Category Archives: Home

Replacement Vinyl Windows

Home, Renovations

One of the first major renovations I undertook in 1997 after I bought my house was to upgrade the aluminum, single pane windows with double pane vinyl windows.  Being older, my house is pretty leaky so I didn’t need low-E, argon filled, triple pane windows.  Basic double pane, vinyl slider windows with screens and drop-down locks was sufficient.

The first quote I got for 13 windows was $7469. Yes, I kept all my quotes.

Second quote was $5107 (12 windows) so there was quite a big difference.  The extra window not include here was probably the  single pane decorative glass panel above the entry doors.

Third quote was for $4430 (12 windows).

For major jobs, ALWAYS obtain a written quote so you can compare the total price including taxes and any extra fees.

I liked the style of the windows from the second company better and they said they would price match the lowest quote.  Their quote included tax, screens and installation.

To save some money, I ended up leaving 5 windows unchanged paying $3046.  In hindsight, I should have gotten a loan or bit the bullet to get them all done.

I was home when they did the replacements.  They first took the glass out and then pryed out the aluminum sills.  Some replacement window systems leave the sills in but removing them is better.  The new windows have a “rebate flange” on the outside which was caulked all around and the frame was screwed from the side rails.  In my house, the internal wooden frame was “floating” which the installers didn’t notice.  This caused the interior moulding to have gaps so they had to go back and rescrew some windows.  They also replaced one sill that had rotted.

Eighteen years later and I still haven’t got around to replacing the remaining windows.  Prices have probably gone up and I don’t think the company I used, West Coast Designed Windows, is still in business.   There could be a problem matching the window style but I chose a pretty generic looking slider window.  I will probably attempt replacing most of them myself at some point since all (except for one) is at ground level.

 

Repairing My Chimney Cap

Home, Renovations

When I bought my house almost 20 years ago, they had previously installed a gas fireplace in the basement and did a sloppy job on the exhaust pipe which ran up the chimney.  The cap had been removed and the second flue had been exposed.  Only recently did I decide to fix this with a new chimney pot.  I found a masonry supply store nearby, I-XL Masonry, and brought them measurements and pictures to get the correct size of a chimney pot.  I also picked up a small bag of brick mortar at Home Depot in the US.  I could only find large bags in Canada.  Research online indicated I should be casting a chimney crown with a drip edge but this would be too much work.  I would just use the brick mortar to build a small slope on the top edge for rain water to run down.  The first step was to take down the bricks and they came down fairly easy with a small tap of a hammer.  Once I cleaned out all the old mortar leaving a level surface, I installed the new chimney pot.  I also had some scrap metal screen that I used to cover the flue to keep animals out.  I then applied mortar to put a sloped edge along the brick.  I did have to go back on the roof a couple of weeks later since I could hear clanging from the chimney on windy days.  The cap on the new pot wasn’t sitting completely flush and would rock.  I remedied that problem with a little bit more mortar to fill up the space and eliminate the movement.

Replace your mail slot

Home

You wouldn’t think it would be difficult to find an insulated mail slot.  When I had my front doors replaced many years ago, I had one installed for around $40 and bought a second one for my parent’s house.

Over the years, the front hinge had partially broken (damn kids) and the brass colour was looking dated.  I had reversed the slot to put the broken piece on the inside of the house.  Searching online, I did find one model but it was a whopping $47 USD plus shipping.

Checking big box stores, they only carry uninsulated metal mail slots that get super drafty and wet with condensation in the winter months.

I eventually found a replacement on ebay (search “upvc letter box”) for only $14 USD including shipping from the UK.  The doors flip 180 degrees to minimize potential breakage from being overextended.

Exchange an expired propane tank

Home

My propane tank expired last year and I figured I might need to buy a new one at a store with tank exchange so I wouldn’t need to buy a new tank next time.  I always assumed with tank exchange, you needed to first purchase their brand of tank.

