The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[HibiscusTunes]

Basically if its outside the property its free of charge. If its inside you get charged and its added to your bill.
They charge a little more than R200 but the guys here is usually happy taking R200 and telling their bosses the work was needed outside. So no charge

Seems like a great hack. Might try it next time

 

[maumau]

Basically if its outside the property its free of charge. If its inside you get charged and its added to your bill.
They charge a little more than R200 but the guys here is usually happy taking R200 and telling their bosses the work was needed outside. So no charge

Now that's a useful piece of knowledge, thank you

 

[maumau]

Thanks for the compliment man.

Can anyone give me an idea of what guys in JhB charge for work? Are they pricey?
Reason i ask... one of my clients sent us to Jhb to do his sons place. Not just pricing though, he has trust issues and didn’t know any contractors there. So he just sent us knowing the house would be safe and that I know his expectations and what he would have issues with. So he let one of his guys drive us and let us do whatever needs to be done without having any idea what he would be spending. Just free reign to make decisions on what needs to be done (certain instructions in place though) and one of his cards to purchase anything we need.

Where did you stay?

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Where did you stay?

We stayed in the house. Wasn’t a lot of building work, just some changes here and there including electrical, some plumbing, bits of tiling etc and the main part being painting. Fixing and replacing things that I felt was out of place.
son stayed with his gf while we were there.

 

[rodga]

Not a fan of the glossy look of the pvc ceilings. I haven't seen any in a matt finish yet, but I haven't really looked very hard.

 

[Steamy Tom]

@Smokey mcpot so i tried to see how my mini karcher pressure cleaner does on the roof today, and whilst it was removing paint that i feel like it probably isnt removing enough if i am seeing that much impact from it, plus it will take forever because you have to hold it right up against it and literlaly move a mm at a time.

so i am thinking of renting one, i have concerns though, how do guys manage a larger petrol type cleaner on the roof? of do they generally come with a really long pipe such that it can be left on the ground?

i really didnt want to rent one, but i also dont want paint lifting in a year or two after all of the effort and expense.

 

[chickenbeef]

@Smokey mcpot so i tried to see how my mini karcher pressure cleaner does on the roof today, and whilst it was removing paint that i feel like it probably isnt removing enough if i am seeing that much impact from it, plus it will take forever because you have to hold it right up against it and literlaly move a mm at a time.

so i am thinking of renting one, i have concerns though, how do guys manage a larger petrol type cleaner on the roof? of do they generally come with a really long pipe such that it can be left on the ground?

i really didnt want to rent one, but i also dont want paint lifting in a year or two after all of the effort and expense.

Are you using the dirt blaster attachment or the vario jet?

You should be using the dirt blaster.

 

[Steamy Tom]

Are you using the dirt blaster attachment or the vario jet?

You should be using the dirt blaster.

i am using the only nozzle it came with...

 

[xrapidx]

So - insurance set out an electrician to resolve the issues.

He replaced the two shot dimmers - and then also replaced the kitchen dimmer two downlights were flickering, even when the bulbs were swapped out.

He said the kitchen dimmer was wrong anyway, leading edge, for halogen lighting - and replaced it with a trailing edge - for LED lighting.

Roll on last night - the lights turn off every 40-50min on a dimmed setting - on full brightness they turn off every 1-2min.

Can someone explain to my how or why? Its 21x 7w LED dimmable downlights. Although its quite a few bulbs - its only 147w. (I actually changed over to dimmeable bulbs because the genius who did our kitchen thought 21 downlights was a good idea)

 

[chickenbeef]

Sounds like they are overheating.

 

[xrapidx]

Just seen now if you hold the dim switch they also turn off... i.e. it doesnt go dim and bright again... it goes bright up until a point, and turn off.

Fix one problem - introduce another.

 

[Steamy Tom]

So - insurance set out an electrician to resolve the issues.

He replaced the two shot dimmers - and then also replaced the kitchen dimmer two downlights were flickering, even when the bulbs were swapped out.

He said the kitchen dimmer was wrong anyway, leading edge, for halogen lighting - and replaced it with a trailing edge - for LED lighting.

Roll on last night - the lights turn off every 40-50min on a dimmed setting - on full brightness they turn off every 1-2min.

