The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[hellfire]

Trunking or chasing from another power point are likely your only other alternatives apart from cutting a manhole in the ceiling.

The problem is that a manhole won't help much. There's not a proper crawl space between ceiling and roof.

 

[Steamy Tom]

Probably a wishful thinking question...

My playroom is an extension onto the house, and doesn't have ceiling access.
There is an unused light switch box (conduit but no wiring) which I want to use to control an outside light.
How would I do this without cutting a hole into my ceiling?

if the conduit is clear you might be able to push a draw wire through

 

[SAguy]

Probably a wishful thinking question...

My playroom is an extension onto the house, and doesn't have ceiling access.
There is an unused light switch box (conduit but no wiring) which I want to use to control an outside light.
How would I do this without cutting a hole into my ceiling?

Any idea where the other end of that conduit is?

 

[PotatoGuardian]

I don’t know if this is appropriate for this thread. Just moved into new house. Flat roof, no crawl space. There are a ton of birds on there that are constantly making a noise all through the night so I’m assuming there are nests etc. Does anyone know a bird guy in the Cape Town area. I’m not really sure who to call

 

[ElixirCoder]

I don’t know if this is appropriate for this thread. Just moved into new house. Flat roof, no crawl space. There are a ton of birds on there that are constantly making a noise all through the night so I’m assuming there are nests etc. Does anyone know a bird guy in the Cape Town area. I’m not really sure who to call

I think most pest control companies can deal with that as well

 

[hellfire]

Any idea where the other end of that conduit is?

I'd guess straight up the wall into the ceiling.

 

[smiley-zn]

I have a problem, my outbuilding sewer is backing up and at times overflowing from the rodding eye which is loose and the lid comes off.

I have rodded the line and there appears to be a blockage about 10m from the rodding eye.

I think that roots from a nearby tree have grown in the pipe but I'm not certain.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and what are my options?

 

[xrapidx]

Just as well we haven't put in the new flooring - how the hell do you fix this? Can't see any obvious places the water would get in. The actual frame itself is dry, so its not the seals around the glass.

 

[maumau]

I have a problem, my outbuilding sewer is backing up and at times overflowing from the rodding eye which is loose and the lid comes off.

I have rodded the line and there appears to be a blockage about 10m from the rodding eye.

I think that roots from a nearby tree have grown in the pipe but I'm not certain.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and what are my options?

We've had roots interfering too but from shrubs not trees.

Drain Surgeon run a spiral cable down the pipe to remove roots and debris.

 

[MDE]

Just as well we haven't put in the new flooring - how the hell do you fix this? Can't see any obvious places the water would get in. The actual frame itself is dry, so its not the seals around the glass.

Underneath the frame possibly?

 

[SAguy]

Just as well we haven't put in the new flooring - how the hell do you fix this? Can't see any obvious places the water would get in. The actual frame itself is dry, so its not the seals around the glass.

Snap! Though I think mine may be from the doggy door - and my door hasn't been sealed yet either from the outside.

 

[xrapidx]

Underneath the frame possibly?

Yeh, I'd imagine its something like that - but its the entire frame which is a bit odd - tempted to just remove the outside tiles and concrete the little step.

 

[SAguy]

I'd guess straight up the wall into the ceiling.

No chance of lifting the roof sheets a bit in that section? Maybe stick a wire up and see if it just goes straight up and hits the underside of the roof sheets?

 

[qscwbt]

Just as well we haven't put in the new flooring - how the hell do you fix this? Can't see any obvious places the water would get in. The actual frame itself is dry, so its not the seals around the glass.

1. Seal the frame outside with silicon and test to see if it fixed the leak.
2. when you tile use something like progrip waterproof adhesive. when you do tile that area mix the adhesive with 5 litre of bonding liquid per bag of adhesive.
3 Use progrip waterproof grout

all sorted. if you unsure give me a pm or a call

 

[xrapidx]

1. Seal the frame outside with silicon and test to see if it fixed the leak.
2. when you tile use something like progrip waterproof adhesive. when you do tile that area mix the adhesive with 5 litre of bonding liquid per bag of adhesive.
3 Use progrip waterproof grout

all sorted. if you unsure give me a pm or a call

Think the biggest concern I have at the moment is if we put in vinyl - we'll only know if this happens again if the vinyl starts giving issues. Didn't see it before when the tiles were in.

 

[qscwbt]

Think the biggest concern I have at the moment is if we put in vinyl - we'll only know if this happens again if the vinyl starts giving issues. Didn't see it before when the tiles were in.

Tile would be the best option. Also remember vinyl don't like sun and could fade in direct sunlight.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yeah very very likely this is coming through underneath the frame unfortunately.

I had laminate in my study for a good number of years until the SO managed to flood the room one day so wrecked it all, and when I pulled it all up the laminate and noticed it had started to rot away at the door edge because water is coming through under the frame. Just went fsckit and tiled the room instead.

 

[xrapidx]

Yeah very very likely this is coming through underneath the frame unfortunately.

I had laminate in my study for a good number of years until the SO managed to flood the room one day so wrecked it all, and when I pulled it all up the laminate and noticed it had started to rot away at the door edge because water is coming through under the frame. Just went fsckit and tiled the room instead.

Tile would be the best option. Also remember vinyl don't like sun and could fade in direct sunlight.

We just removed the tiles

Laminate is a no go for me - I've never had good experience with the stuff - we have the same vinyl flooring in the bedrooms, and it handles water well, the master bedroom has a stack away door which has been left open by mistake when the irrigation comes on.

At this moment, its either the same vinyl as the bedrooms - or maybe screeding, waiting on the house executive to decide.

Just had the builder here to drop of his guys to finish painting - you can see the frame is loose - and the outside tile grouting is gone between the door and the frame, probably the bastard ants I've been fighting with for the last couple of years.

I'm considering chopping out the tiles and concreting the step... the tiles that are there matched the tiles that were in the room - so no loss taking them out.

 

[ToxicBunny]

We just removed the tiles

Laminate is a no go for me - I've never had good experience with the stuff - we have the same vinyl flooring in the bedrooms, and it handles water well, the master bedroom has a stack away door which has been left open by mistake when the irrigation comes on.

At this moment, its either the same vinyl as the bedrooms - or maybe screeding, waiting on the house executive to decide.

I will never do laminate ever again, its rubbish stuff and not worth the money.

I would possibly do vinyl, maybe. But I only have 3 rooms left to renovate in my house, and 2 are bathrooms so they will be tiles just by default

 

[xrapidx]

I will never do laminate ever again, its rubbish stuff and not worth the money.

I would possibly do vinyl, maybe. But I only have 3 rooms left to renovate in my house, and 2 are bathrooms so they will be tiles just by default

You can do vinyl in bathrooms as well

My favourite flooring in this house currently is the vinyl - regret not doing it all the way through when we did the kitchen, although, its only been three years - maybe it won't age well.