r/handyman

I’ve got an interesting question from a client. I’m finishing off the third story of a house. Part of that is finishing this roughed in bathroom that was done, I believe, two owners prior. The end of this space is the shower. This being an exterior wall my plane was to build, insulate, vapor, cement board, tile etc. as usual. But they’ve requested leaving the brick exposed as is.

My first thought was no way. But a bit of research suggests it’s possible. The process seems very simple, too simple is some ways. Thoroughly cleaning, vacuuming, washing with soap, numerous brushings, etc. Then applying multiple layers of waterproofing agent, and/or epoxy.

My question is, has anybody actually done this and have tips, experiences, or comments on long-term viability?

He wants to match the kitchen, pic also included.

Thanks

Hi all! Looking for some feedback here.

Have a mystery shower leak, only happens when we shower, often it slowly gets wet after the shower ends but it hasn't really expanded beyond this one specific spot.

Has been checked out by plumbers and didn't find any signs of a plumbing leak, behind the faucet and shower head were dry ,also said crawlspace is completely dry down below so whatever is happening is very slow and only going to this one spot.

Shower doesn't feel wet along the sides after a shower either so I don't think it's splashing out, only thing I can think of is a failing seal between the shower wall and pan but I already recaulked it

Seems a lot simpler than the big ones. Any one done one like this? Never put one together. Might go for flat fee. Thanks!

Hi! I accidentally burnt the counter top beside the stove and need a way to fix it due to it being a rental and moving out shortly! I’ve tried bleach, baking soda and vinegar and scrubbing with steel wool but it still looks like the photo attached. Any ideas on how to fix it?

Hi!!

I paid about for this garage door replacement and it looks kinda unfinished

I'm pretty handy and can do some DIY but I wonder if this is on the contractor to finish or should I do it myself

I'm also not sure how I would do it! What material would I use?

I had a handyman drill into the brick and install this flag bracket last year. Over the winter it popped out from the weight of the flag when it snowed.

The bracket appear to be good quality. It’s heavy and had good ratings on Amazon.

Can I reinstall it? What’s a better way to ensure it stays put this time?

I recently imported a machine from China to start a small home-based business in Toronto. The manufacturer converted it to 120V for North American use, but we’re running into power issues and wanted to get advice before doing anything unsafe.

The main machine is rated at 3,000W and there’s also an attached air compressor rated around 1,600W.

We tried to test it in our condo, but the breaker trips almost immediately. Our condo mainly has 15A circuits, so we understand we’re probably exceeding what the circuits can safely handle. We tested it a few times before stopping completely.

The only higher-amperage circuits we likely have access to are:
- Washing machine circuit (30A, difficult to access)
- Stove circuit (40A)

(Btw we’re renters, so installing a dedicated new line may not be realistic)

A few questions:
- Is it even feasible/safe to run something like this in a residential condo setup? Could I plug them in separate outlets (the machine in the 40A stove and the compressor in a different outlet close by?
- Would a dedicated 30A circuit theoretically handle this?
- Are there any temporary solutions for testing?
- Should we even consider a generator for something like this? If so, are there large enough battery/inverter generators that could safely handle this load without using gas/propane?
- Would renting a small workshop/flex industrial space make more sense? Our priority is keeping costs low.
- We also have a friend who owns a self-serve laundromat and may allow us to rent a small corner of the shop. Would that be more suitable electrically?

Appreciate any insight. Thanks in advance!

EDIT: The machine was originally designed for 220–240V operation in China. We specifically asked the manufacturer to convert it to 110–120V for North American residential use because we assumed it would be easier to power here.

Based on the replies so far, it sounds like converting it to 120V may have actually created the issue due to the extremely high amperage/current draw (~4600W combined load).

We’re now looking into whether it can safely be reconfigured back to 220–240V and operated on a proper dedicated circuit instead.

Hoping it was my dishwasher. It wasn’t. It was the cast iron drain pipe leaking. There was standing water under the slab upon opening up.

Plumbers are trying to take it easy on me but it’s going to get expensive.

I’m fine if they don’t cover the pipe but maybe flooring and mold.

We are currently renting in a very poorly built new build (two years old). Every evening, the smell of cigarette and cannabis smoke infiltrates all three of our bathrooms. We have informed property management but they are essentially useless. I believe the smell is coming from gaps in the wall under the sink (where the plumbing is) as the smell is concentrated under the sink/in the cupboard.

Would it be possible for me to seal this? Or is there a reason for the gaps? If it is ok for me to seal the gaps, would I use caulking? Thank you so much for your help. I have a toddler and a 1 month old and I hate that they are being exposed to second hand smoke.

Edit: we live in a townhome and believe our neighbours are smoking inside of their unit, which then seeps into ours.