Can someone explain to my how or why? Its 21x 7w LED dimmable downlights. Although its quite a few bulbs - its only 147w. (I actually changed over to dimmeable bulbs because the genius who did our kitchen thought 21 downlights was a good idea)

jeepers how big is your kitchen O_O i reckom i would put like 6, maybe 8 downlights in my kitchen if i did downlights

what rating switch did he put in?

 

[xrapidx]

I think it was a standard 450w dimmer

Looks like there's one bulb too many. If I take one out - it seems to be working.

I took 10 out and worked my way back.

It's like daylight at night - I actually want to remove six dimmers.. just a pain.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I think it was a standard 450w dimmer

Looks like there's one bulb too many. If I take one out - it seems to be working.

I took 10 out and worked my way back.

It's like daylight at night - I actually want to remove six dimmers.. just a pain.

I did the Dimmer thing for awhile, and eventually they became an annoyance so i took them all out.. works out cheaper in bulbs and everything is just much nicer now tbh.

 

[Tabac]

I think it was a standard 450w dimmer

Looks like there's one bulb too many. If I take one out - it seems to be working.

I took 10 out and worked my way back.

It's like daylight at night - I actually want to remove six dimmers.. just a pain.

That's one moerse kitchen. Wow.

 

[xrapidx]

I did the Dimmer thing for awhile, and eventually they became an annoyance so i took them all out.. works out cheaper in bulbs and everything is just much nicer now tbh.

If we didnt have so many - I'd go this route. Still considering taking out six and patching the holes.

Anyway - electrician spoke to the supplier, apparently even though the dimmer is rated 500w - it only supports 18 downlights. They have to order a 800w dimmer which supports 32 lights.

 

[xrapidx]

That's one moerse kitchen. Wow.

Was a complete balls up - still dealing with the issues. Still trying to replace all the cupboard fittings, which just reminded me I need to follow up with Blum again.

 

[Tabac]

Was a complete balls up - still dealing with the issues. Still trying to replace all the cupboard fittings, which just reminded me I need to follow up with Blum again.

What went wrong ? Looks beautiful in the picture.

 

[xrapidx]

What went wrong ? Looks beautiful in the picture.

I should have cancelled it after the first issue, but there's a looooong list.

1.) His entire kitchen design was off - once they did the demolition - and he wanted me to sign off on the cupboards, I noticed they left 30cm of space between the oven door, and the centre island... I remeasured everything, and they had the room 1m wider than what it was. His solution was to load the 90cm oven from the side. I scrapped the entire design and came up with the new one.

2.) Part of the job was to re-plumb all the in-roof plumbing - as we had muliple leaks from the class-0 plumbing. He went and put in cheap pipes that had over 14 leaks in one month, and this started AFTER the cupboards were put in. He tried to get a plumber to issue a CoC on the work - but the plumber refused, telling me to sue him - the manufacturer of the pipes also issued me with a letter that the pipes are not for residential use, and cannot be used with brass fittings. He had to replumb the entire house, which means we now have three sets of pipes in the kitchen walls - and had to lift the tiles to the island.

3.) He forgot about the one window in the kitchen - so the cupboards were going to be over the window - we had to then replace the window - and he got the size wrong - so the two windows are different sizes.

4.) They ordered the stacking door the wrong way around - took multiple requests to correct it - and fix the resulting damage.

5.) They installed cracked and chipped tiles, ignored repeated attempts to replace them - only after they grouted them in - and a shouting match ensued did they replace them.

6.) They got the location of the stove wrong - the wiring is subsequently two meters to the left of the stove.

7.) He tried to bypass payment points by trying to convince companies (gas, electrican and plumbing) to issue CoCs prior to the work being completed.

8.) He used the cheapest cupboard fittings he could find - that have all given in. He provided the sink as we couldn't find a white one at the time - even the ****ing traps he provided rusted and broke off.

9.) We eventually got to a point where we couldn't deal with him anymore - and the kitchen was a point where we could complete the job ourselves, so we did the painting, appliance installation, etc over a week.

I could go on for ever, I think the snag list was over a hundred items for the duration of the renovations.

He also took two months extra than agreed - we were living between the lounge and bedroom - but could only access them through the garden, so couldn't lock doors (sliding doors - no outside key), was good 4-5 months.

I honestly think that renovation took years off my life. The cost went from mid R300k - to over R600k with appliances.

 

[Tabac]

I should have cancelled it after the first issue, but there's a looooong list.

Schit. That's a shocker. My builder said he's finishing my braai area today.... will see what little flaws i'm going to find.