The Home Improvements Thread (2)

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I’m hesitant to recommend builders as just because I’ve had an okay experience doesn’t mean they’re going to do a good job for you. But anyway, I’ve used several but the two better companies I’ve dealt with are:

Level Contractors
and PLB Construction
 
I need to get quotes to do some roofing maintenance on my house with old roof tiles in Cape Town Northern suburbs:
1) There was a leak around the bathroom drain pipe that goes through the roof tiles which has caused a beam to collapse with some tiles - so this needs to be fixed first. It's right next to the gutter, not a big area.
2) Power wash the complete roof.
3) Waterproof the bathroom drain pipe and fireplace chimney
4) Inspect the whole roof for any issues, replace cracked tiles if there are any
5) Paint the complete roof with something like Ecorubber (or any other recommendation?)
6) Replace old asbestos gutters with PVC/aluminum (and maybe add a 2 slimline JoJo tanks at the side of the house)
7) Fix the ceiling boards at 3 places outside (or is it called soffit?) where there's been leaks in the past and have caused damage

So 3 questions:
1) Any tips on what to look out for when going through this process?
2) PVC vs aluminum gutters?
3) Any recommendations for companies to use in this area - I am done with bakkie builders, had a bad experience before.
 
So at a high level, since you're talking about roof stuff one of the first things I'd think of is investigate the state of your whole roof in terms of the underlay and battens.
Yes the cost to do this work (if its needed) is going to be big, but if you're fixing parts of your roof then its best to get the base foundation of the stuff sorted or at least made sure that its in good order.

1) You should be aware of the state of your roof, if its "wavey" then there is a good chance that your battens are not in the best shape. Do some research on that aspect so that you can get a decent roofing company to come in and quote on the work around your roof, but be forearmed with knowledge to know if they're talking shyte or trying to take the piss.

2) If money isn't a huge issue, I'd suggest Alu gutters any day of the week.

3) That unfortunately I can't help with for CPT.
 
ToxicBunny said:
So at a high level, since you're talking about roof stuff one of the first things I'd think of is investigate the state of your whole roof in terms of the underlay and battens.
Yes the cost to do this work (if its needed) is going to be big, but if you're fixing parts of your roof then its best to get the base foundation of the stuff sorted or at least made sure that its in good order.

1) You should be aware of the state of your roof, if its "wavey" then there is a good chance that your battens are not in the best shape. Do some research on that aspect so that you can get a decent roofing company to come in and quote on the work around your roof, but be forearmed with knowledge to know if they're talking shyte or trying to take the piss.

2) If money isn't a huge issue, I'd suggest Alu gutters any day of the week.

3) That unfortunately I can't help with for CPT.
Click to expand...
Any idea what the price difference is %-wise for Aluminum gutters?
 
_kabal_ said:
Finally finished our bathroom renovations.

so happy with how they came out :love:

some before and after of the main bathroom

View attachment 1143634View attachment 1143636View attachment 1143638View attachment 1143640View attachment 1143642View attachment 1143644View attachment 1143646
Click to expand...

That looks sweet, and precisely what I have in mind for one of our bathrooms (converting bathtub into shower). In fact the layout is very similar to yours except the toilet is on the opposite wall of the sink. So what did this set you back...if you don't mind me asking :P
 
_kabal_ said:
Finally finished our bathroom renovations.

so happy with how they came out :love:

some before and after of the main bathroom

View attachment 1143634View attachment 1143636View attachment 1143638View attachment 1143640View attachment 1143642View attachment 1143644View attachment 1143646
Click to expand...
..

Doesn't look like you have any woman that would be using that shower and if you do, hope you are ready for all sorts of this and that bottles either on the floor or the window sill..

My wife was supposed to exclusively use the bath when we moved in, as she hates showering, so I put in a little stainless shelf big enough for my shower gel and shampoo bottle.. not a month later and I had to install a second, double the size of mine, just for her things alone..

