2025 Summer Projects

[todeen]

What's everyone working on for projects besides baseball cards? I'm a teacher, so I try to keep myself occupied in the summer when I'm not daddy daycare. The yard projects around my house occupy a LOT of my time. The yard was neglected by the previous owner. In 2024, I built a new fence and a gate; cut down 10 trees; added shelving to the storage sheds; and made ideas for additional projects. This summer, I am taking out a broken water feature, re-seeding grass in the front yard and back yard, adding a decorative fence along the front yard, added a gate on the other side of the house, and built a deck for my in-laws. The dump runin my Subaru made me feel like the Beverley Hillbillies (1180lbs). I had a plan to expand the driveway (it's very narrow), but that looks like it'll be a 2026 project. And I decided to make a Halloween quilt with my mother. We've been asking her to come on vacation with us and she has declined. So it's just a way to spend some time with her. I think it'll take three years to complete set the pace we're moving.

The big mound of dirt was where the water feature was. I need to spread it out even and seed it for grass.

Originally, with the decorative fence, there were 5 pine trees that ran along the road. It prevented all sunlight from entering our yard and was killing the grass.









Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[REG1976]

Here was mine rebuilt the front steps using composite treads and porch vinyl railings along with another project a drainage swale that I designed using 3"-5" Tennessee river rock to divert the rain runoff

[todeen]

Originally Posted by REG1976

Here was mine rebuilt the front steps using composite treads and porch vinyl railings along with another project a drainage swale that I designed using 3"-5" Tennessee river rock to divert the rain runoff

those steps look great! I am uncomfortable completing the stairs on the deck. It's 13 steps, and Lowes told me that doesn't meet code (in WA). It's supposed to be 8 steps, a landing, and then another 5 steps. So a contractor across the street is going to hand-cut a stronger for 13 steps, put up the skeleton of the steps, and then I will cut the boards and finish the railing.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[philliesfan]

Right now I am packing up the house for a move. I need to get the house on the market and look in the Lansdale are of PA. I am currently in Bensalem, PA.

So Tim, After I move and next summer when you are off, I may have projects to keep you busy.....haha

Bob

[todeen]

Originally Posted by philliesfan

Right now I am packing up the house for a move. I need to get the house on the market and look in the Lansdale are of PA. I am currently in Bensalem, PA.



So Tim, After I move and next summer when you are off, I may have projects to keep you busy.....haha



Bob

Maybe! I like adventures.

I've been to Philly just one time for about 8 hours, catching a plane to Europe in 2011. I had to drag my luggage around, but it was worth it. I'm sure I looked homeless. We got into a diner about 8 in the morning. Walked over to the liberty bell, then independence hall, then Betsy Ross house. Back thru the Reading terminal food market, caught the train back to the airport, and then napped until my flight showed up.

I hate moving, btw.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[REG1976]

Originally Posted by todeen

those steps look great! I am uncomfortable completing the stairs on the deck. It's 13 steps, and Lowes told me that doesn't meet code (in WA). It's supposed to be 8 steps, a landing, and then another 5 steps. So a contractor across the street is going to hand-cut a stronger for 13 steps, put up the skeleton of the steps, and then I will cut the boards and finish the railing.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

Thanks If you can I used Wolf composite they have different colors and size types. I got mine at a local lumber yard /supply and Wolf is cheaper then Trex
For the steps I had to buy 6 - 8 steps stringers from home depot and cut down to 7 steps

[gonefishin]

The steps look great!

I've been trying to get my well running again. It hasn't been used in 35+ years. I got a new well pump installed, and a 2500 gallon holding tank in place. The tank is connected to a booster pump and then of course to the ag requiring water.

The problem is it is an aquifer that I can get about 200 gallons pumped out of in 24 hours - I need closer to 600. Since the well has been installed around 40 years I'm pretty sure it is a well casing problem and not a lack of water.

I'm not even close to being a well expert, but maybe someone out there has experienced this in the past and solved the problem. I understand there are methods to clean the inside casing wall such as fracking, but of course the pump will have to be pulled again.

Any recommendations or thoughts would be appreciated.

[LuckyLarry]

My pool pump and DE filter have run for over 13 years basically trouble free. But this Spring, when servicing the filter, the flex tubes are worn out and in need of replacement. I put it back together and ran the system, and the filter wasn't operating correctly so I tore it open again, and it seemed to be OK.

The pool pump has been running hot which may or may not be normal, but the slight rattle noise and overall noise might not be 100%.

So I had everything replaced a few days ago $3,100 new variable speed pump with built in timer, and the newest model DE filter. I thought about installing it myself, but an extra $300 for installation seemed like a bargain to me. The install was complicated (to me) because I needed to bypass the old timer when hooking up the new system. So the install tech bypassed the old timer and somehow figured out the wiring buttoned everything up, then tested the system which I thought was pretty amazing. He was pretty confident in his rewiring, and it worked pefectly.

This variable speed pump runs for two hours at a high speed then runs six hours at a greatly reduced speed, then finishes off at high speed for two hours. All of these settings are adjustable. But will it hold up for 13 years trouble free years? I wouldn't bet on it lol.