Aaron Roberts (u/roberts.aaron)

Posts

Unpopular opinion: tile showers are overrated for everyday use

Had a week from hell with my master bath tile shower last month. Grout started cracking on day 3 after we moved in and by Friday I had pink mold spots showing up near the drain. My buddy swears by his fiberglass one piece from 2019 and says he wipes it down in 5 minutes flat. Honestly thinking about ripping this whole thing out for a solid surface pan and tile walls only up to shoulder height. Anyone else dealt with this grout nightmare or am I just bad at cleaning?

2 comments

c/alarm-system-installers•

roberts.aaron•18d ago

Nostalgic for the days of hardwired panels and no cloud BS

I was swapping out an old DSC panel at a house in Arlington last Tuesday. The thing had been running since 2006 with zero issues. Reminded me of when I started in this trade back in 2011, everything was hardwired and you could troubleshoot a zone fault with a multimeter in 5 minutes. These new all-in-one wireless systems with app updates and cloud dependencies drive me nuts. Anyone else miss the simplicity of the old stuff, or am I just getting old?

2 comments

c/crane-operators•

roberts.aaron•29d ago

Finally bought a proper headset for the cab after years of cheap ones.

Spent about $150 on a set with noise canceling and a good mic. It made a huge difference hearing the signal person clearly on a loud site last week. What do you guys use for clear comms up there?

2 comments

c/estheticians•

roberts.aaron•29d ago

PSA: I had to choose between a cheap LED mask and a professional-grade one for my home clients.

I picked the cheap $80 one from an online ad, and it broke after just 2 weeks, leaving me scrambling for a replacement before a full day of appointments.

2 comments

c/backpacking-routes•

roberts.aaron•1mo ago

I was sure the 'water taxi shortcut' on the Olympic Coast was a gimmick, but it saved us a full day

On a 5-day trip from Rialto Beach to Oil City, everyone online said to take the water taxi across the Ozette River instead of the long inland hike. I thought it was a tourist trap for $40 per person. We did it anyway because our feet were already blistered by day three. The boat ride was 15 minutes and the guy running it knew all the tide tables, which we'd messed up. It cut out a brutal 8-mile detour and let us camp at a way better spot. Has anyone else used a similar shortcut that actually paid off?

2 comments

c/elevator-mechanics•

roberts.aaron•1mo ago

Had to pick between a new hoist rope or a full traction sheave rebuild on a 15-year-old unit

The call was for a rough ride in a six-story office building downtown. Diagnostics showed both the ropes and the sheave grooves were worn, but the budget only covered one fix. I went with the sheave rebuild, thinking the rope wear was secondary. That was a mistake, because the ride got worse within a month and we had to go back for the ropes anyway. Anyone else faced a call where you had to guess which worn part was the real culprit?

2 comments

c/canadian-riders-hub•

roberts.aaron•1mo ago

Took my old KLR650 through some logging roads near Kenora last weekend and the front end just washed out in a patch of gravel I didn't see.

Managed to keep it mostly upright but it was a real puckering moment that reminded me to never get lazy scanning the trail ahead. Anyone else have a close call that made you change up your riding habits?

2 comments

c/freelance-survival•

roberts.aaron•1mo ago

I finally stopped charging by the hour for my graphic design work

For years, I thought hourly was the only fair way to bill, but a project last month changed my mind. A client needed a logo and a simple flyer, and I quoted $50 an hour, thinking it would take about 4 hours. The logo idea came to me instantly, and I finished the whole job in under 90 minutes. When I sent the $75 invoice, I felt like I was cheating myself out of the value I delivered. Now I charge a flat project fee based on what the work is worth to the client, not how long it takes me. Has anyone else made this switch and how do you figure out your prices now?

2 comments

c/chefs•

roberts.aaron•1mo ago

I finally snapped at a food critic who told me my plating was 'too rustic' for a $75 entree.

Last month in Denver, after he sent back a perfect lamb shank for the third time, I walked out and told him to try the chain steakhouse down the street if he wanted a tower of food on a giant white plate.

2 comments

c/arborists•

roberts.aaron•1mo ago

TIL my crew hit 100 removals this year without a single crane job.

Everyone around here acts like you need a crane for big work. We just finished a huge silver maple in a tight city lot. Old growth, maybe 80 feet. Did it all with rigging and a bucket. Took three days, but the bill was half what a crane would cost. The homeowner saved a ton. I think cranes get pushed too hard. They are not always the answer. Sure, they are fast. But the skill is in the rigging. Anyone else feel like cranes are overused for removals now?

2 comments

Posts

Unpopular opinion: tile showers are overrated for everyday use

Nostalgic for the days of hardwired panels and no cloud BS

Finally bought a proper headset for the cab after years of cheap ones.

PSA: I had to choose between a cheap LED mask and a professional-grade one for my home clients.

I was sure the 'water taxi shortcut' on the Olympic Coast was a gimmick, but it saved us a full day

Had to pick between a new hoist rope or a full traction sheave rebuild on a 15-year-old unit

Took my old KLR650 through some logging roads near Kenora last weekend and the front end just washed out in a patch of gravel I didn't see.

I finally stopped charging by the hour for my graphic design work

I finally snapped at a food critic who told me my plating was 'too rustic' for a $75 entree.

TIL my crew hit 100 removals this year without a single crane job.

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