Garage Door Threshold Kit- Keep Water Out

Garage Door Threshold Kit

The garage in the house I bought about a month ago showed signs of water coming in- the bottom couple inches of drywall was damp in a few spots.  I removed the damp drywall to prevent mold and mildew.  My next move was to prevent water from coming into the garage again.

A garage door threshold prevents water from coming under your garage door
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I had a contractor come out to take a look and make recommendations.  The contractor thought the drainage to the garage would keep water from coming in since the garage was elevated relative to the driveway.  He thought that rain could be blowing up against the garage door and coming under the seal along the floor.  He suggested that I install a garage door threshold kit.  This should help with snow coming under the garage door as well.

The Contractor Recommended I Install a Garage Door Threshold to Keep Water Out
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Finding the Best Garage Door Threshold Kit

I read product reviews and did some research to pick the best garage door threshold kit.  I visited a couple stores to check out kits in stock, but the best kit was available on-line from amazon for under $50.  The problem with most of the kits that I looked at was that the strip of threshold material was not wide enough.  The space from track to track for my double garage was about 16 feet, 2 inches.  Many of the kits have a strip that is only 16 feet wide.  I did not want to leave 2 inches without a threshold.

Garage Door Threshold Kit From M-D Building Products
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I found a garage door threshold kit from M-D Building Products that has a 20 foot strip and is easy to cut.  Some of the reviews I read suggested using Liquid Nails instead of the silicone adhesive provided in the kit, so I picked up a couple tubes of Liquid Nails for about $2 each and ordered the M-D Building Products threshold kit for under $50.

Installing a Threshold on a Garage Door

The instructions say to use a degreaser on the floor where you are installing the threshold and let it dry overnight.  I swept the floor and then used some Zep purple degreaser and a cheap mop to get the floor really clean.  The next day, I swept the floor again and used a Shop Vac to pick up any dust that was still around that could interfere with the adhesive bonding the threshold strip to the floor.

You'll Need a Utility Knife and a Caulk Gun to Install a Garage Door Threshold
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Installing the threshold is pretty easy.  After cleaning the concrete, you lay out the threshold on the floor and cut it to length.  I cut mine so it extents fully from one track to the other.  I positioned the strip carefully so that the edge of the bumper on the bottom of the garage door fits nicely against the highest point of the threshold strip.  This required opening and closing the garage door a couple times to get it lined up just right.

Next, I marked the position of the threshold strip with a pencil on both sides.  I flipped the strip out of the way and applied 3 beads of Liquid Nails in the space marked with pencil lines.  Two of the beads were 1/2 inch from the edge, and the third bead was right down the middle. I flipped the threshold strip back into place and carefully positioned it again.  Next I closed the garage door to let the adhesive cure for at least 24 hours.

Use Adhesive to Attach the Threshold Strip to Your Garage Floor
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Garage Door Threshold Installed To Keep Water Out
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The Threshold Extends Across the Width of the Garage Door
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Although not in the instructions, I also used duct tape along the inside edge of the threshold strip to hold it tightly in place while curing.  The edge under the garage door has pressure from the garage door, but the edge of the strip inside needed a bit of pressure to hold it down tightly.

You Can Use Duct Tape to Hold Edges Down While Adhesive is Curing
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The adhesive is curing now with the garage door closed- I plan to let it cure for 72 hours just to make sure it is solid.  Check back for a report on how the garage door threshold performs over time.

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Should I Buy a Newer Car?

Should I Buy a Newer Car or Repair My Old Car?

Here's a question from a PPJ reader:

We're talking about getting another car... Newer anyway.  Our car is 6 years old and has 70k on it.  So far it has been very reliable and has not had any repairs except for a rear wheel bearing replacement.  We're concerned that the reliability might decrease because of the age and that repair costs will increase as the car gets older.  One salient point is that we don't drive much these days. I think we only put about 5k miles per year. Does Dr Penny Pincher have any advice?  Also at the last oil change they Ford dealer marked caution on the brakes, tires and struts. The brakes are original and the tires were new about 4 1/2 years ago.

Thanks for your question!

It is hard to beat a car that runs and is paid off!  I drive a 13 year old Honda Civic with 205,000 miles on it and hope to keep driving it.  

