The Home Improvement Thread

[FiftyBelow]

Hi CP, not sure if this is the right place to put this question. I was taking a look at the dryer vent on the side of our house and realized that it may be a little close to the furnace intake. The dryer vent is located above and to the left with a diagonal distance of 2 feet. Is this safe?

[Wormius]

I started clearing out the grass from between the expansion joints in my driveway and they joints seem to go down quite a bit. I don't want any more grass or random seeds to blow in there, so should I fill these in with paving sand or something? Or should they just be clean?

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I started clearing out the grass from between the expansion joints in my driveway and they joints seem to go down quite a bit. I don't want any more grass or random seeds to blow in there, so should I fill these in with paving sand or something? Or should they just be clean?

You'll want an expansion joint filler.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crack-St...2051/203658275

Or similar product. Definitely not sand, things will continue to grow (with paving sand), or if it polymeric sand, it'll just break up as it moves.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

Hi CP, not sure if this is the right place to put this question. I was taking a look at the dryer vent on the side of our house and realized that it may be a little close to the furnace intake. The dryer vent is located above and to the left with a diagonal distance of 2 feet. Is this safe?

Should be fine, many houses are like that (including mine) assuming we're talking the actual laundry exhaust from an electric dryer and not the combustion exhaust from a gas dryer. The latter is probably no bueno, but luckily gas dryers are uncommon in Calgary.

[psicodude]

Looking for some advice re: irrigation system. Specifically, I was thinking of using one of the external taps as the water source for a Rainbird system. I tested psi at 55 and GPM at only 5. Turns out the pex to that tap is only 1/2". Is this sufficient as long as I keep the number of heads per zone to 4 or 5 of the small ones? Should I replace that line with 3/4"? Should I run a new line altogether? My yard isn't huge, but I was hoping to get away with 6 zones total, including 2 for flowerbeds/trees.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by psicodude

Looking for some advice re: irrigation system. Specifically, I was thinking of using one of the external taps as the water source for a Rainbird system. I tested psi at 55 and GPM at only 5. Turns out the pex to that tap is only 1/2". Is this sufficient as long as I keep the number of heads per zone to 4 or 5 of the small ones? Should I replace that line with 3/4"? Should I run a new line altogether? My yard isn't huge, but I was hoping to get away with 6 zones total, including 2 for flowerbeds/trees.

I don't know a ton about irrigation/sprinklers, but I can tell you PEX is worse than copper for restriction. 1/2" copper maintains its inner diameter through all the fittings, whereas the brass fittings for pex drop the inner diameter to about 3/8" restricting flow. The 90's are also sharp, causing further restriction.

Most sprinklers systems create a decent demand and require the extra capacity of 3/4" line, so I would suggest you need to upsize the line.

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by speede5

I don't know a ton about irrigation/sprinklers, but I can tell you PEX is worse than copper for restriction. 1/2" copper maintains its inner diameter through all the fittings, whereas the brass fittings for pex drop the inner diameter to about 3/8" restricting flow. The 90's are also sharp, causing further restriction.

Most sprinklers systems create a decent demand and require the extra capacity of 3/4" line, so I would suggest you need to upsize the line.

Yeah, I didn't even consider the fittings. I will get some new lines run. Thanks.

[metallicat]

Putting in a shed and bylaw states it has to be 3 ft away from fences...is it worth it to just forego that and put it against the fences? What are the odds the city finds out or someone complains?

[Shazam]

How big is your shed? Under 10 sq meters, no permit required.

[metallicat]

10*8, but it has to be 3 feet away from fences. At least in Edmonton.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by metallicat

10*8, but it has to be 3 feet away from fences. At least in Edmonton.

I like to be at least 300km away from the fences in Edmonton, but YMMV.

[psicodude]

0.6 meters if I'm reading this right. That's what I did for my shed anyway.

https://www.calgary.ca/PDA/pd/Pages/...x#height-rules

[metallicat]

Either way, I'm wondering if it's worth the risk and just put it against my fence.

[Fuzz]

Asking the question is more than 99% of people would think to do. I'd probably not worry about it, but see what the exceptions are. In the Calgary case, you can build to the property line if the siding is maintenance free and the interior is fire rated drywall, though I'm not even sure if that is required for a shed.


I'll be rebuilding mine next year close to the fence. I'd like to get as close as possible so will need to take a look then. Will go with vinyl siding, and if I have to put up a sheet of drywall inside for $20, I'll do that too.

[psicodude]

It's only an issue when you go to sell or someone complains. I can't see it being high on bylaw's priority list, but it would sure suck to tear it down to move it 2 feet.

[PaperBagger'14]

Put it on a movable ish base. I had to make a floor support for mine (plastic shed) which is basically a wall of 2x4s 16" apart and a plywood face.

It's all pressure treated of course, however if I had to I could empty it and drag it a few feet.

[Shazam]

You have to clear all of 60 cm, which is perfectly doable.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Shazam

You have to clear all of 60 cm, which is perfectly doable.

I have 10 feet between my house and the fence. If I want to leave 2.5-3ft for a walkway between them, that 60cm becomes pretty valuable.

[topfiverecords]

If your neighbour is ok with you placing it closer to your fence then just do so. Then worry about moving it out if it becomes an issue if you sell.

[Ducay]

The first answer was the right answer. Most garden sheds are well under the city's threshold for 'accessory buildings' that they care about, either for permitting or RPR compliance or issues.

Being a good neighbour you could give him a heads up, but honestly, doesn't really matter. Go for it. There is a reason 99% of sheds are against fences in Calgary and you've never heard of it being an issue.