What did you do today?

[Incognito]

371 99Cents Only stores are closing up in BK.

I did the flooring in about 75 of those when they first opened up in the '80s-90s as a contractor. When the GC screwed me around eventually I quit him. Crazy thing was he was begging me to come back and I would only recommend my UNION employer. I wind up back there doing dozens more stores as an employee and my shop did maybe 75-100 or more stores all over California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and even Texas.

The original concept was EVERYTHING had to be priced at 99 cents. I met the founder many times. He was an unusual character but generally seemed to be a decent and interesting man. He'd usually show up right around when we were doing the floors as after that it was very quickly stocked up with merchandise and operational.

VCT----AZROCK on a diagonal. 3 rows of white and one row of blue.

Every store had the same flooring pattern. For me it was pretty easy money. All the tile, glue and patch was furnished and delivered to the site. Worst case scenario I did an extra day of prep------ALWAYS for the same square foot price. When the conditions got too nasty for 25 cents a foot that's when I quit. Typically I was making $500-1000 dollars a day before I paid the helper. The helper made $100 a day on the worst jobs and $200 if he busted ass and I made that much more.

 

[highup]

I have lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks. It scares me, but anything I eat makes me sick and my hemoglobin won't stay up.

Did they suddenly take away any medications you don't need.

 

[highup]

Never tried the XU-90. Back when I was doing carpet I would often refer to the CRI standards but hadn’t begun calling tech support until I got into doing hard surfaces for box stores. Back then I was working out of a Carpet One and could go to other seasoned installers with questions or even the sales team who were either installers themselves or been doing it long enough to know.

There’s no one that knows anything that you can talk to at a box store. Maybe not literally no one but you know what I’m sayin, it’s different workin for box stores. I won’t say you gotta sell your soul but you definitely sold something.

Last thing I'd do is ask anyone locally how to do something. If I did, I'd do the opposite.
When backings went from Action Bac to smooth and slippery we were all using XK50.
I didn't like the feel of that. That's when I called Karastan and got their recommendation of XU90. It's a low temperature tape with a max of 2.5 on the iron setting..... It turns to the consistency of warm petroleum jelly any warmer than that. 2.25 is better.
Those backings melt easier than the old original Action Bac.
I used to test any new backings with my iron pre heated to about 3.5
I'd set the iron directly on a scrap and leave it there for 10 seconds or so. Most action backs handle that without melting.
Some of the newer backings melted in 5 seconds. I tested and reduced the heat setting if I felt it necessary.
I just had a hard time feeling comfortable with a new product without testing or asking questions..... I'm wired that way. I gots to know, Were there 5 shots or 6. It's important to know.

 

[highup]

I had to remove a stair runner today. A single stair. The lady changed her mind.
The staircase was totally rebuilt before I installed the runner.
I was really concerned about the staples. This is one I did a few months ago. I mentioned drilling holes in the tackstrip and tread to screw it in place instead of using the tackstrip's factory ring shanks.
Glad I did. There were 5 neat, smooth, perfectly round holes to fill. I bought some sort of upholstery pliers at Harbor Freight and modified then slightly for staple pulling. They worked great. If there was 1/16" of broken staple left in the oak tread, I could pull it out. I got em all totally out.

 

[Csason]

Thank you.
What adhesive do you use on those stair nose trims?

This is a close up of the trim , then a shot a little further away and then the same photo with a piece of the LVT laying in place

 

[MSLI]

I have lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks. It scares me, but anything I eat makes me sick and my hemoglobin won't stay up.

I hope it gets figured out Rusty and you’re back to eating normal real soon, so you can keep me in line. Get well soon

 

[MSLI]

I had the long hall laid out with no seam there...... They whacked this section off, then put it back on. I told the store owner about it.

When I did high end measuring/ take offs and there was a complex layout, I would quote the contractor a pre-cut fee. One particular job was half pre-fab stair runners half wall to wall hallways. I completely installed the job in my head and then pre-cut and pre-sealed all the seams and labeled everything….. Most times my pre-cutting would go unnoticed and unappreciated, but that day the installer freaked out with JOY …. I turned complex into simple for him.

Start quoting pre-cuts to your boss so quality doesn’t get potentially compromised.

 

[Floorist]

I am in the hospital

 

[Floorist]

I am in the hospital

Not doing too good

 

[C.J.]

I am in the hospital

Dang it. I don’t wish the hospital on anyone.

 

[Csason]

Not doing too good

Well I hope you’re out and feeling better soon .

 

[MSLI]

Not doing too good

We could have told you that Just kidding , we appreciate all you do Rusty and remember every super hero ( you) has a villain (me) and I need you back

Prayers for a speedy recovery and in the meantime enjoy this get well soon video .

 

[Tile Tom]

Got a good look at the eclipse yesterday. We were in the path of totality. It was actually pretty cool even know it was a little cloudy.

 

[DarisMulkin]

Get the hell out of there and back home where you belong. But it is a good place to be when needed.

 

[Tile Tom]

Here’s a better pic that a friend took with his telescope.

 

[C.J.]

Pretty cool. I think we were about 50ish % coverage in Phoenix. One of the guys brought in some extra eclipse glasses and we took turns stepping outside to check it out.

 

[highup]

View attachment 18742View attachment 18743

View attachment 18744This is a close up of the trim , then a shot a little further away and then the same photo with a piece of the LVT laying in placeView attachment 18745

What adhesive and who makes that nose?
Stairs are hard to make purdy like that.
We need more options.
Looks sweet.

 

[highup]

Not doing too good

Mind over matter buddy. Think positive.
We're rootin' for you to get the heck outta there.

 

[highup]

Pretty cool. I think we were about 50ish % coverage in Phoenix. One of the guys brought in some extra eclipse glasses and we took turns stepping outside to check it out.

I thought over here on the wrong coast we were getting zero so didn't even look for my glasses.
Working on my stair fix yesterday, first thing the lady said was "have you seen the eclipse"?

She had a couple of real glasses and we went on the porch to look.
..... well I'll be dipped, there was a nice little chunk out of the sun. Actually enough to notice the cooling effect. Wasn't much, but yeah, that was neat.

 

[highup]

Here's those pliers I modified.
I ground the on my grinder to make the nose roundish instead of sharp angles. In the grinding process it made the edges sharp to grab onto the staples.
I also stopped at Habitat. They had a nice Hon file cabinet. Nice condition and all the drawers opened smooth. It's a commercial one with the ratcheting divider. $10
I took it down ho the shop that hade do their measuring. They needed on because they're opening another store. These don't come in at Habitat as often as they used to.
.....I shoulda kept it to replace onf of my less stellar ones. But i'm a nice guy... and that sucks sometime.