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Your home construction projects

Old 09-09-12, 08:35 AM
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Your home construction projects

If you have a house, but no car, you still end up with do-it-yourself projects that need to get done.

One big problem is equipment rentals. I need a long ladder to complete my exterior paint job. To get that ladder, I need to rent a truck, use the ladder for several days and then rent another truck to return it. Pretty expensive ladder!

Seems kind of stupid really that the equipment rental businesses don't deliver, since I pretty much had the same problem even with a car.... it being very tricky to carry a long ladder on a car.

This Portland company actually deliver the goods . https://www.yardrents.com/Portland-Equipment-Rental Unfortunately, they aren't in my area, so I'm likely to end up pleading with the rental company or breaking down and renting a truck.

Have you run into any problems in your household projects and how did you solve them?
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Old 09-09-12, 09:40 AM
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When I bought a couch in January, I had a friend with a truck help me move it. I might do the same thing if I needed something bulky from an equipment rental place.
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Old 09-09-12, 02:41 PM
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More than once I've bungee corded 2 x 4s to my bike.

Another trick is that I have all the lumber cut at the store.

For that ladder a Bikes at Work trailer would be handy.




Or just figure out a hitch to attach one end of the ladder to the bike and bungee the other end of the ladder to a hand truck and use it like a trailer.



Here are some other things you might try. Have you checked in at the utility bike forum. They can probably figure out a way.








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Old 09-09-12, 02:54 PM
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I've loaded 24' extension ladders on compact cars using two pool noodles from the Dollar store and rope/ bungees. Priceline occassionally brags about $10 a day car rentals.

Some Home Depot locations offer home delivery if you just want to buy the ladder outright.

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Old 09-09-12, 04:51 PM
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Check with your neighbors? We had a massive 60' ladder that made the rounds of one old neighborhood I lived in. We all needed to paint the front and side gable ends on our Victorian era houses. I have no clue who actually owned it, but the basic drill was you found out who had it, got your neighbor on each side to help you carry it and set it up, then the guy next door got it next and so it went around a 4-6 block area.

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Old 09-09-12, 05:38 PM
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I try to stay one "favor" ahead in the game of life. Hopefully, when I could really use a hand, someone may be more inclined to step in.
In my spare time I volunteer. Other volunteers tend to be a little more helpful when a person needs a hand.
I live alone, so I pick my spots and try to plan ahead.
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Old 09-09-12, 07:12 PM
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BTW the Bikes at Work Trailer is an Iowa built product. I have seen them in action in Iowa City by the 30 Century Bicycle shop.. Pretty impressive loads.

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Old 09-09-12, 10:12 PM
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Great ideas on the trailer. We have one at the bike co-op and I've considered it as a means of pulling the ladder. I believe I need either a 32 or a 36 foot, which is up to 18 feet long. That's quite a wheelbase, but problably do-able if I don't have to negotiate any big turns.

But what about other projects? Next years, I'm thinking about rebuilding my deck (actually, it's pretty rotten... so at the very minimum I will need to remove it..)

Anyone done any roofing or replacing windows?
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Old 09-09-12, 10:36 PM
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For getting rid of construction waste and demo rent a dumpster. A truck will drop it off and pick it up. If there are neighbors planning home improvement projects around the same time you could offer to split the cost of the dumpster.
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Old 09-10-12, 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by gerv
Great ideas on the trailer. We have one at the bike co-op and I've considered it as a means of pulling the ladder. I believe I need either a 32 or a 36 foot, which is up to 18 feet long. That's quite a wheelbase, but problably do-able if I don't have to negotiate any big turns.

But what about other projects? Next years, I'm thinking about rebuilding my deck (actually, it's pretty rotten... so at the very minimum I will need to remove it..)

Anyone done any roofing or replacing windows?

