Enough of COVID...what are you doing to the house? | Page 476 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Enough of COVID...what are you doing to the house?

backmarkerducati said:
Mini-splits...

We are looking at installing a four zone. The house is hot water heat and we want AC and heat pump to reduce boiler use. Any thoughts beyond what was covered in this thread before. Does anyone here install or has a recommendation (PM me on this one)?
Click to expand...
I have one in my place up north, they are awesome for A/C . They make heat down to -25, but they lose efficiency as the temp drops. My unit is cheaper than gas above -8, and cheaper than resistance heat a to -15c.

At -20 it can’t make enough heat to be a primary source, the house loses heat faster than the heat pump can make it.

In Southern Ontario we don’t get many days below -10, so the economics are a lot better than Timmins where the low is below -20 for 20hrs a day from mid dec to mid march.
 
48Connor said:
Where else will I store my grand piano and gun safe?

Yeah I guess I'd have to sister the joists up with 2x8's.
Click to expand...
How wide is the span and what is the current spacing?
 
Relax said:
If it's that dusty up there, wouldn't a fan make things worse?

Maybe try going in the morning after it's cooled off overnight? Especially with the cooler temps this week
Click to expand...
True on the fan, will have to see what works best

The morning would 100% be better. This morning would have also been good with the cooler temps, rain, and cloudy, but I didn't get home from work until 4:30 when the sun had come out. Tomorrow evening might be ok also.
 
48Connor said:
All I know is that it's hot as f*ck up in my attic when the sun is out. Yesterday I could do max about 3mins up there if I was moving around, 5-10 if I was sitting in one spot. Must have been 40-50 degC up there. The aluminum ladder was hot to touch going up/down. Poked my head up there this afternoon and was like this can wait until it's colder.

Really took Saturday for granted when it was 25degC up there.
Click to expand...
Rainy days are best for attic work. If your gable walls are sided, it’s cheap and easy to install gable vents - $30 x 2. A simple powered vent $150, at one end will cool the attic close to ambient temp.
 
Mad Mike said:
Rainy days are best for attic work. If your gable walls are sided, it’s cheap and easy to install gable vents - $30 x 2. A simple powered vent $150, at one end will cool the attic close to ambient temp.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately It's a hip roof so no gable ends to put a vent in. There is some roof vents but not many
 
48Connor said:
16" on center

Max span is about 13 ft, most areas is ~10ft
Click to expand...
2x8 will do, on 16s for 10’ spans, on 12s for up to 14.

Be sure to check wall framing. Balloon framing or single top plates mean you need a ribband to support the attic floor joists.
 
48Connor said:
Unfortunately It's a hip roof so no gable ends to put a vent in. There is some roof vents but not many
Click to expand...
A single Whirly or cupola type will do a lot. The also reduce A/C costs.
 
GreyGhost said:
I've been going with vinegar/soap/salt for interlock.
Click to expand...
Yes, that has been our go to for years as well, I've seen some "patio brushes" powered and unpowered they look interesting, but some are costly and not really sure how they will do against our monster weeds...
 
Jampy00 said:
Got a interlock patio on the side of the house, what is your go-to for handling weeds. Besides crawling around...
Always looking to work smarter...
Click to expand...
I have and do some or a combination of the below... not in order.

Glyphosate based weed killer (real round up, not the vinegar kind as below is cheaper), it is available in Ontario but you are not supposed to use it for cosmetic use.
Vinegar, you want the highest "acid" (percent vinegar in this context) you can get. Ideally horticultural (~20% or more) or at least cleaning (~10%). Forget regular (5%) or pickling (7%).
Propane weed (or roofing if you have one) torch, burn them up.
The typical vinegar and salt concoctions do work (salting the earth, not for your gardens...).
Boiling water.

I will typically do a combination of the above, most are pet friendly, but some after a week or so. I do one and touch up over time with others. Other than salt you can also use the above to spot kill in other areas without preventing future plants.

I don't use gas, paint thinner, acetone, etc. Also a bad combo with the weed torch!
 
backmarkerducati said:
I have and do some or a combination of the below... not in order.

Glyphosate based weed killer (real round up, not the vinegar kind as below is cheaper), it is available in Ontario but you are not supposed to use it for cosmetic use.
Vinegar, you want the highest "acid" (percent vinegar in this context) you can get. Ideally horticultural (~20% or more) or at least cleaning (~10%). Forget regular (5%) or pickling (7%).
Propane weed (or roofing if you have one) torch, burn them up.
The typical vinegar and salt concoctions do work (salting the earth, not for your gardens...).
Boiling water.

