Just Has One Little Soft Spot

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion) 03/22/2018 at 07:46 • Filed to: None

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Anyone who has dealt with a house, or a car, or a boat, with “just one little soft spot in the [whatever]” knows what that typically means. Just take what you think it will be to repair it, in terms of scope, and multiply by 10.

Our house isn’t even that old (1987) and generally very well built. But the previous owner apparently let water seep out of the shower and sit on the floor. Every time.

See how the shower curtain is outside the wall of the shower? That’s only because I’ve been working on it. PUT THAT INSIDE WHILE SHOWERING!

There’s “just one little spot” where the rot went all the way through.

At least I can store my tools in the shower, because we use the upstairs shower 99.9% of the time. The last one in this shower was one of our dogs, when she was throwing up and it was like, 0F outside and windy. Otherwise, she would have been outside.

We’re replacing the flooring in both bathrooms, and before doing that I said, I guess I finally have to figure out how bad that soft spot is. We almost never use this shower, so everything is very dry in there. That tells me it’s not an ongoing leak, but something caused by ignorance and carelessness in the past. But wow, man. This is why you pay attention to stuff like this.

But hey this gives me an excuse to buy an oscillating multitool, aka flush cut tool, aka a new toy!

Any recommendations on brands? I probably won’t buy the Bosch only because $$$. There are lots in the $100 range.

I’ll post some more pics when the hole gets even bigger, because I have to cut out a rectangle that hits two floor joists, so the hole will be a minimum 32" x 8" or so. I can’t wait to see my wife’s reaction when I make this hole even bigger. But she knows how this kind of thing goes.

Party-vi > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 08:05

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I’ve got a Dremel Multi Max and it’s bangin’.

PartyPooper2012 > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 08:23

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One day I was checking out a car I was thinking of buying. Looked good cosmetically. Then I popped the hood open. Ran my finger on the belt. It was covered in oil. I asked the owner (who was super duper mechanic for a local dealer who specialized in this make cars) and he said - the car is close to 20 years old. It’s just a little sweating.

Sweating....

Cars don’t sweat. That, sir, is an oil leak. Your claim that car has no leaks was determined to be a lie.

punkgoose17 > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 08:28

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I don’t have any soft spots in my bathroom, but this still makes me nervous about the condition of my bathroom floor.

McMike > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 08:39

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Makes me wonder how close to the sale the previous owner installed the taller baseboards.

Nibby > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 08:44

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if you need a new shower curtain here you go

diplodicus > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 08:50

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I feel you. Once I get my new bathroom finished upstairs, the old one is getting torn up. Replacing the floor and all the plumbing and electrical. Mine is old as shit though. The exterior wall in the bathroom is literally insulated with garbage. Discovered that while installing an outlet, because there were no outlets in the bathroom.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 08:53

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Remodeling our master bedroom and bath now. What a cluster fuck. Our builder nailed through the shower pan for ... reasons. So now it’s tear out everything instead of trying to not do that.

Wacko > Party-vi 03/22/2018 at 09:08

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Thats only cause you only use your dildo attachment in it

Party-vi > Wacko 03/22/2018 at 09:28

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Look what me, my Dremel, a donkey, and a woman with a penis do in my own home is my own gosh darn business.

functionoverfashion > Party-vi 03/22/2018 at 09:31

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Well this took a weird turn

Wacko > Party-vi 03/22/2018 at 09:31

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hey i’m not judging,

and SR20..... :(

functionoverfashion > Nibby 03/22/2018 at 09:32

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Thanks I’ll uh.. keep that in mind.

Actually, my kids would find it hilarious

functionoverfashion > McMike 03/22/2018 at 09:34

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It looks suspicious, but the trim is the same standard size all over the place.

functionoverfashion > haveacarortwoorthree2 03/22/2018 at 09:34

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Ugh, that’s worse. I mean, the only completely right way to fix this, would be to take out the shower. But it’s not necessary, and I’m not doing it.

Wacko > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 09:36

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welcome to the Dark parts of Oppo

functionoverfashion > punkgoose17 03/22/2018 at 09:51

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Especially around the toilet, if it gets condensation around it in the humid summer days.

I’m thinking I may be getting into that rats nest upstairs.

Oddly, downstairs, the toilet is fed a mix of hot and cold water, so the condensation isn’t bad at all. I have to believe that is the reason it gets warm water. And I do believe it’s effective.

functionoverfashion > diplodicus 03/22/2018 at 09:53

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Wow, that’s special. I mean, is it at least good garbage insulation? Yikes.

