Jay Gaulard

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Home Improvement

The home improvement category should be an entire blog unto itself. It covers a lot, but many of my posts here are full of excellent information on entertaining topics. I've done my fair share of fixing up and repairing houses in my day, so it should be no surprise that a good portion of this entire website is dedicated to the subject. I've installed multiple types of flooring, remodeled kitchens, completely revamped bathrooms, have torn down and rebuilt new decks and porches, and have painted far too many walls than I'd like to admit. In the posts contained in this category, you'll read about my adventures topping off gravel driveways, building sidewalks and stairs, installing wood and pellet burning stoves and chimneys, and insulating basements. It's a good time all around.

Cutting Some Concrete

I believe the job of filling the basement crawlspace in with dirt has officially begun. The hot and humid air has left the building and in its place is much cooler air that’s conducive to hard labor. My body reacts well to cool air. I can think better, fight better and actually get things done. […]

Building Iron Pipe Shelves

For some strange reason, I’ve recently become infatuated with area carpets. I always had a fondness for them, but just a few weeks ago, things have gone to a new level. At the wee hours of the night, I find myself watching random “Turkish Carpet” sales videos on Youtube. You know the ones; tourists get […]

How to Fix a Symmons Shower Valve That Leaks

What I’m about to share is for the greater good. I’ve done all the work and I’m willing to tell you all about it. If you have a shower valve that looks like the one below, and it leaks, you’re in good hands. I’m about to help your life immensely. Here’s the scenario – every […]

Making Closet Shelves with Oriented Strand Board (OSB)

I’ve had a home improvement project that I’ve been avoiding for quite some time now. The project has to do with making shelves for the insides of the kitchen cabinets, the laundry room, three bedroom closets and a hallway closet. In all, I’d say we need about 15-20 shelves. All different shapes and sizes, mind […]

How to Tape Drywall Joints

Just last night, I finished taping the good majority of the drywall joints in the log cabin room. I say majority because I still have to tackle the seams around where the cross beams meet the drywall. There are 30 seams there, so that will take a little while. This first step in adding joint […]

Fixing a Smelly Septic Pipe With Fernco Flexible Couplings

I’ve got a fun story for you. You probably won’t want to read it if you aren’t into smelly basements and septic pipes, but if you are, read on. You might be entertained. When we moved into this house last November, I remember going down to the basement to check things out. One of the […]

Installing a Septic Tank Baffle

As I mentioned in my last post, I had to install a new septic tank baffle. For one reason or another, our existing concrete baffle broke off and is currently sitting at the bottom of the tank. Here is a picture of the exit pipe with no baffle. Don’t know what a septic tank baffle […]

Installing a Sillcock Valve

Can anyone tell me what happens to a valve if it freezes with water inside? Okay, I’ll tell you. The seal gets ruined. Something happens when the ice expands in the valve, so after a few freeze/thaws, you get some leaks. We’ve had it happen to the kitchen sink after that froze this past Winter. […]

Filling In a Basement Crawl Space

I’ve got a project to complete that I’m really not looking forward to. It’s called something like, “filling in the basement crawl space with gravel, dirt, sand…whatever.” Do you remember back when I told you about my nifty installation of our sump pump? Well, that installation worked wonderfully. Every time the basement filled with water, […]