The Home Improvement Thread

[Titan2]

What is the thinking on draining water heaters? I am concerned that if I do it, it will stir up the muck and cause a problem. Is this a dumb concern?

[keratosis]

I don't see why not. I'm still using the silicone spray the installer supplied. You need so little. Truck is to not over do it.
Sorry responding to @Titan2

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by photon

First summer after finally building the upper deck on my house. I was thinking we should install a screen door so we can have it open without letting in the bugs, but the door opens out onto the deck and installing a screen door inside opening inwards would be awkward plus not really enough room with the kitchen table nearby.

Has anyone used those screens that roll up into the side? Are they any good? Seems like something that's a good idea but in practice doesn't work well.

I guess there's those magnetic ones that just hang there but that seems even worse.

We have one too on our Tesoro door out to the patio on the main floor. Love it.

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

We have one too on our Tesoro door out to the patio on the main floor. Love it.

Well la dee ####ing da! We have a Tesoro door. It leads to our car hole!!

NSFW!

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Titan2

Well la dee ####ing da! We have a Tesoro door. It leads to our car hole!!

NSFW!

Honestly, one of the three things I really wanted in the reno. and I absolutely love it.

[photon]

I'd love a Tesoro door.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by photon

I'd love a Tesoro door.

Do it. Totally worth the increase in price from any other option in my opinion.

Amortised over the life of your home it's peanuts, right...? (I said that a LOT during my reno...).

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

Honestly, one of the three things I really wanted in the reno. and I absolutely love it.

Hilarious. I did not know what it was and just googled Tesoro and got ... results.

I was just taking the chance to post the gif but actually, now that I googled Tesoro DOOR, I realize we have been thinking of that exact thing for our house. I did not know they were called that.

Can you tell us what the cost was after all was said and done? Apparently you are a big fan but any downsides you have seen?

[Titan2]

Also, who did you buy yours through?

[moncton golden flames]

Tesoro is made by Lux Windows & Doors. I had installed 2 of them into a showhome back in 2018, and at that time they were about 25k each.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Titan2

Hilarious. I did not know what it was and just googled Tesoro and got ... results.

I was just taking the chance to post the gif but actually, now that I googled Tesoro DOOR, I realize we have been thinking of that exact thing for our house. I did not know they were called that.

Can you tell us what the cost was after all was said and done? Apparently you are a big fan but any downsides you have seen?

Tesoro door was from Lux. Cost was $15K.

Phantom Screen was custom sized from Suite Outdoors, and was $2,650.00 plus GST installed. They were awesome to work with and super quick to build and install.

Absolutely no regrets.

My girls are now 6 1/2 and have no problem closing the phantom screen now. The closest thing to a "problem" was last year they were not strong enough to always push the phantom screen shut (but stubborn enough to want to try) so they would get frustrated.

It also has an auto-catch so if they just release the trigger when it is in use, it stops automatically one door in.

Edit: I see moncton golden flames' post and note ours was much more recent than that, and was through our builder, so it is quite possible he had builder pricing. Or stuff costs more in Moncton...

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

Tesoro door was from Lux. Cost was $15K.

Phantom Screen was custom sized from Suite Outdoors, and was $2,650.00 plus GST installed. They were awesome to work with and super quick to build and install.

Absolutely no regrets.

My girls are now 6 1/2 and have no problem closing the phantom screen now. The closest thing to a "problem" was last year they were not strong enough to always push the phantom screen shut (but stubborn enough to want to try) so they would get frustrated.

It also has an auto-catch so if they just release the trigger when it is in use, it stops automatically one door in.

Edit: I see moncton golden flames' post and note ours was much more recent than that, and was through our builder, so it is quite possible he had builder pricing. Or stuff costs more in Moncton...

Thanks. How many doors do you have? A phantom on that would be awesome.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Titan2

What is the thinking on draining water heaters? I am concerned that if I do it, it will stir up the muck and cause a problem. Is this a dumb concern?

Do it if it's a few years old or less. Don't do it if you left the thing there for a decade and are just considering it now.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Titan2

Thanks. How many doors do you have? A phantom on that would be awesome.

It really is. West facing backyard and we leave it open most afternoons and summer evenings.
It’s 3 doors, 12 feet in total width.

[sa226]

Do you guys live in Calgary? Because sometimes our kids leave the door open for a little longer than I'd prefer and we then have 47 flies in our house.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by sa226

Do you guys live in Calgary? Because sometimes our kids leave the door open for a little longer than I'd prefer and we then have 47 flies in our house.

I don't have a Tesoro door. I did have a phantom door screen before I had the door replaced and it was excellent. Sometimes, I'd leave the screen open all night. I haven't checked to see if I could reinstall it after replacing my patio door with a new one.

Reno budget, I don't know if I'd jump to add a Tesoro door. I think I'd aim for an enclosed sunroom/patio instead.

Flies don't bug me too much. Get a blue light zapper and turn it on inside the house at night. It'll get them. Them yellow jackets are the #######s that I'd like to prevent/address. They love showing up for BBQ.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by sa226

Do you guys live in Calgary? Because sometimes our kids leave the door open for a little longer than I'd prefer and we then have 47 flies in our house.

The screen stops bugs from coming in.

The problem with a sunroom is it negates the ability to see directly outside when you’re inside the house as you’re always looking through the sunroom. We looked at some houses with them and it felt more enclosed and darker than those without.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Now with septic installed...

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by photon

I'd love a Tesoro door.

Our contractor seriously contemplated a Tesoro from Lux on our reno and ultimately went from that to a center opening bi-parting sliders (also from Lux). Something like this:



It being a west facing wall and the associated wind load was a factor. That and the fact that we had no desire to use it as an an entryway door (i.e. a swing out door portion). It was slightly cheaper to boot.

We're happy with it - it's not leaky at all and didn't turn the room into a greenhouse. Maybe it was post covid manufacturing, but I was slightly surprised how much warranty work was needed after installation to get it working. QC from the factory was sleeping that day for sure. Luckily my contractor handled it all and it was all warranty work.

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Now with septic installed...

So that works like a giant kitty litter?

I am surprised you don't have plumbing. Oh, well, you crazy BC hippies.