Missed you guys last month. kind of OT

[shaneh]

I've been busy busy busy.....yep I even missed my second meeting ever. But crack the champagne bottle I finally closed the deal on the house, now it's mine all mine...along with a lot of work that needs to been done, but that's the fun part. The place looks completely different from when you guys came over, pretty much everything has been ripped out of the backyard and back building...starting with a clean slate. So I was wondering if you guys had some referrals and some opinions. Also a good DIY home repair forum? so I don't need to vent and ask you guys.

need a HAVC company: pretty much need a full system. AC is #1. Freaking hot and I worry about the tank everyday. I have a chiller but it makes the room hotter at a point. I may be moving the sump and all under the house to the garage. Also want to put in a new fireplace and heater.

need a termite company: anyone ever used the orange oil stuff? I have read mixed reviews; I was thinking it may be safe for the tank? anyone know? If I had to tarp the house I'd have to move the tank...=( not much now but just want to nip it in the butt before it becomes a problem.

Floor Restoration Company for hardwoods. Needs to be refinished and a few planks replaced that had some damage.

Also a good window place want to do double panes throughout, we have a few but I believe they were used when installed and the seals have cracked.
want to do double pane French door on the back of the house.

Wood siding place- need some siding replaced, I can do it myself just need to find where I can find matching 1950's wood siding.

I can do a lot of the work myself with time and money of course but also I need to find a good local place to buy a lot of dry wall and insulation. I've heard you can get it through a local contactor to get a discount. Is this true? Anyone know of a better (cheaper) place to buy building materials than Lowes and home depot? Looking for the 5/8 thick mold resistant. Also some type of a rewards program for spending a boat load of money would be cool.

A lot of this is to improve the living condition and the house in general but also for the tank. yesterday when we were close to 100 degrees it was 84 in the tank!!! I want to do the attic insulation this weekend so looking for a company ASAP. Or i may do the blown in this weekend my self. I just can't decide between blown in and batt insulation. any opinions?

Also I finally picked up a laptop so I will now be able to load and post pictures soon of the tank. My abandoned build thread is sooo sad...

Grant we will be talking soon, give me another week or two and I'd like to get your input on a few things. The lady would like the kitchen done soon.

The tank is doing ok, like I said I have been super busy, got a few things I want to change out including the skimmer to make life easier.

PS: I was on the brink of getting rid of the tank this weekend because I could figure out what was going on with my lights. The 660 would blink on and then turn off...I took the whole thing down thinking one thing was not making connection, after checking each connect three times...I was one build had burned out!! awww i was pretty ****ed but happy after I just found out I had taken my whole canopy apart and it was a bulb. They only last 4-5 months on the 660 on 12 hours a day is that normal?

more to come, hopefully with pics, I have them just need to find the time to post in between all the house work.

 

[GreshamH]

No termite treatment other then electrical zapping (which I hear is ineffective) is reef/aquarium safe I regret to inform you. Despite what they say, the fumes from the citrus are nothing you want to have enter your tank. It would need to be totally isolated. I'm in the same camp

 

[northbay-reefer]

Shane it is sounding like to are building a business ... lol ... I was in this mode for two months but my business is up and running now so I am back to taking care of the tank again.

The attic you can use batt it is pretty easy just make sure to use gloves and face cover. Also adding an attic fan will help greatly with heat.

Double pane glass is probably be first on your list after the insulation, these two things alone will lower your inside temperature by about 10 degrees. Shop around because I see a lot of package deal where they do your whole house for certain amount.

Moving the sump into the garage is going to be the best thing you have done for your tank, make sure the garage door is insulated too.

Adding the AC is great but it will move you to the higher tear in electricity which will be very expensive so do those three things first and see.

Good luck man, I do know your pain. I am thinking about going Solar just like Bob.

 

[shaneh]

Thanks guys....hummm the termites are only in a small 7-10 foot section of the house but I don't want them to spread. gurrr....I just got my tank all set up. The last thing I want to do is take it back down to tent the house. The kinda good news is where the termites are located we wanted to add an addition to the house anyways so that wall will be gone eventually, as long as they do not go another 5+ feet then I am good. I may try some spot treatment stuff this weekend, at least it will slow them down. If anyone has any suggestions or home remedies. I can't see the termites but I see the droppings, looks like saw dust. AKA eating the freaking house.

I am excited to move the sump to the garage, it is under the house and like 10-15 degrees cooler. I'll need to insulate it by winter so my heaters are not running the whole time.

This weekend I'll be taking the last of the dump loads, termite treatment, batt insulation in attic, finish organizing the barn and removing blackberries from behind the barn.

 

[northbay-reefer]

Hey what you do got that can take out those black berries, I need to remove the black berries in my creek, they are beginning to climb over my back fence