The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[WAslayer]

I went the DIY route and will never do that again. It is very kak work to cut it to size, dragging it into the roof, crawling around with it into corners etc.

Look on gumtree etc for a little person to help you should you go DIY

But did you get quotes to have it installed versus just material costs and doing it yourself..?

 

[The_Mowgs]

But did you get quotes to have it installed versus just material costs and doing it yourself..?

No, did it right after buying the house, money was tight. Should have probably said to see what the difference would be but that's obvi.

 

[alqassam]

Concealed plumbing there a drain about 3m away.

My plan to connect a p trap to this and put the dishwasher pipe into the p trap.

Hopefully it should stop the smell

 

[Mars]

Have flushed it many times. New renovation has been smelling for a number of months already.

Moved in about 14months ago

Why dont you just seal the end of the pipe around the dishwasher outlet?

I found that the area around our dishwasher pipe really started to smell bad at one point and someone said I should check the dishwasher filter and the pipe.

 

[alqassam]

Why dont you just seal the end of the pipe around the dishwasher outlet?

I found that the area around our dishwasher pipe really started to smell bad at one point and someone said I should check the dishwasher filter and the pipe.

I thought of that but didn't know how to deal it.

 

[calypso]

But did you get quotes to have it installed versus just material costs and doing it yourself..?

When I did Isotherm the installed cost was the same as the DIY. The installers get good bulk buy discounts.
And sure what route you know that I took. The installation was very professional.

 

[Mars]

I thought of that but didn't know how to deal it.

To test I just took a plastic bag and shoved it in around the pipe. It seemed to work so I left it like that. In our current house the dishwasher and washing machine go out on the same pipe so the washing machine seems to rinse the pipe so it doesn't smell.

 

[alqassam]

To test I just took a plastic bag and shoved it in around the pipe. It seemed to work so I left it like that. In our current house the dishwasher and washing machine go out on the same pipe so the washing machine seems to rinse the pipe so it doesn't smell.

Let's try that and see.

 

[WAslayer]

When I did Isotherm the installed cost was the same as the DIY. The installers get good bulk buy discounts.
And sure what route you know that I took. The installation was very professional.

Just got a quote for cellulose fibre insulation.. 12.8k for 200sqm.. I am thinking that I may just pay for that..

 

[Mars]

Just got a quote for cellulose fibre insulation.. 12.8k for 200sqm.. I am thinking that I may just pay for that..

Is that the going price? I got a quote for less than R50 a sqm late last year.

 

[WAslayer]

Is that the going price? I got a quote for less than R50 a sqm late last year.

I have no idea what the going price is.. but I am so bloody cold in this house, I am 90% sure I am going to get the guy out to get this done..

 

[CamiKaze]

Finally done with the tiling in the en suite. Need to redo the ceiling and toilet now. Fix me up house coming along nicely.

Before:

After:

The inspiration:

 

[TedLasso]

Nice.

 

[TedLasso]

So how would one work out what KW fireplace they have. Mines came with the house I bought , and it's totally **** at doing its job. I know the brand, from some spares the previous owner left but that's as far is it goes.

To add insult to injury, ordered wood last year after winter. This week, when I opened up the wood box , I found that most of the pieces were too big to fit through mouth of the fireplace. Now debating if it's worth buying an axe to make them smaller

Wondering also if perhaps I need to do the combo of putting isotherm in roof and that other idea discussed earlier in this thread of sending that heat from the fireplace to the rooms. Does anyone have a link to a site that shows how that contraption works?

In other news, got the pool strip lighting installed. It's not how I wanted it, as I wanted to mount the led channel under the lip of the wall (had made provision for it when being built), but then never thought about the curve of wall which meant I couldn't bend the 2m channels to match the curve. Also there was no way that I could figure out how to mount it with so little space for screw.

Now I can see the led strip lights instead of just the light they generate but at least my project that i started last Nov, is finally done.

They Sonoff L1s, so connected to my home automation.

 

[theratman]

That looks awesome @CamiKaze

 

[Mars]

So how would one work out what KW fireplace they have. Mines came with the house I bought , and it's totally **** at doing its job. I know the brand, from some spares the previous owner left but that's as far is it goes.

To add insult to injury, ordered wood last year after winter. This week, when I opened up the wood box , I found that most of the pieces were too big to fit through mouth of the fireplace. Now debating if it's worth buying an axe to make them smaller

Wondering also if perhaps I need to do the combo of putting isotherm in roof and that other idea discussed earlier in this thread of sending that heat from the fireplace to the rooms. Does anyone have a link to a site that shows how that contraption works?

In other news, got the pool strip lighting installed. It's not how I wanted it, as I wanted to mount the led channel under the lip of the wall (had made provision for it when being built), but then never thought about the curve of wall which meant I couldn't bend the 2m channels to match the curve. Also there was no way that I could figure out how to mount it with so little space for screw.

Now I can see the led strip lights instead of just the light they generate but at least my project that i started last Nov, is finally done.

They Sonoff L1s, so connected to my home automation.
View attachment 848683

It is possible to have the channel rolled to fit the angle of the pool so it will fit. Also you could glue it in using something like sikaflex or silicone. Just dont use some super adhesive you won't be able to remove should you need to.

 

[spiff]

My first home improvement question after having moved into my first house.. typing this half frozen, as this house is cold AF and I generally don't get cold..

Insulation for the ceiling is the topic of discussion.. is it worth it getting cellulose fibre insulation installed or should I just pop down to the hardware store, pickup 30 or so bags of whatever insulation they have and be done with it..?

Also, anyone have any sort of cost estimates on this..? Per sqm..

Insulation helps a lot.

I have roof insulation and double glazed windows

Plus 1 gas heater with 2 panels on and check the difference between outside and inside temperatures

 

[Lupus]

Insulation helps a lot.

I have roof insulation and double glazed windows

Plus 1 gas heater with 2 panels on and check the difference between outside and inside temperatures

I need to fix my ancient steel Windows, they just allow so much air in.

 

[smiley-zn]

I need to fix my ancient steel Windows, they just allow so much air in.

Same here, my steel windows are also an issue as the house is almost 70 years old and probably still original windows.

What do you intend doing?

 

[Lupus]

Same here, my steel windows are also an issue as the house is almost 70 years old and probably still original windows.

What do you intend doing?

At this point I'm using weather stripping to stop as much air as possible, I'm also using contractors acrylic to seal gaps, until I one day X afford aluminium or uPVC windows. Wood sucks cause it needs constant maintenance.