The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[TedLasso]

it offers light security, if it is external facing i would still add a trelli...

i think it is also a little on the high side. try build it also, ask your guy if he has a trade account there.

cashbuild - same door: https://www.cashbuildonline.co.za/c...s/aluminium-door-bronze-890-x-2090-horizontal - not massive difference so at least seems like the going rate in retail

Thanks. That's still a saving. And they have a half glass version only .

Have the trellies already hence taking a chance with glass.

Was at Leroy Merlin and they also had a PVC double glazed folding door that fits in the 1790*2100 standard double opening. So nice but then it costs 18k!!

That is frankly cheap compared to the price of pool coping. Why the heck is it so expensive?? It looks like in South Africa , it's only these guys , Kwela Tile Design, http://www.kwelatiles.co.za/ that supplies to the tile shops. I can't find another equivalent. It's 975-1400 a metre!!! I need 35 meters of the stuff. Anyone have ideas on where I can get decent pool coping at a reasonable cost?

If I went with the Kwela coping, its going to cost me double than what I plan to spend on buying 110sqm of tiles and stuff.

Two workarounds I am thinking about.

1. Keep my existing coping and paint to match new tiles around pool.

2. With the new tiles, go all the way to the pool edge. Don't know if it's feasible, durable or comfortable (sitting on edge of pool).

Any ideas appreciated

 

[Steamy Tom]

Thanks. That's still a saving. And they have a half glass version only .

Have the trellies already hence taking a chance with glass.

Was at Leroy Merlin and they also had a PVC double glazed folding door that fits in the 1790*2100 standard double opening. So nice but then it costs 18k!!

That is frankly cheap compared to the price of pool coping. Why the heck is it so expensive?? It looks like in South Africa , it's only these guys , Kwela Tile Design, http://www.kwelatiles.co.za/ that supplies to the tile shops. I can't find another equivalent. It's 975-1400 a metre!!! I need 35 meters of the stuff. Anyone have ideas on where I can get decent pool coping at a reasonable cost?

If I went with the Kwela coping, its going to cost me double than what I plan to spend on buying 110sqm of tiles and stuff.

Two workarounds I am thinking about.

1. Keep my existing coping and paint to match new tiles around pool.

2. With the new tiles, go all the way to the pool edge. Don't know if it's feasible, durable or comfortable (sitting on edge of pool).

Any ideas appreciated

are you redoing the pool?

 

[TedLasso]

are you redoing the pool?

No just the area around it. The existing tiles and coping need to be redone IMHO. Everything is falling apart.

 

[maumau]

No just the area around it. The existing tiles and coping need to be redone IMHO. Everything is falling apart.

Pics are always nice

 

[Zuner]

Bought a sonoff basic switch from communicate as a tester.

Works quite well. Plan on doing all the lights in the apartment, can then ask Google to turn lights on/off.

 

[TedLasso]

Pics are always nice

These are a few years old. Pool now covered with vinyl cover


Also found this last night.

Cemstone

www.cemstone.co.za

Pool Paving - SmartStone

SmartStone offers concrete paving available in a variety of colours, shapes and textures to transform pool paving and its surrounds into something special.

www.smartstone.co.za

And this, which the sales person at two italtile show room did not even offer except that expensive stuff. https://www.italtile.co.za/outdoor/swimming-pool-coping-category.html

 

[Steamy Tom]

to me the stones look ok them selves? just need a strip and coat. Even the tiles don't looks that bad, they need a good clean, drop the water level and buff those puppies.

 

[Lupus]

Yeah you should see my pool, years of neglect, been trying to sort it out slowly but surely. Replaced the 20+ year old filter, did some repiping now just the actual pool itself needs new tiles, a big crack by the steps needs to be fixed and the bottom painted as it's stained to the extent that the pool has a slightly green ting to it all the time and I've done everything possible. People have come out and tested the water and it's perfect. But looking at the google shot above my house it was always a swamp before we moved in.

 

[rodga]

Yeah you should see my pool, years of neglect, been trying to sort it out slowly but surely. Replaced the 20+ year old filter, did some repiping now just the actual pool itself needs new tiles, a big crack by the steps needs to be fixed and the bottom painted as it's stained to the extent that the pool has a slightly green ting to it all the time and I've done everything possible. People have come out and tested the water and it's perfect. But looking at the google shot above my house it was always a swamp before we moved in.

What filter did you get and did you diy?
I wanted replace the sand in mine but saw that the small vent hose is blocked, and it doesnt have the fingers at the bottom, so was wondering if I should just replace the whole thing...

 

[Lupus]

What filter did you get and did you diy?
I wanted replace the sand in mine but saw that the small vent hose is blocked, and it doesnt have the fingers at the bottom, so was wondering if I should just replace the whole thing...

I initially tried DIY on repairing the old one, but it ended up being more of a pain so I got a company to come do it for R7k it was a speck with a new housing and timer as well. As the old ones were really shot after years. I now just need to find away to dispose of them sigh.

 

[alqassam]

I initially tried DIY on repairing the old one, but it ended up being more of a pain so I got a company to come do it for R7k it was a speck with a new housing and timer as well. As the old ones were really shot after years. I now just need to find away to dispose of them sigh.

What filter did you get and did you diy?
I wanted replace the sand in mine but saw that the small vent hose is blocked, and it doesnt have the fingers at the bottom, so was wondering if I should just replace the whole thing...

