Wow Bigbird, I'm guessiing you're not in balmy Ontario! I'm in Kamloops BC and we've already had more cold days than last winter already - and double digit minus temps are forecast for the next few days yet.... Thanks for point out the thirty minute thing, which I was going to - I'm not doing it for comfort, we're not even using both vehicles every day, it's more for protection. My truck's cooland was replaced last may and was supposed to be good to -45C but when I tested it myself it read more like -15 C (I don't know if there's a trick to testing I don't know) - I want to replace a couple of hoses that leaked (ok after tightening clamps) when it first went cold and I'm not working right now, so can't afford to do anything right now, so am just trying to keep it safe for now. I've been running it on a timer, 15 mins on 45 off (I can select as many on/off events I want) just to keep it ticking over, I suppose if I was going out in the morning I could set it to come on continuous for a bit, but at the moment I'm leaving the heater on 100% for safety. Bigbird, I doubt your vehicle is affected by windchill, since that's related to evaporation and therefore more related to skin temp, however, -36 is close enough to the -45 I know most antifreeze is only good for, so I'd' say you're smart to play it safe. Can you plug in at work? My garage stays above freezing usually, thanks to the dryer vent duct running through there (free heat) plus leakage from the house, and residual heat from the car, unfortunately all our stuff from Australia arrived - well, it's unfortunate since all the boxes are filling up the garage and there's no room for the car - it was fabulous having a (relatively) warm car to get into in the morning, I'm sure my wife is missing that! We also probably get some heat from the bedroom above the garage, the floor in the bedroom has been feeling pretty cold. I'm wondering if the floor/ceiling's insulated or not - garage ceiling's clad in plywood which I doubt is wise (or legal) and I was going to put drywall over it, but I'm wondering if I should pull the ply off and check for insulation, or drill some holes in and place expanding foam, or just put battens over it and sheet foam insulation, then drywall. Only downside I can see is garage will lose some of its default heating, but floor in master b/r will feel a little nicer. Mark, have you considered putting a battery heater in your car? They're not too expensive, I've seen them in places like Canadian tire. Given the conditions you're experiencing, might be a good idea.

Thank you for your responses. The floor guy will be applying three coats of satin finish water based poly. Floors are white oak, if we use Dark Walnut with some small amount of English Chestnut might that give the warmth? Dura Seal makes a coffee brown that looks like it has character? mini wax Jacobean? any thoughts on these stains or other suggestions. I've picked cabinets, fixtures, etc. based on leaving the dark woodwork and when new floor and existing floors are done having something similar to what we have now.

You could strip it, sand and refinish...Lot of work. Check with your local paint store about alcohol based stains. I have seen them used in the past and noticed that glue squeeze-out on cabinets I built would "take" the stain while oil based stains would not penetrate it. You may be able to restain it over the existing finish.....Just an idea..You could possibly get the look you want with a product I have declared I would never use again but may work here as you have a big flat area....POLYSHADES.

I love your piney woodsey cabin!! Very like one my DHa nd I spent many happy times at...belonged to a relative who sold it without even giving su a chance to bid on it! If that were mine, I would wait a month or 2 for all the stuff in the poly to evaporate, then coat it with a coat or more of orange or garnet shellac...whatever will give you the color you want. Then perhaps apply another coat of poly, as the new stiff in in the kitchen. I don't know about poly shades....but what I suggested is easily wiped off with thinner if you don't like it. Linda C