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Floyd Robertson wrote:

steveschneider wrote:I intend to buy a zero turn lawn mower with my check once it arrives. Looking at a John Deere. Open to recommends.

I need to replace a section of my garage door cuz rust, but I'd rather buy a kayak and a roof rack and some new camping gear.

Give American Door Systems in Rochester Hills a call for a quote. Had them replace two garage doors (single wides) at both my last home and current one. Replacements were done 7-8 years apart...same guy installed all four doors and did great work. One section shouldn't cost too much, assuming they can find a suitable replacement part.

steveschneider wrote:I intend to buy a zero turn lawn mower with my check once it arrives. Looking at a John Deere. Open to recommends.

Not getting a John Deere zero turn for $1400 unless it's used.

The 6 Best Zero-Turn Mowers for Taming Large Lawns

Have had a standard JD rider (L118) 17 years.  20hp V-twin, 42" deck.  Only maintenance has been blade sharpening/replacement, a few oil changes, and replaced the deck belt maybe 5 years ago.  And, garden tractor batteries only last about 4 years...buy a charger to get through the last year.

JD makes pretty good stuff.

Bought a snow blade and wheel chains when making the original purchase.  Don't do that.  Tried them the first season.  Unless your pushing pure powder it's not a good set-up for snow.  Never did the hassle of swapping the mower deck out for the snow gear again.  Blade sat in the garage for years until I put it up for sale few years ago on craigslist.  Found a sucker.  Seemed ecstatic at the pristine condition of the blade and paid me a few bucks more than I paid for it in 2004.

The Pantry wrote:

steveschneider wrote:I intend to buy a zero turn lawn mower with my check once it arrives. Looking at a John Deere. Open to recommends.

Not getting a John Deere zero turn for $1400 unless it's used.

The 6 Best Zero-Turn Mowers for Taming Large Lawns

Have had a standard JD rider (L118) 17 years.  20hp V-twin, 42" deck.  Only maintenance has been blade sharpening/replacement, a few oil changes, and replaced the deck belt maybe 5 years ago.  And, garden tractor batteries only last about 4 years...buy a charger to get through the last year.

JD makes pretty good stuff.

Bought a snow blade and wheel chains when making the original purchase.  Don't do that.  Tried them the first season.  Unless your pushing pure powder it's not a good set-up for snow.  Never did the hassle of swapping the mower deck out for the snow gear again.  Blade sat in the garage for years until I put it up for sale few years ago on craigslist.  Found a sucker.  Seemed ecstatic at the pristine condition of the blade and paid me a few bucks more than I paid for it in 2004.

I got a half acre. I think the one I want is around $2500. Your endorsement is EXACTLY what I want to hear. I wan zero fuss and just the routine maintenance. Consumer Reports has them rated as the best.

A half acre? Dude if you don’t have a disability then just walk it.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:A half acre? Dude if you don’t have a disability then just walk it.

It takes me about 1hr 45minutes to do the whole thing and it involves quite a bit of maneuvering. I have about 12 cuts a year. I'm ready for an upgrade.

So you spend 21 hours per year cutting the grass as is.... how much of that do you really think you’re going to save?

Now, if you say that you just want a fun toy, that I can get down with. But I don’t think your time savings is going to be worth it for the money.

The Pantry wrote:

Floyd Robertson wrote:

I need to replace a section of my garage door cuz rust, but I'd rather buy a kayak and a roof rack and some new camping gear.

Give American Door Systems in Rochester Hills a call for a quote. Had them replace two garage doors (single wides) at both my last home and current one. Replacements were done 7-8 years apart...same guy installed all four doors and did great work. One section shouldn't cost too much, assuming they can find a suitable replacement part.

Thanks! Yeah, it's just the bottom section has a lot of rust bubbling through the paint on the bottom edge. It's either get out the belt sander and go to town or replace that section.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:So you spend 21 hours per year cutting the grass as is.... how much of that do you really think you’re going to save?

Now, if you say that you just want a fun toy, that I can get down with. But I don’t think your time savings is going to be worth it for the money.

I’d estimate the one time we hired a landscaper when we first moved in took him about 40 -minutes and just over an hour after all the weed whacking and grass clean up. This whole lawn maintenance thing is new to me. I have a toro walk behind prior to that I haven’t cut a lawn since I was in high school. Saving the hour is worth it (I didn’t even include the weed whacking and clean up) and this isn’t a square I’m dealing with the turns are a bit of a chore. I did look up more walk behind the Honda one looks like it goes 4mph and has a bigger blade. Maybe that’s the way to go. I’m taking my data analysis class right now maybe this would be a good first project and problem to geek out on solve.

So just as a data analysis intro, let’s assume as a non professional it’ll take you that just over an hour- so an hour and 15. It’ll save you a half hour a cut, 12 cuts a year, so 6 hours. That’s a lot of money to spend for 6 hours if you ask me but, again, if you just want the toy that I totally get. I didn’t need a snow blow-er this year but it sure was fun.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:So just as a data analysis intro, let’s assume as a non professional it’ll take you that just over an hour- so an hour and 15. It’ll save you a half hour a cut, 12 cuts a year, so 6 hours. That’s a lot of money to spend for 6 hours if you ask me but, again, if you just want the toy that I totally get. I didn’t need a snow blow-er this year but it sure was fun.

I think the hour savings is obtainable and the goal would be to save 12. If I couldn’t then not worth it. The turning is the challenge and slowing the whole operation. Lots of shrubs and a few pine trees.

Edit: step two go to the lawn tractor supply store and talk to a pro and see what they recommend for the yard.

12 hour savings is 2 extra rounds of golf!

InTenSity wrote:12 hour savings is 2 extra rounds of golf!

Yep, and these hours saved are mostly valuable weekend hours. I'm going to lawn pro shop explain the yard and see what they recommend. Wife had a good idea mulch around the shrubs to make more lawn mower friendly turns as well.

steveschneider wrote:

InTenSity wrote:12 hour savings is 2 extra rounds of golf!

Yep, and these hours saved are mostly valuable weekend hours. I'm going to lawn pro shop explain the yard and see what they recommend. Wife had a good idea mulch around the shrubs to make more lawn mower friendly turns as well.

I had to put in metal posts around the trees for when my wife decided to mow the yard.