missus though there is no tellin' how much all the plungin', snakin' and nagin' helped.   

[dcpatti]

An air "blaster" can work miracles.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HPMPPWY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

I live in an older house with older plumbing and I'm not fond of dumping corrosive stuff down the drain. I used this to clear a badly clogged bathtub --- snake, plunger, chemicals, patience, all failed. Took about 45 seconds to clear the clog with this thingie and it's stayed cleared. Loaned it to my neighbor and she had similar success with a stuck toilet.

[mitlen]

An air "blaster" can work miracles.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HPMPPWY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

I live in an older house with older plumbing and I'm not fond of dumping corrosive stuff down the drain. I used this to clear a badly clogged bathtub --- snake, plunger, chemicals, patience, all failed. Took about 45 seconds to clear the clog with this thingie and it's stayed cleared. Loaned it to my neighbor and she had similar success with a stuck toilet.

Very reasonably priced  ...   may have to pick one up next time I'm out.

[MarquisDeSade]

Probably a "soft" clog.  Get the 6' snake and all of your problems will be solved.  The blasters will work on "soft" clogs but if there's a hard obstruction in the pipe those can blow them out and damage the pipe. 

[tomterp]

I was surprised.     I've been plungin' and nagin' all day.    Went to Home Depot and bought a heavy duty 3' snake.     Plungin' and snakin' didn't seem to accomplish alot.    The google search gave me the option of dishwashing liquid and hot (very hot) water.    Boom.    Water went right down.     

A 3' snake?   


My snake is much bigger than that, at least 8 feet. 

[varoadking]

A 3' snake?   


My snake is much bigger than that, at least 8 feet.

Slate will be here in a minute to tell everyone just how big his snake is...

[mitlen]

A 3' snake?   


My snake is much bigger than that, at least 8 feet. 

I live in a small house.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Sometimes the clog is WAY down there. Our big one was like 70' away (collapsed terra cotta pipe due to tree roots and, oh, a century of use). Wound up being just outside our property line though, fortunately

[GburgNatsFan]

I use a kettle full of boiling water on the shower drains every week. Kids use so much product that drains are just a soap clog in waiting.

Glad that worked...sometimes simple is better...

[Slateman]

Slate will be here in a minute to tell everyone just how big his snake is...

My snake is enormous

[GburgNatsFan]

Four words. I expected much more.

My snake is enormous

[Mathguy]

Don't encourage him ...

Four words. I expected much more.

[Slateman]

Four words. I expected much more.

Talk is cheap.

[GburgNatsFan]

Well done, Slate. Well done.

Talk is cheap.