The Home Improvements Thread (2)

[WAslayer]

Advice needed plumbing issue.

So I was summoned to my 95yr old aunt's house, since I'm her designated handiman, regarding raising damp on the passage wall outside the bathroom.

Turns out the shower drain in her shower no longer seals around the tiles and water is draining out through the gap.

Is there a way to reseal this gap without chopping tiles or having to install a new shower drain?

Thanks

Nothing that's going to be a permanent fix, no.. also, no that moisture is in there, it's likely never going to dry, at least not properly.. it should eventually dry on the wall, but not the shower floor..

That said, something like a cementitious waterproofing slurry could provide a temporary fix.. however, if the drain is problematic, chances are grout/tile cement is also not far behind..

Ultimately a permanent fix is going to be a gut and reseal and retile..

 

[Mannydefreitas]

I'm willing to bet that it more likely to be a issue with the waste trap rather than the grout or mortar.

I've repaired dozens of these: chop up the floor, fit a new trap, repair the base, slash with Coprox Masonery Waterproofing, then re~mosaic...

 

[chickenbeef]

Silver Coat reflects the UV.

You can, after applying a special primer, paint it with something like Plascon Cool Roof if the reflective coating is an issue..

Any examples of the "special primer"? I have some patches of torch on (with the silver coating) I want to paint the same colour as the rest of the roof.

 

[Mannydefreitas]

Any examples of the "special primer"? I have some patches of torch on (with the silver coating) I want to paint the same colour as the rest of the roof.

There is Torch on Primer, that you apply before doing the Torch On, don't buy that.
Then there is Torch On paint primer. Buy that.
I'll try dig mine out and post a Pic.

 

[xrapidx]

Silver Coat reflects the UV.

You can, after applying a special primer, paint it with something like Plascon Cool Roof if the reflective coating is an issue..

They're back this week - priming it with white... I need to get to mine this summer...

 

[TheJman]

Unrealted to my previous water proofing question - what is the purpose of silver paint they do after torch on? My neighbour did her roof recently, and I noticed they left it black

---

Related to my previous waterproofing post - this is how I'd expect the torch on - or various other water proofing products to be applied, but - all the companies said no. (pic from a facebook ad that appeared today)

View attachment 1563688

Had to recently re-do my waterproof (ouchies)... The guy explained to me that the silver paint acts as a sun protection to protect the bitumen waterproof - he explained that it prolongs the life of your waterproofing.

But hey... that's what he told me, could be complete rubbish

 

[spiff]

While on the topic of TORCH - ON. AFAIC it's the best way to seal any roof permanently!

Case in point:
A few months ago I redid my front garage roof. This roof was a pain in the butt from day 1 when I bought the house. I have replaced the old rusty IBR sheetings a few times since 1995. the gutter was a balls up, always getting blocked & over flowing inside the garage, since it's on the boundary with neighbour property.

years ago when my neighbour moved in and started extending her kitchen I suggested that while builders are on the property we remove the vibrecrete wall and build a proper brick wall between us, she flatly refused.

Having a proper brick wall would have solved a lot of my roof issues - like my leaking inside gutter, rotten barge board, no proper support for the roof between front & back walls except for 2 old wooden poles and I could remove those god awful glass windows above the vibrecrete wall the previous owner installed.

Fortuitously my GF has a friend that does general metal work and I roped him in to design a metal frame "girder" between the front and back walls with 5 galvanized poles cemented in for support. I had 5 spare poles from my backyard project I also completed in November 2022.

I also wanted 18mm shutter board for the roof with torch on, like my other garage at the back of the house. I'm sick of rusty metal roofs. The back garage roof has been maintenance free / leak free for decades now.

old roof & new metal frame in place on the right - frame will act as a parapet wall later on.


old wooden framed glass panels removed -
new support poles in place with temporary rafter supports till cement is dry


metal work completed - roofing guy onsite removed old roof.


shutter boards in place


new storm gutter leads out to the front garden - the metal girder will also be covered with shutter board


torch on in place

I used nutec boards to fill the gap on my neighbours side. I will also use nutec boards on the inside just to hide the old vibrecrete wall.


all parapet walls & gutter sealed with torch on & painted silver for protection - job done


With all the rain we have had this year so far - I can happily & thankfully say - no leaks!!

