The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[Priapus]

I've been doing a small bit of renovating on the upstairs at my house. New flooring, ceiling and some painting. We decided to pull out an old cupboard on the landing with the intention of building a slightly smaller unit in the space.

Got a quote for 9k to for the materials (cheap wood) and for cutting. Seems rather high to me. Unit needs to be 1.8m high or so and 1.9m wide. Three to four shelves.

9k too much or am I just being cheap?

 

[Tinuva]

There has to be some sort of route to take, otherwise I could start issuing certificates just because I want money.

Since the seller is responsible for this - I'd take it up with the transfer attorneys.

I agree. This is actually important. How will I now in the future know the difference between a fake company issuing CoCs vs real CoCs worth the paper or virtual paper it is printer on.

Like what is the point of ECASA is they cant help.

 

[SAguy]

I agree. This is actually important. How will I now in the future know the difference between a fake company issuing CoCs vs real CoCs worth the paper or virtual paper it is printer on.

Like what is the point of ECASA is they cant help.

And I'd argue that if the CoC isn't done by a registered company and isn't legitimate - then the seller is in breach of the sale agreement, and possibly the estate agent to an extent.

 

[Steamy Tom]

I've been doing a small bit of renovating on the upstairs at my house. New flooring, ceiling and some painting. We decided to pull out an old cupboard on the landing with the intention of building a slightly smaller unit in the space.

Got a quote for 9k to for the materials (cheap wood) and for cutting. Seems rather high to me. Unit needs to be 1.8m high or so and 1.9m wide. Three to four shelves.

9k too much or am I just being cheap?

seems excessive for a standard melamine unit

eg: https://www.builders.co.za/Home-and-Decor/Furniture-&-Built-in-Cupboards/Built-In-Cupboards/HK-Standard-Built-In-Cupboard---White-(1820-x-500-x-2100mm)/p/000000000000018792

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[krieg]

I've been doing a small bit of renovating on the upstairs at my house. New flooring, ceiling and some painting. We decided to pull out an old cupboard on the landing with the intention of building a slightly smaller unit in the space.

Got a quote for 9k to for the materials (cheap wood) and for cutting. Seems rather high to me. Unit needs to be 1.8m high or so and 1.9m wide. Three to four shelves.

9k too much or am I just being cheap?

Seems excessive.

 

[ChuckNorris]

I hate this about a CoC and buying a place. You could be happy that your new house has outside plugs, a pool light, flood lights etc... and then when you move in you find out it's all been disconnected instead of made to be up to code. Then it's a fight with the previous seller, estate agent and electrician.

Happened to me as well. The seller got the electrician in to do CoC and it was too much work to get the pool and outside lights working so he just cut the cable in the pool box. I had to lift the pavement up and dig a trench to pull a new cable to the pool light and outside lights. What a mession for someone taking a shortcut.

 

[SAguy]

Happened to me as well. The seller got the electrician in to do CoC and it was too much work to get the pool and outside lights working so he just cut the cable in the pool box. I had to lift the pavement up and dig a trench to pull a new cable to the pool light and outside lights. What a mession for someone taking a shortcut.

It's ridiculous... what happens if you buy a house and the seller had that done with half the power in the house... or lights..

 

[Steamy Tom]

technically that shortcut would have to be fixed, you can't provide a fixture like a pool pump or a stove etc not in a working state unless it was noted initally

 

[ElixirCoder]

I've been doing a small bit of renovating on the upstairs at my house. New flooring, ceiling and some painting. We decided to pull out an old cupboard on the landing with the intention of building a slightly smaller unit in the space.

Got a quote for 9k to for the materials (cheap wood) and for cutting. Seems rather high to me. Unit needs to be 1.8m high or so and 1.9m wide. Three to four shelves.

9k too much or am I just being cheap?

What is cheap wood? Is it solid wood or reconstituted wood like chipboard or MDF?

 

[Pho3nix]

So I have a hole in the ceiling where the bathroom fan goes. Fan fell to the floor because of ghosts I think.

How best can I strengthen the ceiling board so that I can put another fan in there?

 

[MjK]

There has to be some sort of route to take, otherwise I could start issuing certificates just because I want money.

Since the seller is responsible for this - I'd take it up with the transfer attorneys.

I've contacted the ECB, basically they said contact the electrician, and tell him to come and do a proper COC based on what was found. Make sure I keep the original COC that he did. If he does not come to do it, report it to the OHS, and they will investigate the installation and deal with the electrician.

I have sent this to the transferring attorneys, if they don't contact him I will have to do so directly. They don't seem interested in sorting it out.

Edit: Other option they said. Get another electrician out to do a COC and not do any changes. Electrician has a chance to sort it out, otherwise they investigate.

 

[xrapidx]

I've contacted the ECB, basically they said contact the electrician, and tell him to come and do a proper COC based on what was found. Make sure I keep the original COC that he did. If he does not come to do it, report it to the OHS, and they will investigate the installation and deal with the electrician.

I have sent this to the transferring attorneys, if they don't contact him I will have to do so directly. They don't seem interested in sorting it out.

From what I've read - it seems to be illegal to issue one if they're not capable of doing so - so if he turns out not to be a registered electrician - I'd take it MUUUCH further.

 

[Priapus]

What is cheap wood? Is it solid wood or reconstituted wood like chipboard or MDF?

Melamine

 

[surface]

I've been doing a small bit of renovating on the upstairs at my house. New flooring, ceiling and some painting. We decided to pull out an old cupboard on the landing with the intention of building a slightly smaller unit in the space.

Got a quote for 9k to for the materials (cheap wood) and for cutting. Seems rather high to me. Unit needs to be 1.8m high or so and 1.9m wide. Three to four shelves.

9k too much or am I just being cheap?

Dimensions approximately match this one. You looking for something like this?

HK Standard Built-In Cupboard - White (1820 x 500 x 2100mm)

Buy HK Standard Built-In Cupboard - White (1820 x 500 x 2100mm) Online or Locate Your Nearest Builders Warehouse Store. ✓ Secure shopping ✓ 100% Contactless ✓ Reliable Delivery ✓ Many ways to pay!

www.builders.co.za

 

[ElixirCoder]

Melamine

Yeah that is steep

 

[Steamy Tom]

So I have a hole in the ceiling where the bathroom fan goes. Fan fell to the floor because of ghosts I think.

How best can I strengthen the ceiling board so that I can put another fan in there?

you can add to the brandering framework holding up the ceiling board so that your fan cant screw into brandering rather than ceiling board.

 

[Pho3nix]

you can add to the brandering framework holding up the ceiling board so that your fan cant screw into brandering rather than ceiling board.

Fan doesn't screw into the ceiling though. It looks into place using the ceiling board as a hold.

±±±±. -< Ceiling holder
---------- <- Ceiling

 

[Steamy Tom]

Fan doesn't screw into the ceiling though. It looks into place using the ceiling board as a hold.

±±±±. -< Ceiling holder
---------- <- Ceiling

It's hard for me to suggest without seeing more, does it hook onto the ceiling board like a downlight with the 2 spring loaded clips?

 

[Pho3nix]

It's hard for me to suggest without seeing more, does it hook onto the ceiling board like a downlight with the 2 spring loaded clips?

Not spring loaded.

 

[howardb]

Not spring loaded.

Our bathroom one is identical. It clamps to the board only, in 3 places if I remember correctly. A bugger to fit it...

Edit: those 3 claps have to be fitted snug and correctly to avoid vibration and self loosening. Otherwise if fitted correctly it won't damage the ceiling board