What "man jobs" have you done today?

Skiddley · 22 Sep 2017 at 14:31

Participant said:
Raped my front lawn with my new Bosch AVR1100 verticutter. Looks like the Somme now that I've also put iron sulphate down. Playing the long game though, as it's absolutely full of moss.

I went through this twice a year with my place. Lawn looks really good now after a few years. The first time I ended up with a 6ft high pile of moss! Just needs a light going over every year to keep on top of it now.

NickK · 22 Sep 2017 at 19:26

Yup keep at it. First time I did this it looked like the grass was doing a comb over..

I used iron first to kill the moss then scarified by using a pass then a second pass at 30 degrees angle.
Masses of moss and the lawn is far healthier. Keep the lawn short. When you scarifying depends on when the grass will start to grow after - just don't do it when weather will scorch or waterlog.

DXP55 · 23 Sep 2017 at 14:20

My moisture content tester came today

So thought I would check my Oak logs and they were showing 15% which seemed fine.

While out there I decided to split a few of the logs down to half size on log splitter so uncovered the Air/hydraulic splitter - got everything out and set up and it didn't work - Works pumping by hand but not by air - Did a few then put it all away.
Sitting thinking about it I think because it's been sitting there for two months or more it might need bleeding - the air pump works but it's not lifting the jack head - Just got to work out which is bleed screw - there are two - one at bottom which I think is drain screw and other which is just above the base on right at front. - I hope anyway.

FoxEye · 23 Sep 2017 at 22:07

Spent the entire day, from just after breakfast until about 7pm, pressure washing our paths.

My back is not impressed. I probably won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow!

{SAS}TB · 23 Sep 2017 at 22:56

Finally got round to rebuilding the home gym four months after taking it apart to move house .....

wilber · 24 Sep 2017 at 17:39

cuts 1 or 2 logs

Martynt74 · 26 Sep 2017 at 12:52

Was going to build my mother in law a log store but then came accross this. It's a log store with a planter on top which would be great for herbs and things.

From the blurb on the website selling it

As with all of our green roof stores, the roof area of the Log Store comes fully prepared with a sealed waterproof membrane to keep the water away from the log storage area, our unique drainage solution to take excess water away from the plants, another geotextile membrane to keep any substrate/soil inside the green roof area, and a cut-to-size capillary mat to help keep the vegetation moist and looking great

I'm assuming that to replicate their "unique drainage solution" i'd just build a log store as normal with a 20degree angled roof, cover the roof with a plastic sheeting, then build a regular planter type thing on top.

Any ideas/thoughts to make this as good as possible as i keep jumping between ideas.

#Chri5# · 26 Sep 2017 at 13:09

That looks good Marv - I started plans for an extra log store on Sketchup last night but that's an interesting bit on top. Just Googled at and saw the price :eek:

I have thought any water going through the soil would go with the slope of the roof, so perhaps drainage holes along the back?

Martynt74 · 26 Sep 2017 at 13:21

Yeah, i'm thinking a slope towards the back, with an overhang on all sides to help protect the logs. Had initially been tasked to build one with a built in coal bunker but she's decided to put it in a place where i'm restricted to how big it can go (both width and height)

This is the current thinking (i don't know why i didn't pursue a career in art)

So the red section is the log store, then the green bit is plastic sheeting. On top of that i'd use some runners to create channels running down to the back. Build the planter on the top (blue bit) which would be lined with that garden membrane stuff and then drill drainage holes to line up with the channels in the partition.

Not explained very well!

Telecaster · 26 Sep 2017 at 21:01

Sorry, not up on log storage, but do they not need some sort of decent overhang to stop the weather just coming in through the front? That one above looks a tad open fronted!

Mark A · 26 Sep 2017 at 22:13

Seeing Oak being used for fire wood makes me sad

.

DXP55 · 27 Sep 2017 at 17:02

Mixed up 7 ltrs of Glyosphate 360 today and sprayed top front lawn again - then 3ft of field at back of rear fence then walked around individual weeds and sprayed them - Good job done then 40 min later it bloody rained - Only got half ltr of 360 concentrate left out of 5ltrs - still it's lasted me 35 years - will only buy a ltr next and that should outlast me.

PS - Fixed the log splitter - needed bleeding.

snappyfish · 27 Sep 2017 at 17:42

Took this down

to

Martynt74 · 27 Sep 2017 at 18:03

Why on earth would you take that down?

snappyfish · 27 Sep 2017 at 18:11

Marvt74 said:
Why on earth would you take that down?

Long story, but the cabin was just on concrete. I thought they would build it using some bearers to give airflow underneath, they didn't

So took it down to site it on concrete blocks. Then a better 4x2 subframe. Blocks are 65mm high so will allow rain to drip of logs and not get trapped under the floor.

Hedge · 27 Sep 2017 at 18:18

snappyfish said:
Long story, but the cabin was just on concrete. I thought they would build it using some bearers to give airflow underneath, they didn't

So took it down to site it on concrete blocks. Then a better 4x2 subframe. Blocks are 65mm high so will allow rain to drip of logs and not get trapped under the floor.

Holy ****.

Taking that down would make me wanna puke. I would probably have got some straps, hired a digger or something and then lifted one end, threw some blocks under it, then done the same on the other side lol.

snappyfish · 27 Sep 2017 at 18:22

Hedge said:
Holy ****.

Taking that down would make me wanna puke. I would probably have got some straps, hired a digger or something and then lifted one end, threw some blocks under it, then done the same on the other side lol.

Believe me, I thought of everything. The bearers had been bolted to concrete, then the first row of logs to bearers, then first 3 logs to each other - no lifting that structure without breaking it. Took me 2 days to get it down.

Building it should be easier.

I planned to get it right for the long term.

Hedge · 27 Sep 2017 at 18:34

snappyfish said:
Believe me, I thought of everything. The bearers had been bolted to concrete, then the first row of logs to bearers, then first 3 logs to each other - no lifting that structure without breaking it. Took me 2 days to get it down.

Building it should be easier.

I planned to get it right for the long term.

I admire your composure. I think I would have done anything to avoid it. Mine would have just rotted away lol.

snappyfish · 27 Sep 2017 at 18:42

Hedge said:
I admire your composure. I think I would have done anything to avoid it. Mine would have just rotted away lol.

Thanks, believe me, I feel crushed by the amount of work. I not a builder/DIY expert. It's not my game. I'm annoyed at myself for allowing advice of shoddy builders/cabin installers who really gave bad advice.

Just waiting for dry few days now to build it off the concrete.

topgun06 · 27 Sep 2017 at 22:35

More time spent in the loft. This time trying to wire up two of these bulkhead lights https://www.screwfix.com/p/oval-bulkhead-black-240v/61424.

I had to butcher the terminals and lamp holder to allow me to fit the wires in. I don't think they were designed with this in mind. Hopefully everything is connected properly as it took long enough!