The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[GoB]

thanks, i was in two minds and like the square more, but i think now i might just go with the round.

the fascia boards i will probably either replace with wood or maybe go with unitec board, still undecided on that. the barge boards i will def rather stick with unitec

My downpipes are still round btw. Installation took quite a while... probably because I used ridiculously thick screws for which I had to pre-drill.

Barge boards took 10 days cause I had to rebuild 3 overhangs after finding that the barge boards are too narrow.

Fascia boards are nailed in so much that the roof would have to be opened... I just repainted instead.

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Thats why I try do most things myself - or get someone in who I supervise, I have yet to meet a competent building company.

it’s not incompetence, it’s greed. A lot of guys are competent but just want to get to the light at the end of the tunnel quicker (the balance due on completion). Even on a job where my guys are currently busy I declined to do some extras to alleviate the pressure of the clients deadline. He got in some other guys (Who I know) to do the work. Came onto site with their windows and asked me if I’d do the finishings around the windows. I mentioned how things should be done but the window guy (whom he sub contracted) disagreed saying it would be another week and I can do my bits once he’s done. Obviously wasn’t the right way and I declined the work. Window guy was in and out and he brought someone else to do the “finishing” bits. I could see all the wrong and left it as he already dismissed my advice. A week later client came to check on place and was pissed as he already paid them. Now he’s paying me to redo everything according to my schedule.

now this window guy was not incompetent and I know first hand that he has done plenty windows for some of Cape towns biggest buildings and malls including the CTICC. However in this case he didn’t want to wait for the balance and just went ahead so that he could get his money. Probably not worried about repeat business because he gets sub contracted by a company who is one of the biggest in SA.

 

[GoB]

What do you think of DIY spray-painting kitchen cabinet doors before selling my house?
They are yellowed and worn, so I can't touch up easily.
I have a Bosch PFS 5000.
As I remember, getting planks to dry and keeping dust off it mid-winter in my garage was the biggest issue.

I guess otherwise I must get a quote for respraying. But I still need to do the assembly/prep/transport X2.

 

[ToxicBunny]

We're building on now (soon hopefully). It's been hard finding a builder at the right price, some builders charging R300k and others R900k for the same work with similar inclusions/exclusions. We now probably going with a builder that was recommended by someone on the forum.

Regardless of the builder you choose (even if they're recommended) you must be on them like a hawk unfortunately.

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Not always. Sometimes clients also expect miracles. Last year a client asked me to add and move 26 plug points all chased. Shift 4 water points, skim 4 bedrooms, passages, lounge, office and entertainment room and then paint. Paint a wood ceiling white gloss, fit 2 geysers, knock down a wall and rebuild another, fix a roof, remove 2 arches and square them in passages, for a shower and toilet to a garage, redo interior walls and skim them in a Wendy house and also change a garage door and intercom. All this in 2 weeks! I agreed to do it in 3 or get someone else... she eventually gave me 3 weeks. She bought her own materials and they came a week late. She then made it my fault things were behind schedule as she moved in 2 days later than planned.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Not always. Sometimes clients also expect miracles. Last year a client asked me to add and move 26 plug points all chased. Shift 4 water points, skim 4 bedrooms, passages, lounge, office and entertainment room and then paint. Paint a wood ceiling white gloss, fit 2 geysers, knock down a wall and rebuild another, fix a roof, remove 2 arches and square them in passages, for a shower and toilet to a garage, redo interior walls and skim them in a Wendy house and also change a garage door and intercom. All this in 2 weeks! I agreed to do it in 3 or get someone else... she eventually gave me 3 weeks. She bought her own materials and they came a week late. She then made it my fault things were behind schedule as she moved in 2 days later than planned.

Oh of course... 100%.. some clients are douchebags of note as well..

I think both sides need to watch each other like hawks really...

 

[SAguy]

Not always. Sometimes clients also expect miracles. Last year a client asked me to add and move 26 plug points all chased. Shift 4 water points, skim 4 bedrooms, passages, lounge, office and entertainment room and then paint. Paint a wood ceiling white gloss, fit 2 geysers, knock down a wall and rebuild another, fix a roof, remove 2 arches and square them in passages, for a shower and toilet to a garage, redo interior walls and skim them in a Wendy house and also change a garage door and intercom. All this in 2 weeks! I agreed to do it in 3 or get someone else... she eventually gave me 3 weeks. She bought her own materials and they came a week late. She then made it my fault things were behind schedule as she moved in 2 days later than planned.

