Home Improvement/Remodel Thread

[skywlker32]

Wife and I are building a house (closing 27th hopefully) so lots of small projects coming up. The biggest thing short term that I plan to do is put in a rock wall in the finished basement.

[Tugboat]

On 11/16/2023 at 10:25 PM, RaidersAreOne said:

Does anyone have experience building a hanging/floating entertainment unit similar to the below?

We've renovated our entire home and made our living room nice and modern. However we haven't touched hanging out 75" TV or made an entertainment unit yet. I really like the idea of doing something like this. Hiding the wires, clean, modern, functional.

What are your thoughts on these styles? Any good to haves for entertainment units?

 

Ur gonna need to find a stud.  Heh.  😆

 

I don't really have any experience with that specifically.  But it'll probably depend a bit on what sort of wall you're dealing with, and which of those styles, or just how much weight you're intending to hang off of it like that.

 

The second example seems a little different, in that it looks like a rendering, but also in that it almost looks like a separate free standing framed out wall segment that's just maybe anchored to the brick wall backing?  So that'd be a little bit of a different approach.

The other thing i'd say is, the first and second ones are the only ones where you'd really be able to "hide the cables" neatly, without running them all through the actual wall.  Which is an extra little nuisance, but not exactly a big deal if you're taking on the whole project anyway.  Just annoying if you end up wanting to run a different cable or something, at some point down the line.

 

On 11/17/2023 at 11:36 AM, skywlker32 said:

Wife and I are building a house (closing 27th hopefully) so lots of small projects coming up. The biggest thing short term that I plan to do is put in a rock wall in the finished basement.

What exactly is going to comprise a rock wall in the basement?  Like a stone veneer feature thing?  The stick on kind?  The actual tiled sort of thing?  Just a big pile of actual rocks?  Just building a huge ******* cairn in the basement would be badass.  But also maybe pointless.

[skywlker32]

On 11/23/2023 at 1:45 AM, Tugboat said:

 

Ur gonna need to find a stud.  Heh.  😆

 

I don't really have any experience with that specifically.  But it'll probably depend a bit on what sort of wall you're dealing with, and which of those styles, or just how much weight you're intending to hang off of it like that.

 

The second example seems a little different, in that it looks like a rendering, but also in that it almost looks like a separate free standing framed out wall segment that's just maybe anchored to the brick wall backing?  So that'd be a little bit of a different approach.

The other thing i'd say is, the first and second ones are the only ones where you'd really be able to "hide the cables" neatly, without running them all through the actual wall.  Which is an extra little nuisance, but not exactly a big deal if you're taking on the whole project anyway.  Just annoying if you end up wanting to run a different cable or something, at some point down the line.

 

What exactly is going to comprise a rock wall in the basement?  Like a stone veneer feature thing?  The stick on kind?  The actual tiled sort of thing?  Just a big pile of actual rocks?  Just building a huge ******* cairn in the basement would be badass.  But also maybe pointless.

😄 The base of it will just be a frame with thick plywood. You then put a grid of T-nuts that you can mount the bolt-on plastic holds like an indoor rock wall. Initially I may use the cheaper child ones to save some money because it's mostly to keep my toddler busy, but will build it strong enough that I can climb too.

[Tugboat]

23 minutes ago, skywlker32 said:

😄 The base of it will just be a frame with thick plywood. You then put a grid of T-nuts that you can mount the bolt-on plastic holds like an indoor rock wall. Initially I may use the cheaper child ones to save some money because it's mostly to keep my toddler busy, but will build it strong enough that I can climb too.

lmao.  Ooooooooh.  Like a Rock Climbing Wall.  😆  I was trying to figure it out with all these other things, trying to make sense of it...didn't even cross my mind, the idea of a climbing wall in a basement.  lol.

 

That's pretty sweet though.  Definitely seems like a cool way to entertain a young kid in an active way.  Good luck with it.  Ya'll got a really deep/tall basement?

[skywlker32]

1 minute ago, Tugboat said:

lmao.  Ooooooooh.  Like a Rock Climbing Wall.  😆  I was trying to figure it out with all these other things, trying to make sense of it...didn't even cross my mind, the idea of a climbing wall in a basement.  lol.

 

That's pretty sweet though.  Definitely seems like a cool way to entertain a young kid in an active way.  Good luck with it.  Ya'll got a really deep/tall basement?

