The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[Off-The-Chart]

Hi all, any ideas how to get these 14mm bolts out from the burglar bars? The guys who fitted them seem to have used those bolts with the heads that break off once fitted.
Have to use the same holes again to refit them, so can't just grind them off... there's 12 bolts per set of bars.

We are changing the window frame fittings and have to remove the bars first; can't be fitted from the inside apparently.

Tried a normal spanner to try edge them out slightly so I could use my power sockets to remove them the rest of the way, but they won't budge at all with a spanner.

Edit : forgot the picture...

why can't you grind them off?

that won't damage the holes and if that is like a normal bolt head, it should be sitting flush with the wall piece?

you would essentially only be grinding the head off

unless you also meant that you want to use the actually bolts as well (you said the holes, but not the actual bolts)

if not, won't there also be an issue trying to remove the actual bolts from the wall?

 

[maumau]

Some final touching up to do. Electrician will be back on Monday for covers for the plug points and properly fitting the down lights. Our current gas stove is an old general electric that is going on 25 years now but we've spaced it for a 900mm sized stove in future.

We'll probably change the lounge layout later but at least we can make food in the kitchen for the first time and just in time for Ramadan which starts tomorrow.

All in this has come to a R200k renovation including the underfloor heating and no new appliances.

We decided to not do the back and from doors as there was just not enough budget for those but they will get a refurbish and a new paint job. View attachment 1282472View attachment 1282474View attachment 1282476View attachment 1282478View attachment 1282480View attachment 1282482

Looks great, amazing that the job came in at R200k, well done.

 

[WAslayer]

why can't you grind them off?

that won't damage the holes and if that is like a normal bolt head, it should be sitting flush with the wall piece?

you would essentially only be grinding the head off

unless you also meant that you want to use the actually bolts as well (you said the holes, but not the actual bolts)

if not, won't there also be an issue trying to remove the actual bolts from the wall?

To reuse the same holes, the bolts need to come out.. grinding the heads off make removing the bolts from the holes monumentally more difficult, since there is no longer a head to put a spanner/socket to

You are then left welding a nut to the little bit of bolt sticking out the wall or drilling out the bolt..

Neither approaches are easy..

If he is lucky, there is enough bolt sticking out to lock a vice grip onto and the bolts come out easily enough that way..

 

[TedLasso]

We may have gone overboard with plug points in the kitchen with 7 plug points and all of them are double plugs. Excluding the plugs for the stove and dishwasher.

Some with the new 3 pin plug, normal 3 point plugs and 1 5A USB port View attachment 1282032View attachment 1282034

Came out great. Love that you continuing with honeycomb theme on tiles. Maybe just a coincidence

 

[thehuman]

Without derailing from @AchmatK's stunning revamp, could I maybe get a quick check to see if my logic makes sense?

I would like to install 2x 2500l water tanks to catch rainwater for use inside the house.

My thinking was to install it along with a changeover valve so that I can alternate between municipal supply and harvested rainwater along with the requisite filters to ensure it's safe enough for brushing teeth and cooking (it wouldn't hurt to run the municipal water through filters either I guess).

Is my logic sound, or are there other barriers/challenges I'd need to consider? My main issue would be that the tanks would have to be on one side of the house and the municipal inlet is on the opposite end so I would need a fair bit of plumbing to get the water to the correct side. And of course, a booster pump to ensure adequate water pressure for the geyser/washing machine/taps.

If possible rather try 5kl tank now and another 5kl later , we have 3x 5kl in rowallan park, 5mm rain = 1000l of water in tank.

What we do is have cut a T somewhere on cold water , from there run the pump with a shutoff valve.

We also closing the water feed at the municipal water meter when pump in use ( suggest when municipal water closed you remove tap handle else when municipal water presure low pump supply rest of neighborhood)

 

[Off-The-Chart]

To reuse the same holes, the bolts need to come out.. grinding the heads off make removing the bolts from the holes monumentally more difficult, since there is no longer a head to put a spanner/socket to

You are then left welding a nut to the little bit of bolt sticking out the wall or drilling out the bolt..

Neither approaches are easy..

