The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[SAguy]

I start cleaning up,and preparing for my renovation starting 01 March this weekend - wish me luck Really hoping it goes well for a change. Already over budget - sitting at R62,000 vs R47,000 for the new office.

Good luck, really hoping it goes better than almost every other renovation project to ever happen in the history of renovations...

 

[redleh]

Hi everyone,
I have noticed that with the rain and also pest, cracks have started appearing between our outside walls and the paving.
How do I fill those cracks ? Do I just use cement or is there any other better and more durable solution to solve this ?

 

[SAguy]

Hi everyone,
I have noticed that with the rain and also pest, cracks have started appearing between our outside walls and the paving.
How do I fill those cracks ? Do I just use cement or is there any other better and more durable solution to solve this ?

View attachment 1019258

Cracks are caused because of movement, and I assume your house isn't moving but the pavers. If you want a proper fix I'd probably want to dig up all the pavers and have a bit of a concrete slab laid there and then pavers put back.

A single row of pavers is always going to struggle to stay in place, and filling the cracks is just a temporary solution.

 

[Breaker187]

You mention three brands... why those specifically? There are many other companies that manufacture braai inserts as well.

Those are the brands that have come up commercially, I'm thinking easy of part availability.

 

[Breaker187]

Be prepared to have something redone at least once.

aim for a standard size, that way you can replace braai grids in the future. I have a custom built in and have had to have a replacement grill custom made at significant cost - I did opt for a stainless steel grid though but still a PITA

Yeah going with a standard 1200 one. When you say have something redone, can you give examples so I know what to look out for?

 

[ElixirCoder]

Yeah going with a standard 1200 one. When you say have something redone, can you give examples so I know what to look out for?

Just a builder will surprise you by effing up the most random things and often the only fix is a redo.

 

[SAguy]

Those are the brands that have come up commercially, I'm thinking easy of part availability.

These aren't things that I'd say generally need parts though... nothing wrong with those brands, just that there are other brands out there too.

I went with Lava fires for my braai, happy with their service and quality of the braai I got from them.

Just a builder will surprise you by effing up the most random things and often the only fix is a redo.

Yeah, like my builder told me that he knows how to fit a braai... only afterwards found out that if you're going to plaster and paint around it, it's better to gradually make bigger fires before painting to allow the cement to dry out a bit.

My builder didn't do this so now I need to grind out 10mm all around my braai and have it patched up with a special additive to make it more heat resistant.

 

[scienide]

Hi all, wasn't sure where to ask, but can this Sonoff POW 16A version possibly be used to schedule my geyser to turn on and off?

The current geyser timer unit has died, so as I have one of these Sonoff's spare, thought maybe I could use it instead. The geyser breaker on the DB is 20A though, so not sure if the 16A Sonoff would work? I suppose it would knacker the Sonoff before tripping the breaker if something went wrong...

have 1 of these on my pool and 1 on my geyser for last 5 years.
Zero issues

 

[scienide]

Just a follow up to this post.

It has been three weeks now with Activator D.
LOTS AND LOTS of rain. Actually had to backwash to drop the level a bit because it was overflowing last week.
I have only run the pump every second or even third day for 4hrs at most.

Pool water is still close to perfect. With nothing else added at all. Only the monthly floater that has always been in the pool on the smallest setting.

Forgive the darkish spots on the bottom of the pool. Pool needs repainting. Hasn't been done in 15yrs.
Will tackle that baby in the winter.

View attachment 1014534

nice camera quality. what brand etc?

 

[APoc184]

nice camera quality. what brand etc?

Reolink.

Plenty of discussion about them in the outdoor smart camera thread.
Pretty much because of that thread I decided on them.

 

[howardb]

have 1 of these on my pool and 1 on my geyser for last 5 years.
Zero issues

Many thanks!
Going to try fit it tomorrow

 

[Breaker187]

These aren't things that I'd say generally need parts though... nothing wrong with those brands, just that there are other brands out there too.

