The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[chrisc]

Have a plumbing query
Am in Plumstead in Cape Town

In 1988 I installed a Daikin heat pump. This worked very well, a bit slow in winter but from October to about May, could heat 150 litres of water to 53 deg in a few hours

Then in 1995 I fitted 2 x 2 sqm solar panels. Again, superb in summer. Having this enabled me to run the heat pump less

In 2018 a big storm caused a steel roofing sheet from a nearby garage to fly through the air and demolish the solar panels

So a 20-tube evacuated tune system was installed instead

Due to the two pipes on the collector from and to the 150 litre geyser being both on top, the plumber insisted a small circulation pump be fitted. This was fitted with a one-way valve in the pipe feeding the geyser and is powered by a 12 volt PV panel. (The geyser is in the upstairs roof and above the top of the collector)

All well. During the first winter I found that the heat pump was not heating the water and often by 6.00pm. the water was still at 35 deg (the heat pump is controlled by a Geyserwise which has a display)

I called this same plumber to come and have a look. After 4 broken appointments, he arrived in a foul mood and started telling me that no-one questions his work. I asked him to please have a look in the roof to see if the connections were correct. No, he does not go into roofs he says and walks out

Since then I have tried to engage 4 plumbers to come and check it out

3 said they do not get involved in solar installations

The 4th came, listened to what I said, looked at the Geyserwise, but did not go into the roof as he was on the way to another job. The next day I received an invoice for "consultation" for R550,00. I argued with the lady at the office but she said that as soon as the plumber set foot in the property, I was liable. The promised quote never arrived. When I queried this, I was told that the plumber who came to see me no longer worked for the company

Are there any reputable plumbers in Cape Town southern suburbs who know what they are doing?

Its now the second winter with indifferent hot water

Thanks if you read all this

 

[chrisc]

Maybe if it was a nice tile specifically chosen for the skirting, then I'd be more keen. Otherwise it gives me a vibe of "ag I don't need to go buy skirting, I have all these offcut tiles laying here that I may as well use"

Yes, but just cutting a tile to size is lazy. My tiler cut the tile, chamfered the edge and ran it past a 1200 grit sander. The inside of the tile is the same colour as the surface. It looks very neat and is smooth on top

In my living room, which has teak parquet flooring, I replaced all the wooden skirting, which at 80 years old, was deteriorating, with white PVC skirting through which I could thread cables

 

[SAguy]

Yes, but just cutting a tile to size is lazy. My tiler cut the tile, chamfered the edge and ran it past a 1200 grit sander. The inside of the tile is the same colour as the surface. It looks very neat and is smooth on top

In my living room, which has teak parquet flooring, I replaced all the wooden skirting, which at 80 years old, was deteriorating, with white PVC skirting through which I could thread cables

Which is probably why I don't like it, never seen it done by someone who put some effort into it

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Thanks, I did the skirting and door frames myself. Definitely agree with the woodwork all matching up nicely. I have steel door frames in the original part of the house, now those I hate...so much.

Yeah I think you posted the progress on here. I think I have told you that I personally just dont have the patience when it comes to carpentry.

Steel door frames are not my favourite either. Especially when their hinges start going and they start rusting. People want them restored and I lose my happiness lol

 

[chrisc]

Which is probably why I don't like it, never seen it done by someone who put some effort into it

The tiler did it without asking. I provided the belt sander with the 1200 grit paper. He had not done it like that before and was impressed with the finish. Almost as good as using a router on wood

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Have a plumbing query
Am in Plumstead in Cape Town

In 1988 I installed a Daikin heat pump. This worked very well, a bit slow in winter but from October to about May, could heat 150 litres of water to 53 deg in a few hours

Then in 1995 I fitted 2 x 2 sqm solar panels. Again, superb in summer. Having this enabled me to run the heat pump less

In 2018 a big storm caused a steel roofing sheet from a nearby garage to fly through the air and demolish the solar panels

So a 20-tube evacuated tune system was installed instead

Due to the two pipes on the collector from and to the 150 litre geyser being both on top, the plumber insisted a small circulation pump be fitted. This was fitted with a one-way valve in the pipe feeding the geyser and is powered by a 12 volt PV panel. (The geyser is in the upstairs roof and above the top of the collector)

All well. During the first winter I found that the heat pump was not heating the water and often by 6.00pm. the water was still at 35 deg (the heat pump is controlled by a Geyserwise which has a display)

I called this same plumber to come and have a look. After 4 broken appointments, he arrived in a foul mood and started telling me that no-one questions his work. I asked him to please have a look in the roof to see if the connections were correct. No, he does not go into roofs he says and walks out

Since then I have tried to engage 4 plumbers to come and check it out

3 said they do not get involved in solar installations

The 4th came, listened to what I said, looked at the Geyserwise, but did not go into the roof as he was on the way to another job. The next day I received an invoice for "consultation" for R550,00. I argued with the lady at the office but she said that as soon as the plumber set foot in the property, I was liable. The promised quote never arrived. When I queried this, I was told that the plumber who came to see me no longer worked for the company

Are there any reputable plumbers in Cape Town southern suburbs who know what they are doing?

Its now the second winter with indifferent hot water

Thanks if you read all this

The thing is that most guys want to see if it's something they can fix. They get there and find out they cant do it and just dont return.
Now I for one tell people I cant promise I can repair it but let me assess the issue first (obviously at no cost). If I get there and find out it's something I cannot fix I let you know and in most cases will recommend someone.
I dont know why people are afraid to say they can't do it. I find it especially common when it's a bigger company who specializes in the specific trade.

