Home Improvement Today?

I've had mine for about 4 months now. The only issue was a pair of them continually flashing the status light 24/7. Hard resets didn't fix it but their tech support walked me through updating their firmware & that fixed it. I've had multiple router reboots (mostly due to killing the breakers during remodel) and they haven't yet failed to reconnect & function flawlessly. Love them a lot more than the Lutron Caseta switches, aesthetically anyway. The features you can adjust within the app are icing on top.

 

Call me weird but id rather not have that shit connected to my wifi

 

You’re weird.

 

I’m weird also, don’t like smart switches.

 

It works with my other Nest devices and i like the idea of being able to schedule them to turn on and off. If i leave the lights on by accident outside it will shut off after a time i set.

They are for my outside lights, not inside.

 

They’re great for when you go on vacation. I’ve installed them in quite a few houses.

 

My favorite feature is the "curfew". I set the time, say 2300 - 0500, and then I set the startup brightness. So during curfew when a switch gets activated it turns on to 1% brightness. To override it one simply slides a finger on the switch to increase the brightness. Makes burned retinas a thing of the past. Outside of curfew hours it defaults to whatever brightness it was last at.

 

There's nothing weird about not wanting that shit on your wifi, actually it's kind of rational thinking. That said smart switches can be pretty convenient. I have them on my gas fire place and ceiling fan. The trick is to segregate the smart home stuff from your personal wifi. I have all of my stuff, TV, smart switches, Alexa, garage door opener, on a guest network with no access to my private home wifi. Most routers sold in the past 5+ years have guest networks built in so there's really no excuse to mix the "smart" stuff with the private.

 

True. I just dont like the "everything connected" phase that is happening. Not for me.

 

We lost a few days with the crazy heat here but I'm back on site

Finished regrading and compacting trenches after sub slab plumbing passed inspection and today started installing the EPS foam that will insulate the heated slab

3" Type 2 EPS (R-12) will be laid in 2 layers for a total R value of R-24




Second layer will run perpendicular to the first with all seams staggered

 

I fought it for quite a while too. Beyond the shear stupidity of some of the appliances I am concerned about security and privacy. But, it is a slippery slope. Once Alexa was in the house the next thing was slightly easier.

 

We definitely are not putting one of those in our house. Even if the NSA is listening to our phones

The only thing connected to wifi other than phones/laptop is our thermostat, 1 tv, 1 chromecast, and i suppose the ps4 but i havent hooked it up in almost a year

 

Question: When I renovated my master bath about 10 years back, I had a custom-made Arborite shower surround installed. They sealed it up with a compound which looks similar to traditional silicone seal, (why does no one ever use silicone walrus???? ), but significantly more dense. It has only just in the last few months started to develop mold spots in it, which means it's time for it to be replaced. The problem is, the company is no longer around, and I can't figure out what material they used.

Anyone have guesses as to what it might have been? It's white, pliable, but not quite so much as regular silicone, and was applied from a regulars caulking tube.

Thanks!

 

Can you use 100% silicone in white?

 

Sure, easy, but in my experience that only lasts 12-18 months at best before it becomes black with mildew, and I find that it starts to lose adhesion in a year or two as well. This stuff, whatever the **** it is, is still gripping like a son of a <female dog> and has only just started to show signs of mildew, which is why I'd like to figure out what it is, and replace it with the same thing.

 

Last bath I did I used the caulk that matched the tile. It was going on 9 years the last I saw it will no issues.

TEC® AccuColor® Unsanded Caulk 820 - 10.5 oz. at Menards https://www.menards.com/main/p-1444432102372.htm

Or

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Custom-...-Sanded-Ceramic-Tile-Caulk-PC38110S/202520295
SKU# 202520295

 

Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

6 gallons of paint bought, homemade scaffolding assembled. It worked 15 years ago, hope it stays together again. I need to add 1 or 2 more braces.

 

Hauled in two pallets of laminate today.


Shit was heavy and no fun. Should have paid the delivery fee. Get rid of my utility trailer so that I stop doing that stupid Shit. Never learn....

 

Oh, did I mention it's hot as fuck and my heat pump/ac is out?