The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[Dolby]

Does anyone know a rough price of bamboo counter tops ?
Are they as expensive as granite / caesarstone ?

I don't have the budget to redo the kitchen, but I thought it may be fairly cheap have white cupboards and bamboo ? No new cupboards or changes to the structure / design / stove / tiles etc (yet) - is that viable ?

 

[Dolby]

Oh I see Builders has 2.4m for R3.3k.

I guess that's a good guide

 

[WAslayer]

Does anyone know a rough price of bamboo counter tops ?
Are they as expensive as granite / caesarstone ?

I don't have the budget to redo the kitchen, but I thought it may be fairly cheap have white cupboards and bamboo ? No new cupboards or changes to the structure / design / stove / tiles etc (yet) - is that viable ?

Bamboo is expensive.. not granite/stone expensive but it's up there..

Builders have some options, 2400x600 for R3 300 for counter top.. also 20mm sheets, for R 5 000 at 2400x1220..

 

[Mosgi]

Folks, need some help, working on finishing up a project after the main contractor was fired for delays. I have this channel that effectively needs to drain water through to the garden on the other side

underneath we have PVC pool pipes fairly close to the surface, so need some level of stability

Thoughts are to use a pvc gutter channel with a steel grate on top providing a water channel with good access for potential blockage cleaning and access to the pipes underneath should there be a leak.

Please roast or toast the thinking on this.

 

[WAslayer]

Folks, need some help, working on finishing up a project after the main contractor was fired for delays. I have this channel that effectively needs to drain water through to the garden on the other side

underneath we have PVC pool pipes fairly close to the surface, so need some level of stability

Thoughts are to use a pvc gutter channel with a steel grate on top providing a water channel with good access for potential blockage cleaning and access to the pipes underneath should there be a leak.

Please roast or toast the thinking on this.

Use something fit for purpose.. exactly what you are thinking, already has something made for that use:

Waterform Channel and Grate - Black (1000mm)

Buy Waterform Channel and Grate - Black (1000mm) Online or Locate Your Nearest Builders Warehouse Store. ✓ Secure shopping ✓ 100% Contactless ✓ Reliable Delivery ✓ Many ways to pay!

www.builders.co.za

 

[Mosgi]

Use something fit for purpose.. exactly what you are thinking, already has something made for that use:

Waterform Channel and Grate - Black (1000mm)

Buy Waterform Channel and Grate - Black (1000mm) Online or Locate Your Nearest Builders Warehouse Store. ✓ Secure shopping ✓ 100% Contactless ✓ Reliable Delivery ✓ Many ways to pay!

www.builders.co.za

Yup,

Pretty much what I’ve been thinking, wondering if there is any alternative, maybe cheaper (or from the supplier), this project pretty much only happened because of going straight to the source.

Although given pre renovation they had something similar, these seem pretty robust, and likely the best.

 

[RonSwanson]

Vanstone's smallest slotted drain would also work if you had a 260mm space.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yup,

Pretty much what I’ve been thinking, wondering if there is any alternative, maybe cheaper (or from the supplier), this project pretty much only happened because of going straight to the source.

Although given pre renovation they had something similar, these seem pretty robust, and likely the best.

I have many meters of the stuff at home waiting till I redo my driveway... I've probed many other options and solutions and those pretty much work out the cheapest in the long run.

 

[Arzy]

Anyone in Johannesburg had their gutters done recently? Need some recommendations for suppliers.

Currently have seamless gutters installed but they are showing their age. Looking for a supplier to come and advise on if it would be worthwhile to redo all the corner joints and get the levels right again or if it would be best just to do a complete reinstall.

 

[maumau]

Anyone in Johannesburg had their gutters done recently? Need some recommendations for suppliers.

Currently have seamless gutters installed but they are showing their age. Looking for a supplier to come and advise on if it would be worthwhile to redo all the corner joints and get the levels right again or if it would be best just to do a complete reinstall.

A warning about Progress Guttering in Midrand who did our gutters many years ago.

Within the first 30 minutes they cut through our main electricity cable supplying power to a cottage on the premises. That was minor because they sent an electrician to fix it.

A bigger problem is the gutters are fitted so far under the roof tiles that rainwater doesn't even hit them and just pours off the roof, over them and onto the ground.

I wouldn't be so bitter about it except the owner was very rude and basically said tough titty.

 

[Arzy]

A warning about Progress Guttering in Midrand who did our gutters many years ago.

Within the first 30 minutes they cut through our main electricity cable supplying power to a cottage on the premises. That was minor because they sent an electrician to fix it.

A bigger problem is the gutters are fitted so far under the roof tiles that rainwater doesn't even hit them and just pours off the roof, over them and onto the ground.

