The Home Improvements Thread (2)

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Sheppard_za said:
Does anyone own a laser level and do you think it is worth it to get one? I'm looking at an entry-level Bosch green laser level for diy jobs around the house, or do you think a long (1.2m) level would suffice?
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Depends on the job. I recently got one that projects the laser lines onto the wall and it is awesome for jobs around the house. Got a cheap tripod off takealot for selfie lights (less than R200, not very sturdy but good enough for the level). Once you have the laser lines projected where you want it it becomes much easier to mark out where all the holes should be and ensure they are all on a level line.
 
furpile said:
Depends on the job. I recently got one that projects the laser lines onto the wall and it is awesome for jobs around the house. Got a cheap tripod off takealot for selfie lights (less than R200, not very sturdy but good enough for the level). Once you have the laser lines projected where you want it it becomes much easier to mark out where all the holes should be and ensure they are all on a level line.
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Your laser line accuracy is only as good as the accuracy of the levelling of the tripod.
 
ghaye said:
Your laser line accuracy is only as good as the accuracy of the levelling of the tripod.
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It has built in levelling up to 4 degrees I think. So once you set it at the correct position it levels itself. If it is too far out the lines blink. Good enough for my home use.
 
gbyleveldt said:
F0kkit nice! I see you went for the UV as well. Is your system always on (buffer, not backup)? I see you also have the disk filter - you mind taking me through how your system works?
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Always on (Borehole). We try and use most water during day time (Free solar). Borehole tops up when tank drops one third. I added the UV because my first water test showed some kak in the water, now it's spotless.
I've got a valve at the municipal incoming line for if the day comes i need it. (Hopefully not, anycase don't have water most of the time now for 5 years)
Oh, the disc filter - for little sediment out the hole. Also lifted the pick up inside the tank so the pump doesn't suck sediment from the bottom.
 
I managed to get a DAB pump at a good price this morning. Last one they had at the price I paid.
All I need now is electrical cable and plumbing accessories.

Still waiting for most of the items to arrive.
Ive ordered:
2500L Africa Tank
500L Jojo Backwash tank
Jojo tank to pump connector kit
Jojo float valve
1 ton concrete mix
320kg 13mm crushed stone
Reinforcement mesh
Wood for framing
0.75kw Dab Booster Silent 4M Pump

The tanks take 2 weeks to be delivered.
So hoping that the concrete mix items gets delivered this weekend so I can try lay a slab so it can cure for 2 weeks.
Then hopefully by the time my slab is ready, the tanks are delivered and I can just position them ready for the plumbing part.

What I estimate I still need:
30m 2.5mm armour 3 core electrical cable
15m unitwist monogold 22mm piping
2x non return/oneway valves
2x unitwist tee pieces
2x ball valves
10x unitwist elbows

What im undecided on:
Pump for backwash tank (Im undecided between a cheap 0.37kw peripheral pump or a portable Metabo pump I can move around to use for future rain collection tanks)
If I should use conduit as extra protection for electrical cabling.

Work to do:
Lay concrete slab
Dig trenches from electrical point to tank
Lay electrical cable
Dig ground around where plumbing connections need to be made
Lay plumbing
Build enclosure for pump
 
furpile said:
Depends on the job. I recently got one that projects the laser lines onto the wall and it is awesome for jobs around the house. Got a cheap tripod off takealot for selfie lights (less than R200, not very sturdy but good enough for the level). Once you have the laser lines projected where you want it it becomes much easier to mark out where all the holes should be and ensure they are all on a level line.
Click to expand...
+1, life changing depending on what you want to do. Not sure if they're still available but I picked up a Bosch Professional GLL 2 (?) last year and installing shelves on both sides of a window that continues on the adjacent wall was no stress. I don't think I have the skills to do that with a normal level. I've used it way more than expected and I've always been happy with the results. The red laser can be a tad frustrating in super light rooms, though.
 
furpile said:
Depends on the job. I recently got one that projects the laser lines onto the wall and it is awesome for jobs around the house. Got a cheap tripod off takealot for selfie lights (less than R200, not very sturdy but good enough for the level). Once you have the laser lines projected where you want it it becomes much easier to mark out where all the holes should be and ensure they are all on a level line.
Click to expand...

