Enough of COVID...what are you doing to the house? | Page 77 | GTAMotorcycle.com

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

Need some front fence height advice..... Does anyone know what is the exact definition of a front lot line???

Just picked up 50 plus feet of higher end iron fence (used), plus some gates etc. We have a noise wall as a fence on one side of our lot, this fence will be enough to do the rest of the entire front lawn, across the front and down the side. The catch....the sections are 52 inches tall (bottom to the top of the finials). Toronto's fence bylaw says the front fence can be no taller than 48 inches if the fence is closer than 8 feet to the mysterious "Front Lot Line" but they are pretty vague on the definition. Past that the normal max height rules apply (ie same as backyard height). (technically it is all in metric in the bylaw but it lines up to the above...).

The vague definition: FRONT LOT LINE - The front boundary line between a public highway and any private property measured along the full width of the property.

Here is a google map pic of the yard in question. There is roughly 3 feet of grass beside the road, then the public sidewalk, then the lawn proper. Does the "front lot line" start at the road/curb (public highway), at the road side of the public sidewalk, at the house side of the sidewalk or is it the mid lawn surveyed line between "city property" and ours (plumbing and sewer demarcation point)?
1621371602997.png

I am going to set the fence back a bit from the front sidewalk anyways, the question is how far based on the bylaw? It will be far enough back to not interfere with our site lines pulling in and out, that puts it roughly 6 feet from the sidewalk.

I can also cut and weld the fence to drop it 4 inches but it is lots of work and the current height works for us otherwise. Or I can just put it up and if someone complains I can cut and weld it...

Bylaw
 
backmarkerducati said:
Need some front fence height advice..... Does anyone know what is the exact definition of a front lot line???

Just picked up 50 plus feet of higher end iron fence (used), plus some gates etc. We have a noise wall as a fence on one side of our lot, this fence will be enough to do the rest of the entire front lawn, across the front and down the side. The catch....the sections are 52 inches tall (bottom to the top of the finials). Toronto's fence bylaw says the front fence can be no taller than 48 inches if the fence is closer than 8 feet to the mysterious "Front Lot Line" but they are pretty vague on the definition. Past that the normal max height rules apply (ie same as backyard height). (technically it is all in metric in the bylaw but it lines up to the above...).

The vague definition: FRONT LOT LINE - The front boundary line between a public highway and any private property measured along the full width of the property.

Here is a google map pic of the yard in question. There is roughly 3 feet of grass beside the road, then the public sidewalk, then the lawn proper. Does the "front lot line" start at the road/curb (public highway), at the road side of the public sidewalk, at the house side of the sidewalk or is it the mid lawn surveyed line between "city property" and ours (plumbing and sewer demarcation point)?
View attachment 48838

I am going to set the fence back a bit from the front sidewalk anyways, the question is how far based on the bylaw? It will be far enough back to not interfere with our site lines pulling in and out, that puts it roughly 6 feet from the sidewalk.

I can also cut and weld the fence to drop it 4 inches but it is lots of work and the current height works for us otherwise. Or I can just put it up and if someone complains I can cut and weld it...

Bylaw
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Acoustic fence will be close to the lot line. Depending on the municipality and vintage normally 30 cm one way or the other. Most common is 30 cm on your side of the line. You could look up the right of way width for the road but there is no guarantee it is centered. Water shut off is also very close to the lot line (I think slightly on city side).

Based on what you said, you will be within 8' and maybe actually on city property with your plan.
 
GreyGhost said:
Acoustic fence will be close to the lot line. Depending on the municipality and vintage normally 30 cm one way or the other. Most common is 30 cm on your side of the line. You could look up the right of way width for the road but there is no guarantee it is centered. Water shut off is also very close to the lot line (I think slightly on city side).

Based on what you said, you will be within 8' and maybe actually on city property with your plan.
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That might drop me to 36 inches....
 
