The Home Improvements Thread (2)

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Hell no, no bonus. The builder has built in their profit margin into that cost.
Yeah, that's definitely a fair way at looking at it. I've just heard a lot of people talk about bonuses for builders, so hence my question/uncertainty.
 
I wouldn't pay a bonus.. if you are rendering me a service, you would have billed me at a rate that includes your profit and, that service should always be rendered in such a way as if a bonus is deserved.. that's just called taking pride in your work..
 
With our renovations I'm trying to keep money aside for a bonus for the builder, should everything go well... There have been some snags so far, but nothing he hasn't been sure to sort out.

Anyone here pay bonus's to the builder for a biggish project? If so, how much?
For reference the builder's cost for these renovations are R320k.

its kinda odd to be honest
 
Ok, so it's not the normal/expected then. Instead of paying bonus money I will try convince my wife to let us get a convertible pool table dining table instead ;)

I think I've been generous and kind enough as it is to the guys. Every day I either make them (up to 10 people on site) coffee, or take out a couple of 2 litre cheap cooldrinks. Most Fridays I've bought them all a chip roll for lunch and have made them boerewors rolls as well on one occasion.

That's not so much about rewarding them, just how I was raised to look after "guests" at our house.
 
Bonus is definitely not expected. However I would rather give the guys working for him a bonus.

My main client Always gives my guys extra.

personally for your current situation with all the issues you had to point out, I would not even be considering giving a bonus. It should be earned.
Ok, so it's not the normal/expected then. Instead of paying bonus money I will try convince my wife to let us get a convertible pool table dining table instead ;)

I think I've been generous and kind enough as it is to the guys. Every day I either make them (up to 10 people on site) coffee, or take out a couple of 2 litre cheap cooldrinks. Most Fridays I've bought them all a chip roll for lunch and have made them boerewors rolls as well on one occasion.

That's not so much about rewarding them, just how I was raised to look after "guests" at our house.

Trust me that makes a huge difference. My guys would go the extra mile when a client treats them like a human
 
Ok, so it's not the normal/expected then. Instead of paying bonus money I will try convince my wife to let us get a convertible pool table dining table instead ;)

I think I've been generous and kind enough as it is to the guys. Every day I either make them (up to 10 people on site) coffee, or take out a couple of 2 litre cheap cooldrinks. Most Fridays I've bought them all a chip roll for lunch and have made them boerewors rolls as well on one occasion.

That's not so much about rewarding them, just how I was raised to look after "guests" at our house.

Now that sort of thing is actually WAY more well-received than giving the big boss a bonus.

It makes for a much more pleasant working environment for them, and the guys will generally work better at your site than they will at other sites.

That sort of thing I think is small money well spent.
 
Trust me that makes a huge difference. My guys would go the extra mile when a client treats them like a human

100% agree. I have a guy I use for projects around the house that are beyond my capabilities or that I don't have the time for. I always treat him and his crew well and they have consistently gone the extra mile for me as a result.
 
Ok, so it's not the normal/expected then. Instead of paying bonus money I will try convince my wife to let us get a convertible pool table dining table instead ;)

I think I've been generous and kind enough as it is to the guys. Every day I either make them (up to 10 people on site) coffee, or take out a couple of 2 litre cheap cooldrinks. Most Fridays I've bought them all a chip roll for lunch and have made them boerewors rolls as well on one occasion.

That's not so much about rewarding them, just how I was raised to look after "guests" at our house.
Did the same for builders at my place last year, but I provided them all breakfast and lunch and drinks/snacks in between, I kept track of those costs, was about 8k over two months. Was happy to do it. Also gave them free WiFi (which I was appreciated so much)
 
Random question, can a welder be rented, and how difficult is the skill?

I need to weld 16 nuts onto existing bolts (allan key type) so I can remove them. (Allan key hole stripped)
 
Random question, can a welder be rented, and how difficult is the skill?

I need to weld 16 nuts onto existing bolts (allan key type) so I can remove them. (Allan key hole stripped)

Yeah they can be rented..

And the skill isn't alll that difficult if you aren't looking for perfect welds and are just looking to join to items together...
 
Random question, can a welder be rented, and how difficult is the skill?

I need to weld 16 nuts onto existing bolts (allan key type) so I can remove them. (Allan key hole stripped)
Yeah they can be rented..

And the skill isn't alll that difficult if you aren't looking for perfect welds and are just looking to join to items together...
Well, considering the use case, you may not need perfect welds but, you need strong welds.. Allen bolts must be stuck pretty good if they heads are stripped.. to make sure you get a strong weld to fit the use case, you need some skill..

xrapidx, if you have a blow torch of any kind, could be this canister ones, heat the bolts, clamp a vice grip onto the head and give it a twist.. I would spray some q20 to penetrate the threads and let it sit for an hour before attempting..
 
Attached to the car, combination of rust, and being sprayed over.

Trying to take the doors off to work on them, slowly getting ready for complete body redo.

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Oivey, ok no... That will require some serious skill to avoid blowing through the surrounding metal, if it is metal.. there seem to be some strange cracks surrounding those hinges.

I would possibly tend towards maybe getting some sacrificial allen keys that fit in the holes, and try welding them in place rather than trying to weld nuts on top of those bolts.
 
Get all paint off the bolt heads.. get nuts which inner diameter is smaller than the diameter of the nut.. 3mm at least.. you can then weld the inside diameter of the nut to the bolt head.. using a smaller inner diameter and ensuring the nut is flat against the head, should avoid issues with welding on the surroundings by accident and wouldn't require too much skill on your end but, a few YouTube videos wouldn't hurt..
 
Oivey, ok no... That will require some serious skill to avoid blowing through the surrounding metal, if it is metal.. there seem to be some strange cracks surrounding those hinges.

I would possibly tend towards maybe getting some sacrificial allen keys that fit in the holes, and try welding them in place rather than trying to weld nuts on top of those bolts.

The cracks are actually from me trying to remove the nuts - its the body paint flaking off - top right - I think I'll soon discover is a combination of rust - and body putty.


Get all paint off the bolt heads.. get nuts which inner diameter is smaller than the diameter of the nut.. 3mm at least.. you can then weld the inside diameter of the nut to the bolt head.. using a smaller inner diameter and ensuring the nut is flat against the head, should avoid issues with welding on the surroundings by accident and wouldn't require too much skill on your end but, a few YouTube videos wouldn't hurt..

I had something similiar in mind.

Initial plan was to use a dremel and cut the head off - but - not 100% sure what'll be left on the other side.
 
The cracks are actually from me trying to remove the nuts - its the body paint flaking off - top right - I think I'll soon discover is a combination of rust - and body putty.




I had something similiar in mind.

Initial plan was to use a dremel and cut the head off - but - not 100% sure what'll be left on the other side.
If you cut the head off you are going to end up with the bolt still stuck on the door and body and getting that out will be an even bigger challenge..
 
Get all paint off the bolt heads.. get nuts which inner diameter is smaller than the diameter of the nut.. 3mm at least.. you can then weld the inside diameter of the nut to the bolt head.. using a smaller inner diameter and ensuring the nut is flat against the head, should avoid issues with welding on the surroundings by accident and wouldn't require too much skill on your end but, a few YouTube videos wouldn't hurt..
Spline socket bit bigger than allen 'hit' into the stripped allen bolts might also work
 
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