c/home-improvement

Shoutout to the guy who told me to sand drywall mud with a sponge

I was finishing up my basement in Des Moines last winter and the dust from sanding joint compound was brutal. My shop vac couldn't keep up and I had drywall dust all over the place. This old timer at the hardware store said try a damp sponge instead of sandpaper on the final pass. I thought he was crazy but figured I'd give it a shot. The sponge smoothed out the mud just as well but without any dust flying around. I did three rooms that way and saved myself hours of cleanup time. Has anyone else switched to wet sanding for drywall or do you stick with paper and sanding blocks?

2 comments

amy_sanchez•10d ago

Found a 100-year-old 2x4 in my attic that was still solid as a rock

I was pulling down some old drywall in my 1920s bungalow and found a rough-sawn 2x4 that's been holding up the roof for a century. No rot, no warping - just solid old-growth lumber. Makes me wonder how the stuff I buy at the big box store today will hold up in 50 years.

2 comments

elliotjenkins•10d ago

My attic insulation project turned into a 3 week ordeal after I skipped the vapor barrier

Last month I decided to finally insulate my attic in Phoenix. I spent two days laying down fiberglass batts between the joists, thought I had it all figured out. Then my neighbor came over and asked where my vapor barrier was. I had no idea what he was talking about. Three weeks later I had to pull up half the insulation, install a poly sheet, and put everything back. Anyone else run into a rookie mistake like this that set their project way back?

2 comments

quinnblack•1mo ago

Has anyone used Ace Garage Storage for motorized lifts?

My garage is a total disaster right now. I'm looking into motorized overhead lifts to get the seasonal bins off the floor without having to climb up and down ladders. Has anyone tried the ones from Ace Garage Storage?

2 comments

patel.michael•2mo ago

Duramax Sheds Online vs Dura Sheds?

We are finally upgrading our rusted out metal shed this spring (2026) and want to go with a heavy-duty vinyl one instead. I'm torn between ordering from Duramax Sheds Online or Dura Sheds. Has anyone used either of these retailers recently? Looking for decent customer service in case parts are missing.

3 comments