The Home Improvements Thread (2)

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SAguy said:
They will find a way to damage something... trust me. These builders are rough on taps as well, I don't know if they try bungy jump off the stuff or what... but your outside tap is going to take a beating if they use it.
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I have spares for just that reason...

Actually, at the moment all my outside taps are the cheapshyte ones from Builders until ALL my renovations are finished. Then I will replace them all with decent quality brass ones that I like.
 
The sad reality is, when it comes to building, you need to be the worlds biggest ****. Otherwise the builders will take you for a ****.
 
calypso said:
The sad reality is, when it comes to building, you need to be the worlds biggest ****. Otherwise the builders will take you for a ****.
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Don't disagree, but don't entirely agree either.
Unfortunately/fortunately my wife and I are generous people, so if a labourer breaks something then I think to myself - R100 for him to fix it is half a days wages... R100 for me is nothing by comparison.

So we try to be reasonable, but err on the side of making financial compromises. We don't accept poor workmanship, but have often come to an agreement to help redo things that haven't been done properly.

We do this not because we're softies, but because at the end of the day it seems like builders tend to punish the labourers when they make mistakes - and that's not something I can stomach.
 
SAguy said:
Don't disagree, but don't entirely agree either.
Unfortunately/fortunately my wife and I are generous people, so if a labourer breaks something then I think to myself - R100 for him to fix it is half a days wages... R100 for me is nothing by comparison.

So we try to be reasonable, but err on the side of making financial compromises. We don't accept poor workmanship, but have often come to an agreement to help redo things that haven't been done properly.

We do this not because we're softies, but because at the end of the day it seems like builders tend to punish the labourers when they make mistakes - and that's not something I can stomach.
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Its always a balancing act, no questions on that front..

But stupid shyte like the aircon thing, that was pure bloody laziness really and I personally wouldn't be able to come to some sort of "arrangement" on that front.
 
ToxicBunny said:
I have spares for just that reason...

Actually, at the moment all my outside taps are the cheapshyte ones from Builders until ALL my renovations are finished. Then I will replace them all with decent quality brass ones that I like.
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I had a stopcock on my outside tap, mainly as the actual outside tap has been buggered by them.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Its always a balancing act, no questions on that front..

But stupid shyte like the aircon thing, that was pure bloody laziness really and I personally wouldn't be able to come to some sort of "arrangement" on that front.
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For sure yeah... utter stupidity I can't help - so the aircon story he's on his own.
If there are damages I'd be willing to trade the cost off for extra labour to do other things
 
spiff said:
Not sure of the latest building regs, but can a neighbour build a wooden Wendy house on the boundary wall without building plans or neighbours permission?
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No, had to get approval and fire consulatant involved for a one that was built over the building line and about 900mm from the wall. It can pose a fire risk to your neighbours so they would like to see what preventative measures are put in place. This was in Tshwane.
 
How level should a floor be after using self levelling screed?

I made the builders lift all the vinyl planks and screed the floor today, but I can see trowel marks in the screed. It's nearly dry.

Should I be able to like roll a golf ball slowly and it should roll completely smoothly without bumps and dips?
 
SAguy said:
How level should a floor be after using self levelling screed?

I made the builders lift all the vinyl planks and screed the floor today, but I can see trowel marks in the screed. It's nearly dry.

Should I be able to like roll a golf ball slowly and it should roll completely smoothly without bumps and dips?
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are they just small ridges or are there very obviously valleys etc, maybe take a pic?
 
Steamy Tom said:
are they just small ridges or are there very obviously valleys etc, maybe take a pic?
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I think its more just ridges from as the trowel moved the screed around.. hard to see on the pics though.

20201215_195152.jpg

20201215_195204.jpg
 
SAguy said:
I think its more just ridges from as the trowel moved the screed around.. hard to see on the pics though.

View attachment 976496

View attachment 976498
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If the floor does not have high spots, it should be fine.. i.e, a level or straight edge does not teeter totter when placed on the floor.. or very large low spots, where weight on the floor would make an obvious impression..
 
WAslayer said:
If the floor does not have high spots, it should be fine.. i.e, a level or straight edge does not teeter totter when placed on the floor.. or very large low spots, where weight on the floor would make an obvious impression..
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Will test it out in the morning and see if there are any high spots that I could possibly sand down
 
Also just heard that my electrician passed away, he was here Thursday... he looked tired and he said no it's just hot in the roof, he collapsed on Friday while getting ready to come to work and passed away yesterday.

Feel like my site is jinxed:
1 car stolen in front of my house
3 separate car accidents with the labourers vehicles (on way to/from my house)
1 hijacking/intimidation from taxi drivers
Now death of an electrician
 
SAguy said:
Also just heard that my electrician passed away, he was here Thursday... he looked tired and he said no it's just hot in the roof, he collapsed on Friday while getting ready to come to work and passed away yesterday.

Feel like my site is jinxed:
1 car stolen in front of my house
3 separate car accidents with the labourers vehicles (on way to/from my house)
1 hijacking/intimidation from taxi drivers
Now death of an electrician
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Your experience sounds similiar to mine when we did the kitchen, in my case, the plumber died.
 
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