The Home Improvements Thread (2)

Status
Not open for further replies.
TedLasso said:
Hmm, I don't know if that's what I currently have under the IBR. It's actually quite nice being under the patio roof as it stands in summer. The extra light into house would be a godsend. It would actually bring more light into two bedrooms and our front part of house.

Damn, now this is gonna be a tough decision.
Click to expand...

Everything is a trade off, tough decision the lack of insulation and the noise from the rains will put me off. Especially if it is an enclosed patio. As my reason for enclosing it would be to get the feeling of a room sometimes.
 
TedLasso said:
Hmm, I don't know if that's what I currently have under the IBR. It's actually quite nice being under the patio roof as it stands in summer. The extra light into house would be a godsend. It would actually bring more light into two bedrooms and our front part of house.

Damn, now this is gonna be a tough decision.
Click to expand...
Also looking at putting something up for the lounge/bar patio. The house is north facing and gets plenty of light so I don't want to take that away.

Looking at a retractable awning instead of louvres. Put it doesn't when we want to use it, otherwise fold it it away. Something like this...

Folding Arm Awnings

Explore Solara’s Folding Arm Awnings for stylish outdoor shade solutions in Cape Town, perfect for homes and businesses.
solara.co.za solara.co.za
 
Last edited:
WAslayer said:
The discoloration on the ceiling boards is most likely caused by condensation underneath the metal sheets..
Click to expand...
That's what the builder said. I chose not to agree (without any knowledge myself) but when we open up the ceiling , we will know. I think the reason I did not believe this was the sole cause is how fast those boards got to that level considering we had that roof for at least 3 years since the last repairs.
kory said:
Everything is a trade off, tough decision the lack of insulation and the noise from the rains will put me off. Especially if it is an enclosed patio. As my reason for enclosing it would be to get the feeling of a room sometimes.
Click to expand...
I have to admit, I never ever paid attention to the noise and now that is a factor too . Also I think the patio definitely with a ceiling looks like a part of the house (as it does not) with an IBR roof being visible not so much.
Mike Hoxbig said:
Also looking at putting something up for the lounge/bar patio. The house is north facing and gets plenty of light so I don't want to take that away.

Looking at a retractable awning instead of louvres. Put it doesn't when we want to use it, otherwise fold it it away. Something like this...

Folding Arm Awnings

Explore Solara’s Folding Arm Awnings for stylish outdoor shade solutions in Cape Town, perfect for homes and businesses.
solara.co.za solara.co.za
Click to expand...
I would have loved to do this, but the problem for us is that the patio is actually 'lower' than the surrounding ground, so if there is no permanent cover, I will have another swimming pool. In fact it will all just roll straight into the front part of my house.

My original idea with full polycarb IBR was to put a retractable awning/blind underneath to give the shade when needed but haven't had a chance to look to see if such a thing exists. Would have been another home automation project (but no I am trying to be good!)
 
deesef said:
The water will get in...

Those with the individual LEDs sticking out of the resin are the worst choice. The LEDs start disintegrating then the whole unit rots away. It's better to get one with a glass cover. But then again, the water will get in...
Click to expand...
Don't buy the expensive ones. Definitely get one with a glass cover. I mean I've seen the Kreepy brand with colour changing LEDs for like 4.5K (when I looked last year) ... I wanted but then the brain activated. My local pool guy replaced my old LED (with individual LED's sticking out) with another LED one (but with glass/plastic cover) since I could not get the old one out and decided I was not going to f the pool up by destroying the surrounds.

IIRC, he charge was about R700 but I don't know brand. Still works - this light is connected to a Sonoff switch so I can at least turn on that light with a simple Alexa command.
 
I need advice on this idea: my former tenants ruined my kitchen with insane amounts of steam and anywhere where laminate was peeling they tore it off the cupboards.
I want to sell the place but the kitchen isn't looking great.
My idea is to paint over the laminate and fill over any uneven sections of where laminate peeled off.
Any ideas what paint will work well?
Google says laminate paint but I can't find any in South Africa. I'm thinking of using a cheap(not plascon) satin type paint.
If this is a terrible idea, is there any other cheap ideas that will make the place look great?
 
