Alberta online sellers.... at least that is what I heard.
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Enough of COVID...what are you doing to the house?
- Thread starter mimico_polak
- Start date
The nematodes I get at the garden centre seem to work. IIRC you get a refrigerated envelope with two small pieces of sponge in it. It looks like a bit of snot on the sponges. Those are the millions of grub eating nematodes. Water them in.
AllistonGT
Well-known member
You had better luck than I did. Tried that two years in a row. Back yard lawn totally destroyed.
AllistonGT
Well-known member
I don't think so anymore. Weed killer maybe.
I tried off Amazon. They wont even ship weed killer to Ontario
The border is controlled by feds. Herbicides/pesticides are normally banned provincially. There are places in florida that are happy to ship you almost anything (but shipping will roughly double the listed prices).
AllistonGT
Well-known member
They have in the past. Perhaps not now.
AllistonGT
Well-known member
I've picked up lawn insecticides from Home Depot in New York State. Border entering Canada could care less. Feds say it's safe to use.
Yes you can still get it through an Alberta retailer. Lawnsupplements.ca
See above response. Shipping is actually cheaper if you order through their eBay store.
Mine worked but my neighbour's didn't. He finally gave up and put in astro turf. To keep things looking good I mow my lawn. He shampoos his.
Bosch heat pump is 2.5yrs old and the fan motor has now died for the second time. Tech (not the one that installed it because that guys an idiot) says Bosch had a batch of bad motors and the first replacement likely was another from that batch like the one it came with so after this replacement it should be good. He says he’s installed hundreds like mine and it’s been very reliable, so much so that he put the same one in his mothers house. We’ll see.
Alrighty, need some input from some of the brainpower here regarding shed planning.
As @GreyGhost kindly informed me, even though the permit allows me to build a shed up to 160sqft...the zoning won't allow more than 108sqft / shed.
The following are options I'm considering (currently have an 'illegal' 11x10 shed that doesn't meet any zoning requirements (offsets / connected to house / etc).
Option #1 - Dismantle existing shed, install insulation and siding, and put it back and lose the 6" but keep the illegality
Option #2 - Go to Committee of Adjustments ($800 - with potential to get rejected), get exemption (hopefully) and build a 160 - 200sqft shed (will also ask for higher roof line over and above current 3m limit)
Option #3 - Build 2 sheds, each separated by 1-2"
Option #4 - Build 1 x 110sqft shed on one side of the lot, and one 1 x 110sqft shed on the other side of the lot so one side isn't overpowered by sheds
Each option will include a 40-60A power supply to the shed.
One thought I had (and wife doesn't like the idea) is to make one shed an actual shed, and the other shed to make for an outdoor office / gym. This would require some type of heating in the shed...but would open up the basement where current office / gym is. At the very least a gym, as that's not used daily and the current office is.
Option #1, #3, and #4 are all within the limits of both permitting, and zoning. #2 obviously is above and beyond, but within legal and zoning limitations.
Thoughts?
As @GreyGhost kindly informed me, even though the permit allows me to build a shed up to 160sqft...the zoning won't allow more than 108sqft / shed.
The following are options I'm considering (currently have an 'illegal' 11x10 shed that doesn't meet any zoning requirements (offsets / connected to house / etc).
Option #1 - Dismantle existing shed, install insulation and siding, and put it back and lose the 6" but keep the illegality
Option #2 - Go to Committee of Adjustments ($800 - with potential to get rejected), get exemption (hopefully) and build a 160 - 200sqft shed (will also ask for higher roof line over and above current 3m limit)
Option #3 - Build 2 sheds, each separated by 1-2"
Option #4 - Build 1 x 110sqft shed on one side of the lot, and one 1 x 110sqft shed on the other side of the lot so one side isn't overpowered by sheds
Each option will include a 40-60A power supply to the shed.
One thought I had (and wife doesn't like the idea) is to make one shed an actual shed, and the other shed to make for an outdoor office / gym. This would require some type of heating in the shed...but would open up the basement where current office / gym is. At the very least a gym, as that's not used daily and the current office is.
Option #1, #3, and #4 are all within the limits of both permitting, and zoning. #2 obviously is above and beyond, but within legal and zoning limitations.
