Help a n00b with home repair/fixing stuff

[OK_Cat]

On my front porch, there were 2 wood columns that was rotting out pretty bad.  the one that wasn't load-bearing was then kicked the crap out by my badass feet. 

i've taken some wood and built a slightly larger column around the load-bearing one.  so like, now what?  do i need to fill in the cracks with some sort of putty or something?  and then do I just paint it or do I need to put some sort of primer or whatever on it?

I'm going to do a bunch of projects this summer, so this thread will be constantly updated with questions. 

[XocolateThundarr]

Need pictures.

[OK_Cat]

eff.  ok, will take when i get home.

[EllRobersonisInnocent]

"Hire someone to do it" - Steve Dave

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

simply building something around the load-bearing column may not help a whole lot. pics will tell   

[OK_Cat]

"Hire someone to do it" - Steve Dave

normally my first choice, but i'm trying to "break out" and learn stuff.   

[OK_Cat]

simply building something around the load-bearing column may not help a whole lot. pics will tell   

i only built it for looks.  the load-bearing stuff is still there, it's just ugly.

[CNS]

OK Cat, if they have truly started to rot, quit being a cheap ass and replace them.  Especially the load bearing one.  Take a 4"x4" post and set them up on either side of the column, a little ways away so that you have room to work, then take that rotten one out and replace it with a new one.  Anchor the new one how the old one is anchored(bolts, nails, screws, or however ppl Oklahoma Engineer things down there) then remove the 4"x4"s.

Should be able to do the same thing on the non-load bearing one only without the 4"x4" posts if you kicked the rotten column out and nothing happened.

KSC is right about simply using supports may not be enough, but it usually is unless you have some unique sitch.  Pics would kill this question.

[OK_Cat]

i'll post pics later.  the 4/4's are anchored exactly how the old one is, and they surround it completely. 

my god, if this is so complicated, i can't wait until i ask you guys about removing a kitchen countertop.   

[HerrSonntag]

"Hire someone to do it" - Steve Dave

 

[Cartierfor3]

i'll post pics later.  the 4/4's are anchored exactly how the old one is, and they surround it completely. 

my god, if this is so complicated, i can't wait until i ask you guys about removing a kitchen countertop.   

Removing a countertop is easy. Smash, Smash, SUH-MASH

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

might ask timhawk about possibly replacing your whole house? the guy makes a solid 35k a year as it is now but a little spare cash probs wouldnt kill him.

[CNS]

i'll post pics later.  the 4/4's are anchored exactly how the old one is, and they surround it completely. 

my god, if this is so complicated, i can't wait until i ask you guys about removing a kitchen countertop.   

It's not complicated.  Sounds like your make shift/ decorative temp solution is very similar to what I described to hold your porch roof up while you replace the shitty one.  Only difference is that they probably need to be a foot or so farther away from the shitty column to allow working room and once complete with replacing the shitty one, you can take the temp posts out.

[OK_Cat]

i'll post pics later.  the 4/4's are anchored exactly how the old one is, and they surround it completely. 

my god, if this is so complicated, i can't wait until i ask you guys about removing a kitchen countertop.   

It's not complicated.  Sounds like your make shift/ decorative temp solution is very similar to what I described to hold your porch roof up while you replace the shitty one.  Only difference is that they probably need to be a foot or so farther away from the shitty column to allow working room and once complete with replacing the shitty one, you can take the temp posts out.

yeah.  i just need to know after that part is done if i'm supposed to seal up the wood somehow.  like putty or whatever.  i hung some pictures on the wall the other day, that's the extent of my mechanical knowledge.

[CNS]

i'll post pics later.  the 4/4's are anchored exactly how the old one is, and they surround it completely. 

my god, if this is so complicated, i can't wait until i ask you guys about removing a kitchen countertop.   

It's not complicated.  Sounds like your make shift/ decorative temp solution is very similar to what I described to hold your porch roof up while you replace the shitty one.  Only difference is that they probably need to be a foot or so farther away from the shitty column to allow working room and once complete with replacing the shitty one, you can take the temp posts out.

yeah.  i just need to know after that part is done if i'm supposed to seal up the wood somehow.  like putty or whatever.  i hung some pictures on the wall the other day, that's the extent of my mechanical knowledge.

In the porch sitch, latex caulk every joint between the columns and the underside of the roof and the top of the deck/porch.  Then paint well. Your new column shouldn't have major checks or cracks in it.  If it does, chose the one in the pile at the lumber yard that doesn't. 

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

eff nevermind didnt read it was a porch. dont use L-brackets.

[OK_Cat]

i'll post pics later.  the 4/4's are anchored exactly how the old one is, and they surround it completely. 

my god, if this is so complicated, i can't wait until i ask you guys about removing a kitchen countertop.   

It's not complicated.  Sounds like your make shift/ decorative temp solution is very similar to what I described to hold your porch roof up while you replace the shitty one.  Only difference is that they probably need to be a foot or so farther away from the shitty column to allow working room and once complete with replacing the shitty one, you can take the temp posts out.

yeah.  i just need to know after that part is done if i'm supposed to seal up the wood somehow.  like putty or whatever.  i hung some pictures on the wall the other day, that's the extent of my mechanical knowledge.

In the porch sitch, latex caulk every joint between the columns and the underside of the roof and the top of the deck/porch.  Then paint well. Your new column shouldn't have major checks or cracks in it.  If it does, chose the one in the pile at the lumber yard that doesn't.

that's what i was looking for, good job fella.  do i just use regular exterior paint?  or do i need to add some sort of primer or whatever?

god, i love goEMAW.

[steve dave]

Hire someone to do it

[CNS]

i'll post pics later.  the 4/4's are anchored exactly how the old one is, and they surround it completely. 

my god, if this is so complicated, i can't wait until i ask you guys about removing a kitchen countertop.   

