Accessible bathroom with Curbless shower

[ss3964spd]

I had nothing to compare the 4X8 sheets I bought to, PC, but still threw a few 2X4's into the back of the truck to weigh those sheets down for the drive back to FFX from Dale City.

Agree with CD; never a problem with them and always fast shipping. Good vendor.

[PC7060]

Things are still moving along on my mega home addition project. Running lots of copper lines for domestic water supply and the radiant heat. My lovely wife really likes the look and warmth of old school radiators so I’ve been busy running supply and return line for the six radiators in the new section. Three are units repurposed from demolished sections of old house and got four long but thin units from Caravatti’s, a architectural salvage place in Richmond VA. Doesn’t matter where I got em; it’s tricky getting the lines to the units and they are all heavy!

[ss3964spd]

Looking good PC, a good feeling to be making progress.

I have a special fondness to old school radiators, too. Cold and drafty old house that I grew up in in Arlington had them, and in the winter I'd put my underwear and socks on one over night so they'd be toasty in the morning.

Mrs. PC can thank me for the tip later.

[cx]

Many years since I've lived or worked where those heaters were common. Can't remember last time I even saw one, but I do remember how heavy they are.

[PC7060]

Originally Posted by ss3964spd

I have a special fondness to old school radiators, too.

In my area, the old school radiators are typically pulled out during renovations; I'm adding more!

Mrs. PC can thank me for the tip later.

I’ll be sure to pass that along! Currently she’s just using for wet rain coats!

My neighbor a few blocks over did a big renovation recently and had a couple extra radiators. He was kind enough to drop off at my place and I'm piping them into to heat my shop. Mrs. PC was initially giving me the look but is coming around. I'm a little concerned she is going to appropriate one of the room for growing her garden seedlings.

CX - yep, during my time in Eastern NM/ West
Texas, keeping house cool and the blowing dust out were much bigger a bigger challenge than heating.

[PC7060]

Hello all, it’s been a while since I’ve updated my thread. Things are moving along but like everyone else, Covid 19 has posed some challenges to life and my schedule. Firsts it was supply size issues, then every one decided to do a office addition or patio upgrades which delayed contractor start dates. Exterior is pretty much done but I’m still waiting for gutter guy to come do his thing.




Passed Interior close in inspection and spray foam is done so nice to have insulated envelope.

Also replaced 30 yo 4 ton ac with a properly size 1.5 ton heat pump. Heat pump is primarily for AC with heating for shoulder season and back up in case of boiler issues. This very helpful during the period when the boiler was down for replacement. Did majority of work myself although I did have a HVAC guy run the copper line set and do initial bring up of heat pump

I replaced the 140K old school boiler with a 80k modulating / condensing boiler (HTP UFT80) with the help of the people at heatinghelp.com. Ran across jadnashua there too. They schooled me on the technical element of “pumping away” from the “point of no pressure change (PONPC)”. Know a lot more now but there a lot of technical details I’m trusting in the guys like Dan Holloran founder of heating help and author of many books on hydronic and steam heating (aka John Bridge / CX of heating) Basically came up with design using the recommended best practice; no surprise as this is much like my approach to thinset.

The new boiler also does domestic hot water which is a nice improvement over the old electric hot water heater.




And of course what’s a renovation without window restoration! 39 original windows being stripped, reglazed, painted and installed. Yet another arcane skill I’m mastering. I have a guy working on-site doing majority of the work. Good craftsman and wanted to learn old windows so we jumped in and and learned as we go. Pretty cool to see the original builders/architects name written on the windows under all that paint.







And of course many of the pictures are flipped wrong way, oh well

Ps: although the new boiler is online, the 400# carcass of the original is still haunting me. Anyone who wants to make a few buck at salvage yard is welcome to it!

[cx]

Having some experience reworking those old sash windows, PC, I think if I had 39 of my own to do I'd just slit my wrists and bleed out inna yard.

They old enough to have weights on ropes?

[PC7060]

Originally Posted by CX

They old enough to have weights on ropes?

Yes, with 100 years of accumulated dust and dirt. I’ve gotten better at weighing and marking them to keep the upper and lower weight set separate. Learned that upper weights set are about 1/4-1/2# heavier than lower to ensure the top sash has upward bias and opposites for lower. Also learned your can still buy sash rope but for specialty hardware Mighton Ltd. in UK is best source. Good prices but shipping is painful.

Protecting the old Focault glass (wavy in one axis) has been a challenge. Much like tile, there have been a few mistakes along the way but Ive been able to source old glass to replace panes broken previously or during the steaming / glass removal process. The $ for large piece is eye watering but smaller ones can be salvaged from old sash pretty easily.

[ss3964spd]

I very much appreciate the dedication to keeping the visual aspects of an old house looking, well, old. But man, I would sure struggle with committing that level of resources into rebuilding those windows so they "perform" as new.

Sure gonna look great though!

[PC7060]

Originally Posted by Dan

I would sure struggle with committing that level of resources into rebuilding those windows so they "perform" as new.

Don’t disagree at all, Dan, but I’ve was facing some pretty tough opposition to replacing the windows with new high performance units. My house is listed with the city historical commission (thanks to efforts of previous owner) and is in a National Park Service historical neighborhood which gives the state a say.

Both are strong advocates of preserving old windows and since the state controls tax credit and city controls permits, I had limited options to get approval from either party (leave them alone or restore to NPS standards).

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that Mrs PC really loves the wavy old glass and will not consider replacing regardless of what the state or city said!

I’ve improved the performance of the windows significantly by adding “secondary glazing” which is historical speak for fancy storm windows. West Windows Velvalume is the brand and I have to say they are well made and fit exactly into the space of the original wood storm windows, even the not so square ones. Plus they fit Mrs PC’s color scheme so everyone’s happy(ish).

[cx]

What Dan said.

And were I sufficiently ambitious - read, crazy - enough to rebuild all those windows, I would still be content to replace the lights with float glass where necessary, Historic listing or no Historic listing.

While I suppose it's statistically possible that a stranger might someday enter your house and comment that, "You even have Fourcault glass in your windows," if you replaced the broken lights with float glass you'd actually hafta pay someone to come in and say, "Someone has replaced your original window lights with float glass."

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

[PC7060]

Originally Posted by CX

I would still be content to replace the lights with float glass where necessary, Historic listing or no Historic listing.

I have to admit that's on me see my signature to left!
And it make Mrs. PC happy (which is how I got into this project in the first place. )

[cx]

Well, given a choice, I'd certainly recommend making Mrs. PC happy, whatever the particular circumstance.

[PC7060]

Hi all,

I’m setting 24”x30”x1-1/2” thermal treated slate on exterior stepped horizontal sections. Is Mapai Large-Format Floor Tile Mortar a good option? The manufactures data sheets says it’s rated for exterior applications.

I’ll be using a 1/2 notch trowel and back buttering the stones.

[cx]

That the same as their Large-Format Floor & Wall Tile Mortar, PC?

I've not used it. The TDS reads as though it might be the right stuff except for:

Originally Posted by MAPEI TDS

• Large-Format Floor & Wall Tile Mortar is not recommended for areas subject to severe freeze/thaw conditions. For the best performance, use a MAPEI mortar with a liquid latex additive

That would be you sometimes, non?

What substrate will you tile over? If we can call them dimension slabs tiles.

Substrate is sloped?

My opinion; worth price charged.