Engineering Stack Exchange
Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [home-improvement]

Questions on the subject of home improvement and the role of engineers in residential design and construction work. Technical questions about specific home improvement projects should not use this tag; instead, use tags that categorize the project itself. For advice on home improvement / DIY, see our sister site Home Improvement Stack Exchange.

Questions on the subject of home improvement and the role of engineers in residential design and construction work. Technical questions about specific home improvement projects should not use this tag; instead, use tags that categorize the project itself.

For advice on home improvement / DIY, see our sister site Home Improvement Stack Exchange.

13 questions
15
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5 answers

When do I need to consult a professional engineer during a home renovation?

I am a homeowner who likes to save money by performing DIY work. When possible, I prefer to serve as my own general contractor to reduce the cost of a project. However, when I talk with professionals about my plans and ask for advice, they often…
Air
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4
votes
1 answer

How to bend copper heat pipes?

I have purchased these copper heat-pipes; however, I am wondering how to bend them without kinking them or cutting them open due to pressure on weak points/bends. These are flat copper heat pipes, so I can't use a pipe bender; however, these are…
user15044
3
votes
3 answers

Are toilets supposed to come loose?

I have a typical, classical (but modern-made) Western porcelain toilet. Just a couple of years ago, they redid the entire bathroom (unasked for, forced "upgraded"). I've noticed many times when I'm about to get up from the toilet that it "wobbles",…
H. Cadman
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2
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1 answer

Hack a kitchen freezer for lower temperature

Common home freezers usually have the lowest temperatures of about -24 degrees Celsius. Freezers that go lower exist but these are much more expensive (times much). I wonder whether a common kitchen freezer (standalone without fridge) could be…
Kozuch
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2
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2 answers

Can I oversize my air conditioner if I use a two speed compressor?

The upper floor of my house has a split A/C, three-ton. When the temperature gets up above about 95 Fahrenheit, the unit can't keep the upstairs cool. That means that for a few weeks a year, my kids' bedrooms are still almost 80 F when it's time to…
Stephen Collings
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1
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4 answers

What is the name of this kind of through-hole fastener?

I've seen these before but I don't know what they're called. It's a two piece insert that creates a through-hole between them. I drew a picture to help identity it!
Zhro
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1
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1 answer

Is there a way to find who holds the trademark?

WonderBoard is a cement-based backer board mainly used for tiling in wet places. Specifically, its components are Portland cement, expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads, aggregates, and fiberglass reinforcement. It looks like WonderBoard is also a…
zghqh
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1
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1 answer

In order to soundproof external noise, do I need to build wall stud on concrete walls?

I assume this wood framing is the wall stud. My room looks like as follow with concrete walls In order to soundproof external noise into my room (red circle), do I need to build wall stud?
zghqh
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Heat storage mass vs. AIR in an ICF house

If we would want to build a family house (ICF) regarding operational costs, should we leave the insulation on the inside, or should we remove it from the inside? If we would remove it, the walls would provide a great thermal mass. But if we would…
KollarA
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0
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1 answer

what is issue with my room brick wall? How can i solve it?

I have seen a sort disformation on wall of my room I have attached snapshot of both inside view(from inside room) and out side view(that is out of room) inside view is below out side view is below
engr
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0
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3 answers

Build new home on top of 50 years old house

We have a home, which built before 50 years, now we are planning to built one more home on top [ terrace] , Is it right to go ahead & built new home on terrace ? or do we need to check any other things before building new home ? As the current home…
USer345738380
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1 answer

Is it possible to cook with low power PV systems (under 300 W)

This topic is slightly related to this one, with some extra details. I would like to go off-grid and therefore buy a PV kit. I can see that the prices for PV systems with a power of +3kW are very high, so I was thinking how much I can get from a…
Physther
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2 answers

What type of engineer/profession specialize in the design and building of residential homes/houses?

Peace and blessings beloved. I come from a family of tradesmen (plumbers, electricians, welders, carpenters, painters, etc) but never took a real interest in learning about said trades (or anything trade-related). I seen people work on and…
יהודה
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