It's normal ceiling height, but I will have an overhang section for more difficulty I think.

[skywlker32]

And no drawing me back in here. I have been away a long time. 😂

[Tugboat]

11 hours ago, skywlker32 said:

It's normal ceiling height, but I will have an overhang section for more difficulty I think.

Interesting.  For a toddler, any wall is gonna be tall.  😆  But if you're thinking about using it too, i was wondering how.  Even a normal full height 8' ceiling basement is like...lol.  I reach up my arms and i'm at the top.  Yay!  I made it!  Overhang is definitely one way of getting something you can use out of it.  Though i'd imagine that's going to complicate the project, making sure you've got it all anchored and supported well for that and an adult weight dangling from it levered out like that.

All those crazy multifaceted framing things and miter joints i see on real fancy climbing walls seem insane to me.  The big ones just seem to use steel with plywood fastened to it because wood framing would get insane.

I'm assuming you're thinking more...straightforward?  Just angling a section of it back with camber for an overhang?

 

I was curious too, because it seems like a lot of "custom" things seem to be going with extra deep basements lately.  I guess...they're already digging the hole.  What's an extra couple feet?

 

11 hours ago, skywlker32 said:

And no drawing me back in here. I have been away a long time. 😂

 

You cannot hide forever @skywlker32.  Give yourself to the FF forums side.  It is the only way you can save your friends.  Your feelings betray you.  You feelings for the forum are strong.

[AkronsWitness]

Wife and I are thinking about doing project for the fireplace. We have something around 18 ft tall vaulted ceilings in our living room where the fireplace is and got the idea to do stone veneer all around the fireplace and up the wall to the ceiling. Removing all the tacky tile/hearth around the current fireplace.

Has anybody had experience using stone veneer to make the wall 'look' stone and have recommendations? There seems to be 100 different companies with prices all over the place per piece of veneer tile. Was hoping to get some direction. 

Something similar to this: (not that tile, but the concept)

Edited November 30, 2023 by AkronsWitness

[Tugboat]

5 hours ago, AkronsWitness said:

Wife and I are thinking about doing project for the fireplace. We have something around 18 ft tall vaulted ceilings in our living room where the fireplace is and got the idea to do stone veneer all around the fireplace and up the wall to the ceiling. Removing all the tacky tile/hearth around the current fireplace.

Has anybody had experience using stone veneer to make the wall 'look' stone and have recommendations? There seems to be 100 different companies with prices all over the place per piece of veneer tile. Was hoping to get some direction. 

Something similar to this: (not that tile, but the concept)

 

So you're actually building the "stone wall" that i thought @skywlker32 was building.  😆 😆 😆

 

There are about a billion different types and brands of stone veneer.  Ranging anywhere from stick on plastic bull**** to ceramic pieces to rail mounted stuff to actual stone pieces and everything else in between.  Sounds like you're already adroitly leaning toward the proper tiled stuff in the first place.  But there's still a lot in that.

 

Honestly, first thing i'd say is find a local specialist in stone veneers.  I'm sure there's gotta be one.  They'll likely have a showroom where you can head down and just see and touch and feel the differences between the products.

To me, for an interior fireplace accent application...i think something like Cultured Stone or something in that same vein from a decent manufacturer is probably gonna be a nice reasonable solution.  Ceramic stuff that is honestly pretty convincing these days.  At least, it's always seemed pretty good to me.  As long as you don't use it on a whole huge wall where you start to notice the repetition of pattern.  Bonus, it's super lightweight.

 

The thing i'll say that probably isn't going to be as nice...is that articulation is kind of the key to making it look "real".  Like it's actually a stone feature.

The example you posted, is one of those instances where the stone just sort of ends, in a not particularly organic way.  It tends to end up looking like it's just veneer stuck onto a wall.

 

The elaborate solution is to construct some sort of build out to give it that depth.  Doesn't even have to be deep.  A few inches will do it even.  But it's extra work and extra cost.  Also have to be cognizant of combustibility when you're building out around fireplaces, even gas inserts.  Don't want to build a thing that's gonna burn your house down.  Becomes more complicated.

 

The other thing i've seen work, is to "frame" the veneer "chimney" with something.  Either built-in cabinets/shelving.  Or even just some sort of faux timber, or...something.  I've even seen metal trim look...kinda okay.  Still have to be careful with combustibility around the fireplace.  But it can help "mask" the fact that the drywall is basically flush with the stone veneer.

