The Home Improvement Thread

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Foundation fully stripped, other than some posts and supports for the deck that I guess they're going to just do without a truck, which makes sense given the amount of concrete. Wish it would stop pouring rain but that's the west coast for you I guess.




Next up, my understanding is that after a 2 week break for the holidays, they backfill the west side (first photo) and pour a slab there, while framing the east side for the crawlspace (2nd photo), then the floor goes on.

I'm a little unclear on how the backfill / slab process works but I guess they know what they're doing.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by kevman

A property like that begs for natural siding, apologies to your budget.

Soon after reading this post, the algorithms started sending me videos on how to make my own natural siding by harvesting bark in large sheets from trees. It also started sending me videos about how shingles and siding used to be made. It's been an interesting rabbit hole to go down for the last few days.

[Sliver]

You going to buy a boat, Corsi? I watch videos all the time on cool inflatable boats. I love these ones (Canadian company): https://strykerboats.com/

I almost bought one last year...there's a place in Calgary that sells them and they're cool AF. Then I remembered I don't go to lakes, the ocean or even particularly enjoy boating on the water. But then I think, what if Calgary floods somehow and I need to blow up my boat and rip around? Maybe it's unsafe to not have one?

Anyway, it's a constant struggle to not buy one just to take home and put on a shelf in my garage. If I had your place, though, that'd be my first purchase.

[Nyah]

Beautiful looking piece of property Corsi!

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Foundation fully stripped, other than some posts and supports for the deck that I guess they're going to just do without a truck, which makes sense given the amount of concrete. Wish it would stop pouring rain but that's the west coast for you I guess.




Next up, my understanding is that after a 2 week break for the holidays, they backfill the west side (first photo) and pour a slab there, while framing the east side for the crawlspace (2nd photo), then the floor goes on.

I'm a little unclear on how the backfill / slab process works but I guess they know what they're doing.

Pardon the pun, but it's looking to be a pretty sweet pad.

It seems there's a bunch of rain in the pic. If it hasn't been addressed yet, it might not be a bad idea while things are at this stage to wander the property to see where water naturally runs/pools and do some investigation and discussions for appropriate leveling/landscaping/prevention. It's probably easier to do now than later. It might also help prevent later issues where heavier stuff is brought over later on and it just randomly gets stuck in soft ground or whatever.

You don't want to increase the difficulty in addressing water issues or to become a perfect retreat for people training in steeplechase.

[Cube Inmate]

Effing eff...safety codes will be the death of me (in YYC).

My electrical rough-in passed inspection 40 years ago, but the panel location doesn't have the required clearance around it. Supposedly the code has been the same (1m x 1m) since the '70s, and it was most likely just like this when it was first inspected (since it's a major plumbing stack in the keep-out zone, and plumbing would have been roughed-in before the electrical).

So, can I upgrade the panel where it is? Nope...wouldn't be code compliant. Instead, I guess it's safer to either keep the old panel (with the clearance issue and aging breakers) OR move the panel location and add upwards of 20 circuit splices to extend the wiring to the new locations. PLUS, since the circuits would be modified, a huge number of those would now have to be upgraded to AFCI breakers.

Is there any possible avenue to appeal to sanity here? Call the Premier and ask her to give me an "electrical code pardon?" Call the mayor? Call the mafia?

Ugh.

[EldrickOnIce]

Hardie board is a fabulous product. Great choice Corsi

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Sliver

You going to buy a boat, Corsi? I watch videos all the time on cool inflatable boats. I love these ones (Canadian company): https://strykerboats.com/

Already have several boats! A single whitehall 11.6, a longer duo rower sail, and we have a speedboat but it is currently out of commission, needs a couple of parts for next summer... we go boating a lot. Like, evening boat trips at least 2-3 times a week when I'm there in the sunmer.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Already have several boats! A single whitehall 11.6, a longer duo rower sail, and we have a speedboat but it is currently out of commission, needs a couple of parts for next summer... we go boating a lot. Like, evening boat trips at least 2-3 times a week when I'm there in the sunmer.

Wow, so cool man. This is going to be such a crazy life perk for you to enjoy forever more. Congrats again. This has been so great watching this percolate in your head over the years to coming to fruition.

[opendoor]

HardiePlank generally does well on the coast, particularly compared to wood which can take a real beating if it doesn't have a solid stain on it. Stuff that was installed 15-20 years ago can still look more or less new with just basic maintenance like cleaning it occasionally.

In terms of pre-finished vs. painted afterwards, my understanding is it can go either way in terms of cost. Because pre-finished stuff has to be installed with a fair bit more care and will need touch ups, installers may bid higher for installing that. So when you combine that with the material price premium, there may not really be much in the way of cost savings vs. painting it afterwards. But the only way to really know is to talk to your general contractor or get some quotes.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

Effing eff...safety codes will be the death of me (in YYC).