Definitely, and you perhaps quote for your "standard" skirtings and light switches, and then the client wants to the Ferrari version of everything.

We're about to embark on a R800k renovation, building a 38m2 tiled roof braai room and turning an existing 40m2 of garage and outside storage room into separate living quarters. Going to get the builder to exclude pretty much everything that I can see from the quote, tiles, light fittings, cornice, etc... hoping that works out to give me a more accurate budget.

Our budget is what it is, so if we run out of money we will have to prioritise what gets left off, like cabinets and nice countertops around the braai. Also have asbestos sheets that needs to get collected, hope that's not going to be a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Quite the opposite with her skirtings, switches and lights. She got some things and we bought the appropriate boxes and fittings. Chase everything and she returns with totally different switches and dimmers. So we had to change certain boxes for smaller sizes boxes to fit the switches and dimmers she bought. So it was remove and refit, then skim again. Also tried moving in some furniture while we were busy doing the ceiling lol... cost her some money to send it to storage for a few days while we finished.

the worst was when she showed up with someone to clean the house while we were chasing into the walls. She asked if we can make it less dusty haha.

it was a house which she just purchased. Found some things that were not compliant and fixed it at no cost. We showed her these things and she wanted us to charge almost half our electrical bill to the company who did the compliance hahaha.

I also don’t like when clients buy their own materials. They buy what they think is needed and expect us to make it work despite me telling them what’s needed... not all clients though

 

[SAguy]

Quite the opposite with her skirtings, switches and lights. She got some things and we bought the appropriate boxes and fittings. Chase everything and she returns with totally different switches and dimmers. So we had to change certain boxes for smaller sizes boxes to fit the switches and dimmers she bought. So it was remove and refit, then skim again. Also tried moving in some furniture while we were busy doing the ceiling lol... cost her some money to send it to storage for a few days while we finished.

the worst was when she showed up with someone to clean the house while we were chasing into the walls. She asked if we can make it less dusty haha.

it was a house which she just purchased. Found some things that were not compliant and fixed it at no cost. We showed her these things and she wanted us to charge almost half our electrical bill to the company who did the compliance hahaha.

I also don’t like when clients buy their own materials. They buy what they think is needed and expect us to make it work despite me telling them what’s needed... not all clients though

Sounds like that woman's name could have been Karen - I'm sure of it.

I'm generally handy around the house, but that probably makes it worse for contractors - to have a client who thinks he knows better. Plus, not only do I have to fight with contractors - but if I don't then I have to deal with my supervisor (aka wife).

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Sounds like that woman's name could have been Karen - I'm sure of it.

I'm generally handy around the house, but that probably makes it worse for contractors - to have a client who thinks he knows better. Plus, not only do I have to fight with contractors - but if I don't then I have to deal with my supervisor (aka wife).

hahaha please don’t be that guy. I had a client like that who stands over your shoulder. We fitted some gates, fences and a garage door for him and we’re going to do the stacking doors after. During the fence work he kept chirping and trying to instruct. The guys complained as he made them nervous and were afraid that would cause a mistake. I spoke to him about and he claimed they shouldn’t get nervous if they know their work (I’ll give him that one). Eventually we had enough and I told him we’d rather not do the folding doors as a mistake there would be very costly and I’d rather not have hem do it while nervous. I refunded his deposit and he badmouthed saying we shouldn’t take on more than we can do.

a few months later his wife called me to replace a cheap lock he had another guy fit to our gates. During this time I asked her about the doors. She rolled her eyes and mentioned what a nightmare it was and how the guys blamed him for interfering lol. So yes, it does sometimes get annoying.

 

[GoB]

We're about to embark on a R800k renovation, building a 38m2 tiled roof braai room and turning an existing 40m2 of garage and outside storage room into separate living quarters. Going to get the builder to exclude pretty much everything that I can see from the quote, tiles, light fittings, cornice, etc... hoping that works out to give me a more accurate budget.

Don't you think property is undervalued then?

I think my house will sell under municipal value, maybe 2.7m for 220sqm.
I don't even think it can be built for that.
Then you have to include the land value.

And although it's Cape Town Northern suburbs, these are the prices which people will complain about.

