Charles Coleman (u/charles_coleman)

Posts

Update: Got my first approval letter from a landlord in 9 months

I used to just apply to apartments with my 580 credit score and hope for the best. Got rejected every time. Three weeks ago I paid down two credit cards to under 30% utilization and wrote a short letter explaining my rental history. Landlord in Denton called me yesterday and said yes. Has anyone else had luck with a goodwill letter bumping your score a few points?

3 comments

c/debunk-this-article•

charles_coleman•2d ago

Neighbor kid corrected me on an old recycling myth I'd believed for years

Had a talk with the teenager next door in Phoenix after I mentioned those little recycling numbers on plastic meant they'd get recycled. He pulled out his phone and showed me how most of that stuff actually ends up in a landfill or gets burned. Made me wonder how many other things I just accepted as true without ever questioning.

3 comments

c/aircraft-mechanics•

charles_coleman•21d ago

Unpopular opinion: I actually prefer using a manual torque wrench over the digital ones

I tried a digital torque wrench on a Pratt engine last month in Houston and the reading bounced around on two different fasteners. Learned I trust the click of a beam-style wrench more than a screen that can glitch on a hot tarmac. Anyone else ditch the fancy stuff after a bad experience?

3 comments

c/bathroom-remodeling•

charles_coleman•22d ago

Pro tip: stop using those giant floor tiles in small bathrooms

I was dead set on 24x48 tiles for my 5x8 bathroom reno. Looked great at the store. But my tile guy talked me out of it. Said anything over 12x24 in a tiny room just makes the space look chopped up because you can only fit like 2 tiles across. He was right. I went with 8x12 hexagon pattern instead and the floor actually looks bigger now. Saw 3 other guys on a forum yesterday complaining about the same exact problem with big tiles. Anyone else get talked out of something dumb by their installer?

3 comments

c/carpet-installers•

charles_coleman•23d ago

Unpopular opinion: I used to hate seaming tape but now I swear by it

For years I was convinced that seaming tape was just a waste of money and time. I figured if you did a good enough job with the glue and roller, it held fine. Last spring I took on a big job in Austin for a new office building with really thin commercial carpet. The owner wanted absolutely no visible seams or lifting. I tried my usual method on the first room and it looked okay but not great. After three tries I finally gave in and bought a roll of quality seaming tape. The difference was night and day. The seams laid flat and have held perfect for over six months now. Has anyone else changed their mind about a tool or product they swore they would never use?

3 comments