The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[CamiKaze]

Have seen this done in Woodstock before. Rip out old planks, fill with rubble, fill gaps with concrete. Do this halfway. Once cured do second half with grid and let cure. Afterwards you can do whatever you want on top of the concrete. Quote common in the Woodstock area although I advise against it if you've got a very old house with damp issues. There's a reason the floors were made that way.

I don't have damp issues in the house. Someone told me to do this as well.

 

[CamiKaze]

Installed a new DVR and replace two camera's today. Can now monitor what's going on around the house from anywhere.

Just need to find an app that works with android TV so that I can watch from all TV's in the house. Standard app isn't work well.

It would help if we knew the brand of camera, but this is for the Android useful apps thread.

 

[Arzy]

It would help if we knew the brand of camera, but this is for the Android useful apps thread.

It's a basic TVT system, nothing special. Will find a solution to getting it onto the various TV's, for now it works on the main TV and our phones.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I don't have damp issues in the house. Someone told me to do this as well.

It's a possible solution but I would get a structural engineer to sign off on the idea before actually doing it....

It will mean carting away a fair chunk of soil given how small the gap between your floor and the soil is.

 

[Smokey mcpot]

I don't have damp issues in the house. Someone told me to do this as well.

I'm assuming you meant someone told you to do the rubble thing?
Common practice. Have seen many successful projects done this way. Last fill I did I got the rubble for free. Contacted a rubble removal guy and asked him to deliver at the house instead of the dump. Was closer for him and he was happy to do it for free.

 

[CamiKaze]

I'm assuming you meant someone told you to do the rubble thing?
Common practice. Have seen many successful projects done this way. Last fill I did I got the rubble for free. Contacted a rubble removal guy and asked him to deliver at the house instead of the dump. Was closer for him and he was happy to do it for free.

Yeah the rubble thing. I have some rubble here.

 

[Steamy Tom]

Installed a new DVR and replace two camera's today. Can now monitor what's going on around the house from anywhere.

Just need to find an app that works with android TV so that I can watch from all TV's in the house. Standard app isn't work well.

other option is an rf modulator if you already have cable everywhere

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yeah the rubble thing. I have some rubble here.

Hoe big is your house and how much rubble do you have?

I've been amazed at how much rubble I generated from a small renovation and also how much rubble I used as backfill in a few areas of the property..

 

[CamiKaze]

Hoe big is your house and how much rubble do you have?

I've been amazed at how much rubble I generated from a small renovation and also how much rubble I used as backfill in a few areas of the property..

Not that much. Probably enough to fill the OP. So.... filling with rubble, compacting it then throwing concrete over seems to be a viable approach?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Not that much. Probably enough to fill the OP. So.... filling with rubble, compacting it then throwing concrete over seems to be a viable approach?

It would be a viable approach, but I would strongly suggest you get a structural engineer to just give the idea a once over and tell you if the surround external wall structure can handle the additional lateral load since there is no slab tied into the walls at that height.

 

[ToxicBunny]

The original idea I would be suggesting is more along the lines of this (I can explain a bit more in depth now that I'm not on mobile)

I would rip up the whole wooden floor as you have it now, and excavate the soil underneath to a reasonable level (maybe 200mm down), then build a wood frame as per the above picture, and overlay the frame with a plywood substrate which you can then put whatever flooring you want on top of.

It may be more expensive than the rubble and concrete fill aspect, but it would put considerably less load on the external walls (if anything it actually adds an additional level of structure support to you external walls)

 

[SAguy]

The original idea I would be suggesting is more along the lines of this (I can explain a bit more in depth now that I'm not on mobile)

I would rip up the whole wooden floor as you have it now, and excavate the soil underneath to a reasonable level (maybe 200mm down), then build a wood frame as per the above picture, and overlay the frame with a plywood substrate which you can then put whatever flooring you want on top of.

It may be more expensive than the rubble and concrete fill aspect, but it would put considerably less load on the external walls (if anything it actually adds an additional level of structure support to you external walls)

I'm no engineer, but I'd probably do this if it was me. Relatively easy to DIY as well.

 

[CamiKaze]

The original idea I would be suggesting is more along the lines of this (I can explain a bit more in depth now that I'm not on mobile)

I would rip up the whole wooden floor as you have it now, and excavate the soil underneath to a reasonable level (maybe 200mm down), then build a wood frame as per the above picture, and overlay the frame with a plywood substrate which you can then put whatever flooring you want on top of.

It may be more expensive than the rubble and concrete fill aspect, but it would put considerably less load on the external walls (if anything it actually adds an additional level of structure support to you external walls)

Thanks man.

I will try and get a structural engineer and ask him about this as well.
Now to find reliable people in my town.

 

[smiley-zn]

1100 for a 1m plank? He was smoking his socks... 1100 per sqm maybe...

But the state of that yeah, it's toast.... Whatever you do is gonna cost big crown...

Maybe if would be more cost effective to rip it out, dig down a small amount and then put in a decent framework underneath to then have a proper plywood subfloor thst you can the do whatever you want on top of.

I replaced about 4.5m2 of oregon pine and it cost me about R5000 complete.

You can still get the timber but it is difficult to find.

I paid around R85/m for 115mm wide planks

 

[ToxicBunny]

I replaced about 4.5m2 of oregon pine and it cost me about R5000 complete.

You can still get the timber but it is difficult to find.

I paid around R85/m for 115mm wide planks

That sounds more where I would have thought the number to be.... wood is expensive, but its not R1000 per 1m plank... R1000 per sqm yeah...

 

[CamiKaze]

I replaced about 4.5m2 of oregon pine and it cost me about R5000 complete.

You can still get the timber but it is difficult to find.

I paid around R85/m for 115mm wide planks

Where did you get it? Gumtree?

 

[smiley-zn]

Where did you get it? Gumtree?

Atomic builders in Durban, they take old oregon timber from doors etc and make the flooring (cut, tongue and groove etc).

The boards are not like new but much better than buying second hand from gumtree.

Try your local Mills in the area they may have

 

[Lostboy]

Good Day All

Trust you are all well and will have a great 2020!!

If I have posted this in the incorrect forum, apologies.

I want to get the process rolling for home improvements to my current home. I am looking at funding the improvements through refinancing.

What is the first step, I would like to get an estimate on costs first before approaching the banks (to track against affordability). I don't want access to more than I require for the renovations however I would take extra for those unforeseen things that I have read about on the forum that pops up.

Is the first step to get an architect to draw plans. I am assuming they do the costing as well? or is that someone else?

I am also looking at getting a one stop shop for my renovations (architect, building etc all through one reputable company). If anyone has suggestions please provide details.

Thanks.

 

[rodga]

Good Day All

Trust you are all well and will have a great 2020!!

If I have posted this in the incorrect forum, apologies.

I want to get the process rolling for home improvements to my current home. I am looking at funding the improvements through refinancing.

What is the first step, I would like to get an estimate on costs first before approaching the banks (to track against affordability). I don't want access to more than I require for the renovations however I would take extra for those unforeseen things that I have read about on the forum that pops up.

Is the first step to get an architect to draw plans. I am assuming they do the costing as well? or is that someone else?

I am also looking at getting a one stop shop for my renovations (architect, building etc all through one reputable company). If anyone has suggestions please provide details.

Thanks.

I don't see your location...

 

[Lostboy]

I don't see your location...

Northern Suburbs, Cape Town