The Home Improvements Thread (2)

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ElixirCoder said:
I'm not sure what we're looking at? Blistering or cracking?
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I don't know if it qualifies as blisters as I don't see a bubble at all first. It just looks like a small crack and then eventually a piece as big as a R5 usually comes off. In the picture the piece that came off is much bigger though, about 7cm wide I would say (without going outside to check again).
 
xrapidx said:
Likes like the lining is pulling away from the marbelite
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Something like that, although it almost looks to me like there is another layer and it's not quite on the marbelite yet. Not sure though. I've reached out to a pool company as well, waiting on them to come back to me.
 
It's the gelcoat / flowcoat peeling. Substrate (fibreglass, should be) was not properly prepared / ground / "keyed".
They've applied the gelcoat to shiny new resin / fibreglass without grinding it rough first.
Common phenomenon on boats.
 
Interesting. So is a possible fix to remove the gel coat, roughen up the fiberglass and reapply a new layer of the coating? Still a hell of a job but at least it means you don't start from scratch.
 
My worry is that everyone recommends grout... which could be the problem. However we also waterproof a shower to prevent this bubbling since grout doesn’t last forever. The issue could even be a plumbing connection within the wall that’s causing the issue, or as I found in my own shower that the trap was actually clogged up and then started leaking at the join under the mosaics.

you could probably try the grout route and repaint the wall (cheapest test method for now). If it does start again though you’re going to have to start chopping.

not saying it’s the same in your case, but in 2019 we did 3 bathrooms after each other where the previous contractor did no form of waterproofing around the bath and shower. We practically had to redo the showers and refit the baths and tiles around it.

Now the grout issue would normally be where the wall and floor meets and then a line of damp on the wall behind it. holding thumbs that it’s just the grout.
 
Yeah I would start with the grout, as its the easiest and cheapest place to start.

But my guess is the waterproofing behind the shower was done poorly at best and you are probably always going to have some issues with that wall unless you rip everything out and redo it. :(
 
I asked this question in the Battery thread, not sure if it is the right place so i thought ill post it here as well.

Would it be a good investment to take a second loan on your house to buy an inverter, batteries and panels?
 
Doom5003 said:
I asked this question in the Battery thread, not sure if it is the right place so i thought ill post it here as well.

Would it be a good investment to take a second loan on your house to buy an inverter, batteries and panels?
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I think so.
I've been in my house 24 years. I won't install full solar here now, because we plan on moving to our retirement abode in the next couple of years.
But had I known in 1997 what I know now (about Eskom) I definitely would have gone the solar route then.
But, hey, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I could definitely have recouped the investment over those 24 years.
 
Grouter said:
I think so.
I've been in my house 24 years. I won't install full solar here now, because we plan on moving to our retirement abode in the next couple of years.
But had I known in 1997 what I know now (about Eskom) I definitely would have gone the solar route then.
But, hey, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I could definitely have recouped the investment over those 24 years.
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We have been living here for about 5-6 years and dont plan on moving anytime soon or ever. And even if we were to move, we would rent it out and not sell it.
 
Just of note, im not looking on going off-grid, just a good 5kw inverter, some panels and a few batteries. Basically just a good starting point to help with loadshedding and then upgrade as the time goes buy.
 
Doom5003 said:
Just of note, im not looking on going off-grid, just a good 5kw inverter, some panels and a few batteries. Basically just a good starting point to help with loadshedding and then upgrade as the time goes buy.
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I really don't think you can go wrong. It just comes down to what you can afford (like most things in life).
 
Doom5003 said:
Just of note, im not looking on going off-grid, just a good 5kw inverter, some panels and a few batteries. Basically just a good starting point to help with loadshedding and then upgrade as the time goes buy.
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TBH, do your sums VERY carefully, but yes there is nothing wrong with extending your bond to finance it, or dipping into your access facility to pay for the stuff if you have the funds available. Just make sure that what you save in electricity is funelled into that facility to pay it off quickly and get you the required ROI

I would be wary of getting normal finance to do it though as the rates can be quite high, but again do your numbers to make sure it makes sense for you.
 
Grouter said:
Check the shower arm to wall plate fitting is not leaking. Seen this one a few times - after a fortune is spent on chasing leaks in grout and tiles and shower trays, and it turned out to be that.

View attachment 1042399
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Yeah, only when I started cleaning the house and bathrooms myself last year (during first lockdown) did I notice that the portable hand shower attachment in my shower was leaking and probably going behind the Tiles and wall. Managed the tighten it just right after a few attempts and it's good . Never noticed it when I was just showering.


PS. Also do a way better job cleaning than my domestic but i need to contribute to the economy and can accept a little mediocrity in cleaning as long as I don't have to do it.
 
InternetLuddite said:
Yeah, only when I started cleaning the house and bathrooms myself last year (during first lockdown) did I notice that the portable hand shower attachment in my shower was leaking and probably going behind the Tiles and wall. Managed the tighten it just right after a few attempts and it's good . Never noticed it when I was just showering.


PS. Also do a way better job cleaning than my domestic but i need to contribute to the economy and can accept a little mediocrity in cleaning as long as I don't have to do it.
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Ain't that always the case...

My house was way cleaner at the start of lockdown when I didn't have a domestic for about 3 months and I had to do it, but my gawd the hack of having to do it every weekend pissed on my battery so I'll accept the house being 95% clean and contribute to the economy by having a domestic one day a week...
 
ToxicBunny said:
TBH, do your sums VERY carefully, but yes there is nothing wrong with extending your bond to finance it, or dipping into your access facility to pay for the stuff if you have the funds available. Just make sure that what you save in electricity is funelled into that facility to pay it off quickly and get you the required ROI

I would be wary of getting normal finance to do it though as the rates can be quite high, but again do your numbers to make sure it makes sense for you.
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No doubt, ill be double checking costs and increase in bill beforehand.

Ill most likely be looking at about R100 000 as the max im willing to extend the loan, so whole deal including attorneys will have to be included in that amount.
 
Doom5003 said:
I asked this question in the Battery thread, not sure if it is the right place so i thought ill post it here as well.

Would it be a good investment to take a second loan on your house to buy an inverter, batteries and panels?
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You need to weigh it up against the repayment term and include interest and also take into account that you will likely have to replace batteries in anything from 5 - 10 years
 
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