So why did I do it this way you may ask?

I do have a signed building plan for a brick wall but If I built a wall I would have had to pay for it myself then I still need pay for the roof. Having a friend - who did some metal work in my backyard last year and knowing his skill set, I trusted him to do the metal work & install it just as I wanted and it didn't cost me much either compared to a brick wall.

The roofing guy - the only one that took the challenge, did a great job. he worked from the Thursday through the weekend till Monday afternoon, he knew the rains were coming.

total time for job - 7 days
total cost for job R65k

Now I don't have to worry about a leaking roof for the next few decades and the roof is strong enough to install solar panels on.


let me know if you want roofing guys details - I'll post it here.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

O ye experts, is this decent look to go for Kitchen ?

 

[Fcon_Vpro]

O ye experts, is this decent look to go for Kitchen ?

Do you like it?

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Do you like it?

I think so but it is always nice to hear other views. Thanks.

 

[Kung Fu Porkchop]

O ye experts, is this decent look to go for Kitchen ?

I would choose darker colors for the tops, counters, cupboards & tiles, but yeah. That looks pretty neat

 

[WAslayer]

O ye experts, is this decent look to go for Kitchen ?

This is very subjective.. I don't like this look at all.. the brown colours, light coloured countertops, reminds me of things you push out into a toilet and then flush..

The only practical aspect here, is the surface finish of the cupboards in the kitchen.. in this case, it's high gloss.. being a kitchen, spills are bound to happen and the mess ends up on the cupboard doors.. the moment you wipe that high gloss the wrong way, with the wrong cloth or there is some dried, scratchy speck of food on the cloth your high gloss finish becomes a highly scratched finish and you can never fix it..

 

[Sideshow Bob]

I would choose darker colors for the tops, counters, cupboards & tiles, but yeah. That looks pretty neat

I also think the same but I suspect it looks nice (subjective again) because of professional photography.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

This is very subjective.. I don't like this look at all.. the brown colours, light coloured countertops, reminds me of things you push out into a toilet and then flush..

The only practical aspect here, is the surface finish of the cupboards in the kitchen.. in this case, it's high gloss.. being a kitchen, spills are bound to happen and the mess ends up on the cupboard doors.. the moment you wipe that high gloss the wrong way, with the wrong cloth or there is some dried, scratchy speck of food on the cloth your high gloss finish becomes a highly scratched finish and you can never fix it..

I hear you. We have a glossy finish cupboard in one bedroom (white cupboard nogal) and one blemish that happened right on day when we put it up spoiled it a tiny bit. It is minor scratch and you have to look for it but still.

On standard cupboards, it is difficult to spoil the look really.

We will look for cupboard designs that balance the look and durability.

 

[Fcon_Vpro]

I think so but it is always nice to hear other views. Thanks.

If you like it then go for it. You the one who needs to live with it and enjoy it.
Ive never found a kitchen that everyone loves. Even if you are trying to get a design that will sell the place for you if you ever did sell, every buyer will have their opinion and potentially want to redo it.

I think the look is good. I like the brown, I just dont like the gloss of the brown. Id prefer something matt or more woodlike finish.

 

[Tony Stark]

I'm about to embark on a remodeling/reconfiguration project & need some advice.
The project basically entails:

• Breaking down of x5 internal Non-load-bearing walls (no plumbing in them)
• Replacement of flooring for living areas, kitchen & main bed
• Re-plaster/rhinolite to smoothen wall texture
• Paint all interior walls

My questions:

1. Should I use one contracter for everything or should I group activities among different contractors?
2. Can I attend to windows & window openings at a later stage or should I rather do it now as well?
3. I know this is probably a difficult question to answer but what should I REALISTICALLY expect in terms timelines? Is it more of a 1 month gig or a 6 month gig?
4. Any other tips will be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance.

