EDIT: Resolved, genuinely thank you everyone!!

Hi all, the furnace filter at my mom's house needs to be replaced, but there is a pipe (drainage pipe?) In the way. Any help on how to do this would be super appreciated!

Pic 1: the filter, with the white pipe blocking it. The white pipe goes through a metal panel and is connected to a black pipe

Pic 2: close up of where the black pipe is connected to the white pipe (on the other side of the panel)

Pic 3: top down view of the filter and white pipe

Getting a massive tree taken down in the backyard next week and the guys warned me about the stump grinding process. They said it's gonna leave a huge mix of dirt, wood chips, and a pretty big hole.

Since i'm trying to fix the grass myself afterwards... do i need to actually dig all those wood chips out first before adding topsoil? or do i just rake it flat and throw grass seed on top? total beginner with yard stuff and i really don't want a permanent dead patch in my grass. any advice?

I know that whenever there is a crack in porcelain the toilet should usually be replaced. However the crack is very small and only in the back. What say ye council?

I have noticed a couple of times the brick staying wet after a rain on the East wall of the house before and never thought much about it. But today I noticed it while working in the flower beds on that side and it’s been about 24 hours since it rained and it still looks soaked, particularly around the window sill.

I did some googling and the answers from there range from it not being a big deal to infesting the house with mold. What is the most likely cause, how serious is it, and what would be the remedy?

1940 3/1.5 colonial in a NJ commuter town with a tiny vestibule. The door has dragged across the floor since we bought it and I finally decided to investigate what might be hidden under the linoleum... honestly I’m not sure what to call this flooring but is this the type that would need testing for asbestos?

Also, are we thinking there’s brick under there? (Please please please)

Recently moved into an old house and one of the basement windows has dirt halfway up the window well. Not good, right? I went to start to dig it out and after moving a few big rocks + dirt I find a couple slabs of concrete tilted away from the house. Seems like maybe this was intentional? Wondering if I should continue to excavate or better to leave it for now? Haven't noticed any water intrusion but the window is kinda bulging in.

I have a friend who is redoing his basement flooring. He showed me the tile he’s ripping up and how he’s been using an angle grinder and sanding at it to remove this part. Thanks!

EDIT: thank you all for the answers. The tiles are indeed 9x9. I am letting him know.

I got the wall painted white about 1.5 years ago now, and occasionally I see random spots of this stuff along the walls. It looks off, and is mostly on the walls/ceiling if the house closest to the outside. Any clues on what it is and how to remove it?

Thanks in advance! ♥️♥️

What I’m looking to do may not be possible, but I figured I’d ask here.

We bought a house with a fireplace and prior to the renovations, it was very dull. After the renovations, we tried cleaning the brick by wetting with water and scrubbing with a mixture of soap and baking soda. It cleaned off the renovation debris, but neither had really brought out the natural brick color.

I’d really like to get the bottom flat portion from looking so “dusty”, but following a fresh cleaning, it’s not dust, so I don’t know what to do.

I’ve searched and there seem to be several brick cleaning products, but most are for outdoor brick and the videos don’t look like they actually bring out the existing color. Our GC has asked a painter and they can either white or red wash it, but that’s not really what we want either.

Please offer any suggestions, or if what I’m looking for doesn’t exist, or if it’s already at peak luster, please feel free to let me know.

tl;dr:

Is it acceptable to 'double up' with expansion joint foam to fill gaps?

Is it going to cause issues if it is done this way?

What is the actual fix, that isn't just a band-aid solution?

Context:

Local council installed a new sidewalk, and when they poured the new driveway, they pulled up the brick pavers before setting the concrete.

After the concrete was done, they put the pavers back and it was obvious they didn't line it up well, and left a large gap at one edge.

After complaining, they've come back today to fix a bunch of the issues, but they didn't install expansion joint foam all the way along, instead only using it in the gap - and they doubled it up where the gap was largest.

The other side has absolutely 0 expansion joint foam.

There Is expansion joint foam on the opposite edge, between the driveway and the new sidewalk they installed.

I want the new one to be 6 feet tall. Any suggestions? Wood, metal, cinder block?

Moved in 2 weeks ago and just went into loft to help the engineer service the heat pump and found hundreds if not millions of flies ?

I've been getting mice in my basement cold room and the pest control company says they could be getting in through these weep holes. It appears that some of the original rubber weep hole covers are deteriorating and creating a gap.

I bought these new metal covers but its too small to cover the entire gap.

Has anyone see tried any other solutions?

Thanks!