The Home Improvements Thread (2)

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PhireSide said:
On the topic of automated garage doors, today I left the house while it was raining and I was in the driveway waiting for the door to close after I pulled my car out.

The door closed and started opening right away again. I noticed this behaviour a few months ago, also while it was raining. I thought it was a fluke but I am starting to see a pattern now.

Could it be that the rails that the door runs on need some lubrication? It's a roller door type, and quite old from the looks of it - but free of rust
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odd, something is probably getting wet or it is sensing an obstruction, if it was the tracki would expect it intermittent or all the time, not just when raining. to clarify, is it a roll up? if it is a roll up those "tracks" are not lubricated, they are more guide channels.

if anything wet rails means less friction but it would really need to be sideways or hard rain imo to get the rails really wet?

do you have the type that has a lower limit switch?

if you say it is a digidoor motor then that is your issue :p
 
Steamy Tom said:
odd, something is probably getting wet or it is sensing an obstruction, if it was the tracki would expect it intermittent or all the time, not just when raining. to clarify, is it a roll up? if it is a roll up those "tracks" are not lubricated, they are more guide channels.

if anything wet rails means less friction but it would really need to be sideways or hard rain imo to get the rails really wet?

do you have the type that has a lower limit switch?

if you say it is a digidoor motor then that is your issue :p
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To be honest I don't know much about the door and the motor. I couldn't see any markings on it, but it doesn't look like any Digidoor unit I have ever seen. I'll try and get a picture of it to see if I can spot any model numbers or so on. I've been in the house a year now and I still uncover hidden surprises every now and then:ROFL: but it is definitely a roll up door.

I haven't tried closing it with a piece of wood in the way to see if it has an auto-stop and reverse sensor. All I know is that on the inside of the door towards the bottom in the centre there is a plastic piece secured to it, that looks almost like those blue plastic ice packs that you put in cooler boxes, but grey in colour. What it does is anyone's guess.

The unit looks very similar to the below that I found on Google:

719042

I've only ever seen it have this issue when it has been raining which is puzzling to say the least.
 
Roll up motors are very sensitive to moisture. I personally turn down the work when people want them. Even too much dew will leave them with issues
 
So my next (larger) home project is targeted to start in a few months time - budget allowing. Specifically fixing up the garage to act as a proper micro brewery (for personal enjoyment) and supply store.

It's a standard single garage, with enough space in the rafters for a small mezzanine (which it has made from crap wood which will need replacing).

I will need to install some ceiling boards near the top of the rafters (was thinking just basic plywood or whatever boards) leaving the rafters exposed but making a little bit of a dust filter from the roof.
Install some weather proof strips along the garage door to minimize dust coming in there too...
And paint all round.
Have an additional electrical outlet installed and some additional plumbing installed.
Make and install some shelving for storage and some kind of tiered brewery system or other surface area.

Thoughts and Ideas are welcome from all the experts here, as I said just the planning phase. I was thinking this would be a fun sequence of videos to do and put up on youtube actually...

I do have a question though, who has experience with epoxy floors? I'm looking at coating the plain cement floor with it. Seems to get good reviews online for a "industrial" work space and for an area prone to spillage of liquids.

Edit - Adding suggestions:
Isoboard for insulation rather than wood for ceiling.
 
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Still on garage doors.

I want to automate my wooden garage doors, but the companies I've spoken with thus far want a call out fee to come out and give a quotation - is that standard practice nowadays?

Any recommendations in Kempton Park area?
 
TheSlinger said:
So my next (larger) home project is targeted to start in a few months time - budget allowing. Specifically fixing up the garage to act as a proper micro brewery (for personal enjoyment) and supply store.

It's a standard single garage, with enough space in the rafters for a small mezzanine (which it has made from crap wood which will need replacing).

I will need to install some ceiling boards near the top of the rafters (was thinking just basic plywood or whatever boards) leaving the rafters exposed but making a little bit of a dust filter from the roof.
Install some weather proof strips along the garage door to minimize dust coming in there too...
And paint all round.
Have an additional electrical outlet installed and some additional plumbing installed.
Make and install some shelving for storage and some kind of tiered brewery system or other surface area.

Thoughts and Ideas are welcome from all the experts here, as I said just the planning phase. I was thinking this would be a fun sequence of videos to do and put up on youtube actually...