Thoughts?
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Why so much power for the sheds, is it for heat?
If it was me I would go with #3 or #4 depending on the yard layout....
I still like the idea someone had about separating them by 10'. Easy enough to add a pergola or roof to that space to make it another outdoor living area (dining, couch, bike repair, whatever).
Future proofing. Would allow for any larger tools to be run, and my dad has recommended it.
However, I am still trying to convince my wife it's a good idea to put in a gym/office into one of the sheds. And this would require heat/cooling 100%.
Also an option, but that setup would eat up an entire section of wall and effectively create 'three' accessory structures which would exceed my allowance (currently have a gazebo).
An option would be to have a 10ft wall, with a 13-15ft overhang, which would achieve the same thing but still runs afoul of the zoning as 'usable' space is limited to 110sqft.
I forgot to add that if I go over 160sqft in Option #2...this would now require a permit 100%. So that would complicate things.
My understanding is the drawings for CoA are not required to be overly technical / detailed as this is not a permit issue...just zoning.
So option #2 is to get approval for a single 160sqft shed.
Did you talk to someone at the city on your odds of this? Are they stamping most of them or rejecting most of them? Do you need to get your direct neighbours to agree to the variance? Would they if asked? A single shed can have more usable space and look less massive than a pair of smaller sheds.
Zoning staffer said it should be no problem unless someone has a very valid reason for the rejection.
He recommended to build 2 sheds side by side with 1” of separation between them.
‘So long as the roof or walls don’t touch, we consider them two sheds’
I can effectively build a 12x9 and a 9x12 in the shape of an L and am within the rules.
Make sure you build the close wall first on the second shed. It would suck screwing off sheathing in a gap much less than two feet (eaves should space the walls apart slightly).
Nah, I would leave 2-3ft of space in b/w them. Otherwise I'd never be able to clean out all the junk that falls underneath.
Basically something like this:
With the space in red having 2-3" of opening in b/w the roofs to ensure separation.
Shed 1 could be office space / gym and the other would be tools and actual shed stuff. Just measured my home office and it's 10x8 so it's a good representation of the space. But not sure if a gym/office is actually viable there. It makes more sense to have shelving and the motorcycle for storage and open up the garage to an actual car.
Option #1 bothers me as IMO it does nothing to enhance the overall value of the property. It may be a negative.
If it works, keep it but don't put money into it to have it scrapped later for any number of reasons.
Option #2 Appeals to me but adding power may increase taxes and invite scrutiny. A friend built a large shed at his cottage and the municipality watched him carefully ensuring it wouldn't become an extra cottage / tiny home / granny flat.
Some thoughts:
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I liked this one, especially if the front porch doesn't count as part of the 108 SF
Option #3, if you are allowed to build two sheds, would be a blast if you could incorporate that with big verandas.
The down side is cluttering the lot with gazebos, playground stuff etc. Not that they are hard to get rid of if circumstances warrant.
Option#4 has merit but you would have to do some artist's renditions to see if it looks pleasing. Do you want your back yard looking like a trailer park for midgets?
Everything you do beyond the plain Jane 108 SF shed has the potential of attracting unwanted attention and IIRC you have a zoning warden in the area. Electric power adds ESA to the list of clip board holders, more power = more scrutiny. Does everything have to be GFIR?
I lean towards agreeing with Mrs Mimico regarding an office / gym, especially an office. It's easy to carry a coffee or snack to the remote office but returning the used coffee or snack in a cold rain or through snow can be discouraging. Throw in paperwork, a laptop and files and it's even harder. What does fluctuating humidity do to documents?
In winter you dress to go to work, parka, boots and gloves but "Work" is only 25 feet away, Off with the boots, gloves and coat then you realize you forgot something....
Do you heat the place 24/7 or put it on a timer with high low settings? Does printer ink freeze?
The workshop deserves consideration but how much power do you need?
A 108 SF shop is barely room for one person with equipment. What do you envision needing more than one circuit and a few LED's. I'd bury a large poly conduit and fish in power when required.
A 1500 watt heater should keep a small well insulated shed at workable temps so a second circuit might be needed.
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