House in Progress Diary

Revenge of the Mailbag

 

Well, it's been a long, looooooong time since I peeked into the HouseInProgress mailbag.  Here's that latest note:

 

 

Stephen from Live Grenades

 

Stephen, your article is top notch.  Well written and thorough.  Here were the parts that I thought were especially useful and oh-so-lacking in many home repair manuals:

1. The Studly Meter Ratings for the various steps.  This was a pure stroke of genius.  I want an actual "studly meter".  I'm picturing something that looks like those "Watch Your Speed" signs in suburban neighborhoods that would tell you--and the WORLD--who is more studly.  You, for having donned haz-mat gear before squeezing into a hot, stuffy attic to clean out raccoon poop?  Or your spouse, for having braved an icy, slippery roof four times in one night to attack an ice dam?  This could easily turn home improvement projects into a competitive sport.
   


2. This crucial initial step in the instructions: 
   


• Start to remove the water line between the valve and the toilet. Realize that you have to drain the tank first. SM: 1


3. This confession:


• Put on your safety goggles, put in earplugs, and start cutting the bolts off. Watch the dust fly everywhere. Five cut-off wheels later, the nuts are cut off of the flange bolts. SM: 9


• Pick up one of the cut-off nuts. Seconds later, drop it because it is hot like the sun. When you leave the bathroom to get some ice to put on your burn, tell your significant other that you touched it “by accident”. SM: 1


4. And this, which made me spit tea onto my computer keyboard:
   


• Wonder if your state is one where the plumbing codes require that someone licensed do this work. Shrug and go on. SM: 2

 

A truly fabulous list of instructions.  The next time we have to take apart our toilet, we will think fondly of you. :)  Thanks for the link! 

 

 

(Image courtesy of Live Grenades) 

Posted by jeanne on July 18, 2006 at 9:43 AM