I have seen big dumpster bags that you buy at places like Home Depot or Menards, you spread the bag out, load it up and call for pickup. The bag is about the size of a large poly tarp folded up. If you order enough materials for a deck or a roof, it would be well worth the cost of having it delivered. I just ordered over $1000 worth of materials for a small barn we are rebuilding, I think the delivery fee was $50, I can't drive down and pick it up for that price.

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RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"
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Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"
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Old 09-10-12, 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by wahoonc
I have seen big dumpster bags that you buy at places like Home Depot or Menards, you spread the bag out, load it up and call for pickup. The bag is about the size of a large poly tarp folded up. If you order enough materials for a deck or a roof, it would be well worth the cost of having it delivered. I just ordered over $1000 worth of materials for a small barn we are rebuilding, I think the delivery fee was $50, I can't drive down and pick it up for that price.

Aaron
I wasn't aware they delivered. That's a bonus.

Seems like Lowe's may do this as well.

As for dumpster bags, look like they hold 8 x 4 x 2 Ft. 6 In. Bag costs $29 and there is also a collection charge.
I would probably need a dumpster for my deck. My thought was to dismantle the deck over the winter (no need to rush ) and store the waste in my back yard. In the spring rent a dumpster. (You may notice that most of my construction jobs follow an extremely leisurely pace; many never get to completion.)
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Old 09-10-12, 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by gerv
I wasn't aware they delivered. That's a bonus.

Seems like Lowe's may do this as well.

As for dumpster bags, look like they hold 8 x 4 x 2 Ft. 6 In. Bag costs $29 and there is also a collection charge.
I would probably need a dumpster for my deck. My thought was to dismantle the deck over the winter (no need to rush ) and store the waste in my back yard. In the spring rent a dumpster. (You may notice that most of my construction jobs follow an extremely leisurely pace; many never get to completion.)
If the wood wasn't treated, and if you had a fireplace, and if it wasn't TOO rotten, then you could "recycle" the wood over the winter and burn it.
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Old 09-10-12, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Sir Lunch-a-lot
If the wood wasn't treated, and if you had a fireplace, and if it wasn't TOO rotten, then you could "recycle" the wood over the winter and burn it.
I recently learned that in my city we can still burn wood waste in our yards. I don'tknow how green the practice is, but it sure would save a lot of money.

Originally Posted by wahoonc
...I just ordered over $1000 worth of materials for a small barn we are rebuilding....
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Old 09-11-12, 04:37 AM
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Originally Posted by gerv
I wasn't aware they delivered. That's a bonus.

Seems like Lowe's may do this as well.

As for dumpster bags, look like they hold 8 x 4 x 2 Ft. 6 In. Bag costs $29 and there is also a collection charge.
I would probably need a dumpster for my deck. My thought was to dismantle the deck over the winter (no need to rush ) and store the waste in my back yard. In the spring rent a dumpster. (You may notice that most of my construction jobs follow an extremely leisurely pace; many never get to completion.)
You can get smaller dumpsters, also with the bag you could cut the boards to length to fit in the bag. I have not seen them used, just saw them on the end cap at a Home Depot in Lancaster, PA and thought it was an interesting concept.

I have several lists of projects, some will probably never even get started. We have a 40 acre farm and the projects never stop coming!

Aaron
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Old 09-11-12, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by wahoonc

I have several lists of projects, some will probably never even get started.
My problem is that I start a project, then remember that life is short and I should be out riding in the countryside or something. I started painting my house last year and it seems the project will go on until next summer. Doing it real slow.... the only up-side to this is that it doesn't interfere with my riding/bike camping schedule and it doesn't cost me the $5000 a professional job would.
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Old 09-11-12, 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by gerv
My problem is that I start a project, then remember that life is short and I should be out riding in the countryside or something. I started painting my house last year and it seems the project will go on until next summer. Doing it real slow.... the only up-side to this is that it doesn't interfere with my riding/bike camping schedule and it doesn't cost me the $5000 a professional job would.
Sounds like painting the Mackinac Bridge--by the time they finish, it's time to start over again.
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Old 09-12-12, 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Roody
Sounds like painting the Mackinac Bridge--by the time they finish, it's time to start over again.
That is what is known as job security

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Old 01-19-14, 07:06 AM
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We've purchased several new pieces of furniture lately, and fortunately the establishments where we bought them have delivery services ... for a relatively nominal fee, they bring the piece of furniture to your door, carry it to the room where you want it, set it up, and take away the packing material. It's great!!