It’s nice to rip apart something that’s been half-assed, and get it right though. I do enjoy that. I just wish I had more time to do the work!

random001 > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 10:03

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I might recommend the Ridgid JobMax. Interchangeable tool heads, man.

punkgoose17 > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 10:12

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I have 1 full bath and 1 half bath. The plan is to redo the half bath and make it a full. That way we can still bathe when the full bath gets redone. I’ll probably have to tear up floors and walls for both, yuck it will be an adventure filled with f ups and learning.

diplodicus > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 10:13

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Oh you know grass, rags, an advertisement booklet from the 1890s. Some cough syrup bottles from the same era. Really thermally efficient stuff.

It’s actually surprising how air tight the house is, most of the external walls have zero insulation. Just the old wood siding, and the lathe board with a very thick coating of horse hair plaster. The wood siding is obviously covered in some sort of modern siding, not really sure if its vinyl or aluminum.

Transit > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 11:00

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Those oscillating tools get hot, so be sure to take breaks and let it cool down without burning up the motor.

functionoverfashion > Party-vi 03/22/2018 at 11:05

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But seriously, what amperage is that? There seem to be a few models... I don’t need to use it every day, but the one thing I need it for right away is cutting through around an inch of plywood, not exactly easy.

functionoverfashion > Transit 03/22/2018 at 11:06

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Good tip. I don’t plan to use it a lot, but I do think it’s worth having; it will pay for itself right away in not having to pay someone else to do this job.

Sovande > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 11:06

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Buy the Fein tool and have it for life... or buy a cheaper one. I have a Dremel version that sucks, hard, and a Rigid reman that I bought to help a friend out when I was visiting once. My suggestion would be to look at the cost of the blades and make decisions from there. You want to be able to buy off-brand blades and not some proprietary blades. Also, look at the way the blade attaches - in my experience it can be really frustrating to have a job stalled because changing the blade take 30 minutes and it not intuitive.

The Fein saw is by far the best I have used if you don’t mind spending $300ish.

https://jet.com/product/Fein-72295261090-Multimaster-Oscillating-Multi-Tool-with-Hard-Case-and-Top-Acces/12391e0ea8254d2c8297113f1736a1b3

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-JobMax-4-Amp-Multi-Tool-with-Tool-Free-Head-R28602/206824272

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 11:08

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I can sympathize, had a spot in the the bathroom about six months ago like that but not as deep. Ended up replacing the vanity and a bunch of other things too in a “while I’m doing this” mode.

functionoverfashion > punkgoose17 03/22/2018 at 11:08

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Sounds like a good plan; we’ll do that as we replace the flooring, at least because of the toilet being removed for a few days. That will be interesting with the kids, being 3 and 5. They’ll figure it out! We’re putting in dual flush toilets, because with the two of them, our water system is getting a real workout.

Party-vi > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 11:08

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More amps is always better. Mine might be a 3.3A I’m not sure. I’ve used it to cut through 3/4" dricore without an issue. As long as the blade is sharp you should be fine.

TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 16:23

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If you have a cordless drill set already I’d try and find one as a bare tool and just use the batteries you have.

shop-teacher > functionoverfashion 03/22/2018 at 22:41

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That’s a pain!

I went full boogie when I bought my occilating tool, and bought a Fein. Fantastic tool, but tremendously overkill for the amount I use it.

functionoverfashion > TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo 03/23/2018 at 06:54

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That’s a great idea... except my cordless drills are ancient by cordless drill standards. 12 years, and on their third batteries.

functionoverfashion > shop-teacher 03/23/2018 at 06:56

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I’m often of the mindset that I’d rather buy one good one, knowing it will always serve me well, rather than a cheap one that will break and cause more trouble. In this case, I went with a Dremel, knowing my two local hardware stores carry them, so I can get accessories easily, and the brand has a good reputation at least.

One of my local places has Fein tools though, and it was tempting....

shop-teacher > functionoverfashion 03/23/2018 at 07:01

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I am too, and the Fein is a seriously nice piece. What sold me on it, was a demonstration from a Fein sales rep. He buried it in a 2x4, and told me if I could bog it down by standing on it, he’d give it to me for free. I weigh over 300 pounds .... I bought one after that, because that thing didn’t even know I was there.

functionoverfashion > shop-teacher 03/23/2018 at 09:20

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That is awesome. I suspect I’ll find more uses for it than I ever imagined, but realistically I just don’t have that much time for projects right now, either. And our house isn’t that needy, which is a good thing!

shop-teacher > functionoverfashion 03/23/2018 at 10:45

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That’s a very good thing! As much as I love our house, I’ve been wishing lately that we spent a bit more money, and bought one that wasn’t quite so damn needy.