The manufacture date on a propane tank is  usually stamped with xx-yy with xx for the month and yy for the year.  In Canada, tanks can’t be refilled after the expiry date unless they are re-certified.  Re-certification only extends the life a few more years and costs nearly the same as a new tank so it’s generally not worth it.

Research online indicated that in the US, the expiry for tanks is 12 years so I figured I could take my tank across the border to get it refilled.  Propane stations are becoming more difficult to find and I found that Uhaul and WFC Coop both on Meridian St in Bellingham had propane filling stations.

When I took the tank to WFC, the attendant indicated they could not fill older tanks without an OPD (overfill protection device) valve with a triangular shaped handle.  He indicated they filled by volume in the US while in Canada, propane is sold by weight so non-OPD tanks are a bit more common.  He suggested taking the tank to a nearby supermarket where they could exchange my tank for a newer one.

I enquired at the supermarket which was using Blue Rhino and they indicate they would exchange any tank but not older ones.  Propane exchanges were around $18-$20 USD with Blue Rhino.  I decided I needed to do more research.  I emailed Blue Rhino when I got home and they replied they accept non-OPD tanks though there may be a surcharge.  I checked Amerigas’s website (used by Home Depot in the US) and it indicated non-OPD tanks could be accepted for exchange.

In Canada, Home Depot uses PNEpropane so I emailed them asking if they would exchange an expired tank.  They replied indicating they would.  I also dropped by Walmart who use Tanktraders and the sign on the cage indicated any tank was exchangeable but it had to be less than 10 yrs old.

I ended up exchanging my expired tank at Home Depot for $28 CAD + tax with for a filled OPD tank.  I noticed they had non-OPD tanks as well.  I will probably refill it until it gets older and then exchange again.  Exchange tanks are typically underfilled so refilling is typically a better deal.

The attendant commented my tank still seemed full when I exchanged it and I had thought it was empty since the flame was low.  I had recently bought a new bbq and the new tank had low flame after awhile as well.  It turns out the regulator needed to be reset following the instructions here.  I guess my original  tank could have lasted another year.

IMG_20151015_122019
Tank exchange at Walmart Canada

Painting siding with Behr Ultra Premium Plus

Home, Renovations

My house is mainly stucco with wood siding for the lower front and side of my house.  The siding was in rough shape and in desperate need of new paint and repairs.  Most of the damage was occurring at the outside corners.  I was able to buy siding at the lumber yard (Sunbury Cedar) for the repair work and 4ft pieces are relatively inexpensive versus longer pieces.  They have a rough and smooth side.  Sunbury Cedar also sells bulk outdoor nails and screws which is typically not available at big box hardware store.  Dick’s Lumber also has bulk fasteners including gold construction screws, drywall screws and roofing nails.    The hardest part in repairing siding is to not damage the piece above the one you are removing since they overlap.  Though you may split the piece, it can be glued and nailed back fairly easily.  For the main part of my house, there is felt paper underneath the siding as a water barrier so you need to be careful you don’t rip it.  The siding which acts as a rail on my deck was also heavily damaged in the corner rotting the wood underneath it and water was getting into my addition.  There was no felt underneath it, just the bare studs.  I was able to find some scrap house wrap at a construction site to put behind the siding in the corner.

With the siding patched, the next step was to scrape away any loose paint and caulk any seams in the siding where water could get in.  I used DAP Dynaflex 230 premium caulk which is recommended for outdoor use.  I also had the cheaper Apex caulk which I typically use for indoor moldings.  Though it is rated for outdoors as well, it has poor reviews when used outside.

Before painting, I cleaned the surfaces with a TSP substitute solution and rinsed the siding with a hose.  Though I have a pressure washer, I didn’t want high pressure water getting into the nooks and crannies of the siding.

After allowing a day or two to dry out completely, I painted with Behr Ultra Premius Plus in satin sheen.  Behr is exclusive to Home Depot and actually very highly rated.

The Behr paint is excellent and covers in one coat easily.  I only used a brush since the area was relatively small.  You do have to touch up areas where the paint may shrink a bit and areas you might have missed.  The paint makes the wood feel like vinyl siding after it dries.  I was only going to do the front and balcony with the one gallon I purchased, but decide to do the side of the addition and shed which ended up being another 2 gallons.