Anyone replaced tiles with laminate flooring? Did they pull up the tiles first or just put the flooring over the tiles? I'd imagine the second option is far less messy and labour intensive (cheaper, too?) but then you do lose a little height in your rooms.
 
derp90 said:
Anyone replaced tiles with laminate flooring? Did they pull up the tiles first or just put the flooring over the tiles? I'd imagine the second option is far less messy and labour intensive (cheaper, too?) but then you do lose a little height in your rooms.
Click to expand...
It's fine doing laminate over tiles BUT make very sure there are no extreme high or low spots, 5mm or more high or low.. this will cause issues in the long run.. if the tiles are pretty flat and even, go for it..
 
Fcon_Vpro said:
I need advice on this idea: my former tenants ruined my kitchen with insane amounts of steam and anywhere where laminate was peeling they tore it off the cupboards.
I want to sell the place but the kitchen isn't looking great.
My idea is to paint over the laminate and fill over any uneven sections of where laminate peeled off.
Any ideas what paint will work well?
Google says laminate paint but I can't find any in South Africa. I'm thinking of using a cheap(not plascon) satin type paint.
If this is a terrible idea, is there any other cheap ideas that will make the place look great?
Click to expand...
Surface preparation is going to be key, more so than the paint you use.. of course, the worse paint you use, the worse the end product will look..

Good, light sanding to start and then a good primer is what you want to start with followed by whatever paint you want..
 
How long before concrete flooring stops giving off a powdery dust?

I just moved in and had the fitted carpets lifted. After sweeping and vacuuming with a commercial style vacuum cleaner the concrete is still giving off a very fine dust.

I'd like to leave the bare concrete for a few months and will do a "self-levelling screed" (?????) after deciding on which flooring to go for - would that be practical?
 
maumau said:
How long before concrete flooring stops giving off a powdery dust?

I just moved in and had the fitted carpets lifted. After sweeping and vacuuming with a commercial style vacuum cleaner the concrete is still giving off a very fine dust.

I'd like to leave the bare concrete for a few months and will do a "self-levelling screed" (?????) after deciding on which flooring to go for - would that be practical?
Click to expand...

never, until it is sealed
 
maumau said:
How long before concrete flooring stops giving off a powdery dust?

I just moved in and had the fitted carpets lifted. After sweeping and vacuuming with a commercial style vacuum cleaner the concrete is still giving off a very fine dust.

I'd like to leave the bare concrete for a few months and will do a "self-levelling screed" (?????) after deciding on which flooring to go for - would that be practical?
Click to expand...
What steamy Tom said.. anytime you move anything touches the concrete, there is abrasive action taking place, resulting in the dust.. seal it or live with it until you get the flooring sorted..
 
Work moving along here. I sure as fsck hope those gutters look like new once reinstalled.

IMG_4707.jpgIMG_4706.jpgIMG_4704.jpgIMG_4705.jpg
 
So the ceiling coming off today. It was done properly. Pink aerolite for insulation etc

Now the decision on what to do next.

Still want to do full length poly carb IBR sheets for the natural light but then two options

1. Put a ceiling but then make the 'skylight' in ceiling boards bigger to let more light in. Seems to be best of both worlds only that we will see the cross beam inside the skylight

2. No ceiling at all , exposed work and then install some new lights on the cross beams.

Thinking perhaps start with option 2 and if the noise and sun/heat is unbearable (have to live it to know) then install ceiling panels with larger 'skylight' panels.



IMG_20220908_091544.jpg
 
TedLasso said:
So the ceiling coming off today. It was done properly. Pink aerolite for insulation etc

Now the decision on what to do next.

Still want to do full length poly carb IBR sheets for the natural light but then two options

1. Put a ceiling but then make the 'skylight' in ceiling boards bigger to let more light in. Seems to be best of both worlds only that we will see the cross beam inside the skylight

2. No ceiling at all , exposed work and then install some new lights on the cross beams.

Thinking perhaps start with option 2 and if the noise and sun/heat is unbearable (have to live it to know) then install ceiling panels with larger 'skylight' panels.



View attachment 1379135
Click to expand...
My carport/Hollywood garage is exposed like that. The heat is a real killer. I would def go for a ceiling with as thick as you can of those green insulation.
 
I installed some indirect ambient lighting above the one garage. Used a COB LED strip stuck inside an aluminum difuser. Looks better in real life tbh. Real Warm White in real life. On the pic it looks cool white.

IMG_4712.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X