 

[Steamy Tom]

I'm about to embark on a remodeling/reconfiguration project & need some advice.
The project basically entails:

• Breaking down of x5 internal non load-bearing walls (no plumbing in them)
• Replacement of flooring for living areas, kitchen & main bed
• Increasing
• Re-plaster/rhinolite to smoothen wall texture
• Paint all interior walls

My questions:

1. Should I use one contracter for everything or should I group activities among different contractors?
2. Can I attend to windows & window openings at a later stage or should I rather do it now as well?
3. I know this is probably a difficult question to answer but what should I REALISTICALLY expect in terms timelines? Is it more of a 1 month gig or a 6 month gig?
4. Any other tips will be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance.

What is bullet point 3?

Prepare for a messy life for a while. 1-2 months of work depending on size

 

[Tony Stark]

What is bullet point 3?

Prepare for a messy life for a while. 1-2 months of work depending on size

Sorry old bullet 3 was a typo, I've removed it, so now only 4 bullets.

We have a 1 bedroom cottage in the yard, which we plan to live in for the duration of the project

 

[maumau]

I'm about to embark on a remodeling/reconfiguration project & need some advice.
The project basically entails:

• Breaking down of x5 internal non load-bearing walls (no plumbing in them)
• Replacement of flooring for living areas, kitchen & main bed
• Re-plaster/rhinolite to smoothen wall texture
• Paint all interior walls

My questions:

1. Should I use one contracter for everything or should I group activities among different contractors?
2. Can I attend to windows & window openings at a later stage or should I rather do it now as well?
3. I know this is probably a difficult question to answer but what should I REALISTICALLY expect in terms timelines? Is it more of a 1 month gig or a 6 month gig?
4. Any other tips will be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance.

Check everything!!

If there's one thing I can't emphasis enough it's to keep your supplies locked away so you can monitor as and when they're being used.

The first bathroom I had renovated 8 years ago I bought 2x extra boxes of tiles for future use. Next thing 2 x boxes were stolen and they were R800 per box When I asked about them there was wild rolling of eyes, waving of hands and the workers lost their ability to speak English. As a woman living alone I backed down for fear of repercussions but I was angry. Spectacular tiler though.

The latest reno last year, I had terracotta tiles laid throughout the house. They need sealing so I bought 2 x 2l Sealant and 2 x 1l to use in case they ran out, intending to return the 1l if they weren't opened.

Arseholes opened all 4 containers on day one and finished none of them.

 

[Mannydefreitas]

I'm about to embark on a remodeling/reconfiguration project & need some advice.
The project basically entails:

• Breaking down of x5 internal non load-bearing walls (no plumbing in them)
• Replacement of flooring for living areas, kitchen & main bed
• Re-plaster/rhinolite to smoothen wall texture
• Paint all interior walls

My questions:

1. Should I use one contracter for everything or should I group activities among different contractors?
2. Can I attend to windows & window openings at a later stage or should I rather do it now as well?
3. I know this is probably a difficult question to answer but what should I REALISTICALLY expect in terms timelines? Is it more of a 1 month gig or a 6 month gig?
4. Any other tips will be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance.

Ideally one Contractor, otherwise you become the project manager.

I'm doing a VERY similar job for a client in Lonehill (sans kitchen), look at about 4 month's (16 weeks).

Ideally do the windows now, or never.

You mention the floors, so that means new skirtings.
You do not mention ceilings, but if the walls go you'd need new ceilings throughout surely.

Sounds like a R220k to R360k job.

I have drawn up guidelines on how to choose the correct Contractor for a project like this, it's a bit lengthy, but I'll try post it here later ~ following the guidelines will greatly minimize your chances of telling the horror stories many people have after embarking on a project like this....