Dr. Penny Pincher's Car: A 13 Year Old Honda Civic with 205,000 Miles
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Every year or two, I think about getting a different car- especially when my car needs repair or maintenance. However, if I get a different used car, that car could need just as much repair or maintenance in the near future.  If I buy a new car, it wouldn't require much maintenance, and the warranty would cover almost any repairs.  However, new cars depreciate so fast that this is an expensive option.

The value of your current car is about $10,000.  You could buy a 4 year old car that is 2 years newer and has about 20k less miles for around $15,000.  So the price difference for buying a car 2 years newer would cost about $5k.  You could buy a new car for around $25k.  So the price difference for buying a new car would cost about $15k.  Even if you only put a few thousand miles a year on a car, newer cars still depreciate rapidly.

New Cars Are Expensive and Depreciate Quickly.  This Lincoln MKZ is $43,000!
Image courtesy of Mariordo - Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz CC-BY-SA via Wikimedia Commons

Now let's consider how much it would cost to keep your current car.  New tires would cost about $600.  Brakes and struts could cost over $1000.  So, it would cost about $2k to keep your current car going.  Keeping your current car would almost certainly be the least expensive option.

Are Older Cars More Likely to Break Down?

Considering reliability and the chances of breaking down on the road, I have driven some older cars with over 200,000 miles and have encountered problems while driving.  Once my car started overheating- I pulled right into a shop and they repaired a valve in the cooling system for about $100 and I was on my way.  Another time, I had a dead battery- I was able to get a jump start and make it to a car parts store to get a replacement battery.  I have had flat tires several times.  

Even Newer Cars Can Have Trouble On The Road- This New Car Was Hit From Behind.
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Driving an older car with more miles on it does increase the chance of car trouble on the road, but any car can break down.  I carry a cell phone and have AAA to provide tow truck service when needed.  Also, taking your car in for an oil change and inspection every 6 months or so will help spot problems early, reducing the chances of breaking down on the road.

Should I Buy A Newer Car to Save Money?

In some cases, I think you can save money by buying a newer car.  If you car has depreciated and requires expensive repairs, you may be better off getting rid of it.  But it sounds like your car has a lot of life left in it if you feel confident driving it.  If you are going to sell your current car, the time to do it would be before you put new brakes, struts, and tires on it... Good Luck!

DPP

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Sweet Corn- It Isn't a Dollar a Dozen Any More!

Sweet Corn Price

Sweet Corn Price- How much for a dozen ears?
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How Much Does Sweet Corn Cost?

I remember when I was a kid, sweet corn was a dollar per dozen ears.  Apparently, those days are long gone...

This year, I noticed that sweet corn prices were pushing above $5 per dozen, with my favorite roadside stand now charging $5.50 per dozen.  In grocery stores, the price is 50 cents per ear, which works out to $6 per dozen.

Sweet corn price- sweet corn is going for $6 per dozen in grocery stores
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Is sweet corn at this price still a good deal?  I think fresh sweet corn is hard to beat for taste, and it is a summer tradition.  But how much would you pay for sweet corn?  If sweet corn cost $10 per dozen, would you still buy it?  At some price point, more and more people would either stop buying sweet corn, or grown their own.

I have grown my own sweet corn in my garden before.  It isn't hard to grow, but it does take some space in your garden.  Each corn plant produces 2 or 3 ears, so you need about four to six corn plants to get a dozen ears.  Some of the drawbacks I encountered growing my own sweet corn were 1) the ears were quite a bit smaller than the giant ears I get at my favorite roadside stand, and 2) since I planted all my corn at the same time, it was all mature at the same time.

I think fertilizer and watering more could help me get larger ears to address item one.  If I wanted a supply of sweet corn over a longer harvest window, I could plant seeds a week apart over several weeks.  So with a bit of effort, I could grow my own sweet corn instead of buying it.  I buy sweet corn maybe four times during the summer.  So this adds up to about $22 at current prices.  I could buy a pack of sweet corn seeds for about $2 and grow my own and save $20.

Is Sweet Corn a Good Deal?

But back to my question- is $5.50 per dozen a good deal?  I should mention that a dozen ears from my farmer where I buy actually means 13 or 14 ears- he throws in a few extra.  I think this is still a great food value.  What else can you get for dinner for $5.50 that is healthy and create such a great summertime memory?

Grow your own sweet corn and save money!
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Since I recently moved, I have a new chance to plan a garden next year.  Although I think buying fresh sweet corn is a good deal, growing my own sounds even better.  I'll see if I can get a couple rows of sweet corn in this spring.

Penny Pincher Journal

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