Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast

All good things must come to an end. And, so to, must mediocre things, like this podcast and the thumbandhammer.com website.

Facebook experts, ethernet cable in a wireless world, tracking down a water problem, and an update on the basement renovation.

Home improvement television shows often distort your perception of how long a renovation should take. But you can't compare yourself to a slick television production. And there are advantages to a project taking longer than anticipated.

A look back at our home improvement accomplishments in 2021, update on the current progress with the basement renovation and my final verdict on whether or not the tankless water heater delivers on its promise of energy savings. Plus one drawback of the tankless water heater that caught us a bit by surprise.

This episode is all about the process of doing your own electrical work in Ontario Canada, from filing a Notification of Electrical Work with the Electrical Safety Authority to the rough-in inspection.

Sparky is slang for an electrician, which I am not. However, I have done my own electrical work. This episode covers some of the reasons why you may or may not want to (or, should or should not) do your own electrical work.

I had a few questions about new rules in the electrical code, so I asked a licensed electrical contractor. It did not go well. Find out how five Japanese words might have saved our relationship.

Links and resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igPIk79wAPg Viva La Dirt League: "The problem with workplace jargon: acronyms" (and be sure to check out the rest of their videos).

The Simpsons clip is from "To Surveil with Love" S21E20 (audio recorded from YouTube).

Electrical Code Simplified- House Wiring Guide by PS Knight is an indispensable guide for homeowners doing their own electrical work in Canada. It may be purchased directly at the following link: https://psknight.com/residential. (not an affiliate link).

This is not a paid endorsement... In this episode of the podcast, I share two products I found after hours of searching for solutions to specific problems I was facing with my home improvements.

Xcel IGA

I needed to attach the bottom plate of a stud wall to a concrete slab without using mechanical fasteners and construction adhesive was the obvious solution. Xcel makes a variety of adhesives and their IGA product is the best construction adhesive that I have ever used. You can find more information on their websites:

Canada: https://XcelProducts.ca

Europe: https://excelproducts.co.uk

United States: https://xcelprousa.com

Zinsser Bin

I needed vapor barrier for the garage ceiling. The easiest solution was to use a vapor barrier primer. After many hours of trying to track down a product I had used previously (Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Vapor Barrier Primer) without success, I found exactly what I needed, readily available locally. This was clearly a case where I was searching for a specific product and not seeing other solutions that were right in front of me. You can read more about vapor barrier paints at the following link:

https://joneakes.com/jons-fixit-database/1614-Vapour-barrier-paint-it-does-exist-it-does-work

Also, searching Google for "zinsser bin perm rating" will provide lots of useful links.

Other Links

For a deep dive on BluWood, what it was, where it went, and why I ripped out a wall that I had framed with it, you can read my blog post here:

https://www.thumbandhammer.com/what-happened-to-bluwood/

I also talk about it in episode 57 of this podcast:

https://www.thumbandhammer.com/ep-57-the-only-way-to-finish-a-basement/

Renovation in the time of Covid.... I already work slow enough and that's without a 2 month-long lockdown during a pandemic. The basement is now ready for drywall and in this episode of the podcast, I review the steps that got me to this point.

Framing: The joy of relying on someone else to pick lumber when curb-side pickup was the only option.Electrical: Not much to say in this episode, but I did it myself and it has passed the rough-in inspection.Plumbing: Why I chose to hire a plumber and how failure to take my own advice led to a bit of tension.

I also share my opinion of our new HVAC equipment after it has been in use for 6 months and explain why a tankless water heater may not be the green environmentally friendly solution that it has been hyped up to be.

There is no shortage of scam products on the internet. Ted's Woodworking has been offering 16000 woodworking plans for a ridiculously low price for the last decade. Inventors strike out on their own after creating innovative air conditioners, drones, vacuum attachments and their stories are all oddly similar. Plus the one sure way you can get an impressive endorsement for your own product.