The Home Ownership Thread

[beargonefishing]

Pio's dunking on all of us.

 

[nootje]

Fwiw, the new place we are building is getting this induction cooktop.

EX977LVV5E Inductiekookplaat | Siemens huishoudapparaten NL

EX977LVV5E Inductiekookplaat | Siemens huishoudapparaten NL

www.siemens-home.bsh-group.com

 

[Van Veen]

FWIW, when I and some Sty-Fo IC notables were given a tour of the kitchen at Robuchon’s The Manson in Vegas back in ‘11 they were already using induction.

Robuchon's definitely an induction advocate.

2008:

What's the one cooking tool that a guy should not be without?​

I know it's expensive, but I absolutely think an induction stove. It's much better than gas or electric; you can get whatever you're cooking to as low or high a temperature as you want to a very specific level. But there's no substitute for this.​

​

Recent?:

​

• What is your favorite kitchen implement?​

An induction stove – easy to use and to control.​

And FWIW Consumer Reports rates the best induction cooktops 98, and the best gas cooktops 93. Induction performs better in tests; gas has better reliability and owner satisfaction.

I'm open to it, but my wife is insistent on gas right now.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

A buddy of mine just renovated his workshop/workout room (he's a powerlifter) and swears by the rubber mats they use for horse stalls in stables. Says it's by far the cheapest and toughest option. Downside is they're HEAVY so transporting and installing is hard work.

3/4" Diamond Top Horse Mats - Barn Stall Flooring

3/4" Diamond Top Horse Mats provide a heavy-duty rubber mat solution designed for use in horse stalls or as horse trailer flooring. USA made. Easy to clean and maintain.

www.rubberflooringinc.com

I’d definitely use those but I’m looking for something with a light color.

 

[Bromley]

My house has had an ugly sconce beside the front door which we've never used as a practical light (original not pictured). I was lucky enough to find the time over the holidays to build a small cabinet that made use of the existing switched electrical connection.

I have not made many cabinets, but I was eager to try out an idea I've had for a while to do something fun with light.

The cabinet is made from Douglas fir and white pine, finished lightly with shellac and wax. The Douglas fir was very difficult, and required sandpaper, but the drawer fronts and back are hand planed to finish, and they have a lovely sparkle in the daylight.

The shade is made from shop sawn white pine veneer backed with washi.

I'm really enjoying replacing all the furniture in my house with homemade stuff when I'm able to find the time. I think a coffee table is up next.

 

[Joffrey]

My house has had an ugly sconce beside the front door which we've never used as a practical light (original not pictured). I was lucky enough to find the time over the holidays to build a small cabinet that made use of the existing switched electrical connection.

View attachment 1314123

I have not made many cabinets, but I was eager to try out an idea I've had for a while to do something fun with light.

View attachment 1314126

View attachment 1314127

The cabinet is made from Douglas fir and white pine, finished lightly with shellac and wax. The Douglas fir was very difficult, and required sandpaper, but the drawer fronts and back are hand planed to finish, and they have a lovely sparkle in the daylight.

View attachment 1314128

The shade is made from shop sawn white pine veneer backed with washi.

View attachment 1314130

View attachment 1314131

I'm really enjoying replacing all the furniture in my house with homemade stuff when I'm able to find the time. I think a coffee table is up next.

Very cool... why does your door knob need a diagram to tell you which way to open it?

 

[Bromley]

Very cool... why does your door knob need a diagram to tell you which way to open it?

Roommates

 

[nootje]

Robuchon's definitely an induction advocate.

2008:

What's the one cooking tool that a guy should not be without?​

I know it's expensive, but I absolutely think an induction stove. It's much better than gas or electric; you can get whatever you're cooking to as low or high a temperature as you want to a very specific level. But there's no substitute for this.​

​

Recent?:

​

• What is your favorite kitchen implement?​

An induction stove – easy to use and to control.​

And FWIW Consumer Reports rates the best induction cooktops 98, and the best gas cooktops 93. Induction performs better in tests; gas has better reliability and owner satisfaction.

I'm open to it, but my wife is insistent on gas right now.

So was mine, but a little bit of experience with it and noticing how easy it is to keep clean and she converted..

 

[Omega Male]

Putting in a Podocarpus hedge, as one does.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

re: induction cooktops - it was one of the more expensive choices we made with our place, but also one of the best. We got a GE Café 36" (not made any more) and it's just fine. One of the really useful things is that you an link up two of the 'rings' to make a much larger and rectangular-shaped single cooking area.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Very nice work, Bromley.

 

[clee1982]

finally order the motorized sun shade from the shade store, got about 20 off, instillation in 2 weeks, guess we will see how it work out in the long run...

 

[RedLantern]

Got a DUMB estimate to repipe our house with pex - 15K. I said I would make sure all was accessible (I don't want plumbers ripping up my vintage ceiling tiles and wood paneling), he said it would take probably 2 days. Even if they have 2 guys here that like 24 hrs labor max. The cost of the materials is negligible. Does he not think I can do the math?

I think I'm at the point where I'm just going to insist on paying hourly. It's such a tight market it's clear to me that bidding is not at all competitive. Also, TBH, I' don't really want to accept a lowball bid and have a guy lose money because he didn't understand the scope of the project or something like that - I'm not looking to rip anybody off.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

I could plumb my house in sanitary 316 stainless for that price .

Why Pex as opposed to copper? Copper has a proven track record and doesn’t do things like rapidly degrade when exposed to sunlight.

 

[Numbernine]

Got a DUMB estimate to repipe our house with pex - 15K. I said I would make sure all was accessible (I don't want plumbers ripping up my vintage ceiling tiles and wood paneling), he said it would take probably 2 days. Even if they have 2 guys here that like 24 hrs labor max. The cost of the materials is negligible. Does he not think I can do the math?

I think I'm at the point where I'm just going to insist on paying hourly. It's such a tight market it's clear to me that bidding is not at all competitive. Also, TBH, I' don't really want to accept a lowball bid and have a guy lose money because he didn't understand the scope of the project or something like that - I'm not looking to rip anybody off.

Unless you have a problem with acidic water copper is the way to go.There's no way to know without seeing the scope of the job but 15k sounds way crazy for a typical house.