I went with Lava fires for my braai, happy with their service and quality of the braai I got from them.


Yeah, like my builder told me that he knows how to fit a braai... only afterwards found out that if you're going to plaster and paint around it, it's better to gradually make bigger fires before painting to allow the cement to dry out a bit.

My builder didn't do this so now I need to grind out 10mm all around my braai and have it patched up with a special additive to make it more heat resistant.

View attachment 1019574

So I was given strict instructions and from the one contractor already, probably why I like him . He was like, if you don't want any cracks, wait at least 21days before making a fire. And there after small fires to start with, so seems like he is on to something

 

[Smokey mcpot]

So I was given strict instructions and from the one contractor already, probably why I like him . He was like, if you don't want any cracks, wait at least 21days before making a fire. And there after small fires to start with, so seems like he is on to something

He knows his stuff. I generally don’t go into fireplaces at all because I know I’ll have come backs. I stick to what I know instead.

the thing people don’t realize is that the 21 days (Actually more) is needed for the cement to cure properly. Now when just plastering and painting the house does not get subjected to extreme temps hence people start painting around 2-3 days after plaster has dried.

 

[SAguy]

So I was given strict instructions and from the one contractor already, probably why I like him . He was like, if you don't want any cracks, wait at least 21days before making a fire. And there after small fires to start with, so seems like he is on to something

Definitely good advice... I've learnt the hard way, now need to fix it myself.

On a slightly related note though I let my builder know that his services are no longer required. I did this after he told me I'm being unfair towards him for expecting him to have deadlines that he needs to stick to. Couldn't deal with him anymore...

 

[Breaker187]

Wait, so

Definitely good advice... I've learnt the hard way, now need to fix it myself.

On a slightly related note though I let my builder know that his services are no longer required. I did this after he told me I'm being unfair towards him for expecting him to have deadlines that he needs to stick to. Couldn't deal with him anymore...

Wait so, its unreasonable that he sticks to deadlines he has set, eina.... Reading all the other threads @SAguy , what did you do to piss off the construction gods

 

[ToxicBunny]

Definitely good advice... I've learnt the hard way, now need to fix it myself.

On a slightly related note though I let my builder know that his services are no longer required. I did this after he told me I'm being unfair towards him for expecting him to have deadlines that he needs to stick to. Couldn't deal with him anymore...

Original builder, or a new one?

 

[SAguy]

Wait, so

Wait so, its unreasonable that he sticks to deadlines he has set, eina.... Reading all the other threads @SAguy , what did you do to piss off the construction gods

Don't even know man... we're not superstitious people but damn... feeling cursed.
Plus our geyser broke the weekend too... just thermostat/element, but still... haven't had hot water since Saturday.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Don't even know man... we're not superstitious people but damn... feeling cursed.
Plus our geyser broke the weekend too... just thermostat/element, but still... haven't had hot water since Saturday.

thermostat/element... easy fix...

Mission off to nearest plumbing supply store and get replacements and fit new... Push your limits and learn something new and save money...

 

[SAguy]

thermostat/element... easy fix...

Mission off to nearest plumbing supply store and get replacements and fit new... Push your limits and learn something new and save money...

I used to do it before, but that was on older looking geysers - but you're right, I should learn to do it myself. Not worth the hassle of insurance claim.

The plumbers are busy here today redoing some plumbing though (decent guys who know how to use a level and tape measure)... so I just asked them to do it - but I'll see how they do it and know for next time.

 

[SAguy]

Here's a bit of a brain teaser for you guys.
My geyser just suddenly started tripping the earth leakage.

Thermostat and element replaced, no change.
Removed isolator at geyser to see if that's faulty, no change.
Wired a lamp straight into the power before the isolator, still trips.
Switched breakers in db, still trips earth leakage.
During all the testing the only thing I didn't disconnect was the earth wire, running to the geyser.

So it's got nothing to do with the geyser, isolator or wiring between isolator and geyser.

Any ideas? Getting a sparky to come look tomorrow....