The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[WAslayer]

Cupboards arrived earlier, I ordered from diycupboards - looks pretty nicely put together though there is more DIY installation required than expected.

View attachment 1050637

We went with a white gloss wrap finish. I've never installed cupboards before, but to do list for installation as far as I can tell:

1. Attach plastic feet and prepare laminate floor cutouts
2. Bolt cupboard to wall
3. Fit all finishing panels
4. Attach kickplate

Fortunately they've fitted all the drawer runner hinges, but I'm a little bit nervous about fitting the fronts on the 4 drawer unit, need to make sure the spacing is all correct between them. For the handles on the drawers I'm going to clamp all four of the fronts together and drill a pilot hole through them all together to make sure they are all even and equal.

Then I'm also not sure how to attach the kickplate. They gave a 720 x 50mm piece which they called "Floor filler" with instructions to "Trim to size needed". I'm guess that I use that somewhere in the process of installing the kickplate.

I have asked the contact at DIYCupboards though about that floor filler piece.

If I manage to get this done there are a bunch more cupboards to go, so it's a skill I'd like to work on.
I'll have the quartz tops fitted afterwards.

For the spacing of the drawer fronts, use playing cards and use the same number of playing cards between each drawer front, to get even spacing..

I hope they had already drilled pilot holes for attaching the drawer fronts.. if not, you can install the handles first, which will then hold the front to the drawer and allows you to easily drill pilots for the screws to attach the fronts..

 

[SAguy]

Just buy the things, and don't tell her until she sees the bank statements

All you have to do is dirty it and make it look used quickly... then when asked about new tool you just say "this old thing?"

 

[SAguy]

For the spacing of the drawer fronts, use playing cards and use the same number of playing cards between each drawer front, to get even spacing..

I hope they had already drilled pilot holes for attaching the drawer fronts.. if not, you can install the handles first, which will then hold the front to the drawer and allows you to easily drill pilots for the screws to attach the fronts..

No pilot holes sadly, was hoping they would have done that at least. That's probably going to take the most time - getting the drawer fronts and handles on nicely.

 

[WAslayer]

Just buy the things, and don't tell her until she sees the bank statements

There is no reason to ask for forgiveness, when your wife wants her cupboards installed and you need these things to get that done..

"Do you want your cupboards installed? Then I need to buy this, that this other thing and a few more things I won't realize I need until I am halfway through installation."

No permission needed, no asking for forgiveness..

 

[SAguy]

There is no reason to ask for forgiveness, when your wife wants her cupboards installed and you need these things to get that done..

"Do you want your cupboards installed? Then I need to buy this, that this other thing and a few more things I won't realize I need until I am halfway through installation."

No permission needed, no asking for forgiveness..

Unfortunately/fortunately my wife is smart and also helps me often with DIY - some of you okes have it easy - you can buy a welder, table saw and compressor and say it's to hang a picture frame and they won't know the difference.

Not my wife

I joke obviously, my wife doesn't bother if I buy stuff - though occasionally I get a "ai" and shake of the head.

 

[Steamy Tom]

Unfortunately/fortunately my wife is smart and also helps me often with DIY - some of you okes have it easy - you can buy a welder, table saw and compressor and say it's to hang a picture frame and they won't know the difference.

Not my wife

I joke obviously, my wife doesn't bother if I buy stuff - though occasionally I get a "ai" and shake of the head.

just dont walk it past the kitchen and then how will she even see it?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Unfortunately/fortunately my wife is smart and also helps me often with DIY - some of you okes have it easy - you can buy a welder, table saw and compressor and say it's to hang a picture frame and they won't know the difference.

Not my wife

I joke obviously, my wife doesn't bother if I buy stuff - though occasionally I get a "ai" and shake of the head.

That has its pro's and cons in all honesty.

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Fortunately I get the all clear on buying tools. Unfortunately everything else needs a motivational letter signed off by the queen with the president as a witness.

 

[maumau]

Hmmm,

Unfortunately it is so I either need a way to go through it, hopefully not, or to come up the wall.

Would love to see a pic of this from the other side (the back) - including the rest of the room please

 

[Arzy]

Hmmm,


Would love to see a pic of this from the other side (the back) - including the rest of the room please

Here ya go

 

[xrapidx]

Right...so had my goto guy out over the weekend to first come and sort out my generator and then to discuss the problem of what to do with this fireplace. After some tapping and drilling we have determined the following:

View attachment 1050531

The column going up is solid concrete with no central cavity.
This lovely block of pain is resting on two steel beams snuggly fit into bricks and some lintels which make up the rest of the structure.
Behind the steel though there is a cavity into which the existing fireplace extends up.
At the arrow, there is enough space next to the column and between the two beams to be able to open up a circle of about 25cm in diameter.
Squigly line would effectively be a flex tube in the cavity from a new fireplace to said hole.

With that in mind the idea has now expanded to basically redoing the entire thing as such:
View attachment 1050535

Structure to be expanded a bit to add the triangular shape on top to where the column meets the first ceiling.
Existing gas fireplace to be removed and replaced with either a double-sided wood burner or to close up the back and put a cast iron slow combustion stove in (Still in two about this, views appreciated.)
Flex tube from the top of the fireplace to the arrow to a new flue that gets concealed in the red area after which it runs exposed up the wall to go out the roof.
Entire fireplaces plaster to be stripped off and replaced with a red brick cladding which will also go behind the flue all the way to the ceiling.


Or something like that, still working on the idea.

Unrelated. What's the painting on the back left wall.

 

[SAguy]

Here ya go

Also unrelated, there's a moerse rat on your carpet.

 

[Arzy]

Unrelated. What's the painting on the back left wall.

It's a print, various representations of architecture in Rome.

 

[Arzy]

Also unrelated, there's a moerse rat on your carpet.

Can't get rid of the damn things and I've already been threatened with replacements should I get ird of the existing ones.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Can't get rid of the damn things and I've already been threatened with replacements should I get ird of the existing ones.

Just get your own big ones that will make the rats disappear..

 

[xrapidx]

It's a print, various representations of architecture in Rome.

Not that one... this one:

 

[Arzy]

Not that one... this one:

Van rensburg farmland

 

[Tabac]

@Arzy your home looks Artsy. Jokes, it's beautiful.

 

[xrapidx]

Van rensburg farmland

Tx - that's interesting - its similiar to Paul van Resnburg paintings, and another artist who's name I forget - but from far I actually thought it was Anthony Gadd.

 

[Arzy]

@Arzy your home looks Artsy. Jokes, it's beautiful.

My wife and I have a very simple style. Almost everything is in the house is either leather or wood.

Color gets added to the house through the paintings.

Which brings to mind that we may be repainting the interior some time soon again.