 

There's also options where you can just use a much thicker stone veneer.  But that also tends to cost more and can come with other complications where your wall might start to fall apart.  Usually need more robust backing for that anyway.

 

 

But definitely start by just going down to a good local supplier and touching all their stuff.  lol.  It'll give you a much more clear picture of what sort of level of veneer is gonna satisfy your needs.  Then go from there, and figure out if a bump out is going to be within the realm of your ability, or a different solution.

[AkronsWitness]

1 hour ago, Tugboat said:

 

So you're actually building the "stone wall" that i thought @skywlker32 was building.  😆 😆 😆

 

There are about a billion different types and brands of stone veneer.  Ranging anywhere from stick on plastic bull**** to ceramic pieces to rail mounted stuff to actual stone pieces and everything else in between.  Sounds like you're already adroitly leaning toward the proper tiled stuff in the first place.  But there's still a lot in that.

 

Honestly, first thing i'd say is find a local specialist in stone veneers.  I'm sure there's gotta be one.  They'll likely have a showroom where you can head down and just see and touch and feel the differences between the products.

To me, for an interior fireplace accent application...i think something like Cultured Stone or something in that same vein from a decent manufacturer is probably gonna be a nice reasonable solution.  Ceramic stuff that is honestly pretty convincing these days.  At least, it's always seemed pretty good to me.  As long as you don't use it on a whole huge wall where you start to notice the repetition of pattern.  Bonus, it's super lightweight.

 

The thing i'll say that probably isn't going to be as nice...is that articulation is kind of the key to making it look "real".  Like it's actually a stone feature.

The example you posted, is one of those instances where the stone just sort of ends, in a not particularly organic way.  It tends to end up looking like it's just veneer stuck onto a wall.

 

The elaborate solution is to construct some sort of build out to give it that depth.  Doesn't even have to be deep.  A few inches will do it even.  But it's extra work and extra cost.  Also have to be cognizant of combustibility when you're building out around fireplaces, even gas inserts.  Don't want to build a thing that's gonna burn your house down.  Becomes more complicated.

 

The other thing i've seen work, is to "frame" the veneer "chimney" with something.  Either built-in cabinets/shelving.  Or even just some sort of faux timber, or...something.  I've even seen metal trim look...kinda okay.  Still have to be careful with combustibility around the fireplace.  But it can help "mask" the fact that the drywall is basically flush with the stone veneer.

 

There's also options where you can just use a much thicker stone veneer.  But that also tends to cost more and can come with other complications where your wall might start to fall apart.  Usually need more robust backing for that anyway.

 

 

But definitely start by just going down to a good local supplier and touching all their stuff.  lol.  It'll give you a much more clear picture of what sort of level of veneer is gonna satisfy your needs.  Then go from there, and figure out if a bump out is going to be within the realm of your ability, or a different solution.

Good info thanks. I watched a couple videos on this and it seems something not too difficult for us to try. The hardest part that is going to drive me bat**** insane is the measuring/cutting of all the little fill-in pieces 18ft into the air. The one video I saw the guy cut/drilled concrete board onto the wall as the backing, then he took the tile and put fast drying caulk on it and stuck it to the concrete board. But like you said there are other versions I saw that are just as easy as peel and stick which I assume could be applied right to the drywall.

Adding the trim is another thing I didnt even think about but that is a good idea as well. Maybe even just using 1x3 pieces as trim similar to a batten wall and just stain it to look 'rustic' the same color as the wood mantle.

We also wanted to do our master bedroom wall behind our bed in wood, not like shiplap but I saw they also make all of these same veneers in wood accents as well. Maybe depending how this fireplace thing goes that would be much easier since its a square wall, no ladder required.

Like this: Thats all just peel and stick wood tiles without the hassle of measuring 100 pieces of real wood, staining it all, cutting it a million times and taking the entire winter Check it--> https://www.stikwood.com/collections/stikwood

Edited December 1, 2023 by AkronsWitness

[Tugboat]

On 11/30/2023 at 8:09 PM, AkronsWitness said:

Good info thanks. I watched a couple videos on this and it seems something not too difficult for us to try. The hardest part that is going to drive me bat**** insane is the measuring/cutting of all the little fill-in pieces 18ft into the air. The one video I saw the guy cut/drilled concrete board onto the wall as the backing, then he took the tile and put fast drying caulk on it and stuck it to the concrete board. But like you said there are other versions I saw that are just as easy as peel and stick which I assume could be applied right to the drywall.

