The Home Improvements Thread (2)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re ants invading house :-

In the last few weeks , ants have been digging up through the paving around the house, managed to find their way into my toilets and bathrooms and basins. Cant work out how they getting there. I even found them in my oven coming via a window close to the oven

While I thought I sorted them out using those round ant trap things ,.tonight they have invaded my scullery and got into the cupboard with the bin. They seem to be coming behind the units and I see a few by the external scullery door/ceiling.

I am losing my marbles with them

What's the best way to deal with them permanently. I guess maybe a pest controller but wanting to get thoughts beforehand.
 
InternetLuddite said:
Re ants invading house :-

In the last few weeks , ants have been digging up through the paving around the house, managed to find their way into my toilets and bathrooms and basins. Cant work out how they getting there. I even found them in my oven coming via a window close to the oven

While I thought I sorted them out using those round ant trap things ,.tonight they have invaded my scullery and got into the cupboard with the bin. They seem to be coming behind the units and I see a few by the external scullery door/ceilinam losing my marbles with them

What's the best way to deal with them permanently. I guess maybe a pest controller but wanting to get thoughts beforehand.
Click to expand...

Those round things are useless, try maxforce any bait from builders, comes in like a plastic container with an orange label for around R3xx
 
maumau said:
We've had roots interfering too but from shrubs not trees.

Drain Surgeon run a spiral cable down the pipe to remove roots and debris.
Click to expand...
Thanks, any idea on the cost of this.

This appears to be a short term solution as in a year or two it would be back to square one.

Best solution may be to replace the pipe, any thoughts on this?
 
smiley-zn said:
Thanks, any idea on the cost of this.

This appears to be a short term solution as in a year or two it would be back to square one.

Best solution may be to replace the pipe, any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
My previous house we had issues with roots every 6 months or so drain surgeon would cone out and clear out the pipes. Finally we had 2 sections of 5m pipe replaced by them on different occasions for 20k each time.
 
InternetLuddite said:
Re ants invading house :-

In the last few weeks , ants have been digging up through the paving around the house, managed to find their way into my toilets and bathrooms and basins. Cant work out how they getting there. I even found them in my oven coming via a window close to the oven

While I thought I sorted them out using those round ant trap things ,.tonight they have invaded my scullery and got into the cupboard with the bin. They seem to be coming behind the units and I see a few by the external scullery door/ceiling.

I am losing my marbles with them

What's the best way to deal with them permanently. I guess maybe a pest controller but wanting to get thoughts beforehand.
Click to expand...
Fedona. Not cheap but crazy concentrated. Lasts up to 6 months inside where you apply. Shorter outside.

Inside i use a paint brush to apply around windows and any place you saw them walk etc.

Outside I spray, since I do it more regularly.

Fedona is rated to be used in hospitals I believe so safe for most pets, especially after it dried.

It's unfortunately a continuous ritual for me but they far less of a problem now than 2 months ago.
 
Tinuva said:
Fedona. Not cheap but crazy concentrated. Lasts up to 6 months inside where you apply. Shorter outside.

Inside i use a paint brush to apply around windows and any place you saw them walk etc.

Outside I spray, since I do it more regularly.

Fedona is rated to be used in hospitals I believe so safe for most pets, especially after it dried.

It's unfortunately a continuous ritual for me but they far less of a problem now than 2 months ago.
Click to expand...
Looks good, used for poultry sheds too, which means that it should not kill birds.

Fendona 6 , 1liter – Pest Control Chemicals

pestcontrolchemicals.co.za pestcontrolchemicals.co.za
 
Thanks all on the advice on ant management will review and implement after reading up on some . Have to consider my children who play or could touch those areas
 
Ianvn said:
My previous house we had issues with roots every 6 months or so drain surgeon would cone out and clear out the pipes. Finally we had 2 sections of 5m pipe replaced by them on different occasions for 20k each time.
Click to expand...

i would just dig it up and replace it myself O_O (well i would support some enterprising young gentleman to do the digging)
 
smiley-zn said:
Thanks, any idea on the cost of this.

