youngmotivatedengineer
Well-known member
My yards and double driveway is full of leaves from my adjacent neighbors. After renting at a condo complex for 3 years, I'm actually excited to get back to doing yard work.
Staining and stamping would most likely be in the picture if we were to go with concrete. Light is one of the main factors, but the maintenance aspect is equally important for me.if you just want the light can you modify it so that it is open at the windo wells? (thats how ours is)
I peronsally like the look of the wood deck (weve got the trex deck stuff) - ours is pretty low to the ground and Ive often wondered about doing a brick patio - but I was just never a fan of the concrete patio - unless there was some staining or paterns or something?
I do like the idea of a paver patio, but the question would be whether I’d like to deal with possible cracks or weeds. Either way, both would be easier to maintain than a wooden deck, from my perspective.I'd use it until it rots, then get rid of it. A patio with nice seating/plants shouldn't lose any value compared to a deck. Maybe consider a paver patio in lieu of concrete, as they don't crack and can be a cheaper DIY project.
If the base is done right, you shouldn't get any weeds. I have a stamped concrete patio from the PO, and it looks like crap in various areas due to cracks propagating. If you do get weeds, you get to play with a weed burner anyways!Staining and stamping would most likely be in the picture if we were to go with concrete.
I do like the idea of a paver patio, but the question would be whether I’d like to deal with possible cracks or weeds. Either way, both would be easier to maintain than a wooden deck, from my perspective.
Your breaker is either an AFCI or a GFCI. I would guess it's GFCI but without seeing it I can't be sure.so ive been trying to chase down why my outside outlets dont work and discovered why ( partially my fault) but the outdoor outlets are on a GFI that resides in the basement- behind the water heater - this area used to be open but when I finished the basement in it got missed that you cant (easily) access this area anymore- most of the reason is my new water heater is more of a "tuna can sam" and is short and wide but I can no longer squeeze behind it to access it- I was able to reset the GFI with a long screw driver, but I am sure someone will ***** if and when I go to sell the house.
I put up a wall right next to but not directly behind the outlet so maybe I could install one of those access panels so you can techincally reach it?
I also found another item I need to fix in my my circuit panel. I had hired an electricain to install the sub panel but I did the final wiring - City inspector didnt actually look at how the wires are done but I have 3 areas on one circuit breaker -I did have to install the breakers that have the "test" feature built in ( cant recall what that is called) but I suppose each of the 3 areas should be on its own? (right now they are all pig tailed into a 15 amp circuit). I had totally forgot that I needed to come back and give each their own breaker but how do you determine how much can go on a single breaker? Or should I assume that since the electrician ran seperate wires from each of these areas to the panel that he intendid to give each their own breaker?
- TheGFI mentioned above that controls two outdoor receptacles
- lights, receptcle, for a closet ( really one light, and one receptacle)
- Half the lights in the large room of the basement ( 4 can lights)
Thanks for any help, I could ask google, but I fgure there are smarter people here
AFCI and GFCI serve different purposes. The former is for equipment protection from fire, and the latter is for human protection from shock. There shouldn’t be any reason why a GFCI outlet wouldn’t work on an AFCI breaker.AFCI thats what its called, also $$$$ - all of them in the basement are AFCI (except the one for the GFI in the bathroom) which is just a regular breaker.
I have never used the outdoor outlets all that much, usually just for xmas lights or the occasional tool usage -but its been sparingly, but probably a 20A would take the occasional use of a circ saw or come other heavier power tool. I could move the 15A to one of the lights and pick up another 20A AFCI ? ive got plenty of room in the panel so other than the high dollar cost of the Arc Faults its easy to add one for each.
Can you do a AFCI on top of a regular GFI receptable? I didnt know if that was like a double double or something (thinking back to why the bathroom GFI is on a reg breaker?)
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