..
 
alu gutters?

do those have to be custom made?

have only seen your normal galvanized and PVC in the stores

@SAguy why not try some more contractors for your list and tie that 'carport' into your existing roof? :p

1 out of a few options would be to maybe:
build the roof over your existing roof and then sloping it towards gate (assuming your jojo is there where that gutter is out-letting to).
you can do a full lip channel frame and then on that low end add it's own gutter.
just please whatever you do, don't put the lip'd end on the 'outside' where the gutter will be.

as for not having it be "hokkie"-like, only thing would be to add like ornamental bracings for some aesthetics

besides a "carport" being pretty much that kind of structure, your placement also doesn't quite allow for much options in terms of looks.

can always try add some wood after you have done the main structure.
 
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Off-The-Chart said:
alu gutters?

do those have to be custom made?

have only seen your normal galvanized and PVC in the stores
Click to expand...

Guys who do them typically rock up in a truck with a big roll of flat alu, push that through a forming roller to form the gutter, to the right lengths for your roof to ensure no seams, so single run of gutter for as long as possible..
 
WAslayer said:
Guys who do them typically rock up in a truck with a big roll of flat alu, push that through a forming roller to form the gutter, to the right lengths for your roof to ensure no seams, so single run of gutter for as long as possible..
Click to expand...
Alu tho? I had that done on one side of my workshop, but that was galvanized plate. I would think that alu would be too soft.
 
WAslayer said:
Guys who do them typically rock up in a truck with a big roll of flat alu, push that through a forming roller to form the gutter, to the right lengths for your roof to ensure no seams, so single run of gutter for as long as possible..
Click to expand...

ah yes, have seen those on the YT videos of those Barndo builds, but was wondering if SA actually advanced to that extent yet :P

so alu would be > than galv even?
 
Mars said:
Alu tho? I had that done on one side of my workshop, but that was galvanized plate. I would think that alu would be too soft.
Click to expand...
Not sure on the thickness they use for the gutters, but it would have creases and folds rolled into the gutter to add rigidity.. you would be surprised how much rigidity a crease or fold can add to even the thinnest of metal sheet..

Also, the gutter is not carrying weight permanently and would easily be able to withstand the weight of water since the water is pretty much spread out over the entire length of the gutter, spreading the weight as well..
 
Off-The-Chart said:
alu gutters?

do those have to be custom made?

have only seen your normal galvanized and PVC in the stores

@SAguy why not try some more contractors for your list and tie that 'carport' into your existing roof? :p

1 out of a few options would be to maybe:
build the roof over your existing roof and then sloping it towards gate (assuming your jojo is there where that gutter is out-letting to).
you can do a full lip channel frame and then on that low end add it's own gutter.
just please whatever you do, don't put the lip'd end on the 'outside' where the gutter will be.

as for not having it be "hokkie"-like, only thing would be to add like ornamental bracings for some aesthetics

besides a "carport" being pretty much that kind of structure, your placement also doesn't quite allow for much options in terms of looks.

can always try add some wood after you have done the main structure.
Click to expand...
The only rubbish contractor I'm prepared to add to my list is me, my labour is "free" so my expectations are lekker low of myself :ROFL:

I don't quite follow your comments in bold - don't really know what that is/means.
 
Mars said:
Very nice. I'm getting money together to do our bathroom.

My estimate is about R40k. What did this cost you in the end?
Click to expand...

It was 91K, for 2 bathrooms, the main and the en-suite

Both fully stripped and everything replaced
 
WAslayer said:
..

Doesn't look like you have any woman that would be using that shower and if you do, hope you are ready for all sorts of this and that bottles either on the floor or the window sill..

My wife was supposed to exclusively use the bath when we moved in, as she hates showering, so I put in a little stainless shelf big enough for my shower gel and shampoo bottle.. not a month later and I had to install a second, double the size of mine, just for her things alone..

..
Click to expand...

Luckily we have a his (main) and hers (en-suite) :giggle:
 
SAguy said:
The only rubbish contractor I'm prepared to add to my list is me, my labour is "free" so my expectations are lekker low of myself :ROFL:

I don't quite follow your comments in bold - don't really know what that is/means.
Click to expand...

use this to make the frame:

although my preferred is lip channel for the sides, then 76 square for the ends which make the IBR fit nicely underneath and then the 76 makes for nice mounting of the gutter brackets (yes, the lip channel would also)
 
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