The cost of living... what can we do?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Fat Controller, Aug 26, 2022.

  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    That's a coincidence, I was looking at DIY draught excluders for our bifolds, was even considering stitching one but haven't got the skill. Then I got thinking about what to fill it with, YouTubers are suggesting rice or lentils but doesn't sound a good idea to me nor cheap.

    All I did this morning was tightly roll these removals blankets, Mrs JWK suggested rubber bands to keep it rolled up. They fit ok and don't look too awful, the colour matches our granite floor:

    20221215_105847.jpg

    20221215_105824.jpg
     
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    • CanadianLori

      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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      I made some for my doors and used plastic pellets in them - the ones that are used for weighted blankets. I don't have any sliding doors and now the garden and front doors have proper "sweep" style strips affixed to their bottoms. If postage wasn't expensive, I'd ship my old draught stoppers to you!

      I'm doing a lot of pick ups and deliveries today and have spent 2 cents on ink to print off a comprehensive route so as not to waste petrol. The map looks like a race track circuit but at least it will be efficient.

      As a by the way, our petrol is now $1.35 per liter - that's .81 pound sterling per liter. Yup, less than a pound.
       
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        Last edited: Dec 15, 2022
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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        Agreed not cheap but can be made to do a good job. Even better is wheat if you know a friendly farmer. We had lots of wheat that a passing overladen lorry kindly dropped as he took the bend too fast. Mrs Shiney made wheat bags with it and the charity made a lot of money out of them.

        Wheat bags are used like hot water bottles and retain the heat for a couple of hours or more. Word of warning:- never heat a wheat bag in the microwave for more than 3 minutes!
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          My daughter had one and hardly used it, we only chucked it out in the summer. I'm kicking myself now as it could have been adapted to make several door draught stoppers.
           
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          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            Rub it in Lori ;) That's half what we pay :scratch:
             
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            • john558

              john558 Total Gardener

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              I had some carpet offcuts left over, cut to size, rolled & glued. When the door is shut just roll with your feet into place.
               
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              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                I used to make quite a lot of sets of bi fold doors, wooden ones that is mostly in oak and although all the running gear used to come with draught seals all round I was always a bit sceptical about how draught proof they really were in practice.
                 
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                • CanadianLori

                  CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                  I've never seen bifold doors used as entryways, only as closet doors. Is this common over there?
                   
                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  Our bifolds are pretty much draught free, it's just the threshold that relies on a brush. We have a level threshold so there is no lip to seal against. I can't actually feel a draught coming through but it must be leaking hence why I shoved this DIY sausage thing against it. Mrs JWK made me promise to remove it if we have visitors, she has higher standards than me.
                   
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                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                    There has been a big upsurge in bi folds over here, the gear we first started using came from Australia, so you can guess that the odd draught wasn't a real problem for them.
                    The fact you can push them right back and create a large opening with no obstruction is what everyone wants.
                    We used to make them with a single door at one end that operated normally for just going in and out.

                    Often people used to have them from house to conservatory and then another set out onto deck or patio.
                     
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                    • CanadianLori

                      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                      [​IMG]
                      If only Santa gave out free fuel!
                       
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                      • CanadianLori

                        CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                        Just edited this, I see you call those glass sliders, bifolds. I used to have those but replaced them with garden doors so that I could have a wide opening.

                        Sorry - I was talking apples instead of oranges!
                         

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                          Last edited: Dec 15, 2022
                        • Loofah

                          Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                          The door unit itself is draft free, it's how it's been fitted that's the issue. The frame sits on the outer brick course so the inner side is a bit over the wall cavity. The flooring doesn't fully abutt the frame so there's a gap essentially from the cavity creating the draft. I'm not sure if it goes all the way down but will poke a wire down to see.
                          I've found some low expansion foam which might be more appropriate and less messy to fill the gap with
                           
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                          • Loofah

                            Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                            • pete

                              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                              I think that is what we call sliding patio doors.
                              Bifolds are any number of doors that are hinged on each other and run on a top and bottom track, they then slide but only one edge of each door is in the track usually on a pivoting top wheel.
                              They then go back concertina fashion to one end or,depending on size to both ends.
                               
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