The Home Improvement Thread

[Fuzz]

Just curious, as part of the renovation had you removed the fan? Is the hole open to the attic? Or are there any holes open to the attic? My first guess is moist house air is escaping directly upwards, and causing the problems, since it is isolated to that area.

[sa226]

New fan and everything is installed and sealed up.

Culprits are a couple big slits in wall vapour barrier that I missed. (Wall sheathing is soaked on inside)

And, the furnace flue goes right through the ensuite. With the old design it was hidden behind the wall behind the shower, but to make more space I took down that wall and redesigned it a bit. The unfinished wall is kind of hiding the completely unsealed area around the furnace vent pipe.

I feel kind of stupid for missing it, but under normal circumstances I don't think it would have been a huge deal. That massive cold snap and crazy temperature swing really got me.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by sa226

I feel kind of stupid for missing it, but under normal circumstances I don't think it would have been a huge deal. That massive cold snap and crazy temperature swing really got me.

Well cold snaps and crazy swings the other way is pretty normal for Calgary

[Torture]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Just curious who you called to do the assess the ventilation + how old your house is. I was getting quoted $500 for just the attic inspection on the phone, 10-15K minimum if they needed remove the old insulation/vapor barrier and add spray foam.

Not sure if its worth it in my home yet. I forgot to run the ventilation fan a lot of the time this cold snap.

I have Green Sky Roofing coming. (just found them on Homestars so we'll see how they are). They seemed okay when I talked with them earlier, others that I spoke with had no idea what attic rain even was which was...worrisome.

$250 for attic inspection.

[Torture]

Alrighty, the update is that the guy seemed pretty good. I paid $250 but they apparently increased the fee to $300.

Recommended topping up insulation (was planning to anyways) and 2 more vents for ventilation and to bring it up to current code. No evidence of mold but insulation was wet.

All in all, not too bad.

[Robbob]

Anyone ever work or get Polyurethane crown moulding installed? I like the detail, but wonder how it looks installed.

[rohara66]

Any recommendations for a decent drywaller to do a basement?

[Nufy]

I have to drill through some newly installed ceramic tile to install a few floating shelves.

Whats a good drill bit for tile these days...

[81MC]

Originally Posted by Nufy

I have to drill through some newly installed ceramic tile to install a few floating shelves.

Whats a good drill bit for tile these days...

If it’s not glass tile, just use a regular masonry bit. Even if it’s porcelain, if it’s just a couple 1/4” holes, you’ll be fine.

[Bagor]

Tape a washer over where you're going to be drilling for guidance and to stop your bit bouncing all over at the start.

[Wormius]

I feel like I have lost my home DIY mojo. It’s kind of like, I know this isn’t our “forever” home, and I don’t want to put a lot of effort into it anymore.

[calgarygeologist]

I noticed something interesting with our garage roof this week as we had rubber shingles installed this summer. The snow on our rubber shingles melts much more slowly than asphalt shingles. Neighbouring garages are all pretty much snow free after this week and our house is mostly snow free but our garage roof is still covered with snow. It is pretty weird.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Tape a washer over where you're going to be drilling for guidance and to stop your bit bouncing all over at the start.

Excellent tip!

[81MC]

Reliable keypad/keyless deadbolt?

We have a Schlage that stopped working in the cold. Then all together. Did the online fix, worked for a few months, now when it’s really cold still iffy it will actually work.

I imagine they all suck, at least residential looking ones.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Reliable keypad/keyless deadbolt?

We have a Schlage that stopped working in the cold. Then all together. Did the online fix, worked for a few months, now when it’s really cold still iffy it will actually work.

I imagine they all suck, at least residential looking ones.

Is it for a house or detached garage with no heat? Apparently if one side.isnt heated they aren't very reliable.

[Fuzz]

My Schlage work fine, one on an unheated shed, lightly heated garage, and house. But I don't have the ones with motors in them. They have a manual deadbolt, so the cold shouldn't affect them much.

[Ducay]

I'd also suggest ensuring you're running lithium batteries in any outdoor electronic. (ie Energizer lithium 9V or AAs) regular alkaline and rechargable (Ni-MH) batteries don't handle the cold well. My garage pin pad used to always die below -20 degrees, but once we tossed a lithium in there, it never dies in the cold. They're rated for way colder temps vs alkalines

[Wormius]

Yeah, we have the Schlage one with with just a solenoid that pulls in and allows you to turn the deadbolt by hand. It’s pretty reliable.

[Sr. Mints]

Roof Doctor just left here. He just said insulation is great, but still evidence of moisture (a few days after water stopped coming through light fixture and door jam). Shingles are fine, but the north/northeast facing valley directly above my front door where it was leaking could be the problem: that spot gets zero sunlight, and snow just sits there, it's always the last thing to melt

He's emailing me a list of suggestions, but one that caught my ear when we were talking was de-icing cables in that spot. Do those work? I think every opinion I've heard is they're a total waste of money.

[CroFlames]

Would you be willing to share his other tips? I think almost everyone experiences attic rain or ice dams at some point in Calgary.