My electrical rough-in passed inspection 40 years ago, but the panel location doesn't have the required clearance around it. Supposedly the code has been the same (1m x 1m) since the '70s, and it was most likely just like this when it was first inspected (since it's a major plumbing stack in the keep-out zone, and plumbing would have been roughed-in before the electrical).

So, can I upgrade the panel where it is? Nope...wouldn't be code compliant. Instead, I guess it's safer to either keep the old panel (with the clearance issue and aging breakers) OR move the panel location and add upwards of 20 circuit splices to extend the wiring to the new locations. PLUS, since the circuits would be modified, a huge number of those would now have to be upgraded to AFCI breakers.

Is there any possible avenue to appeal to sanity here? Call the Premier and ask her to give me an "electrical code pardon?" Call the mayor? Call the mafia?

Ugh.

Perhaps it's too late but that's why sometimes it's best to not pull a permit.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Wow, so cool man. This is going to be such a crazy life perk for you to enjoy forever more. Congrats again. This has been so great watching this percolate in your head over the years to coming to fruition.

Thanks! We're getting there, I just have to keep it under control and try to stay connected to the budget.

Originally Posted by opendoor

In terms of pre-finished vs. painted afterwards, my understanding is it can go either way in terms of cost. Because pre-finished stuff has to be installed with a fair bit more care and will need touch ups, installers may bid higher for installing that. So when you combine that with the material price premium, there may not really be much in the way of cost savings vs. painting it afterwards. But the only way to really know is to talk to your general contractor or get some quotes.

That makes sense. My GC was suggesting that it would be painted pre-install either way - either from the factory, or sent to a painting shop where they could paint it all with basically anything in the Benjamin Moore catalogue before install. He said most people go that route because there's a much broader selection of colours that way. I'm trying to get a meeting with him on Friday to ask a bunch of questions and am definitely going to ask him about this - cost of different options, durability of different options etc.

[CroFlames]

So is that the actual ocean? What body of water is it.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Yep - Howe Sound.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

Effing eff...safety codes will be the death of me (in YYC).

My electrical rough-in passed inspection 40 years ago, but the panel location doesn't have the required clearance around it. Supposedly the code has been the same (1m x 1m) since the '70s, and it was most likely just like this when it was first inspected (since it's a major plumbing stack in the keep-out zone, and plumbing would have been roughed-in before the electrical).

So, can I upgrade the panel where it is? Nope...wouldn't be code compliant. Instead, I guess it's safer to either keep the old panel (with the clearance issue and aging breakers) OR move the panel location and add upwards of 20 circuit splices to extend the wiring to the new locations. PLUS, since the circuits would be modified, a huge number of those would now have to be upgraded to AFCI breakers.

Is there any possible avenue to appeal to sanity here? Call the Premier and ask her to give me an "electrical code pardon?" Call the mayor? Call the mafia?

Ugh.

I don't know the costs or the electrical code in detail, so don't quote me... but can't you just put in a smaller panel and then separate panel or a sub panel/panel splitter somewhere else? Why would you need to splice 20 times?

Like, could you just put a smaller newer style of panel to replace the older cartridge or whatever panel type you have, and then a secondary panel that goes to the garage or something and reroute a bunch of stuff in the vicinity to there? I've seen smaller non-full panels in garages before, even before EVs were more ubiquitous.

I also think I've seen a situation where someone had a panel that was on both sides of a wall. No idea whether it was two separate panels, sub panel or splitters or whatever, but I remember someone saying it was weird but it passed inspection.

No matter what you do, the price of that work is gonna suck though. I had mine redone recently and I feel your pain. I'm glad I found a good honest guy who went through and explained the WTFs to me in ways I could understand.

[Shazam]

Subpanel (should be a-ok) or ask for relaxation which they probably won't grant.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Subpanel (should be a-ok) or ask for relaxation which they probably won't grant.

I guess you could offer the inspector a beer before his starts and see if that helps you pass inspection...

[CroFlames]

Nice. Hope you are high enough for when ocean levels rise

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Brendone

Does anyone out there actually repair refrigeration units anymore.. or ever?

We have a built in Northland fridge with what should be an easy unit replacement, but… Northland dropped built ins from their line, so if there are no replacements out there, we’re likely screwed. New built ins are the price of a car now.

I can see the old unit has leaked some refrigerant, but I’m guessing the answer will be no one repairs these things.

Yeah, I had an issue with an office fridge a few years back and the short answer? Nope.

Anything goes wrong with a fridge, especially a smaller one and you just chuck it and get a new one.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yeah, I had an issue with an office fridge a few years back and the short answer? Nope.

Anything goes wrong with a fridge, especially a smaller one and you just chuck it and get a new one.

I had a warranty issue on a fridge a few years ago and they sent someone from a place called SouthTV repair (?).

I looked it up and it seems like they're just a generic appliance repair outfit. I wonder if Brendone should just see if someone can fix it or jerry rig a relatively lasting solution for him.