furpile said:
It has built in levelling up to 4 degrees I think. So once you set it at the correct position it levels itself. If it is too far out the lines blink. Good enough for my home use.
Click to expand...

nulkoel said:
+1, life changing depending on what you want to do. Not sure if they're still available but I picked up a Bosch Professional GLL 2 (?) last year and installing shelves on both sides of a window that continues on the adjacent wall was no stress. I don't think I have the skills to do that with a normal level. I've used it way more than expected and I've always been happy with the results. The red laser can be a tad frustrating in super light rooms, though.
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Thanks for the feedback. I think it is something that I would use quite often around the house. Just wanted to make sure it is worth it to spend the money. I have a smaller level, but I had to fit a row of identical picture frames over the weekend and thought a laser level would have made it so much easier.

I am looking at a Bosch GLL 2, the old one is on special at the moment at Loot.
 
Just got off a call with a draughtsman and want to query something regarding approved plans.

My understanding is that you have a set time from approval to execute the plans. According to the draughtsman, all I would need to do is place one brick down and then the plan is indefinitely activates until i complete.

Is this true?

Reason I ask, is we just want to upgrade our street facing wall but there are furthe plans down the road so to make the buildings plans more feasible we would include all our anticipated plans in the next 12 months and just start like 0.01% of the building until such time that we can complete.
 
acidrain said:
Just got off a call with a draughtsman and want to query something regarding approved plans.

My understanding is that you have a set time from approval to execute the plans. According to the draughtsman, all I would need to do is place one brick down and then the plan is indefinitely activates until i complete.

Is this true?

Reason I ask, is we just want to upgrade our street facing wall but there are furthe plans down the road so to make the buildings plans more feasible we would include all our anticipated plans in the next 12 months and just start like 0.01% of the building until such time that we can complete.
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You have 12 months in which to start construction from date of approval before it lapses. You can extend this for a further 12 months at 25% of the original plan submission cost. You can also resubmit within 12 months of expiry at 50%.

I dont think one brick will cut it though, perhaps laying the foundation/surface bed would be a better idea but yes if you start construction within the first year the plans will remain valid until completion.

Edit: the above costs refer to COJ
 
Any tips for drilling into vibracrete that doesn't chow drill bits? Six 5mm holes just ate two SDS bits.
 
xrapidx said:
Any tips for drilling into vibracrete that doesn't chow drill bits? Six 5mm holes just ate two SDS bits.
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More bits. Vibracrete is a bitch to drill into and I haven't found any bits that seem to last any amount of time.
 
xrapidx said:
Any tips for drilling into vibracrete that doesn't chow drill bits? Six 5mm holes just ate two SDS bits.
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Maybe drill a pilot hole and follow up with your intended bit. That's what I did the other day with my face brick. They are moer hard.
 
I've had good success with Alpen drill bits, haven't used it in concrete yet, but they are much better than the Bosch drill bits.
 
So we finally managed to get the pump and filtration system installed

IMG_9580.jpeg
And it works - beautifully! That vacuum tank really helps with maintaining pressure and drastically reduces the amount of times the pump needs to kick in. I did a test where we'd open a tap for 20 seconds and the pump wouldn't kick in. And taking a shower (let's say 3-4 minutes) the pump would only kick in once for around 45 seconds during that time. I'm genuinely impressed with water pressure as well! Our municipal pressure is around 1500L/hr and the pump is rated at 3500L/hr, so we have better water pressure than we had direct from the municipal feed. Since Friday, the water was out twice (when looking at the WhatsApp groups) and we genuinely didn't even notice.

All the prep work has been done for the 2nd tank, which I ended up ordering on Friday. So once this gets delivered it'll be quick to hook that up then the system will be complete. I also had my doubts about the filtration system keeping up, but that doesn't seem to be an issue either. And it worked out much cheaper than going for the grossly overpriced JoJo system - I even bought enough filter cartridges to last me 2 years and it was still cheaper than the initial JoJo setup
 
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