frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Apr 1, 2024 19:42:42 GMT 10
I’m putting a roof to extend 500mm out from the windows, just under the gutter, directing rain water beyond the slab. The windows have been properly sealed with sikaflex and angle trim (my glazier is one of Sydney’s leaders in this field, running jobs that cost more than some countries GDP). The front window was packed to level, as the slab slopes downward slightly to direct water away, and a metric shyte tonne of sikaflex underneath it to prevent water ingress. Even the screws fixing the subhead to the slab have been sealed with sika. I even put a moisture barrier under the timber frame.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Apr 2, 2024 7:28:38 GMT 10
The little black ants up here chew through Sikaflex, removing it in small pieces to get through it, compromising the seal and creating leaks, Ditto for any gap sealant we have tried.
An Astronaut was asked what he thought about whilst perched on the top of a bomb called a rocket. He answered "I think about all the millions of bits n pieces, upon which my life depends, all supplied by the lowest bidder".
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Post by PrepGoldCoast on Apr 5, 2024 13:07:19 GMT 10
The little black ants up here chew through Sikaflex, removing it in small pieces to get through it, compromising the seal and creating leaks, Ditto for any gap sealant we have tried. I recall long long ago getting rid of ants in a flat I had in the early 90's with rubber grease. The stuff you assemble old school brake slave cylinders with. Ants just went, never seen in that place again. Maybe they ate it and died, who knows. I just had in my hand when passing a window gap so thought why not I believe salt is the same, bugs wont cross it, or most bugs. I'm gonna mix salt with window sealant soon and put that on the gaps where they come out. Mostly on the inside of windows, in ant gaps. I use petroleum jelly on my veg garden pots, on the pot or planter lip, all around it. Smear on legs if raised type too. And plant trunks if chilli, fruit trees etc, to keep aphid farming ants away. They will not cross that barrier either. Birds can then take care of the bugs without the protection and farming from the ants.
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Apr 10, 2024 3:41:07 GMT 10
Two ways I used to get rid of ant hills was to mix half and half sugar and 20 Mule Team Borax.. It would take several applications to eventually kill or make the mound move..
On large hills ...FROM THE UP WIND SIDE... I make a small crater in the middle of the mound, pour in a liter of house hold ammonia, followed by a liter of bleach.. Quickly cover the mound with a square of old carpet and retreat.. In a day or two the poison gas would get them good..
It was also fun to find mounds in the pasture when running the tractor mounted brush hog, slasher, mower.. Hover over the mound until it was flat and it really messes up there day..
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Apr 11, 2024 20:47:11 GMT 10
A day trip to the retreat yesterday to take the wood heater for the new cabin. I’ll get those walls finished and hopefully the flue installed by winter.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Apr 12, 2024 8:32:13 GMT 10
You will need that in winter down there ! I've seen snow on the river flats.
I fix stuff, and I know things.
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Apr 12, 2024 9:35:43 GMT 10
I’ve seen my river freeze over.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Apr 12, 2024 10:37:45 GMT 10
Not good for survival food growing, you will be very busy in summer, canning and laying up food for the cold winter. Also, gathering and cutting firewood is gonna take some time.
WW3, The country won’t be ready, but you can be.
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Apr 12, 2024 11:06:10 GMT 10
Unless you have a son who is a glazier with lots of free or cheap glass to build a greenhouse to extend the growing season.
There’s no shortage of firewood either. Enough to see my grandchildren into old age.
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Apr 14, 2024 19:08:05 GMT 10
Outdoor dining room now lined with fibre cement sheets. Won’t rot or warp, won’t have to be replaced for a very long time, because having a spare is good but not needing a spare is better.
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bushdoc2
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Post by bushdoc2 on Apr 20, 2024 20:02:52 GMT 10
"because having a spare is good but not needing a spare is better." Now that's going straigh to the pool room!
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