r/homeimprov

My husband has dementia and has what I’ll call problems getting his undercarriage clean. Let’s just leave it there.

I‘d like to get him a bidet. I know here in the states they are not common but they can be purchased. You can get a combination toilet/bidet so you don’t have to have space for two units. They are kind of pricey.

My concern is the house is on a slab. I know cold water will be available if I install it where the toilet originally was, but is there a way to tie into the sink or shower hot water line that would not involve digging up the floor?

Im going to hire a plumber because I have zero plumbing skills but if we need to jackhammer the floor I won’t add the bidet, as it would be nice but not essential.

I'm thinking about painting the exterior of my house, but I have a bit of a dilemma. One side of the house the front is vinyl, while the rest is traditional wood. I've come across mixed advice online; some say that painting vinyl just doesn't last no matter what prep or paint you use, while others suggest it can be done successfully.

Should I consider switching that vinyl side back to wood siding? Or maybe look for vinyl in the color I want? Or do you think it’s possible to paint vinyl siding and have it hold up well over time? I’d love some honest advice!

My wife and I are considering transforming our bare 1600 square foot basement into a functional living space. We envision drywall walls, a drop ceiling, carpeted floors, a kitchen/bar area, and a full bathroom with a walk-in shower. One estimate came in at around $60,000, which would add approximately 1300 square feet of finished space. The remaining unfinished area would include the furnace room and a small storage space.

Another estimate was slightly lower at $55,000, but the builder seemed less experienced. The main cost drivers are the full bathroom and the kitchen/bar setup, which would feature a stove, dishwasher, sink, cabinets, a small fridge, and a long bar-style countertop.

We're wondering if this kind of investment is worth it and whether we'd see a good return on investment when selling the house. Would finishing the basement pay off in the long run?

I'm thinking about tackling a DIY mold removal project myself. The pros quoted around $15,000 just to get started, and they mentioned that could increase if the mold is worse than it looks. Luckily, we don’t have a big problem just a small patch of water damage near the shower and a bit of mold on the sheetrock in the furnace room where it touches the concrete.

Has anyone here ever done this kind of work? I’ve been doing a lot of research and have a plan in mind, including using PPE, negative air, air scrubbers, and containment. But I still have some questions and want to make sure I do everything safely and correctly especially since our family has mold-related health issues. Any advice or experiences would be really helpful!

We recently moved into an older house where the previous owner refinished it while keeping a classic style. The door knobs look great, but several of them are very wobbly and loose, which is an issue because they make noise when opening doors, especially since we’re trying not to wake our sleeping daughter.

Not all of the knobs are loose, which makes me think they can probably be tightened or adjusted.

Does anyone have advice on how to fix this?

I recently used Green Gobbler enzyme cleaner on our sink and shower drains, and also flushed one of their pods. We live in a two-bedroom home with an older septic system.

Later that evening, I noticed the toilet started bubbling when the shower was running, and now the kitchen sink gurgles and has a strong odor after use.

Is there any chance this is just a temporary side effect from the enzyme/bacteria activity (like gas production in the pipes), or is this more likely a sign of a bigger plumbing or septic issue?

I’m thinking of giving it a day or two to settle before calling a septic specialist, but I’m concerned that a “safe” cleaner might have caused a serious problem.

I'm having some painters come by tomorrow to give me an estimate, but honestly, I have no idea what's fair or reasonable. If you've had your house painted before, any idea how much I should expect to pay per square foot?

I'm thinking about replacing the boob lamp in my kitchen with 4-6 recessed lights on a dimmer. My electrical experience is pretty basic I’ve only replaced light fixtures and moved an outlet once. So, I’m wondering, is installing recessed lighting something I can do myself? Is it straightforward enough, and more importantly, safe to tackle without hiring a professional?

Thinking about replacing my old, noisy garage door opener it's been running for at least 20 years! I don’t want it to break down unexpectedly before work one morning. I saw a sale on belt drive openers at the store, and after hearing how quiet my dad’s belt drive is, I’m convinced it’s time for an upgrade.

I'm pretty handy and have all the tools needed, but I’ve always heard that garage door work should be left to pros. Does that advice only apply to springs and complex repairs? Since this new opener just plugs into a standard outlet, it seems straightforward, and lining it up seems like the trickiest part.

Am I missing something? Do I really avoid dangerous springs and the need for a pro? Has anyone else done this themselves? Would love to hear your experiences!

Running a small logistics spot out of my house right now and things are tight with some financing falling through. We keep getting these random power blips and it's messing with my servers and inventory system.

I've seen other people get scammed by solar companies pushing massive battery setups that cost as much as a car. I literally cannot afford to make a bad hire right now.

Has anyone used a reliable installer that actually sets up a solid backup system without charging premium rates just because it's tied to a business?

Got a small auto shop and we are in the middle of trying to get an equipment loan approved. The customer waiting area bathroom is embarrassing and I need to get it remodeled so people don't think we run a sloppy business.

I know how fast this can ruin a reputation. I've seen other places lose business because they hired cheap remodelers who cut corners and left a mess.

Need a professional team that actually knows commercial spaces but won't bankrupt me right now.

Dealing with a massive headache at my home office right now. We are trying to secure a new line of credit to keep operations smooth but the grid reliability has been terrible lately and I can't afford to lose work.

I've heard horror stories from other remote workers about companies that quote one price for a battery wall and then double it once they start the electrical work.

Need someone who can just come in, give an honest assessment, and handle it straight up. Who do you guys trust for this kind of thing?