As long as the housing is sound and not leaking you can replace all the internals.

I changes the fingers they cost a bout R30 each and you need 8.

Pool filters are actually quite simple machines

For a timer i use a shelly1 pm which gives you switch use and timing.

 

[Kolmogorov]

These are a few years old. Pool now covered with vinyl cover


Also found this last night.

Cemstone

www.cemstone.co.za

Pool Paving - SmartStone

SmartStone offers concrete paving available in a variety of colours, shapes and textures to transform pool paving and its surrounds into something special.

www.smartstone.co.za

And this, which the sales person at two italtile show room did not even offer except that expensive stuff. https://www.italtile.co.za/outdoor/swimming-pool-coping-category.html
View attachment 723928View attachment 723930

Snap! I've got exactly the same pool shape and also want to revamp the pool and surrounds now. Was at Cemstone over the weekend to look at paving/coping.

Got a couple of initial estimates for leveling around the pool, paving, etc. Thought the first quote was borderline ridiculous and then the second one came in at double the price!

 

[rodga]

As long as the housing is sound and not leaking you can replace all the internals.

I changes the fingers they cost a bout R30 each and you need 8.

Pool filters are actually quite simple machines

For a timer i use a shelly1 pm which gives you switch use and timing.

yeah 7k is too much for my splash pool lol
goona check if I can see whats going on with the fingers, as i couldnt see or feel any in there. Do you get filters without them?

 

[Steamy Tom]

yeah 7k is too much for my splash pool lol
goona check if I can see whats going on with the fingers, as i couldnt see or feel any in there. Do you get filters without them?

for a small pool you can look at using a catridge filter, jsut beware replacement catridges are pricey

 

[TedLasso]

Snap! I've got exactly the same pool shape and also want to revamp the pool and surrounds now. Was at Cemstone over the weekend to look at paving/coping.

Got a couple of initial estimates for leveling around the pool, paving, etc. Thought the first quote was borderline ridiculous and then the second one came in at double the price!

What was the price - saves me the hassle of finding out. My pool is 10.5m long by 6.5m at widest part. Too big

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Howzit,

Can I please have some indication or guideline w.r.t renovation costs these days, I am in Cape Town northern subs, but anyone can jump in.

Want to use a contractor I was referred to with skilled workers (no corner pickups), I am supplying all material.

They need to strip and re-tile

Rooms in question are:

Single toilet tile floor to ceiling 21 square, paint ceiling, install vanity+plumbing, install toilet

Guest bathroom tile floor to ceiling 36 square,paint, downlights, vanity, bath, shower

Just trying to see if his costs are in line

Cheers

Small toilet would be roughly 8 - 10k depending on tile and toilet chosen.

Bigger bathroom you looking at roughly 30k depending on tile, bath and shower choices... all inclusive.

So let's say 40k max for everything. This would include waterproofing the bathroom. Be sure to remind them as we've had to redo 2 bathrooms in the last 4 months due to no waterproofing being done. Contractors simply told the clients they didn't ask for it... a-holes!!

 

[rodga]

for a small pool you can look at using a catridge filter, jsut beware replacement catridges are pricey

checked these out, doesnt look too bad

Just replaced the sand, didnt have any fingers that I could see and also couldnt find any broken pieces. I guess its one witout fingers. I will see what the pool looks like after about 8 hours.

 

[Smokey mcpot]

what would you guys say is reasonable to do the following from a contractor, he says it will take about 2 weeks, paint EXCLUDED

seal (flash harry) ridge of roof
replace end branding and barge boards
fix small areas of plaster and seal
replace a few facia's, +- 20m
paint roof
paint exterior walls
prep + paint existing gutters
prep and paint outside window frames

house size is on the small side for a 3 bedroom with double garage

Difficult to day without house size. But labour on a job like this probably around 15k depending on size of house and condition of walls. A lot of guys just polyfilla every cracking despite the size. Our side I ensure I check out all cracks and open up what needs to be plastered before any of the guys can even attempt to be lazy and polyfilla it. While I'm typing this I'm looking at my moms neighbours house where this easy fix was done 3 months ago and I already see the cracks showing. This is what you can possibly get when going with the cheaper quote. At the same time not allnyttempt cheaper quotes are bad and I've seen guys cheaper than me do a brilliant job.

 

[Steamy Tom]

checked these out, doesnt look too bad

Just replaced the sand, didnt have any fingers that I could see and also couldnt find any broken pieces. I guess its one witout fingers. I will see what the pool looks like after about 8 hours.

if it has sand there has to be fingers of some variety...

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Yeah you should see my pool, years of neglect, been trying to sort it out slowly but surely. Replaced the 20+ year old filter, did some repiping now just the actual pool itself needs new tiles, a big crack by the steps needs to be fixed and the bottom painted as it's stained to the extent that the pool has a slightly green ting to it all the time and I've done everything possible. People have come out and tested the water and it's perfect. But looking at the google shot above my house it was always a swamp before we moved in.

I don't do pools but my in laws (brother and father) are both in the industry. For the staining he asked for a few of my guys to help and he had them clean the pool with acetone. Man was I impressed.
So some acetone and decent gloves (gloves are very important) and this could easily be a diy to clean the stains. Oh also some masks for the acetone smells.

Alternatively some cheap labourers can do this for you as opposed to the pool guys charging you 3.5k for it. That was his price for that specific job.