If he is lucky, there is enough bolt sticking out to lock a vice grip onto and the bolts come out easily enough that way..

had a moment there

didn't even click that they are actual bolts

I had the picture of a rawl/expansion in my head

if you have a rotary could possibly try and cut the nut part in half or if you have steady hands with a grinder

 

[Mercury12]

Builder just finished Rhinoliting 3 rooms. I'm doing the painting myself to cut some costs.

Saw some posts from years ago on other sites saying to use only solvent based primers with Rhinolite but I see water based primers can be used on gypsum plaster (Rhinolite).

Builder says go with waterbased as easier to clean up and less fumes.

Anybody have any experience with priming Rhinolite?

How much did everything cost ? I have the same issue at my place and would really like to smoothen all the walls but some of the quotes I got were really high. One guy quoted me 120k for painting and rhinoliting the whole house ( 3 bed , 2 bath) , which is insanely high for what I can afford.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

How much did everything cost ? I have the same issue at my place and would really like to smoothen all the walls but some of the quotes I got were really high. One guy quoted me 120k for painting and rhinoliting the whole house ( 3 bed , 2 bath) , which is insanely high for what I can afford.

That's a bit much. I would say the cost of painting x2 would be more realistic. My contractor did it free of charge because it was only one room, but that's the estimate he gave me as his normal price...

 

[AchmatK]

How much did everything cost ? I have the same issue at my place and would really like to smoothen all the walls but some of the quotes I got were really high. One guy quoted me 120k for painting and rhinoliting the whole house ( 3 bed , 2 bath) , which is insanely high for what I can afford.

Will try and see what mine worked out to.

It was the entire lounge, kitchen and passage that was skimmed and painted to remove the popcorn effect.

If I had to do only one thing it would have been making the walls smooth.

Now we only have the 3 bedrooms that still needs to be done.

We've spent about R630k just on renovations in the 11 years we've been living here consisting of

1. 5 car carport and balustrades on the stoep R50k
2. Main bathroom R50k
3. En suite R30k
4. Solar system R230k
5. Kitchen and lounge R200k
6. Fireplace R20k
3. Replacing most of the window frames with pvc R50k.

 

[AchmatK]

Some before and after pics and of the outside as it's progressed over the last decade.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Some before and after pics and of the outside as it's progressed over the last decade. View attachment 1283016View attachment 1283018View attachment 1283020View attachment 1283022View attachment 1283024

Now you've got space for a bigger TV...

 

[Off-The-Chart]

soap I can use with pressure washer for washing walls?

 

[Tabac]

soap I can use with pressure washer for washing walls?

Omo. Makes whites whiter and brights brighter.

 

[WAslayer]

soap I can use with pressure washer for washing walls?

Are you planning on using a foam cannon with the pressure washers and then brush to agitate dirt on the wall and then rinse with pressure washer..?

Else, if you are just planning on pumping soap through high pressure cleaner wand, just wasting your time and the soap, really..

 

[Off-The-Chart]

Are you planning on using a foam cannon with the pressure washers and then brush to agitate dirt on the wall and then rinse with pressure washer..?

Else, if you are just planning on pumping soap through high pressure cleaner wand, just wasting your time and the soap, really..

want to get rid of some bird poop and just plain water didn't seem to do much just with spraying, so maybe will do a brush as well

 

[Mr Smooth]

soap I can use with pressure washer for washing walls?

Sugar soap, liquid or powder.

 

[Mr Smooth]

Omo. Makes whites whiter and brights brighter.

There was a joke about their slogan back in the day.
Makes whites whiter
Coloureds brighter
But does nothing for black.

 

[w@nted]

Any tips on removing the leftover suction cups/roots of an ivy from plastered walls? I have removed the ivy, but these buggers are almost cemented to the wall.

 

[The_Mowgs]

Any tips on removing the leftover suction cups/roots of an ivy from plastered walls? I have removed the ivy, but these buggers are almost cemented to the wall.

Scraper is the only thing that will work. If not, just paint over it and when people ask you tell them to take the left over ivy and fuk right off.

 

[howardb]

Any tips on removing the leftover suction cups/roots of an ivy from plastered walls? I have removed the ivy, but these buggers are almost cemented to the wall.

Let them dry out then lightly sandpaper them off and paint.
Can scrape them off but it's a mission as well...