The Home Improvement Thread

[speede5]

Originally Posted by zzibradleyizz

Jaydorn great job! The tile job reminds me that I need to clean my white grout...

Can anyone recommend a good product/procedure for cleaning white grout?

Word of advice, do not put white grout in a mudroom...overlooked that when I bought my new home.

We had a little hand held steamer that worked well to loosen things up and then scrub from there. it's hard not to have some staining though.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by zzibradleyizz

Jaydorn great job! The tile job reminds me that I need to clean my white grout...

Just finished doing the same thing, sorta. I found a handy dremel tip that is used for removing old grout. I had white grout in one of my bathrooms that looked like crap. I'm re-doing the whole thing save the tiles that are already there. New grout is a medium grey which matches some grey swirls in the white tiles. Looks awesome, really happy with the results.

[Bill Bumface]

Does anyone know where to find knobs for the old style mortise locks that aren't a ripoff in town?

[Fuzz]

If you don't mind used you could check at Tim's Reusables.

[Bill Bumface]

^ Thanks! I prefer used. The dinged up look matches the existing doors/hardware.

[zarrell]

Lots of weiser and schlage locks come with the mortised pieces that are removable depending on your application.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by zarrell

Lots of weiser and schlage locks come with the mortised pieces that are removable depending on your application.

I'm referring to the antique style of locks like this:

[surferguy]

Lee valley?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Lee valley?

Hoping for used.

Bill Bumface = Cheap and old

Used = Cheap and old

Lee Valley != Cheap and old

Therefore, Bill Bumface is not a retail location of Lee Valley Tools.

Logicked.

[photon]

Is there anywhere in Calgary that would rent out a FLIR type camera?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by photon

Is there anywhere in Calgary that would rent out a FLIR type camera?

Rogers Rent All shows a thermal imaging kit on their site. Kind of pricy at 160/day.

[photon]

Oi, for that I'd be better off to just buy the iPhone addon.

https://www.amazon.ca/FLIR-ONE-Therm.../dp/B00VILVV62

EDIT: https://www.lowes.ca/thermal/seek-th..._g2440060.html

Maybe I should buy one and rent it out

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by photon

Oi, for that I'd be better off to just buy the iPhone addon.

https://www.amazon.ca/FLIR-ONE-Therm.../dp/B00VILVV62

EDIT: https://www.lowes.ca/thermal/seek-th..._g2440060.html

Maybe I should buy one and rent it out

I was kind of intrigued. Saw them at the Apple Store. Have some cold spots in various rooms I would like to investigate.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I'm referring to the antique style of locks like this:

No ReStore in Calgary? We have one in Regina probably have a bin full of them. I have a couple in a box in my shop, I think. Do you have specific sizes you need or are you going to fit whatever you can find to the door?

[photon]

A few questions:

1) Has anyone had any closed cell spray foam insulation put in their basement instead of fiberglass/poly? I have a small area I'd want to do (maybe 25' feet of wall). Anyone have a referral?

2) I have evidence of water coming from a hot water tank; there's a bit of new looking mould growth on the drywall right where the drain and pressure release valves are from the tank, and it looks like mineral deposits on both the drain valve and the tip of the hose for the pressure release valve, but no actual moisture anywhere. Is it possible for a tank to intermittently vent from the pressure release valve? I'm probably going to put some paper towel down around it for a few days to see if I can tell if that's what's leaking.

[photon]

Oh right I guess the 3rd question is can anyone recommend someone that deals in basements? We had some water come in during the summer during that heavy rain in what appears to be underneath a window that didn't have a window well on it, so we put in a window well.

But we weren't ever 100% sure about that, so before I put up foam and drywall and stuff I'm thinking it might be worth getting a second opinion by someone who is more experienced and maybe might see something to indicate that the water came in elsewhere (i.e. crack in basement wall etc).

So if anyone knows someone trustworthy in this area too. Thanks.

[MoneyGuy]

We recently installed a Nest system so technically this is home-improvement related.

My wife says that turning the thermostat down actually costs us money as the furnace runs more to heat a cold house but I contend that the furnace runs less. We keep it at 21C when my wife is home and I have no problem turning it down to 18 at night or if she's out for a few hours.

I think I read that it's efficient to turn a thermostat down one degree for each hour of away time. Has anyone seen definitive evidence whether this is correct?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

We recently installed a Nest system so technically this is home-improvement related.

My wife says that turning the thermostat down actually costs us money as the furnace runs more to heat a cold house but I contend that the furnace runs less. We keep it at 21C when my wife is home and I have no problem turning it down to 18 at night or if she's out for a few hours.

I think I read that it's efficient to turn a thermostat down one degree for each hour of away time. Has anyone seen definitive evidence whether this is correct?

If your wife was correct, it would take the same amount of energy to keep your house at 15C or at 35C inside. How much energy is required to maintain a temperature is a product of the surface area, the insulation value, and the temperature differential. Turning down the heat for a number of hours decreases the temperature differential, therefore reducing the energy required to maintain the temperature over that time period.

Yes, the furnace runs longer when it has to rewarm the house, but that is offset by the time where the furnace doesn't have to run during the cooling off period.

[speede5]

Doesn't the nest system give you all your data? I thought you could input cost of power and gas into it and have it tell you what you are using/saving? Just run it for a week her way and a week your way, hopefully the outside temp is close, and see who does better?

I'd be interested in the results as I never won that arguement. haha.

Also, happy wife, happy life, sometimes a little extra $ on a bill is worth it.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by speede5

Also, happy wife, happy life, sometimes a little extra $ on a bill is worth it.

Cuddling makes her happy, too, which happens when it's cold. More than one way to achieve happiness.