Adding the trim is another thing I didnt even think about but that is a good idea as well. Maybe even just using 1x3 pieces as trim similar to a batten wall and just stain it to look 'rustic' the same color as the wood mantle.

We also wanted to do our master bedroom wall behind our bed in wood, not like shiplap but I saw they also make all of these same veneers in wood accents as well. Maybe depending how this fireplace thing goes that would be much easier since its a square wall, no ladder required.

Like this: Thats all just peel and stick wood tiles without the hassle of measuring 100 pieces of real wood, staining it all, cutting it a million times and taking the entire winter Check it--> https://www.stikwood.com/collections/stikwood

 

Kinda skeptical of caulking as an adhesive.  Not even sure what's in the gun obviously, but that seems questionable.  Especially above a fireplace with the heat.  Should really probably be using cement board, with a lath and scratch coat of mortar to set things if you want it to look great and "authentic" as stone.  But that might be beyond the scope of what you're even aiming for here.

 

There certainly are other products that skirt around that.

 

 

Haven't ever actually seen that "stikwood" stuff in person.  Looks intriguing.  Seems like it's actual reclaimed wood with some sort of adhesive backing?  That sounds kinda cool.

 

Not sure i'd consider "cutting a hundred pieces of wood" as all that demanding though.  You get the angle set and it's a pretty factory process.  Just getting the right "reclaimed barnwood" is probably the bigger challenge to do it the "old school way".  Hilarious how expensive "weathered old wood" is these days.  Everyone just desperately clinging to a past that doesn't exist anymore.

[vike daddy]

On 12/2/2023 at 3:30 PM, Tugboat said:

Hilarious how expensive "weathered old wood" is these days.  

and rusty corrugated metal roofing...

[AkronsWitness]

On 12/6/2023 at 3:02 PM, vike daddy said:

and rusty corrugated metal roofing...

Design trends are funny. Im always looking for something that isnt too extreme and will stand the test of time well. Especially when we go to sell the house I dont want to turn potential buyers off because I decided to do trendy that will look goofy in 10 years.

Im surprised millenial gray paint isnt marked up 300% over any other color tbh

I saw somebody online say millennial gray is the new boomer beige and couldn't stop laughing at how true it was. Soon, gen Z is going to be looking to buy their first houses and 90% of the market is going to be painted gray and they are going to make comments to their realtor 'Obviously the whole house needs some new paint to spruce it up'

The other design trend that is going to age so poorly is painting everything black. My sister painted the entire outside of her wood siding house black. Thats something that is going to look incredibly weird by 2030.

Edited December 11, 2023 by AkronsWitness

[Tugboat]

16 hours ago, AkronsWitness said:

Design trends are funny. Im always looking for something that isnt too extreme and will stand the test of time well. Especially when we go to sell the house I dont want to turn potential buyers off because I decided to do trendy that will look goofy in 10 years.

Im surprised millenial gray paint isnt marked up 300% over any other color tbh

I saw somebody online say millennial gray is the new boomer beige and couldn't stop laughing at how true it was. Soon, gen Z is going to be looking to buy their first houses and 90% of the market is going to be painted gray and they are going to make comments to their realtor 'Obviously the whole house needs some new paint to spruce it up'

The other design trend that is going to age so poorly is painting everything black. My sister painted the entire outside of her wood siding house black. Thats something that is going to look incredibly weird by 2030.

 

I still don't even actually understand exactly what this "Milennial Grey" thing is about.  I get the concept, but it seems to be another piece of Tiktok bull**** that is just lumping a hundred different things lazily together.

 

Like i get the epitome of the meme, "washed grey vinyl plank floors on grey walls on a grey and white kitchen" basically.  And that's just despair in a can.  But 90% of that garbage is just dev companies trying to go as cheap as possible for apartments and rentals.

 

Grey walls with warm oak floors?  That's ****in' dope man.  Dark wood floors?  That can work great.  Even those washed grey floors can be interesting if you get warm wood trim or just make sure that they don't don't blend through the white trim into whatever the wall colour is.  Half the **** just seems to be like, "ooop bought lots of grey furniture".  Which is stupid but entirely not a fixture.

Grey Kitchens are terrible.

