The Home Improvements Thread (3)

Damp - What if it's from the ground and the builders didn't install proper damping sheet ?

Then you're fcked
 
stepper said:
Has any body used these damp vents from takealot to prevent/dry damp walls?
I have a problem on the exterior walls and I can't paint because of damp walls

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I used them. In my case, they did not work. The wall on the neighbors side is totally fscked from the ivy or whatever it is that covers the whole wall from bottom to top. He waters them every day and there is no plaster or anything left on his side of the wall. You can't see it because the ivy covers it. So his watering comes through to my side.

I had the walls repainted and waterproofed last year and that whole wall is bubbling again. When we drilled the holes the powder that came out was wet so much damp is in that wall. I will just have to live with it or negotiate with him to replaster and waterproof his side. He's a good oke I am just not sure I want to bother him with something like this.

The damp you see in the picture was from the sprayers on my side. When they are setup correctly they reach to just under the vents so I dont spray water above them on the wall.

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Ya it seems like those plugs don't do anything except plugging drilled holes.
Will probably contact a contractor for alternatives even though I wanted a DIY solution.
 
stepper said:
I suspect that's the case, it's a boundary wall.
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Often with boundary walls to save on costs, they are only plastered after being backfilled..

So now you sit with exposed bricks under a bunch of backfill and then want to be surprised when there is a damp.. perhaps they even added a damp proof course, fat load of good that's going to do if you are covering exposed brick with backfill..

Investigate to find the root cause.. if it happens to be that they didn't waterproof and plaster before backfilling, it's not going to be a cheap fix, but it is going to be a lasting one..
 
SureThing said:
Please assist with a tool to determine how many bricks are required for a building project and where it is best/cheapest to obtain rok bricks? Thanks in advance
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Bricks/Paint/Tiles

Build it - Online Calculators

Use our online calculators to calculate how many bricks, tiles and paint you will need to assist in your home building and decorating projects.
www.buildit.co.za www.buildit.co.za
 
I have wooden decking around my pool which the time has come to remove. Am over the ongoing repairs and maintenance and the wooden structure is rotting is quite a few places so going to rip it up and replace. I do like the look of it around the pool so thinking going composite, though have read it gets very hot if in sun and tends to be slippery which obviously wont work around a pool.

Other alterntives are tiles, are the non slip really non slip in terms of pool applications?

Also not sure of the costs and think composite might turn out to be quite pricey compared to tiles
 
AmazeBalls said:
I have wooden decking around my pool which the time has come to remove. Am over the ongoing repairs and maintenance and the wooden structure is rotting is quite a few places so going to rip it up and replace. I do like the look of it around the pool so thinking going composite, though have read it gets very hot if in sun and tends to be slippery which obviously wont work around a pool.

Other alterntives are tiles, are the non slip really non slip in terms of pool applications?

Also not sure of the costs and think composite might turn out to be quite pricey compared to tiles
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What kind of timber was used and how old is it? Pic?
 
W@P said:
I used them. In my case, they did not work. The wall on the neighbors side is totally fscked from the ivy or whatever it is that covers the whole wall from bottom to top. He waters them every day and there is no plaster or anything left on his side of the wall. You can't see it because the ivy covers it. So his watering comes through to my side.

I had the walls repainted and waterproofed last year and that whole wall is bubbling again. When we drilled the holes the powder that came out was wet so much damp is in that wall. I will just have to live with it or negotiate with him to replaster and waterproof his side. He's a good oke I am just not sure I want to bother him with something like this.

The damp you see in the picture was from the sprayers on my side. When they are setup correctly they reach to just under the vents so I dont spray water above them on the wall.

View attachment 1601740
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Lol, for a moment I thought you hanging washing on the electric fence.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: W@P
rodga said:
What kind of timber was used and how old is it? Pic?
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Not too sure on both points, only stayed here for 3 years, treated it last year but its getting to the point boards are falling off, nails breaking and sticking out and a good few wooden supportss that the boards are screwed into are rotting
 

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Arzy said:
Upcoming projects I hope to have done before the year is done:

- Adding a second 2500l JoJo tank. This should cover the household for about a week. Just need to look at the timing so that I can empty the existing one in order to position it and have space for the second one.
- Ripping out the existing bent grass lawn that has become infested with clover and replacing it with good old Kikuyu.
- Stripping out the main garden beds inside and out and replanting with something we actually like.
- Replacing the pool cover.
- Installing those black pool solar heaters, piping is done all the way up to the roof but the previous owner removed the panels at some stage.