I wouldn't be so bitter about it except the owner was very rude and basically said tough titty.

A warning is as good as a recommendation, thanks!

 

[ahmedy]

Does anyone have any experience regarding bamboo fences? I would like to clad an exterior wall in Bamboo and I see many guys who supply and fit however I am not sure if there are any downfalls that have been noted with this type of material being used as a fence. Does it require yearly maintenance, or some sort of care required?

Pictures below of said Bamboo

 

[storms1]

Does anyone have any experience regarding bamboo fences? I would like to clad an exterior wall in Bamboo and I see many guys who supply and fit however I am not sure if there are any downfalls that have been noted with this type of material being used as a fence. Does it require yearly maintenance, or some sort of care required?

Pictures below of said Bamboo

waiting patiently for an answer as well need to cover prying eyes near our swimming pool, our walls are not straight either

 

[MrJacques]

Does anyone have any experience regarding bamboo fences? I would like to clad an exterior wall in Bamboo and I see many guys who supply and fit however I am not sure if there are any downfalls that have been noted with this type of material being used as a fence. Does it require yearly maintenance, or some sort of care required?

Pictures below of said Bamboo

Bugs inside the reeds?

 

[I.am.Sam]

anyone ever heard of this brand

guys are now installing these motors cause they cheaper than ET

the ET i have is apparently over 10 years old and no spares are available

so the guy quoted me R3200 for this with fitment

Automation Options | Dominator Garage Doors & Gate Systems | Dominator Garage Doors & Gate Systems

Automation Options Sliding and swing gate motors: ET gate motors are silent, speedy and reliable. The sliding gate motor comes standard with an anti-theft bracket and 2 four button remotes. There are two basic model’s being the DC motor for standard domestic gates of up to 6 meters and the AC/DC...

www.dominatorsa.co.za

 

[Steamy Tom]

anyone ever heard of this brand

guys are now installing these motors cause they cheaper than ET

the ET i have is apparently over 10 years old and no spares are available

so the guy quoted me R3200 for this with fitment

Automation Options | Dominator Garage Doors & Gate Systems | Dominator Garage Doors & Gate Systems

Automation Options Sliding and swing gate motors: ET gate motors are silent, speedy and reliable. The sliding gate motor comes standard with an anti-theft bracket and 2 four button remotes. There are two basic model’s being the DC motor for standard domestic gates of up to 6 meters and the AC/DC...

www.dominatorsa.co.za

Rather buy a centurion

 

[Steamy Tom]

Does anyone have any experience regarding bamboo fences? I would like to clad an exterior wall in Bamboo and I see many guys who supply and fit however I am not sure if there are any downfalls that have been noted with this type of material being used as a fence. Does it require yearly maintenance, or some sort of care required?

Pictures below of said Bamboo

In my experience they don't last, the varnished variety last a bit long but not that long, they also nail it together poorly, If you buy then I would use something like galvanized wire or something to tie it all together nicely redoing all the joins

 

[ToxicBunny]

Rather buy a centurion

100% agree...

When my garage door was installed, they put some crap Chinese brand thing in (probably along the lines of that Dominator abortion you posted).... but it was a pain in the ass, had its own crappy remote that was finicky at times and there was obviously zero documentation on the product anywhere.

I stumped up the money for a Centurion motor and did the install myself (the documentation is very straight forward on what needs to be done)... Best R3k I spent in a while for that.

 

[richjdavies]

Need some help -

I'm laying laminate floors DIY. I've ripped up the carpets and I see that they glued the layer under the carpet to the old parquet flooring.

Any ideas on how I can get the leftovers of the underlay off? Is there something I can put on that will easily lift / loosen the glue and then I can scrape it off?

View attachment 1214872

View attachment 1214874

Sorry for the slight necro on this...
Had exactly the same problem here (pulling up carpets because son has dust allergy).

Scraper and heat for big lumps works, but to get it finished you need to dissolve the glue.

We still haven't found a good solution:
Things we have:
- more heat (including air.gun, and infra red heater held close) & scraping... Just too much effort / hot awkward work
- steam and boiling water, doesn't work
- vegetable oil, left to penetrate definitely makes the glue soft, but still hard to remove. Going to try coconut oil next (recommended for sticker glue removal?)
- DONT DO - Xylene / paint thinner... It works (and also strips the varnish off the floor) BUT also you don't be able to use the room for 3 months despite constant ventilation, heating, mopping... and it will permanently have a sweet smell that will slowly kill you!?!

So... Any advice on:
1. Cleaning up bituminous glues (as OP)
2. Removing Xylene residue once and for all...

 

[I.am.Sam]

Rather buy a centurion

better than ET ?