This appears to be a short term solution as in a year or two it would be back to square one.

Best solution may be to replace the pipe, any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

They didn't charge extra for cleaning out shrub roots but for a tree, I'm not sure.

Maybe give them a call or like @Gozado said get rid of the tree - although I'm against cutting trees down we've removed 3 or 4 in the last couple of years for various reasons.

The next beautiful tree to go will be a beautiful Celtis Africana because we can't keep fsking pigeons away.
 
Steamy Tom said:
i would just dig it up and replace it myself O_O (well i would support some enterprising young gentleman to do the digging)
Click to expand...

Yup, I had an issue where the pipe going into one of the drains on the sewerage line had slipped on my property.

I employed an enterprising young gentleman for the digging work portion (and paid him extra because of the literally crap work), and we fixed it. Decidedly not a fun job clambering around in that mess, but it had to be done. What a plumber would probably have hit me a good chunk for, ended up costing me about R600 all in with labour and materials and a day of my time on a weekend.
 
maumau said:
Maybe give them a call or like @Gozado said get rid of the tree - although I'm against cutting trees down we've removed 3 or 4 in the last couple of years for various reasons.

The next beautiful tree to go will be a beautiful Celtis Africana because we can't keep fsking pigeons away.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's a great pity to cut down a tree if it can be avoided. I seem to remember that little streamers of shreds of sparkly something, such as aluminum foil, or CDs, mounted in the tree, deter at least some kinds of birds. How you'd get such up to the crown is another matter... perhaps deliver by drone?
 
Yes those roots are a crap one! I ended up going to a student accommodation once a month to unblock and remove roots from jan 2018 into around July 2019. Owner was selling the place and said the cost of replacing was going to be too much. He did however recommend me to the new owner
 
Whats the man difference, if any between polished concrete, screed flooring, and epoxy flooring? Trying to decide on an alternative to the vinyl flooring in the office - even though we have blinds, my wife suspects I won't keep them closed enough - and the flooring will get damaged.
 
xrapidx said:
Whats the man difference, if any between polished concrete, screed flooring, and epoxy flooring? Trying to decide on an alternative to the vinyl flooring in the office - even though we have blinds, my wife suspects I won't keep them closed enough - and the flooring will get damaged.
Click to expand...
Thought of going engineered wood?
 
Gozado said:
Yes, it's a great pity to cut down a tree if it can be avoided. I seem to remember that little streamers of shreds of sparkly something, such as aluminum foil, or CDs, mounted in the tree, deter at least some kinds of birds. How you'd get such up to the crown is another matter... perhaps deliver by drone?
Click to expand...

I've tried CDs, sparkly tape, plastic snakes, home made scarecrow .....

Next step is one of those hunting lights. I can borrow one and if that doesn't work I'll have to learn to fly a drone. Considered spinning triangles on the roof but they aren't neighbour friendly.
 
xrapidx said:
Whats the man difference, if any between polished concrete, screed flooring, and epoxy flooring? Trying to decide on an alternative to the vinyl flooring in the office - even though we have blinds, my wife suspects I won't keep them closed enough - and the flooring will get damaged.
Click to expand...
Polished concrete is the base concrete ground down to reveal the aggregate and polished to a super smooth surface. It can take a sealer for outdoor applications. It is an expensive process unless you DIY and INCREDIBLY messy. I’ve done a few of these in the past and it’s not hard to do yourself. Concrete can crack and these will be visible in your floor, but that often adds to the appeal.

screed is a cement based application on top of the floor and is generally uniform in color and surface. It is also sealed, and can crack if not applied properly or is applied on top of a cracking concrete substrate. This can also be quite messy but nowhere near as messy as polished concrete.

epoxy floors are an opaque epoxy generally painted on that hardens to a smooth, polished and hard surface. It is considered ‘warmer’ than the other two. This is the fastest solution and also the least messy, although the fumes are quite substantial.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X