A big ticket item for next year is to remove the gas fireplace and replace it with a slow-combustion stove.

And then within the next 2 years repaint the entire house inside and out.

No structural work planned thankfully.
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Take your hand and wipe over the outside wall. If its white or traces of paint on your hand. Wash off your house, brush with sugarsoap and bleach the mouldy bits clean and spray off again. leave it to dry then prime. yes plaster primer the entire house. It doubles the lifespan of the paint.

Then Plascon Wall and All (Makro or BUCO is cheapest). And roller it.

From there on you just need to spray it clean now and then with a housepipe if the house gets dirty. Paint should last 20-30 years.
 
AmazeBalls said:
Not too sure on both points, only stayed here for 3 years, treated it last year but its getting to the point boards are falling off, nails breaking and sticking out and a good few wooden supportss that the boards are screwed into are rotting
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Amateur hour. Why not just put in new copings and pave it.
 
AmazeBalls said:
I have wooden decking around my pool which the time has come to remove. Am over the ongoing repairs and maintenance and the wooden structure is rotting is quite a few places so going to rip it up and replace. I do like the look of it around the pool so thinking going composite, though have read it gets very hot if in sun and tends to be slippery which obviously wont work around a pool.

Other alterntives are tiles, are the non slip really non slip in terms of pool applications?

Also not sure of the costs and think composite might turn out to be quite pricey compared to tiles
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Composite ~ work on at least R1600/m2
 
AmazeBalls said:
I have wooden decking around my pool which the time has come to remove. Am over the ongoing repairs and maintenance and the wooden structure is rotting is quite a few places so going to rip it up and replace. I do like the look of it around the pool so thinking going composite, though have read it gets very hot if in sun and tends to be slippery which obviously wont work around a pool.

Other alterntives are tiles, are the non slip really non slip in terms of pool applications?

Also not sure of the costs and think composite might turn out to be quite pricey compared to tiles
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Tough one. I had a composite deck and it was a total POS. Kak installation and inferior composite decking were used. The wood structure underneath was vrot and lasted only a couple of years. Bought the place with it.

IF you have to do decking again I would say go composite but make sure they do it properly and use a good quality composite. Mine started warping and faded from the sun.

This was mine before and after. I replaced the deck with a Cemcrete stoep.

1697595300250.png
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W@P said:
Tough one. I had a composite deck and it was a total POS. Kak installation and inferior composite decking were used. The wood structure underneath was vrot and lasted only a couple of years. Bought the place with it.

IF you have to do decking again I would say go composite but make sure they do it properly and use a good quality composite. Mine started warping and faded from the sun.

This was mine before and after. I replaced the deck with a Cemcrete stoep.

View attachment 1603408
View attachment 1603410
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What was the difference in price between the two options, seeing you went through both?
 
SureThing said:
What was the difference in price between the two options, seeing you went through both?
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The composite decking was installed when the house was built. I bought it like that. New. Lasted only couple of years.

The stoep was close to R100k. They ripped me a new one. Decking would be cheaper afaik.
 
W
The_MAC said:
Just had the garden sprayed with pesticide to remove a colony of harvester termites, they ate about 50sqm of lawn.

Next step, rehabilitate and/or plant new grass, and if the budget allows, install a 500mm paving border around the half of the house that has lawn right up against the wall of the house (one of my pet hates).

Photo of the little F'ers (in nature, they are actually amazing, so important in the eco-system, not so great for your garden/house):

large_c2933ef11e24e1afbe91049911d9123c.jpg
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What specific product/spray did you use? Noticed these buggers at night in the lawn
 
SureThing said:
What was the difference in price between the two options, seeing you went through both?
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If you go wood you need to get decent wood.
Composite, as I said above is from R1600/m2.
Balau can run you over R3000/m2.
Pine is cheaper ~but why bother.

Unless you are prepared to spend more than R1600/m2 forget decking and look at plan B.

Where do you stay?

How big is the area to be decked?

PS: I do not do decking.

I'd recommend Best Deck for Composite anywhere in SA.

Silver Fern Decking for all decking types if you are in Gauteng.
 
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