I will typically do a combination of the above, most are pet friendly, but some after a week or so. I do one and touch up over time with others. Other than salt you can also use the above to spot kill in other areas without preventing future plants.

I don't use gas, paint thinner, acetone, etc. Also a bad combo with the weed torch!
Click to expand...
Good tip on the vinegar, I did not know this. I've seen the cleaning vinegar so I'll pick some up this week.
I'll use the trimmer to cut all the weeds down to the stone then give them a vinegar blast this weekend.
I have to admit, I've neglected this patio due to doing work in other area's but it is looking "trashy" so I want to clean it up for my own peace of mind...
 
Jampy00 said:
Good tip on the vinegar, I did not know this. I've seen the cleaning vinegar so I'll pick some up this week.
I'll use the trimmer to cut all the weeds down to the stone then give them a vinegar blast this weekend.
I have to admit, I've neglected this patio due to doing work in other area's but it is looking "trashy" so I want to clean it up for my own peace of mind...
Click to expand...
An added caution. Check a spot first to make sure the vinegar doesn't make the stone look like crap, as it may kill whatever is on the surface where you apply it and now you have a weed free but spotty patio.
 
backmarkerducati said:
I have and do some or a combination of the below... not in order.

Glyphosate based weed killer (real round up, not the vinegar kind as below is cheaper), it is available in Ontario but you are not supposed to use it for cosmetic use.
Vinegar, you want the highest "acid" (percent vinegar in this context) you can get. Ideally horticultural (~20% or more) or at least cleaning (~10%). Forget regular (5%) or pickling (7%).
Propane weed (or roofing if you have one) torch, burn them up.
The typical vinegar and salt concoctions do work (salting the earth, not for your gardens...).
Boiling water.

I will typically do a combination of the above, most are pet friendly, but some after a week or so. I do one and touch up over time with others. Other than salt you can also use the above to spot kill in other areas without preventing future plants.

I don't use gas, paint thinner, acetone, etc. Also a bad combo with the weed torch!
Click to expand...
Which glyphosate product are you using and where is it available?
 
Hardwrkr13 said:
Which glyphosate product are you using and where is it available?
Click to expand...
Using, you can't prove no nuttin'

Informationally... Round-up with glyphosate is still available in garden centres last I looked (last season it was). By law (my understanding/AFAIK) it is not permitted to be used for cosmetic purposes in Ontario and it should be locked up and you have to ask for it. They are supposed to check on what you intend to use it on, damn poison ivy.

2,4-D is the one that is unobtainium... in Ontario.
 
Hardwrkr13 said:
Which glyphosate product are you using and where is it available?
Click to expand...
If you buy "roundup poison ivy" that is real glyphosphate roundup. Last time I bought it at Lowes.

As for vinegar, I used to use cleaning vinegar but this year I only had normal crappy vinegar. It killed most of the plants but not 100%.

Edit:
As for unobtainium, there is an interesting hole in regulation where the province bans the substances but the feds control the border and many things are not federally regulated. Some companies in the US will ship you stuff. Shipping will be expensive. Cross-border services like shippsy ban these chemicals as they don't want to put their business on the line so that makes cheap shipping much harder to obtain.
 
GreyGhost said:
If you buy "roundup poison ivy" that is real glyphosphate roundup. Last time I bought it at Lowes.

As for vinegar, I used to use cleaning vinegar but this year I only had normal crappy vinegar. It killed most of the plants but not 100%.

Edit:
As for unobtainium, there is an interesting hole in regulation where the province bans the substances but the feds control the border and many things are not federally regulated. Some companies in the US will ship you stuff. Shipping will be expensive. Cross-border services like shippsy ban these chemicals as they don't want to put their business on the line so that makes cheap shipping much harder to obtain.
Click to expand...
Some unobtanium is also not banned in every province for domestic shipping. Driving wise, I think NY is much closer than say SK. Just as an academic discussion on the intricacies on domestic and international trade rules.

In Canada:

Questions and Answers - Final Decision on the Re-evaluation of 2,4-D - Canada.ca

Questions and answers in response to the public concern regarding domestic uses of pesticides on lawns and gardens and the final decision on the re-evaluation of 2,4-D
www.canada.ca www.canada.ca

I had hoped maybe the province would adjust the current rules and provide for a limited use (say volume, liquid only, for spot use) and just ban the carpet bombing of the past. No need to get the Fairchild C-123 Providers out of mothballs...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom