How Fractions Hold Up Big Projects
We had an apartment to turn over, and I had one small issue. I broke a window slat in the bedroom while I tried to replace the window screen. I keep the old glass slats for this situation; however, the spare I had stashed away was a whole inch too short. I went to Ballers Hardware for a replacement and found out they won't cut window slat glass anymore. Sometime in the recent past, someone decided they are not safe. Held in place by 70-year-old aluminum clips, LA louver windows are probably best replaced as the opportunity arises. But not my window today. They offered to cut me a plexiglass replacement, and I took it. 4.5" by 40 and 1/8". I got it home and discovered it was cut to 48”, not 40 and 1/8. This was right before Christmas, so I waited a few days and took it back for a recut down to 40 and 1/8. Still wrong, I don't know where I found that angry 1/8”, but it was 1/8th too long.
Rather than take it back to the pros, I thought I could sand it down. No, not so much. An eighth may be the smallest of distances; it's a mile to sand. I spent the morning today scoring the Plexi with an exact-o knife to remove the offensive end, and just before noon, the new window slat slipped snuggly into place. The last of my projects is to turn over our empty flat.
The Steam Machine
The other project I took on in the turnover was cleaning the tub and tile surround. This unit had been occupied by one resident for 30 years, keeping up on cleaning was not high on their priorities. The bathroom was a fright. We could not tell how much we could reuse without a deep clean to start.
It's about $12,000 to replace tub and tile here in LA. Having the old tub reglazed is a fraction of that but only lasts a few years. Our building owner picked up a Powered steam machine to clean the tub and tile to see how much of the original install he could reuse.
I spent a few days working on it. He came in after me and spent a few days finishing up and regrouting. It's a Dr. Pimple Popper project cleaning out the grout lines and removing years of soap scum and "Gauck." After all our effort the tile was saved but the tub will need to be reglazed. Our house plumber came up with a salvaged drain stopper that fits the tub and that saved a bundle on opening walls to replum the tub drain. The power steamer was well worth both the cost and time needed to do the project. I had a chance to use the power steamer in another unit before New Years. It made recaulking fast and effective. Sometimes, it’s not the big jobs that slow you down—it’s the fractions. The eighths, the sixteenths, those tiny measurements that sneak in and make or break your day.
We had an apartment to turn over recently. Everything was going smoothly until one small issue—literally small—brought the project to a standstill. While replacing a window screen, I managed to break one of the old glass slats in the bedroom window. Fortunately, I keep a stash of old slats for just this kind of mishap. Unfortunately, the only spare I had was a full inch too short.
No problem, I thought. I’ll just pop down to Ballers Hardware and have a new piece cut. But that plan hit another snag—they don’t cut window slat glass anymore. Apparently, someone somewhere decided that slicing long, narrow pieces of glass is a little too risky. To be fair, these LA louver windows are held together by seventy-year-old aluminum clips, so a full replacement might be the smarter long-term move.
But not today.
The folks at Ballers were kind enough to cut me a plexiglass replacement instead. I needed a piece 4.5 inches by 40 and 1/8 inches. They handed me a sheet that looked perfect—until I got home. It wasn’t. It measured 48 inches long. So, back it went after Christmas for a recut to the right length. This time it came back slightly too long—by just an eighth of an inch.
Now, most people would shrug at that. But in window-slats-and-ancient-aluminum-clip world, an eighth is an eternity. I thought, “I’ll just sand it down.” But let me tell you—an eighth of an inch is a mile to sand.
After hours of trying, I gave up on sanding and switched tactics. Exact-o knife, score-and-snap. Bit by bit, I shaved off that stubborn 1/8" until, just before noon, the new plexiglass slat slid snugly into place. The window was fixed, the apartment ready, and I was reminded again: fractions rule the world of big projects.
The Steam Machine and the Power of Precision
The other big job in the turnover was the tub and tile in the bathroom. This apartment had the same tenant for thirty years, and let’s just say cleaning wasn’t their top priority. The tile grout was unrecognizable, the tub discolored, the kind of scene you stare at for a moment before you decide where to even start.
Replacing the whole thing would have cost around $12,000. Reglazing is a fraction of that—but it only lasts a fraction as long. Our building owner decided to test something new: a power steam machine to see how much could be salvaged.
I spent a few days on the project, and then the owner took over—regrouting, steaming, and scrubbing. It was a “Dr. Pimple Popper” sort of satisfaction, cleaning out years of buildup and grime. When it was done, the results were impressive—the tile was saved, though the tub will still need to be reglazed.
The real hero? That steam machine. It even proved itself in another unit before New Year’s, making recalk jobs faster and neater than ever.
The Moral of the Story
Whether it’s window slats or tile grout, big projects are built on small things—fractions of effort, precision, timing, and patience.
A project might feel massive, but it’s those eighths of an inch, the careful measurements, and the willingness to go back and fix that tiny mistake that make everything come together.
In the end, the flat turned over beautifully. And even though it took a stubborn 1/8” and a lot of elbow grease to get there, it was a powerful reminder that in maintenance—and in life—the little things really do hold up the big ones.
How Fractions Hold Up Big Projects
And how one-eighth of an inch almost held up an entire apartment turnover.
A story about home renovation, precision, and why tiny fractions can make or break big projects — from replacing a window slat to deep-cleaning a 30-year-old bathroom with a power steam machine.
The Power of Precision
Big projects rarely fail because of big mistakes. More often, it’s the small details—the ones you can barely see on a measuring tape—that stop everything in its tracks.
We recently had an apartment to turn over, and things were moving right along until one small issue—literally small—brought the process to a screeching halt.
While replacing a window screen, I accidentally broke one of the glass slats in a bedroom louver window. Luckily, I keep old slats around precisely for this kind of mishap. Unluckily, the only spare I had left was one inch too short.
The Hardware Store Hiccup
No big deal, I thought. I’ll run over to Ballers Hardware and have a new one cut to size. Easy. Except not so much—because sometime recently, someone decided cutting narrow glass slats isn’t safe.
Reasonable? Probably. Convenient? Definitely not.
The team offered to cut me a plexiglass replacement instead. I needed a piece 4.5" x 40 and 1/8". They handed me the finished slat, I took it home and discovered it was cut to 48 inches. So back it went after Christmas for a re-cut down to the proper measurement.
This time, it came back just barely too long—by 1/8 of an inch.
Seems harmless, right? Well, when you’re working with 70-year-old aluminum clips that hold louvered panes in place, that 1/8” might as well be a mile.
An Eighth of an Inch Is an Eternity
I tried sanding. Don’t bother. An inch may be small, but an eighth is practically infinite when you’re trying to sand down plexiglass.
Eventually, I grabbed an Exact-o knife and carefully scored the edge, snapping off the excess in tiny increments. It took hours and buckets of patience, but just before noon, the slat slid perfectly into place.
The window was fixed, the apartment was ready, and I was reminded again—fractions hold up big projects.
The Steam Machine: Small Tools, Big Results
Another turnover project was the bathroom. The previous tenant had lived there for thirty years, and let’s just say cleaning was not a top priority. The tile grout was grimy, the tub was discolored, and it was unclear how much could be salvaged.
Replacing the tub and tile would have cost about $12,000 here in L.A. Reglazing would be cheaper, but we wanted to see if a deep clean could save more of the original install.
Our building owner bought a Powered Steam Machine to blast away grime and scum. I spent a few days working on it before he stepped in for the final polish and regrout. Steaming off the crud layers was a “Dr. Pimple Popper” kind of job—satisfying, messy, and surprisingly transformative.
After all that effort, the tile was saved. The tub still needed to be reglazed, but we got lucky when our plumber found a salvage drain stopper that fit perfectly. That saved us from tearing open walls and re-piping the drain.
The steamer earned its keep. I used it on another unit before New Year’s, and it made re-caulk jobs faster, cleaner, and more satisfying than ever.
Speaking of New Year's.
I am not a big believer in resolutions. I am squarely on the side of being the kind of person who does the things we make goals about. I wish for you to be the kind of person you want to grow up to be, or the kind of person you want your children to grow up to be.
Big Lessons from Tiny Fractions
Whether it’s an eighth of an inch on a window slat or a deep-cleaned grout line, small details shape big outcomes.
A project might look overwhelming, but in the end, it’s those fractions—tiny measures of effort, precision, and patience—that make everything come together.
Leave yourself enough time to tackle these trifling bits.
That stubborn 1/8” might have delayed the window, but it also reminded me of one truth in both renovation and life:
The little things really do hold up the big ones.
What am I reading this week?
Don’t Believe Everything You Think | Joseph Nguyen
This was recommended by James Clear. He does not make many recommendations, so I jumped on it.
Buddhism is a really good choice for getting directions in life that don’t require deportation of innocents and killing of rivals.
What happens to you after you are hurt is all up to you. I posted my notes on the book in a separate blog you can find here.