Does anyone have things go wrong?

[arkansasfish]

Does anyone do things to their home and you don't finish it because of a problem or something unexpected comes up??
Every time I do something, something goes wrong!!

[HeavenLeigh]

LOL....don't feel alone! I remodled my house 4 years ago and moved in. There were some "odds and ends" :rolleyes: that wouldn't be a problem to fix.........
Then I got divorced. Now EVERY last thing that I had such high hopes of doing is STILL left undone!

Oh well, the way I see it this house will still be standing long after I'm gone :D

Welcome to HT by the way!

[arkansasfish]

About 2 weeks ago I built a chicken shelter. I notices today that it is about to FALL over!! I got to get out there and re-do it.
It starts out being a simple project. Just build a big box. But NO!! The wood bounced when I hammered on it! Why does it do that?
Then the wood kept spliting!!
I then layed part of it on the ground and it was going good.Then I picked it up to turn it over and it fell apart. That darn thing must have fell apart 10 times before I finnally got it together!!

[veda]

Not to the house so much as other projects, work stuff etc. It helps to see the obstacles as challenges, to find a better way than your original plan. I work in production (video, audio, graphic design) & have to say that I truthfully cannot think of a single time when a problem didn't spark a few solutions which ended up nicer than the original idea.

Good luck & hang in there, in a way, projects are a reflection of life. Its just making sure to immediately start finding solutions rather than wasting time & energy getting caught up in the chaos of having the problem, yk?

[veda]

& as far as that chicken cage goes ~ are you just hammering nails directly into the wood for it's support? Maybe try using corner brackets for structural strength since chickens are nervous creatures & may wobble the cage alot anyway. Or getting thicker wood & longer but thinner nails? Not a carpenter, but have built frames for sets & we use brackets & screws alot more than hammering nails. Electric screwdrivers are awesome ;) Oh and also try putting a little wood glue on the two pieces where you are putting the nails or screws for xtra support.

best of luck

[rdy2rac with]

I was going to suggest srews as well. Also maybe try triangle pieces (like out of plywood, to cover & overlap the corner) on the inside of the corners to help it stay square. they always say that the strongest shape is a triangle. thats why bridges & sky scrapers have triangles throughout their designs. Keep us informed & we'll help where we can. ;)

[Laurie]

On the projects I start, I assume there will be things that I can't control, things I'm not good at and stuff I can't foresee. It doesn't mean they're "bad" things, just things. That way I'm not disappointed when the plan doesn't work. It just means I need a new plan. Hey, we're all smart enough to start a project so we're all smart enough to finish even if it means learnng new skills or asking for HELP!!

[Country1969]

Talk about problems.

I painted 2 radiator covers a satin white in our living room.
I laid papers all over the carpeting. When I was finished with the first coat I went to wash the brush out with mineral spirits.
I had some paint on the bottom of my sneakers and left a few tracks over the carpet. So I had to scrub the carpet.

It seems that you always have some sort of problem with doing something. Not enough paint, no brush,no mineral spirits, no ladder, no nails, no screws, can't find a SCREWDRIVER, can't find a flashlight,misplaced the tape measure. No pens and pencils, no paper, no paper towels, no toilet paper.


Does that sound like what we are go thru with everyday?

YES

[Violet]

I haven't posted here before, but this seems an interesting forum with nice people. I was amused by the question arkansasfish posed. Four years ago, I started building a small garden shed and its still not finished. :D

First I took apart some giant moving crates to get the plywood and studs I used. That took me months. Then, it took me months more to get the basic shell of the little shed put up. Then it sat there for a long time without any shingles. Finally I got the roof properly finished, and I gave the thing a coat of paint before its second winter.

Since then, two more winters have come and gone. I got very busy with other things and didn't work on the shed at all, though I did cram a bunch of stuff into it. All this while, it hasn't had a proper door - it's just been closed with a sheet of old plywood propped against the door opening.

A few weeks ago, I thought, "This is ridiculous!" So I went out to my shed and put in some proper shelves so I could organize the stuff that was crammed in there. And today, I made and hung the door!! A door!!! A real, swinging door!!! I am so happy to have a door on my shed that I went out not long ago with the flashlight to admire it one last time before I go to bed.

A few more little things to finish up, another coat of paint, and I'll finally be able to say I'm done with it.

About the chicken shelters - you can make them much, much stronger by running a 1x2 up each corner of the box. They're a cheap little piece of lumber, and it gives you something to screw the sides and bottom/top into. 2x2's would be even better.

[gordon]

Yes, how about after years of savings, planning, and then construction of our new home, as completion was in sight, it turns out the brand new, expensive, supposedly high quality windows and doors are all defective and leak. Living in a temporary cottage next door with my family, we can look out the window and see our dream home standing there unoccupied and unfinished as it has been for three years now because the window manufacturer has refused to take responsibility for their defective products. Patiently waiting for our day in court. www.leakywindows.com :mad: