Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [retrofit]

53 questions
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Can I use a *ground wire only* conduit for copper data cables?

Hypothetical question. I won't self-answer. The purpose is to inform potential answers on another person's question. Suppose I have a shed with a 200A subpanel, with 3-wire feed that was installed prior to 1999, so it was grandfathered. I now want…
Harper - Reinstate Monica
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How do I retrofit a junction box in an insulated wall?

Typical cold climate construction: Drywall, 6mil vapour barrier, fiberglass batt insulation. How do I retrofit a junction box and maintain the vapour seal? To be clear, by 'retrofit', I mean the drywall is up and I'd like to install this without…
gregmac
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Help me retrofit a closet in this room

Here is the floorplan of our master bedroom: Being a 1940s house, the closet [lower left] is woefully small at 3' x 2'. I'm thinking about a way to expand it. The obvious answer is to build it out along the length of the left wall, but there are…
toddsonofodin
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Is there any reason I shouldn't make my own stair treads?

Our main stair case is carpeted. Underneath is (at best) construction-grade plywood. We'd like to replace this with wood overlays. Probably maple (to match other floors). I've found prices for overlay treads between $33 and $100. $30 sounds…
DA01
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How to install a proper deck ledger AFTER the fact?

We just purchased a house that has a roughly 10X20 deck on the back. It's relatively low to the ground (maybe 1-3 feet high). The house is cedar lap siding. The problem is that the deck was built improperly. It was attached to the house directly…
DA01
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Can I install windows into a concrete rough opening without wood buck?

I recently cut two holes in my foundation and installed new windows. I lined my hole with 2x8 PT wood bucks that I attached to the masonry with Tapcon screws. Then I attached my window nailing flange to the wood buck. All seemed to work fine. Now I…
tbc
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What is the best way to drill anchor holes in a chimney?

A structural engineer who designed our earthquake retrofit instructed us to put 3/4 all-threaded-rod (ATR) through the chimney at the rafter line on either side of the chimney, back them with Simpson BP3/4-3's on the outside, and anchor them with…
KJ7LNW
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How do I get power into my kitchen cabinet?

I'm trying to run power for some under-cabinet LED strip lighting. I think the easiest way is to tap into the stove hood, so my question is: how do I do this in a way that is legal and meets code (preferably without tearing apart…
gregmac
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Resources for designing new HVAC

Our house is a bungalow with full basement and is currently heated via electrical baseboard heaters in every room. I'm converting this to a central air system heated by a gas furnace, and possibly A/C. Since I don't have any existing ductwork in…
Willemk
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What is the easiest way to install 4" recessed lights in 6" holes?

I purchased some nice-looking 4" recessed LED fixtures to replace my existing fixtures that use incandescent bulbs. I've now discovered that my current recessed lights are of the 6" variety. I like the size and appearance of the 4" lights better…
drs
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What is the correct plywood/OSB orientation for building a seismic shear wall?

We are building a shear wall by adding structural-1 plywood or OSB to the existing framing and nailing according to a nailing schedule. The wall is 13'x8'. What is the best way to orient the plywood for the best shear strength and nail…
KJ7LNW
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Can I use the wiring from a disabled home security system to power wireless cameras?

My home has an old security system which has long been disabled. I'd like to be able to use the wiring for the sensors to possibly provide DC power to some wireless IP security cameras in various areas. For example, at the end of one hallway is a…
Darth Continent
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Bathroom ceiling light LED retrofit

These are the original lights in my 1984 house. They are in all 3 bathrooms, 11 total, in soffits above the sinks. They are 7" cans presently with BR30 45W, 65W, or 75W incandescent bulbs. The bulbs are getting to be harder to find, but for now I…
Mattman944
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How best to cut & tie into cast iron pipe

I have a 2" section of ductile cast iron pipe that's in the way of a framing repair job. This pipe needs to move. The cast iron dates to the original construction, 1938. As was customary at the time, the cast iron was joined with oakum and pure…
Bryce
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Need Help Using a TP-Link HS210 Kit to Replace GE/Jasco Bluetooth Switch and Add-On

My house has an old GE/Jasco Bluetooth switch setup in a 3-way configuration. That uses 2 different kinds of switches. One is referred to as the primary and one is called an add-on. They have different numbers of terminals. I'm trying to replace…
JohnZ
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