 

[Steamy Tom]

hahaha please don’t be that guy. I had a client like that who stands over your shoulder. We fitted some gates, fences and a garage door for him and we’re going to do the stacking doors after. During the fence work he kept chirping and trying to instruct. The guys complained as he made them nervous and were afraid that would cause a mistake. I spoke to him about and he claimed they shouldn’t get nervous if they know their work (I’ll give him that one). Eventually we had enough and I told him we’d rather not do the folding doors as a mistake there would be very costly and I’d rather not have hem do it while nervous. I refunded his deposit and he badmouthed saying we shouldn’t take on more than we can do.

a few months later his wife called me to replace a cheap lock he had another guy fit to our gates. During this time I asked her about the doors. She rolled her eyes and mentioned what a nightmare it was and how the guys blamed him for interfering lol. So yes, it does sometimes get annoying.

i am sadly guilty of this, it interests me so much so i like to watch, but i also want things to be perfect, i generally don't chime in though unless i know better. I also try come and go but i know i can be annoying xD

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Don't you think property is undervalued then?

I think my house will sell under municipal value, maybe 2.7m for 220sqm.
I don't even think it can be built for that.
Then you have to include the land value.

And although it's Cape Town Northern suburbs, these are the prices which people will complain about.

north is where I’d probably move to for this very reason. Large properties with plenty of grounds at a fraction of the southern suburbs cost.

 

[Smokey mcpot]

i am sadly guilty of this, it interests me so much so i like to watch, but i also want things to be perfect, i generally don't chime in though unless i know better. I also try come and go but i know i can be annoying xD

I don’t mind people standing around and asking questions, it’s those who has a friend in the industry “who does things this way”... or “ive seen online they use...”
Good to discuss and chat but rather ask why they’re doing a certain way instead of telling the guys how it should be done.

 

[SAguy]

hahaha please don’t be that guy. I had a client like that who stands over your shoulder. We fitted some gates, fences and a garage door for him and we’re going to do the stacking doors after. During the fence work he kept chirping and trying to instruct. The guys complained as he made them nervous and were afraid that would cause a mistake. I spoke to him about and he claimed they shouldn’t get nervous if they know their work (I’ll give him that one). Eventually we had enough and I told him we’d rather not do the folding doors as a mistake there would be very costly and I’d rather not have hem do it while nervous. I refunded his deposit and he badmouthed saying we shouldn’t take on more than we can do.

a few months later his wife called me to replace a cheap lock he had another guy fit to our gates. During this time I asked her about the doors. She rolled her eyes and mentioned what a nightmare it was and how the guys blamed him for interfering lol. So yes, it does sometimes get annoying.

I try not to be that guy, I'm more likely to be bringing coffee and lunch all day making sure the guys are happy. But if I see something that I could have done better, then I get annoyed - since I'm paying "you" specifically because you're the expert. Most building issues IMO could be prevented if clients didn't rush builders to stick to timelines.

Don't you think property is undervalued then?

I think my house will sell under municipal value, maybe 2.7m for 220sqm.
I don't even think it can be built for that.
Then you have to include the land value.

And although it's Cape Town Northern suburbs, these are the prices which people will complain about.

Would also love to move further north, cheaper/bigger properties for the same price. With this renovation we are pushing being over invested, but we are thinking about in laws moving in and all that.

i am sadly guilty of this, it interests me so much so i like to watch, but i also want things to be perfect, i generally don't chime in though unless i know better. I also try come and go but i know i can be annoying xD

This, I love learning things... and hopefully improve my skills to do newer things myself in the future.

 

[SAguy]

What is the nicer/modern interior door frame options? Anyone seen anything that looks good?

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Yeah I’ll admit there are times when guys do things differently. I don’t get too annoyed with people unless they start getting to my guys. I’m generally the one over explaining how and why we’re doing things the way we do.
I welcome questions or ideas.

and yes, deadlines are the main cause of screw ups.

 

[ToxicBunny]

What is the nicer/modern interior door frame options? Anyone seen anything that looks good?

Boils down to taste.... All my doors are solid meranti frames with full glass panes(heavily frosted and such for the relevant ones) .. Has a modern look from some relatively standard stuff.

Oh and I'm also the guy who watches intently and will pipe in if things are being done wrong, but I pipe in with the foreman, not the workers. They are his responsibility to manage so I communicate issues at that level...

 

[Smokey mcpot]

Don’t see much in terms of doors. Everything is aluminum these days.

I did however see a door that I’d like to try and make sometime. I’ll post a link if I can find it

 

[SAguy]

Yeah I’ll admit there are times when guys do things differently. I don’t get too annoyed with people unless they start getting to my guys. I’m generally the one over explaining how and why we’re doing things the way we do.
I welcome questions or ideas.

and yes, deadlines are the main cause of screw ups.

How would you feel about either being appointed (or having appointed over you) an independent foreman/project manager? Think it's a waste of money and another party to have problems with?