I made use of the same thing when I was car-free in Winnipeg, and redecorating my place.

But, there were a few occasions then where that sort of delivery service was not offered ... and I brought things home on the bus. The bus driver and several passengers had a bit of a chuckle when I brought my own chair onto the bus ("What? The bus seats not good enough for you?? ).

And on another occasion, I bought a tall fake ficus tree. There I was standing at the bus stop, in the middle of winter, holding my tree ... and I had several people tell me I'd better wrap it up and protect it or I was going to have a dead tree on my hands.
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Old 01-19-14, 09:19 AM
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Thanks Machka for resurrecting this zombie.

I wouldn't mind but I'm still working on some of these projects.

"Never do today what you can put off til tomorrow."
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Old 01-19-14, 04:13 PM
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If I owned a truck and didn't use it often or if I rarely used the bed portion, I would be glad to help a neighbor or friend pick up something. It would help me to justify owning it. I see people all of the time driving around in trucks that aren't hauling anything. It seems to be a common occurrence.
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Old 01-19-14, 05:29 PM
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My neighbors who own trucks/vans are always eager to help me move large objects. So far, I haven't taken them up on the offers, but we'll see about that this year when I, hopefully, demolish and rebuild the rear addition on our house.

Gerv asked if anyone had done any car-free roofing up-thread. I've done that a few times. Once I had the materials delivered. The other times I took a lot of recovery breaks during which I picked up more material. My cart is rated for 500 pounds and it took a lot of twenty-mile round trips to get all the material I needed. Maybe this next time I'll pay a little more and buy it from the place that's only three miles away.
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Old 01-19-14, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Machka

And on another occasion, I bought a tall fake ficus tree. There I was standing at the bus stop, in the middle of winter, holding my tree ... and I had several people tell me I'd better wrap it up and protect it or I was going to have a dead tree on my hands.
They were right. You didn't wrap it and you had a dead tree on your hands.
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Old 01-20-14, 02:01 AM
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Originally Posted by B. Carfree
They were right. You didn't wrap it and you had a dead tree on your hands.


I guess I did!!
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Old 01-20-14, 02:32 AM
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I don't remember if they were mentioned before this thread got bumped, but tool libraries can be a good way to go so you don't have to buy or rent tools that you only use once in a great while.
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Old 01-25-14, 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Machka
We've purchased several new pieces of furniture lately, and fortunately the establishments where we bought them have delivery services ... for a relatively nominal fee, they bring the piece of furniture to your door, carry it to the room where you want it, set it up, and take away the packing material. It's great!!

I made use of the same thing when I was car-free in Winnipeg, and redecorating my place.

But, there were a few occasions then where that sort of delivery service was not offered ... and I brought things home on the bus. The bus driver and several passengers had a bit of a chuckle when I brought my own chair onto the bus ("What? The bus seats not good enough for you?? ).

And on another occasion, I bought a tall fake ficus tree. There I was standing at the bus stop, in the middle of winter, holding my tree ... and I had several people tell me I'd better wrap it up and protect it or I was going to have a dead tree on my hands.
I know a flight attendant that brought a coffee table and two side chairs home on a flight, and another one that brought home a full set of crystal, sterling and china. Then there was a pilot that brought home an antique aircraft engine from the other coast of the US... IIRC it took him 3 or 4 trips.

Aaron
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.

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RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"
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Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"
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