 

I think it's actually gonna be the "All White Kitchen" trend and this stupid "Modern Farmhouse" nonsense that's going to date things the absolute worst though.  It's been the more prevailing trend.  Millenial Grey has been more of just a "ahhh it's part of the era".  It's the default "non-style" option.  Those Boho chic faux farmhouse things that are really expensive "standout" pieces of deliberate style...those are the ones that people will laugh at.

Nobody even picks at GenX, but it's because most of the things they built to taste...where just super mild cream colours, earthy tones, putting carpet everywhere.  Outrageous tiles and counters and things.  Black Fixtures and Appliances lmao.  Those get called out.  But not their preference for deeper biege.

 

I also just think it's silly to worry about GenZ buying homes.  Most of the Milennials aren't even there yet.  GenZ don't even seem like the type to be in a rush to do it either.  Their style is also halfways ripped off from early Milennials/Late GenX anyway.  But they generally seem to have a completely different conception of "owning a home".  Where Milennials had those Boomer/GenX parents and that was the pinnacle of life, to just own a home and start a family...GenZ have a lot of Milennial parents who can't own homes and have sorta grown up without that whole illusion.

 

 

Anyway...Black Painted Wood Siding is going to look terrible a lot sooner than it's "dated" in 2030 or whatever.  If there's one colour of exterior painting that ages the worst, it's black.  Painting exteriors black is a very bad trend.  Even when it's materials that will hold their colour better than paint...it's just one of those trends that will look like that really awful mottled red/orange/white brick that dates houses so badly.  Fortunately, should be easier to fix.

 

[AkronsWitness]

4 hours ago, Tugboat said:

 

I still don't even actually understand exactly what this "Milennial Grey" thing is about.  I get the concept, but it seems to be another piece of Tiktok bull**** that is just lumping a hundred different things lazily together.

 

Like i get the epitome of the meme, "washed grey vinyl plank floors on grey walls on a grey and white kitchen" basically.  And that's just despair in a can.  But 90% of that garbage is just dev companies trying to go as cheap as possible for apartments and rentals.

 

Grey walls with warm oak floors?  That's ****in' dope man.  Dark wood floors?  That can work great.  Even those washed grey floors can be interesting if you get warm wood trim or just make sure that they don't don't blend through the white trim into whatever the wall colour is.  Half the **** just seems to be like, "ooop bought lots of grey furniture".  Which is stupid but entirely not a fixture.

Grey Kitchens are terrible.

 

I think it's actually gonna be the "All White Kitchen" trend and this stupid "Modern Farmhouse" nonsense that's going to date things the absolute worst though.  It's been the more prevailing trend.  Millenial Grey has been more of just a "ahhh it's part of the era".  It's the default "non-style" option.  Those Boho chic faux farmhouse things that are really expensive "standout" pieces of deliberate style...those are the ones that people will laugh at.

Nobody even picks at GenX, but it's because most of the things they built to taste...where just super mild cream colours, earthy tones, putting carpet everywhere.  Outrageous tiles and counters and things.  Black Fixtures and Appliances lmao.  Those get called out.  But not their preference for deeper biege.

 

I also just think it's silly to worry about GenZ buying homes.  Most of the Milennials aren't even there yet.  GenZ don't even seem like the type to be in a rush to do it either.  Their style is also halfways ripped off from early Milennials/Late GenX anyway.  But they generally seem to have a completely different conception of "owning a home".  Where Milennials had those Boomer/GenX parents and that was the pinnacle of life, to just own a home and start a family...GenZ have a lot of Milennial parents who can't own homes and have sorta grown up without that whole illusion.

 

 

Anyway...Black Painted Wood Siding is going to look terrible a lot sooner than it's "dated" in 2030 or whatever.  If there's one colour of exterior painting that ages the worst, it's black.  Painting exteriors black is a very bad trend.  Even when it's materials that will hold their colour better than paint...it's just one of those trends that will look like that really awful mottled red/orange/white brick that dates houses so badly.  Fortunately, should be easier to fix.

 

I think the actual color at Sherwin Williams is called 'Aggregable Grey' and you should have seen our last home lol All of the living space areas and guest bedrooms were light grey with white trim. Light grey, white trim everywhere I looked. We moved into our new house and guess what color it was. Light grey and white trim. (but the bedrooms were all beige).

Its the official color combination of 'modern farmhouse'