SVeezy said:
Hopefully but I’m not counting on it. I suspect prices may come down a bit eventually but I doubt it will ever drop to the prices from a year ago approximately


Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com mobile app
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I'm waiting on prices to come down to pre-covid level. Or else my washroom and basement will never be renovated or finished. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
mimico_polak said:
I heard on the news yesterday that lumber dropped 20-30% this week... maybe it's the end of sky high prices? Calling @crankcall
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I was going to post something about this, it's been in the news the past couple of days. Seems the construction industry in the states was getting a little upset and either slowed down new construction or stopped projects. Hopefully it gets closer to previous pricing.
 
oioioi said:
I'm waiting on prices to come down to pre-covid level. Or else my washroom and basement will never be renovated or finished. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
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It’s never going back to pre-COVID. Like mentioned previously it’ll drop to a mid point.

Technically we’ve shown we’re willing to pay higher pricing, so there’s little incentive for the industry to drop back to low levels. I hope they do....but I’m doubtful we’ll ever see a 2x4 for $4.
 
backmarkerducati said:
Need some front fence height advice..... Does anyone know what is the exact definition of a front lot line???

Just picked up 50 plus feet of higher end iron fence (used), plus some gates etc. We have a noise wall as a fence on one side of our lot, this fence will be enough to do the rest of the entire front lawn, across the front and down the side. The catch....the sections are 52 inches tall (bottom to the top of the finials). Toronto's fence bylaw says the front fence can be no taller than 48 inches if the fence is closer than 8 feet to the mysterious "Front Lot Line" but they are pretty vague on the definition. Past that the normal max height rules apply (ie same as backyard height). (technically it is all in metric in the bylaw but it lines up to the above...).

The vague definition: FRONT LOT LINE - The front boundary line between a public highway and any private property measured along the full width of the property.

Here is a google map pic of the yard in question. There is roughly 3 feet of grass beside the road, then the public sidewalk, then the lawn proper. Does the "front lot line" start at the road/curb (public highway), at the road side of the public sidewalk, at the house side of the sidewalk or is it the mid lawn surveyed line between "city property" and ours (plumbing and sewer demarcation point)?
View attachment 48838

I am going to set the fence back a bit from the front sidewalk anyways, the question is how far based on the bylaw? It will be far enough back to not interfere with our site lines pulling in and out, that puts it roughly 6 feet from the sidewalk.

I can also cut and weld the fence to drop it 4 inches but it is lots of work and the current height works for us otherwise. Or I can just put it up and if someone complains I can cut and weld it...

Bylaw
Click to expand...
Your lot line is on your property survey. If you know your lot size, you could measure from a rear fence line.

Many municipalities have engineering departments with records or resources to help. Call them.
 
mimico_polak said:
I heard on the news yesterday that lumber dropped 20-30% this week... maybe it's the end of sky high prices? Calling @crankcall
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sorry , not seeing it. 4x8 7/16 osb still selling yesterday at $44.85 panel , 2x4-8 econos at $8.00 ea.

as an aside did you guys know the company that makes the chemical used to produce PT lumber is the same company that makes Moderna covid vaccine? crazy chemists!
 
crankcall said:
sorry , not seeing it. 4x8 7/16 osb still selling yesterday at $44.85 panel , 2x4-8 econos at $8.00 ea.

as an aside did you guys know the company that makes the chemical used to produce PT lumber is the same company that makes Moderna covid vaccine? crazy chemists!
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Just checked the NRCAN charts and it doesn’t show any drop.

This chart is May14 so may be a week behind, but the radio man was so confident about the drop.
 
Mad Mike said:
Your lot line is on your property survey. If you know your lot size, you could measure from a rear fence line.

Many municipalities have engineering departments with records or resources to help. Call them.
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House is old enough that there is no accurate "up to date" survey on file, this is common for older sections of Toronto (survey on file is part of lot x and part of lot y sort of thing, including on the title). We would have to pay for one. It is common enough that banks, lawyers, etc. don't care at purchase, don't even blink.... it is just noted on the deed/title. Property bars look to still be in place but buried.

