The Home Improvements Thread (2)

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ElixirCoder said:
For interior, pollyfilla the cracks and then light sandpaper over. Buy a good quality paint and roller. Don't thin the paint out. Use masking tape to cut clean lines and tape down the ground sheet.
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Sounds spot on. My wife always say how she spends more time on the preparation (cleaning, polly filla, masking tape etc) compared to the actual painting part. My part is pulling out the stuff we won't re-use. She prefers doing the painting herself, as she is a perfectionist when it comes to the painting.
 
xrapidx said:
Rather use painters tape - I have a passionate dislike for masking tape, still have some that hasn't come off :p
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Tip... when going to the hardware store you’ll find a masking tape which is more off white than yellow. This one is not as sticky as the yellow one and comes off very easily. However when using be sure to press it down firmly and avoid folds as then it won’t stick as nicely as we want. Once your work is done removal is super easy.

painters tape is definitely the better option, but the masking tape has some savings on price if you’re counting pennies on the job.

another tip. Don’t leave the masking tape until the paint is dry, also have the guys try to cut around the masking tape as if there isn’t any. A big problem is that the masking tape almost hardens once everything is dry and it becomes a PITA to remove. Also removing before the paint dries does pull of some off the paint on the actual painted area when removing. Leaves a nice clean line when removed while paint is still drying.
 
Back to the leaky toilet issue - seems the whole damn toilet has come loose from the floor! Will get a plumber out to sort ASAP as I don't think I want to mess around with reseating the bloody thing. Now my wife is even more adamant that I need to shed some kilo's :D
 
Mista_Mobsta said:
Back to the leaky toilet issue - seems the whole damn toilet has come loose from the floor! Will get a plumber out to sort ASAP as I don't think I want to mess around with reseating the bloody thing. Now my wife is even more adamant that I need to shed some kilo's :D
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Leaking on the floor is not just a loose toilet, sounds like it’s cracked. Any pics of this?

EDIT: also it sounds like the leak could be coming from somewhere else and just running down the sidewalk of the toilet. If not the pan connector (where water goes out after you flush), then it’s the connector that sends water from cistern into the bowl when you flush. Depending on how old the toilet is there could be different parts for the second option. It could be either the rubber seal which fits be the between the cistern and bowl, or if it’s a very old unit there’s a pipe going from cistern to bowl with a rubber hose connecting the 2 parts which could be busted.
 
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Smokey mcpot said:
Leaking on the floor is not just a loose toilet, sounds like it’s cracked. Any pics of this?

EDIT: also it sounds like the leak could be coming from somewhere else and just running down the sidewalk of the toilet. If not the pan connector (where water goes out after you flush), then it’s the connector that sends water from cistern into the bowl when you flush. Depending on how old the toilet is there could be different parts for the second option. It could be either the rubber seal which fits be the between the cistern and bowl, or if it’s a very old unit there’s a pipe going from cistern to bowl with a rubber hose connecting the 2 parts which could be busted.
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I searched for the leak with a fine tooth comb last night and can definitely rule out leaks from the cistern, water pipe and anywhere else. The bloody thing is leaking through the base inside that red oval and nowhere else. I don't know how the hell it's possible as I wasn't aware that a toilet had a way to leak through the base unless the pan connector was underneath the toilet going into the floor. McLeaky.jpg
 
That’s insane, should not have a leak there unless it’s cracked. I’m sure there are no visible cracks. Could be on the inside as those are hollow behind the walls. Now the water could possibly be coming from inside.

I still have my doubts about a crack though. I’ve seen a toilet with some bad cracks and still no leaks.

also, is there a stream/puddle of water on the floor? Maybe follow the water as it could be running from somewhere else. I’ve experienced this before where the supply line was leaking at the angle valve and water was running along the floor and settling at the base to make it look like the base is leaking.
 
Smokey mcpot said:
That’s insane, should not have a leak there unless it’s cracked. I’m sure there are no visible cracks. Could be on the inside as those are hollow behind the walls. Now the water could possibly be coming from inside.

I still have my doubts about a crack though. I’ve seen a toilet with some bad cracks and still no leaks.

also, is there a stream/puddle of water on the floor? Maybe follow the water as it could be running from somewhere else. I’ve experienced this before where the supply line was leaking at the angle valve and water was running along the floor and settling at the base to make it look like the base is leaking.
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Tell me about it! I used the most sophisticated leak detection method available to mankind - toilet paper strewn across the floor to check for any leaks...it quickly gets wet right inside that red-zone and nowhere else. What gets me the most is that the entire toilet is loose so if I push it left or right, it moves off its base! Apparently I tackle the bloody thing after a night of bunny chows and brandy...
 
So you’ve used the ultra testing method and detected the source.
That is the weirdest place for a leak. Once removed and the actual source is found it seems as if a toilet replacement might be on the cards
 
I have to agree with Smokey. It seems like you might be in the market for a new kakker. But I have to say that it's such an odd leak that you have
 
Mista_Mobsta said:
Tell me about it! I used the most sophisticated leak detection method available to mankind - toilet paper strewn across the floor to check for any leaks...it quickly gets wet right inside that red-zone and nowhere else. What gets me the most is that the entire toilet is loose so if I push it left or right, it moves off its base! Apparently I tackle the bloody thing after a night of bunny chows and brandy...
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Looking at that pic, it doesn't look cemented to the floor, but rather just a silicon of some sort around the base? Thats different from all the toilets I have looked at in the past, usually cemented or at least grout around the base. But what do I know, I am no builder or plumber.

To be honest, I guess usually you tile around the toilet and that kinda keep it in place with grout.
 
Smokey mcpot said:
Tip... when going to the hardware store you’ll find a masking tape which is more off white than yellow. This one is not as sticky as the yellow one and comes off very easily. However when using be sure to press it down firmly and avoid folds as then it won’t stick as nicely as we want. Once your work is done removal is super easy.

painters tape is definitely the better option, but the masking tape has some savings on price if you’re counting pennies on the job.

another tip. Don’t leave the masking tape until the paint is dry, also have the guys try to cut around the masking tape as if there isn’t any. A big problem is that the masking tape almost hardens once everything is dry and it becomes a PITA to remove. Also removing before the paint dries does pull of some off the paint on the actual painted area when removing. Leaves a nice clean line when removed while paint is still drying.
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This x 1000! Can't stand it when "painters" do this.
 
Mista_Mobsta said:
Tell me about it! I used the most sophisticated leak detection method available to mankind - toilet paper strewn across the floor to check for any leaks...it quickly gets wet right inside that red-zone and nowhere else. What gets me the most is that the entire toilet is loose so if I push it left or right, it moves off its base! Apparently I tackle the bloody thing after a night of bunny chows and brandy...
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Put some food colouring in the bowl of the toilet, and put a different colour in the cistern. See what colour leaks out maybe? Don't flush and just leave it to see what colour leaks?

Dunno - maybe a dumb idea, just spitballing here.
 
SAguy said:
Put some food colouring in the bowl of the toilet, and put a different colour in the cistern. See what colour leaks out maybe? Don't flush and just leave it to see what colour leaks?

Dunno - maybe a dumb idea, just spitballing here.
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The reason we use that toilet puck in our toilet.
 
Tinuva said:
Looking at that pic, it doesn't look cemented to the floor, but rather just a silicon of some sort around the base? Thats different from all the toilets I have looked at in the past, usually cemented or at least grout around the base. But what do I know, I am no builder or plumber.

To be honest, I guess usually you tile around the toilet and that kinda keep it in place with grout.
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So normally cement is just under the silicone/sealant. It just looks a lot neater to have the sealant vs cement
 
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