It's not complicated.  Sounds like your make shift/ decorative temp solution is very similar to what I described to hold your porch roof up while you replace the shitty one.  Only difference is that they probably need to be a foot or so farther away from the shitty column to allow working room and once complete with replacing the shitty one, you can take the temp posts out.

yeah.  i just need to know after that part is done if i'm supposed to seal up the wood somehow.  like putty or whatever.  i hung some pictures on the wall the other day, that's the extent of my mechanical knowledge.

In the porch sitch, latex caulk every joint between the columns and the underside of the roof and the top of the deck/porch.  Then paint well. Your new column shouldn't have major checks or cracks in it.  If it does, chose the one in the pile at the lumber yard that doesn't.

that's what i was looking for, good job fella.  do i just use regular exterior paint?  or do i need to add some sort of primer or whatever?

god, i love goEMAW.

If the column is raw wood(unfinished) use primer then give it a couple coats of paint.  You will be surprised how much the unfinished column will absorb the paint.  Paint and caulk are cheap.  Don't spare them.

Yeah, reg exterior paint would be fine.  I used to only use Sherwin Willimans, but the Behr stuff at home depot is actually pretty good for this type of project and is cheap.

[OK_Cat]

i'll post pics later.  the 4/4's are anchored exactly how the old one is, and they surround it completely. 

my god, if this is so complicated, i can't wait until i ask you guys about removing a kitchen countertop.   

It's not complicated.  Sounds like your make shift/ decorative temp solution is very similar to what I described to hold your porch roof up while you replace the shitty one.  Only difference is that they probably need to be a foot or so farther away from the shitty column to allow working room and once complete with replacing the shitty one, you can take the temp posts out.

yeah.  i just need to know after that part is done if i'm supposed to seal up the wood somehow.  like putty or whatever.  i hung some pictures on the wall the other day, that's the extent of my mechanical knowledge.

In the porch sitch, latex caulk every joint between the columns and the underside of the roof and the top of the deck/porch.  Then paint well. Your new column shouldn't have major checks or cracks in it.  If it does, chose the one in the pile at the lumber yard that doesn't.

that's what i was looking for, good job fella.  do i just use regular exterior paint?  or do i need to add some sort of primer or whatever?

god, i love goEMAW.

If the column is raw wood(unfinished) use primer then give it a couple coats of paint.  You will be surprised how much the unfinished column will absorb the paint.  Paint and caulk are cheap.  Don't spare them.

Yeah, reg exterior paint would be fine.  I used to only use Sherwin Willimans, but the Behr stuff at home depot is actually pretty good for this type of project and is cheap.

yeah it is unfinished wood, so i will do the primer stuff. 

good job, cns.  now some other n00b can post questions until i finish this and start on my next thing.

[Brock Landers]

Good thread idea.

Since we're waiting for OK Cat's pics I'll ask about another mini project.  I want to replace the ceramic tiles on my kitchen backsplah with something sexier like those smaller glass tiles.  Removing the old tiles is easy enough but then you're left with the old mastic which I've heard is a major pain in the ass to scrape off/remove.  Would it just be easier to rip out everything down to the studs and start with a new wall surface?  Seems like removing the old mastic would leave the existing wall all scraped up anyway.

[CNS]

Good thread idea.

Since we're waiting for OK Cat's pics I'll ask about another mini project.  I want to replace the ceramic tiles on my kitchen backsplah with something sexier like those smaller glass tiles.  Removing the old tiles is easy enough but then you're left with the old mastic which I've heard is a major pain in the ass to scrape off/remove.  Would it just be easier to rip out everything down to the studs and start with a new wall surface?  Seems like removing the old mastic would leave the existing wall all scraped up anyway.

I personally haven't done exactly this before, but would agree that you need a way to make the subsurface look good, whether that be the old mastic or new drywall.  The main reason for this is that if you go back in with glass tile, you don't want to see a shitty inconsistent view through your glass tile.  Check YouTube.  Glass tile is so popular right now, I bet there is a bunch of good stuff on YouTube about this exact issue.

[puniraptor]

righty tighty lefty loosey

[Gooch]

Step 1: find pen
Step 2: find checkbook (If you're like MIR it is in your back pocket or lying in a gas station parking lot)
Step 3: write check to guy/guys to fix (insert any problem)
Step 4: crack open cold beer and enjoy what guy/guys fixed.

[Boom Roasted]

Good thread idea.

Since we're waiting for OK Cat's pics I'll ask about another mini project.  I want to replace the ceramic tiles on my kitchen backsplah with something sexier like those smaller glass tiles.  Removing the old tiles is easy enough but then you're left with the old mastic which I've heard is a major pain in the ass to scrape off/remove.  Would it just be easier to rip out everything down to the studs and start with a new wall surface?  Seems like removing the old mastic would leave the existing wall all scraped up anyway.

I personally haven't done exactly this before, but would agree that you need a way to make the subsurface look good, whether that be the old mastic or new drywall.  The main reason for this is that if you go back in with glass tile, you don't want to see a shitty inconsistent view through your glass tile.  Check YouTube.  Glass tile is so popular right now, I bet there is a bunch of good stuff on YouTube about this exact issue.

Just scrape it off like you would paint, if its loose get it off there, if not, just put them up right over it.  Since its just wall tile and wont have weight on it or get very much water, theres no reason to go back to studs then redo it all.  The little glass tiles are really easy to do, just dont put too much thinset on the wall, otherwise you will spend forever getting it out of the cracks before you grout.  On this topic, get it out of the cracks before it dries because its easier to wipe it out with with something small than carve it out with a screw driver.