Home Repairs/HoneyDo List/Advice & Tips/etc.

[BayBuck]

This photo is from a few moments ago. The tree is on the north side of the house, about twenty feet away from the foundation. It did not cause any of the sewer problems. As you can (kinda) see, it's already growing over the house. It's easily twice the height of the house, probably over 100 feet tall. The trunk splits three ways - I'm no expert but it seems like that would complicate efforts to trim it back significantly away from the house - wouldn't it make it unbalanced?

Exterminate the brute!

 

[buckeyebri]

This photo is from a few moments ago. The tree is on the north side of the house, about twenty feet away from the foundation. It did not cause any of the sewer problems. As you can (kinda) see, it's already growing over the house. It's easily twice the height of the house, probably over 100 feet tall. The trunk splits three ways - I'm no expert but it seems like that would complicate efforts to trim it back significantly away from the house - wouldn't it make it unbalanced?

We'll definitely be cleaning out the gutters - we just have to wait for some of the damn leaves to fall.

Also as you can see, there's still a lot of work to be done back there. That deck is pure [Mark May] and needs to go. This picture actually flatters it a bit. That patio roof needs to go too, but we can't do anything with it until we are also ready to pour a new concrete slab in that spot. The current one has settled and slopes toward the foundation, so that [Mark May]ty piece of sheet metal is diverting the rain water.

Do you feel the tree is a possible danger to your house, such as limbs breaking and damaging your roof or house or the tree splitting in a storm and falling on your house? My brother-in-law got his insurance company to help pay for the removal of a tree due to the reduction in possible insurance payouts. I don't know if you want the tree out, but it may be possible.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Leave the tree alone. Burn your house down.

 

[Mac]

Leave the tree alone. Burn your house down.

I'll take it one step further...build a tree house and live in that

 

[Bleed S & G]

This photo is from a few moments ago. The tree is on the north side of the house, about twenty feet away from the foundation. It did not cause any of the sewer problems. As you can (kinda) see, it's already growing over the house. It's easily twice the height of the house, probably over 100 feet tall. The trunk splits three ways - I'm no expert but it seems like that would complicate efforts to trim it back significantly away from the house - wouldn't it make it unbalanced?

We'll definitely be cleaning out the gutters - we just have to wait for some of the damn leaves to fall.

Also as you can see, there's still a lot of work to be done back there. That deck is pure [Mark May] and needs to go. This picture actually flatters it a bit. That patio roof needs to go too, but we can't do anything with it until we are also ready to pour a new concrete slab in that spot. The current one has settled and slopes toward the foundation, so that [Mark May]ty piece of sheet metal is diverting the rain water.

The shitty piece of metal won't do the trick forever, get that slab at least pumped up to save all kinds of heartburn and money.. that water freezing down there in your foundation will cause all kinds of problems long term.

 

[scarletmike]

So I have a sneaking suspicion that part of a bug issue (other than the fact I live in Florida) in my house (a rental, btw), particularly in the bathroom, is the result of a bathroom remodel that left some very large, unfinished openings around pipes for both the sink and toilet. Any easy, preferably non-permanent fixes as its a rental home for this that would still look decent? My roommates haven't seemed to notice/care, but I have a suspicion I would see much fewer bugs in there if I took away the two holes into/out of the walls. And in case you're wondering why I haven't contacted the landlord, 1) I hardly know the guy since I just moved in fairly recently, and 2) we have the "run" of the interior in terms of painting and general, minor, non-structural improvements if we would like.

 

[buckeyebri]

So I have a sneaking suspicion that part of a bug issue (other than the fact I live in Florida) in my house (a rental, btw), particularly in the bathroom, is the result of a bathroom remodel that left some very large, unfinished openings around pipes for both the sink and toilet. Any easy, preferably non-permanent fixes as its a rental home for this that would still look decent? My roommates haven't seemed to notice/care, but I have a suspicion I would see much fewer bugs in there if I took away the two holes into/out of the walls. And in case you're wondering why I haven't contacted the landlord, 1) I hardly know the guy since I just moved in fairly recently, and 2) we have the "run" of the interior in terms of painting and general, minor, non-structural improvements if we would like.

There is a spray expansion foam filler (can't recall the name of it) that you can by and spray in there and then just cut off the excess. If I recall it is paintable. You can find it at Menards, Home Depot, Lowes, etc....Just don't over cook the fill

 

[jlb1705]

Do you feel the tree is a possible danger to your house, such as limbs breaking and damaging your roof or house or the tree splitting in a storm and falling on your house? My brother-in-law got his insurance company to help pay for the removal of a tree due to the reduction in possible insurance payouts. I don't know if you want the tree out, but it may be possible.

Good idea. The safety/property damage angle is definitely a concern, among other reasons. It's not showing signs of death or disease though and it did hold up pretty well in some of the high-wind storms we had this year.

I suppose one thing I need to do is gather some estimates and get an arborist to assess the situation.

Leave the tree alone. Burn your house down.

Gooder idea. Especially if other shit around the house keeps breaking down.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

So I have a sneaking suspicion that part of a bug issue (other than the fact I live in Florida) in my house (a rental, btw), particularly in the bathroom, is the result of a bathroom remodel that left some very large, unfinished openings around pipes for both the sink and toilet. Any easy, preferably non-permanent fixes as its a rental home for this that would still look decent? My roommates haven't seemed to notice/care, but I have a suspicion I would see much fewer bugs in there if I took away the two holes into/out of the walls. And in case you're wondering why I haven't contacted the landlord, 1) I hardly know the guy since I just moved in fairly recently, and 2) we have the "run" of the interior in terms of painting and general, minor, non-structural improvements if we would like.

Burn it down.

 

[Mac]

Having a bad day Katt? Still upset over the election?

 

[buckeyebri]

Burn it down.

I had to pull up Talking Heads Burning Down the House....threw it in the song thread....

 

[jlb1705]

The shitty piece of metal won't do the trick forever, get that slab at least pumped up to save all kinds of heartburn and money.. that water freezing down there in your foundation will cause all kinds of problems long term.

For sure. We've been doing triage so far, doing our best to make sure water stays away until we can afford to invest in back yard projects. We're planning to tackle this stuff next spring and summer.

 

[jlb1705]

Having a bad day Katt? Still upset over the election?

I think Fungo is starting to emerge. There's a definite hint of Bucky-induced loathing involved.

 

[scarletmike]

There is a spray expansion foam filler (can't recall the name of it) that you can by and spray in there and then just cut off the excess. If I recall it is paintable. You can find it at Menards, Home Depot, Lowes, etc....Just don't over cook the fill

Nice, thanks for the tip, sounds like the solution I'm looking for. A quick perusal of the Home Depot site gives me two possible products, DAPtex and Great Stuff. Sounds like Great Stuff is really good at expanding to fill in spaces and really stiffens up, but is a real pain in the ass to clean up if it gets on you or anywhere you don't want it. DAPtex doesn't expand as much, but is much easier to clean up and work with. Anyone have a preference or experience with either?

 

[Zippercat]

Nice, thanks for the tip, sounds like the solution I'm looking for. A quick perusal of the Home Depot site gives me two possible products, DAPtex and Great Stuff. Sounds like Great Stuff is really good at expanding to fill in spaces and really stiffens up, but is a real pain in the ass to clean up if it gets on you or anywhere you don't want it. DAPtex doesn't expand as much, but is much easier to clean up and work with. Anyone have a preference or experience with either?

You don't clean up Great Stuff, you just throw away whatever it gets on. I would sure hate to be the plumber who had to get to those drainlines if you put that stuff in there........