The Home Improvement Thread

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I heard there is an electrical code book out there designed for homeowners. It's a guide to explain residential electrical systems if someone wanted to do some wiring and such by themselves, but still do it right.

Anyone heard of said book, and if it exists where do I get it?

https://psknight.com/residential

This?

I have it saved as a bookmark as something I should acquire too. I haven't bought it yet.

[Fuzz]

Ya, that one is great. When the inspector came by, he saw it sitting on a chair and commented if I followed the book, I shouldn't have an issues on inspection. And I didn't, really.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I heard there is an electrical code book out there designed for homeowners. It's a guide to explain residential electrical systems if someone wanted to do some wiring and such by themselves, but still do it right.

Anyone heard of said book, and if it exists where do I get it?

It's called "Electrical Code Simplified". Other than ordering it from their site, you should also be able to get it from Home Hardware.

[CroFlames]

Right on my guys.

You are now complicit in me burning my house down.

[GoinAllTheWay]

What are ya'll liking in terms of exterior door weather stripping?

Warm weather this weekend and I'm thinking I should replace the stripping around my exterior doors as I doubt we are done with the cold snaps this season. Current ones were letting pretty noticeable gusts through. Part of it is probably inferior installation but not sure I'm sold on what I used in the first place.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Right on my guys.

You are now complicit in me burning my house down.

Two things...


1)get a no contact electrical pen
2)make sure it works EVERY TIME by testing a live circuit before assuming no beep=no worries


Why yes, my hair is fuzzy.

[powderjunkie]

Need to replace some deckboards this year - about a 10'x12' section of 1x6s. They are secured with screws (robertson) - some are exposed, but most are fairly deep and covered with paint. Hoping to just use an impact driver to back them out, but not sure if that will be crazy time consuming?

I don't care about the deck boards, but want to be kind to the joists and set up an easier re-install.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Need to replace some deckboards this year - about a 10'x12' section of 1x6s. They are secured with screws (robertson) - some are exposed, but most are fairly deep and covered with paint. Hoping to just use an impact driver to back them out, but not sure if that will be crazy time consuming?

I don't care about the deck boards, but want to be kind to the joists and set up an easier re-install.

I had this exact problem.

If you don’t care to salvage the boards, buy or rent a digging bar. So easy to pry up the boards. Most will crack and splint, but it’s a million times faster than try to unscrew the deck screws.


https://www.lowes.ca/product/digging...ing-bar-183085


Your joists will be fine.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Need to replace some deckboards this year - about a 10'x12' section of 1x6s. They are secured with screws (robertson) - some are exposed, but most are fairly deep and covered with paint. Hoping to just use an impact driver to back them out, but not sure if that will be crazy time consuming?

I don't care about the deck boards, but want to be kind to the joists and set up an easier re-install.

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I had this exact problem.

If you don’t care to salvage the boards, buy or rent a digging bar. So easy to pry up the boards. Most will crack and splint, but it’s a million times faster than try to unscrew the deck screws.

https://www.lowes.ca/product/digging...ing-bar-183085

Your joists will be fine.

I echo CroFlames, just pry them off. When I did mine I didn't have a bar so cut them all with a circular saw parallel to each joist so they were in ~16" lengths and hammered them off.

[Barnes]

And when you put new boards down, use the Camo hidden screw system.

https://www.camofasteners.com/products/tools/pro-guide/

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Barnes

And when you put new boards down, use the Camo hidden screw system.

https://www.camofasteners.com/products/tools/pro-guide/

Hard to tell from the videos online - but could you use this to reinforce existing deck boards? I have composite decking installed with another clip based system and a couple spots are loose. Usual option is tacking down with a brad nail which, obviously, has to go through the board face. Wondering if the angles are such that you could use it on decking with boards on both sides. Obviously the gapping is the main question, but curious design-wise.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Hard to tell from the videos online - but could you use this to reinforce existing deck boards? I have composite decking installed with another clip based system and a couple spots are loose. Usual option is tacking down with a brad nail which, obviously, has to go through the board face. Wondering if the angles are such that you could use it on decking with boards on both sides. Obviously the gapping is the main question, but curious design-wise.

Don't see why it wouldn't work unless it's driving through the (metal?) clip. The one I have is different than what I posted.

https://www.camofasteners.com/produc...roduct-options

It attaches to your drill rather than the board for gapless boards and is just a single shot.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Man, both of those are clever AF. Not building a deck anytime soon but think I'd like to buy the one that doubles as a spacer. Thanks for posting that.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Man, both of those are clever AF. Not building a deck anytime soon but think I'd like to buy the one that doubles as a spacer. Thanks for posting that.

Mines available to anyone wants to rent it for the low-low price of 1 4 pack of Cabin Super Saturation. Pick up in Mahogany.

[rohara66]

It appears the framer I had lined up to start our basement development has gone totally MIA for the past 4 or 5 weeks so I’m looking for some options.

• Any framers on here looking to frame a basement development. I have detailed plans completed, permit in hand and am available for a quick visit to price the work out.
• Any recommendation for framers that anyone on here has used recently?

Thanks!

[iggypop]

Originally Posted by rohara66

It appears the framer I had lined up to start our basement development has gone totally MIA for the past 4 or 5 weeks so I’m looking for some options.

• Any framers on here looking to frame a basement development. I have detailed plans completed, permit in hand and am available for a quick visit to price the work out.
• Any recommendation for framers that anyone on here has used recently?

Thanks!

I was very happy with Shane at https://www.moderncave.ca/ for a recent renovation I did. We removed a structural wall and added a bathroom in our old crescent heights home. He framed in the required structural posts and beams on two floors and framed in our bathroom. Did a great job.

[CroFlames]

If I bought one of those Yardistry gazebo thingys from Costco, do I need a building permit to install it in my backyard? It would be placed on a concrete patio.



https://www.costco.ca/yardistry-ceda...100387894.html

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

If I bought one of those Yardistry gazebo thingys from Costco, do I need a building permit to install it in my backyard? It would be placed on a concrete patio.



https://www.costco.ca/yardistry-ceda...100387894.html

You’re fine to build stuff like that and sheds as long as they are 10 m2 or less (and not an addition). So for that link you don’t need a permit.

[Fuzz]

Not quite that simple. Just look up the shed bylaw, there are a few restrictions, as it contributes to your land cover. Should be fine, but worth checking.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Not quite that simple. Just look up the shed bylaw, there are a few restrictions, as it contributes to your land cover. Should be fine, but worth checking.