I do have a question though, who has experience with epoxy floors? I'm looking at coating the plain cement floor with it. Seems to get good reviews online for a "industrial" work space and for an area prone to spillage of liquids.
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Dont forget to add insulation as well, maybe look at iso boards for the ceiling instead
 
So I want to put a dimmer on the light in my lounge, the light is 2 x 6w led dimmable bulbs. Whats the best way to go about it? I saw some new light switches with a dimmer built in for 1 switch (my wall panel has 2 switches on it) at builders, though they were quite pricey, not sure if there are other options.
 
Zuner said:
So I want to put a dimmer on the light in my lounge, the light is 2 x 6w led dimmable bulbs. Whats the best way to go about it? I saw some new light switches with a dimmer built in for 1 switch (my wall panel has 2 switches on it) at builders, though they were quite pricey, not sure if there are other options.
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Haven't seen dimmable LED lights yet. Make sure you get proper bulbs.

Le grande has some nice dimmer switches. Just the knob which you turn and then pressing it turns the lights on or off.
 
PhreakBoy said:
Still on garage doors.

I want to automate my wooden garage doors, but the companies I've spoken with thus far want a call out fee to come out and give a quotation - is that standard practice nowadays?

Any recommendations in Kempton Park area?
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It shouldn't be a standard practice but plenty guys do it. It's to try and curb people from "wasting their time" by collecting quotes.

I personally don't do it unless you're asking me to come out 50km to have a look.

Also, why aren't they able to just have a look at pictures of your door and garage? I've done this many times for clients. If I see something looking out of place I ask clients to take measurements of certain things to see what I need to do.
 
We planning to use the same floor tile on wall and shower floor with linear drain. Tiles are 600x600 but have a Matt finish. I'm concerned about the sloping for drainage and it being slippery. Trying to do a contemporary look and not use mosaic. Anyone done this before?
 
maumau said:
Builders :mad: they always manage to mess something up.
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I know an awesome builder here in CT if anyone wants the details. Not a chap who will go cheap - but if you want rock solid work, and his ethos of'"it's either right or it's wrong", please pm me.
 
Bionic said:
We planning to use the same floor tile on wall and shower floor with linear drain. Tiles are 600x600 but have a Matt finish. I'm concerned about the sloping for drainage and it being slippery. Trying to do a contemporary look and not use mosaic. Anyone done this before?
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I did something similar. But to avoid it been slippery we got the Tiler to cut them in 100X100 squares. We feel it's way better then mosaic.
 
So, starting planning on next project which is finally one I get to enjoy, we're redoing the lapa! Decided to remove the existing thatch and structure completely, build the braai pictured (not convinced on doing full built in again) and then structure in second picture.

Tips and advice appreciated.
a6d50ac0c09fe6a2187878ce2a6e26c9.jpg
e35735a26c8b526123cf77f62b783e49.jpg
 
Bionic said:
Thanks. Someone recommended this at a tile shop yesterday. Did you do anything with the edges as they might chip easily.
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ultimately imo you would want to bevel them, you get a special sanding stone that you could probably make teh edges neat with.
 
Painting doors and door frames... frames I am going to lightly sand and hit with a foam roller using enamal. the doors though I am not sure what to use and how to prep for best results, a light sand and an acrylic pva?
 
Steamy Tom said:
Painting doors and door frames... frames I am going to lightly sand and hit with a foam roller using enamal. the doors though I am not sure what to use and how to prep for best results, a light sand and an acrylic pva?
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Just did mine, lightly sanded, and a water based enamel.
 
xrapidx said:
Just did mine, lightly sanded, and a water based enamel.
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arent the doors shiny now? or did you go with an eggshell enamel?

if you did, do you think this would also work for the frames?
 
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Steamy Tom said:
arent the doors shiny now? or did you go with an eggshell enamel?

if you did, do you think this would also work for the frames?
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If going white I normally recommend Duram polyurethane enamel. Does not leave that shiny gloss finish. Alternatively if you want that finish then go with a gloss enamel.

Pva works as well. Same approach, light sand and then paint. If changing to a completely different colour I would always use a primer first. Getting a slight white undercoat leaves you with a better finish than trying to paint one colour over another. Prevents the old colour from showing through your new colour
 
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