All Forum Posts by: Bob H.

Have a good toolbox to hold the tools.

Get some staples intended for securing wiring and attach the wire to the ceiling joists above the wires -- if the joists are higher than where you intend to put the drywall. On the other hand, if the wires are between the drywall and the joists that you intend to use to hold up the drywall, you need an alternative. One method would be to drill holes through the middle of the joists and rerun the wires through those holes. Another option, but check on local codes, might be to pad out the bottoms of the joists with furring strips, leaving gaps for the wires, and then attach the drywall to the furring strips. Either way, take precautions to avoid driving a drywall screw or nail into a wire. Don't notch the joists.

It seems pretty obvious that locksmiths say Kwikset Smartkey locks are bad because they eliminate the need for a locksmith to rekey them every time.

I have Smartkey locks in one rental and no problems. For the others I rekey them myself, sometimes with a kit you can buy at home improvement stores or online.

@John Teachout, a dedicated circuit for the dishwasher does not preclude using a split outlet, with one half for the dishwasher and the other half connected to the disposer switch.

Also consider the possibility that the receptacle that works halfway is supposed to be a split outlet, with one outlet controlled by a switch so you can turn on a lamp when walking into the room. It would be odd to have other receptacles downstream be wired to the switched side, but consider it. Maybe there is a switch you inadvertently turned off recently.

An intentionally split outlet is one reason to have the tabs described in @Mike Reynolds' picture to be split. I'm not a fan of the practice, but some electricians install split outlets upside down to make them easily identifiable.

It's way better to put in an outlet, typically split with half controlled by a switch for the garbage disposer. Why have the dishwasher hard-wired and make things harder when it's time for a new model?

Despite that, I think a switch to turn the dishwasher on and off also is required in Texas.

I've used Glidden Premium satin from Home Depot on three Texas houses. It's fine.

The new layout is good, but the reach to the tub faucet handles looks awkward. Maybe leave a little more space between the tub and toilet or put the faucet at the other end of the tub.

I wonder if anyone would think of post-tensioned slabs as a more recent development that fits into this category. The slabs may be less likely to crack than concrete poured with older techniques, but they are a plague for anyone who wants to remodel in a way that requires moving drains, etc.

You do get "sign people" -- those who call for the most basic details, such as the rent amount, and may not be close to qualified. I used to have signs and get a few callers, but I use them less in recent years -- partly because I do remote management. On the sign I put number of bedrooms, phone and my website so they can look up the rest.