That being said we have a pretty good idea of where the lot lines are as the property on one side (with the noise wall) had a survey in the last few years and oddly enough in the last month the one on the other side was surveyed with markings but the they have no idea why (almost like someone came by and surveyed the wrong lot, only theirs was done, WTF???). Based on the lines in both cases the sewer and water demarcs are a good eight feet deeper into our lot than the property line (almost 12 feet for next door), so still confusing and of course all unofficial unless we pay for an actual official survey.
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Looks like #GreyGhost has pointed me in the right direction...

Regardless of any of the lot line possibilities we will end up as an encroachment (which the fence bylaw does not include info on but I found the related fence specs elsewhere in another bylaw, grrrr). In Toronto that limits the fence to 0.9m (basically 3 feet in metric) and min set back from public sidewalk is 0.5m (we will be more), that is classified as a permitted encroachment and no other permission is required. My current plan is to cut and weld the panels to just under 3 feet (remove ~1.333 feet from the bottom) and install them level with the front low section of the adjoining noise wall which will make the top a "little" higher than 0.9m but if it is an issue in the future undo the bolts and slide them down.... The panels have the pickets through the rails and welded underneath, it looks like the mod (raise the bottom rail, re-weld and cut the pickets) will be pretty easy other than grinding off some of the galvanized pre-welding.

Walking around the hood, we see a lot of front fences at exactly 3 feet, but of course others are all over the place. Also maybe explains why the cheapo fences are all 3 feet....

We have locates in flight and I will post up some pics once we can go in late June. I know where everything (sewer, gas and water--nothing else is there) is BUT given my job if I don't get locates.... Also gives me time to mod the panels.
 
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mimico_polak said:
Just checked the NRCAN charts and it doesn’t show any drop.

This chart is May14 so may be a week behind, but the radio man was so confident about the drop.
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Well I'm no radio man , but I'm increasing industrial prices on MDF and particle board for June 1st, MDF remains on allocation and 3/4" spruce sheathing has exceeded $100 sht.

3/4 Baltic birch 4x8 (russian B/BB grade @ $138.00 sht cdn)

Its not coming off until fall at earliest if I was betting on it (and I am...)
 
Perfect. Thanks for clarifying @crankcall . It appeared the ‘Lumber Futures’ were what dropped, but have recovered mostly over a couple of days.
 
lumber futures are like gambling on the Florida orange crop and hog bellies.

want to make 2 million in the futures business? well you start with 5 million bucks and ......

since its a house fixing thread, the dog threw up on the living room carpet, the new Oxy cleaner took the color right out, in the middle of the rug. Looks like 240sg ft of oak hardwood flooring required. F' me.
 
crankcall said:
lumber futures are like gambling on the Florida orange crop and hog bellies.

want to make 2 million in the futures business? well you start with 5 million bucks and ......

since its a house fixing thread, the dog threw up on the living room carpet, the new Oxy cleaner took the color right out, in the middle of the rug. Looks like 240sg ft of oak hardwood flooring required. F' me.
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Isn't a room sized quantity of oxyclean cheaper? Maybe you just exposed the original colour of the carpet.
 
LOL well.... the carpets were all cleaned 6 month ago with a commercial machine , they are a bit dingy but not this far off. The mini spot pet cleaner with super Oxy is super all right.
I'm not sure what nitwit thought off white carpets are ever a good idea.
Thinking with largish dog(s) and two cats , its the excuse to just whack in hardwood. I didn't want to do it now, its winter work. But i also cant look at this 12" diameter white patch all summer. Its only 240sq ft so $1500. should fix it.
 
One of the best purchases with kids is one of those wet vacuum cleaners for the house. Works on carpets and couches like a charm.
 
mimico_polak said:
One of the best purchases with kids is one of those wet vacuum cleaners for the house. Works on carpets and couches like a charm.
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Wife declared we would be putting carpet in the kids future bedrooms of the new house against my judgement. So far I've watched my wife with towel/cleaner trying to get the baby puke out of that carpet a dozen or so times now. No "I told you so's" needed on my part but I'm thinking you're right about the wet-vac being a good investment.
 
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