 

[APoc184]

Which is probably why I don't like it, never seen it done by someone who put some effort into it

And I think this is the same reason I am considering the tile skirting route.

All the wooden skirtings I've seen at friends and family, and had in our rental places, and even now in our new house... Just done terribly and so old fashioned. When they start aging and when they pull away from the walls... Such an eye sore for me.

Yours do look very nice though. Well done.

Well we have some time left to decide. Still need to take off the current skirtings and rip up this gross carpet.

We have a pretty good idea about what tiles we want but still need to shop around for those as well.

Would like to do the tiling myself but I do have some decent contacts who would be able to assist if I need... Helps being in the construction industry to some degree.

 

[Bikerbob]

I like a tiled skirting when you have a nutral stone which can be bullnosed and polished. If tile cannot be bullnosed and polished then it should be cut with a water tile cutter, which keeps the edge smooth.

 

[APoc184]

After tiling we are going to rhinolite the brushed plaster walls.

Paint walls to wife's liking.

Change light fixture - most probably including a ceiling fan.

Change curtain rails.

Refurbish walk in closet doors and shelves.

 

[PhireSide]

I've seen tile skirtings where the tiler placed some thin aluminium strips 90° to the tile, so it had a small 'flat' section on top to hide where the tile had been cut.

Just a thought

 

[ElixirCoder]

What really pisses me off is when they nail the skirting to a masonry wall, there just isn’t a clean way of taking it off without chunks of wall coming out with it. To me, tiled skirtings flaws are far more noticeable on skew walls. I’ve been thinking of upgrading mine in line with modern finishes, and will probably make them myself from MDF, then spray them and screw them discretely onto the existing ones. My internal single door frames are all steel, and I need to sand and paint them all as they’ve chipped and yellowed over the years, but other projects are taking precedence right now.

 

[SAguy]

What really pisses me off is when they nail the skirting to a masonry wall, there just isn’t a clean way of taking it off without chunks of wall coming out with it. To me, tiled skirtings flaws are far more noticeable on skew walls. I’ve been thinking of upgrading mine in line with modern finishes, and will probably make them myself from MDF, then spray them and screw them discretely onto the existing ones. My internal single door frames are all steel, and I need to sand and paint them all as they’ve chipped and yellowed over the years, but other projects are taking precedence right now.

What really pisses me off is when they nail the skirting to a masonry wall, there just isn’t a clean way of taking it off without chunks of wall coming out with it. To me, tiled skirtings flaws are far more noticeable on skew walls. I’ve been thinking of upgrading mine in line with modern finishes, and will probably make them myself from MDF, then spray them and screw them discretely onto the existing ones. My internal single door frames are all steel, and I need to sand and paint them all as they’ve chipped and yellowed over the years, but other projects are taking precedence right now.

Nails should be banned imo. Anything a nail can do a screw just does better

 

[alqassam]

Tile skirtings looks cheap

 

[chrisc]

Vrot wood skirting with rusty nails. This is what I saw with a house built in 1946. And huge square nails too. Chunks of plaster came out when I removed the board. In one room 12 nails remained and had to be drilled out.

The PVC trunking style PVC skirting came with a mounting plate which was fixed to the wall with Fisher plugs and brass screws. The skirting then clipped into place. Superb finish, matt white with a textured flat panel

I see Builders sell a similar product now and not too expensive

 

[chrisc]

Now I for one tell people I cant promise I can repair it but let me assess the issue first (obviously at no cost). If I get there and find out it's something I cannot fix I let you know and in most cases will recommend someone.
I dont know why people are afraid to say they can't do it. I find it especially common when it's a bigger company who specializes in the specific trade.

There is a Plumbing supply place in Wynberg and I was speaking to the owner. It was his opinion that many plumbers don’t like doing repairs. They want to install new stuff as they can mark up the material and charge for fitting it.

 

[cenredash]

Nails should be banned imo. Anything a nail can do a screw just does better

This is just not true.

Nails have better shear strength. So really depends on your use case. For skirting though shear strength really doesn't matter.

 

[TechGirl04]

How much does it cost to knock out a wall, roughly? The wall is non-load baring. Separating the kitchen and lounge. There are kitchen cupboards on the one side of the wall that must go. Wall is 3,5m long.

 

[Gozado]

Maybe if it was a nice tile specifically chosen for the skirting, then I'd be more keen. Otherwise it gives me a vibe of "ag I don't need to go buy skirting, I have all these offcut tiles laying here that I may as well use"

I've seen a chess-board pattern tiled floor, set out diagonally. The skirtings tiles were each of the contrasting colour (black against white and vice versa) all around the room. Not my taste, but it did look impressive, and nothing about it gave any hint of "oh well, just using up these left-over tiles".

 

[ElixirCoder]

How much does it cost to knock out a wall, roughly? The wall is non-load baring. Separating the kitchen and lounge. There are kitchen cupboards on the one side of the wall that must go. Wall is 3,5m long.

DIY: the cost of a 4-pound hammer, a spade, some plastic sheeting and maybe a wheelbarrow. There are also many power tools that can help.

To pay someone to do it, well, yeah how long is a piece of string?

 

[MDE]

How much does it cost to knock out a wall, roughly? The wall is non-load baring. Separating the kitchen and lounge. There are kitchen cupboards on the one side of the wall that must go. Wall is 3,5m long.

Not too much. DIYd. 650 for a skip and 350 for a guy as help and 100 for a jackhammer. Took all of 1 day. The problem comes when finishing the walls and ceilings where the walls been removed.