Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Anyone with very little vision do tiling or any remodeling? (self.Blind)
submitted by QuentinJamesP89
I have been blind in one eye most of my life and have very little vision remaining in my left. I have a lot of big remodeling projects that need to be done around the house, like tiling a bathroom floor and a kitchen backsplash. It's hard for me to resign myself to paying someone to do it (so expensive right now also) when I technically know how and have experience doing similar work in the past. I'm wondering if anyone on here has tackled a similar project with very poor vision and had success and if so if they had any tips. I have figured out decent techniques for measuring, leveling etc. that work for me. I've done a lot of things around the house so far, but nothing this detailed or hard to fix if it goes wrong. All the remodeling work I've done has been painfully slow because I have to be very careful and I can only see things well very close to my face. I don't want to make a total disaster of things and cost us more money and work.
BlindLuck72 3 points 2y ago
I’ve done tileing and back splashes. Sheet rock and framing too.
I won’t claim any of it was perfect but I was happy with it.
I go slow and take my time, use proper tools for everything I don’t do any freehand cutting always use the right tool for safety.
For tile they make plastic corner spacers which makes it easier also a straight edge or builders level to make sure lines are straight is highly recommended.
I won’t claim any of it was perfect but I was happy with it.
I go slow and take my time, use proper tools for everything I don’t do any freehand cutting always use the right tool for safety.
For tile they make plastic corner spacers which makes it easier also a straight edge or builders level to make sure lines are straight is highly recommended.
QuentinJamesP89 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thanks! Did you use a snap tile cutter or a wet saw? I don't know how much vision you have, but my wife starts freaking out at the suggestion of my using power tools anymore.
BlindLuck72 1 points 2y ago
I used a wet saw, I just felt like I was going to destroy a lot of tile with a snap cutter, I'm sure it would work fine though.
I'm basically completely blind in one eye, they other eye is down to 2-3 degrees of vision. well below legally blind.
I still use power tools, I feel it's a lot safer than hand held tools because you can set it up to holt the part your cutting and you know exactly where it's going to cut. just take your time and don't get in a rush that's when mistakes happen.
I'm basically completely blind in one eye, they other eye is down to 2-3 degrees of vision. well below legally blind.
I still use power tools, I feel it's a lot safer than hand held tools because you can set it up to holt the part your cutting and you know exactly where it's going to cut. just take your time and don't get in a rush that's when mistakes happen.
QuentinJamesP89 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I was going to use the snap cutter but I can reconsider that. I feel like it'll make my already slow work even slower. How did you mark your cuts?
BlindLuck72 1 points 2y ago
I've never used a snap cutter so I couldn't say, I've used wet saws before so that's kind of why I went that direction. I like the clean cuts they make.
[deleted] 2 points 2y ago
[deleted]
DrillInstructorJan 1 points 2y ago
I sanded the entire inside surface of our lounge after it was replastered. I started out person-coloured and ended up pinkish white with plaster dust which was sort of hilarious. It works fine because the only way anyone can tell if it's good is to run their hand over it anyhow.
Probably worth being clear I should not usually be allowed near power tools though.
Probably worth being clear I should not usually be allowed near power tools though.
QuentinJamesP89 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I've done a good bit of patching and sanding throughout the house and it's a perfect job for me. Tearing out paneling and drop ceilings and wallpaper and pulling up carpet and tile were all no problem. It's all the detailed finishing work that's hard for me.
DrillInstructorJan 1 points 2y ago
Yeah well, I can't reach ceilings, I had to use a stepladder to get the walls, I'm only five feet one in my platform skechers. Hashtag petite problems.
QuentinJamesP89 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I got roped into doing all the ceilings in the house because I could just do it by feel and my wife complained about getting a sore neck or having wallpaper or dust falling in her upturned face. Pretty sure anyone could do it without looking, but maybe it was just a ploy to pass off a dirty job. :)
QuentinJamesP89 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
She does all the painting though, of course.
ThisBlindChickReads 1 points 2y ago
I have done a ton of projects that other people have no idea how I did... I know what I am doing, I research even more, I take my time, and wear all of the safety products that are available. If you feel like you can do it, do it. Don't let other people's ideas of what they think you can't do hold you back.
QuentinJamesP89 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
I don't think my wife is trying to be unkind or doubt my abilities, she's just concerned about my safety and presumably the quality of the work I will do. I do have to be reasonable about assessing what are safe jobs for me that I have a chance of success at. I can see a little and I feel like I should be able to still use power tools safely if I'm very careful and take precautions, but even I am intimidated by them at this point.
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