Replace your bright brass door knobs

Home, Renovations

One day it dawned on me my bright brass door knobs were really dated and it would be a relatively inexpensive reno to change them out along with the door hinges.  Indoor non-keyed knobs have two styles – passage (non-locking) and privacy (locking for bedrooms and bathrooms).  I tested a satin nickel privacy knob from Lowes but thought the knob was a bit small and thought a lever would be a better choice.  I’ve heard that the city of Vancouver building code requires lever knobs because of the aging population.  I purchased Defiant privacy levers from Home Depot in the US for all of the bedrooms.  They have a hefty lever, are reversible for left or right swing, and the latch can fit either a drilled hole or mortised latch.  The downside was they are a bit too easy to open when locked from the outside.  The slot  on the front can be turned with a finger.  Because of that, I bought a Kwikset lever for the bathroom.  It has a small hole in the front than will need a small screwdriver to open.

I purchased matching satin nickel door hinges from Dick’s Lumber.  They were actually cheaper than Home Depot and included screws.

 

Repairing a collapsed downspout pipe

Home

While mowing my lawn one day, I hit my concrete downspout pipe and notice that it had completely collapsed.  As I investigated by digging with a hand trowel, there wasn’t much of the pipe left and it was completely clogged with dirt.  A little unsure of how to proceed, I contemplated renting a power auger to try to clear the pipe.  This wouldn’t be a great solution since the pipe still needed to be replaced.  I could potentially slide a narrower pipe inside of the broken concrete one.  I checked the depth of another pipe on the same side of the house and determined I would need to go down 3-4 feet to hit the drain tile.  This could potentially open up a whole can of worms.  The gas line was also right there so I had to be careful.

I decided to continue to hand dig but also use my power washer and shop-vac to try to unclog the dirt from the broken pipe.  This combo actually worked pretty well.  I eventually hit something reddish in color thinking it was clay pipe.  It ended up being an orange plastic hockey puck which had probably been down there for 20 years.  Good thing I didn’t rent the auger.

With the path finally cleared, I needed to replace the pipe.  Having to choose between PVC and ABS, ABS was cheaper but not to be used outdoors since it degraded with sunlight.  I checked Lowes and found some inexpensive, corrugated drain pipe and fittings to adapt to both ends including one for the rectangular downspout.  It was surprising Home Depot didn’t carry this product.  The repair was finally completed after realigning the downspout and moving some utilities around.  I also took the opportunity to clear leaves and needles that were blocking the gutter.

Installing a IP Security Camera – dbPower VA039K

Home, Technology

I’ve always wanted a security camera at my front door to avoid answering my door for gas marketeers, mormon and jehovah witness missionaries, and process servers for photo radar tickets.  I purchased a dBPower VA039K on ebay for $40 USD  which is similar to models offered by Foscam and Wansview.

Initial connection needs to be wired ethernet to configure the wireless and this can be done through a web interface.  You should assign the camera a static IP address (check your router for ranges of valid addresses).  On my router, the default starting number for the last octet in the IP address is 100 for DHCP.  2-99 could be used for static addresses.

One important setup tip is to change the default password.  There are websites that broadcast IP camera videos from unsecured cameras that haven’t changed from their default passwords.  Check out insecam.org

There is a CD provided with some apps including one to find your camera’s IP address.  In order to view video from your browser, you need to install another app as well.  With a Android tablet or smartphone, there is an app on the CD.  The app is APCamera and available on the Google Play Store.

If you want to be able to view your camera from outside your local network, there are instructions to set up DDNS (Dynamic DNS).

I installed the camera high up by my front door and drilled a hole to pass the wire.  Since the wire was permanently connected to the camera and had a fairly large dongle for ethernet, I had to cut it to pass the wire through the wall.  I reattached only the power and ground wires to the AC adapter plugged in to the other side of the wall since I no longer needed the wired ethernet after initial setup.

The camera has software motion sensitivity and I set it up to email a picture on detection.  Experimenting with the sensitivity, I found the lowest setting worked the best in not producing too many false triggers.  It does trigger on shadows however.

The color reproduction is a bit off for the camera but it does the job for the price.  It also features IR illumination for night time.

 

 

Shipping from the US as an ebay seller in Canada

ebay, Home

With Canada Post’s high rates for parcel shipping, you may be tempted to cross to the US and ship USPS if you live near the border.  If you do this, be aware that bringing goods across the border that have been sold is considered a commercial entry and you are subject to a $10.75 user fee.  If carrying commercial goods, your car is considered a commercial vehicle and you can NOT use the Nexus lane.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1281

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/bsf5095-eng.html#a04_1

If you have personal items you would like to ship with USPS, Priority Post service offers 2-day, tracked delivery and free boxes.  First class mail also has free tracking.  Though prepaid online postage is cheaper, it is not available to Canadians.  USPS does not allow non-US payments and Paypal’s USPS label no longer works.  Postal calculators can be found on the USPS website.

If you are in the Greater Toronto Area, Chitchat’s Express offers US shipping service.  Books To The Border may offer a similar service in Greater Vancouver but their website is seriously lacking information.

My Experiences with Ebay

ebay, Home

I’ve been an ebay member since 2000 both buying and selling.  Initially, I saw the emergence of digital music and digital video recording that would make CD’s and magnetic tape obsolete so I sold off my CD collection (mainly purchased from Columbia House), CD player and tape cassette player.

I was able to upgrade to newer digital cameras (selling my older ones) a few times before settling on one.  Selling older technology, especially electronics and computing equipment, allows you to get some value back offsetting the price of a newer model.  Hold on to it too long and most of its value will be gone.

I was scammed once on satellite cards where I purchased two and ebay insurance at the time only covered your individual purchases up to $200 with a $25 deductible so I lost $50.  Ebay/Paypal now covers your entire purchase with no deductible.

I almost lost several hundred on a new camera that I arranged “off-ebay”.   The seller had good feedback selling mainly video games but was recently listing higher price electronic items.   After I sent the seller a postal money order, I noticed a wave of negative feedback on her account.  Luckily, she returned my money order.

I got caught buying “high density RAM” which is a bit of a scam since this memory isn’t readily available and has high incompatibility with most computers.  I had to contact the BBB in the seller’s state in order to get the seller to give me a partial refund after I returned the item.

Fairly recently, I sold an unused gift card which I sent out as an email.  Electronic versions of gift cards are actually prohibited on ebay and I should have sent it out by tracked post.  The gift card was promptly used and about a month later a chargeback was issued by the credit card company indicating it was an unauthorized purchase.  I got automated emails from Paypal indicating they were fighting the chargeback for about a month until the final email said they were unsuccessful.  I phoned Paypal’s customer support and the agent credited all my past Paypal fees until the amount I lost was zeroed out.

Gift cards are a big source of scams for both buyers and sellers.  Shoplifters will return items without a receipt, and are given store credit which they will try to sell.  Paypal requires tracking information for any item purchased, so “items not received” disputes will always go to the buyer without that information.  When returning items, always use a tracked service as well.  I usually don’t bother with low value items.

Currently, ebay has no listing fees but takes a 10% commission on the final value INCLUDING postage.  Sellers used to take advantage by listing items with a low selling price and jacked up shipping fee.  Paypal fees are 2.9% plus 30 cents.

Canada Post fees are currently pretty high making it tough for Canadian sellers to compete with US sellers using USPS.  US sellers find it tough to compete with Asian sellers selling some items for $1 or $2 including shipping.

I have bought quite a few items from Asian sellers including electronics cables, cell phone accessories and electronic components.  It is cheaper and more convenient than being in a market in Shanghai or Hong Kong.  Delivery ranges typically from 2-8 weeks.  There is no tax or duty if the declared value of the item is less than $20 CAD.

For low value and large items, I now get rid of my junk listing on Craigslist and use ebay only for unique, more specialty items.