The Home Improvements Thread (3)

Mosgi said:
8169a4b4f396f509ef9d46b91dbda8ea.jpg


Okes - need some help! So I have a few hairline cracks that have developed in the ceiling along the section where we broke down a wall… Cracks were tiny but I didn’t repair so I could monitor.

Looking for someone who can add an I beam across with two uprights on either side.

While the original assessment was that there was no load on the walls taken down - I’m now sceptical and would rather be safe.
Click to expand...

Edit:weird I couldn't see your pic until I quoted you

Was the wall running right under where it is cracking?

I can only presume the guys had to add a piece of ceiling there.

I would get in the roof and see what's going on in terms of trusses there but I would probably think for now it's just a bad mud job
 
Steamy Tom said:
Edit:weird I couldn't see your pic until I quoted you

Was the wall running right under where it is cracking?

I can only presume the guys had to add a piece of ceiling there.

I would get in the roof and see what's going on in terms of trusses there but I would probably think for now it's just a bad mud job
Click to expand...

Sorry it wasn’t clear - this is under the slab. Above it is the second floor. So wall was removed then plastered to make it seamless with the existing surface.
 
maumau said:
@Mosgi
View attachment 1699229Had the identical issue years ago. Engineer friend suggested these beams, the idea might work for you. He said they could have improved on the cross beam which should have been flipped 90 degrees (if you get my drift).

Maybe an engineer here can offer advice.
Click to expand...

This could work - hadn’t considered wood to be honest - perhaps because it is holding up the second storey.
 
Anyone done any large aluminum window installs recently?

We're looking at putting in a 8x2.5m window at the top of a mono pitch roof and just the though is giving me kidney stones. The window will have vertical supports every 2m. So in actual fact, one frame and 4x pieces of glass inside.

I'm expecting 100-140k or somewhere thereabouts installed. Does that hit the ballpark?
 
Harmonic said:
Anyone done any large aluminum window installs recently?

We're looking at putting in a 8x2.5m window at the top of a mono pitch roof and just the though is giving me kidney stones. The window will have vertical supports every 2m. So in actual fact, one frame and 4x pieces of glass inside.

I'm expecting 100-140k or somewhere thereabouts installed. Does that hit the ballpark?
Click to expand...

I am not that up to date on the pricing of these things but that seems mental
 
Ouch. Try lodge an insurance claim and see what they say?
 
Any suggestions for installing a 2x4 smart light switch where the existing light switch is 4x4 in size?

It feels like overkill to replace the wall box with a 2x4 and cement up the sides but I'm struggling to find any sort of face plate or adapter plate that could be used? Either with a border on each side or conversion to two 2x4 slots and then placing a blank plate on one side.
 
Finally repainting the whole house. New colour is a lot lighter than the previous one. Do I need to start with a white coat or just continue with the new color?

Any tips for cracks?
 
Syphonx said:
Any suggestions for installing a 2x4 smart light switch where the existing light switch is 4x4 in size?

It feels like overkill to replace the wall box with a 2x4 and cement up the sides but I'm struggling to find any sort of face plate or adapter plate that could be used? Either with a border on each side or conversion to two 2x4 slots and then placing a blank plate on one side.
Click to expand...
I did that once. I bought a 4x4 blank faceplate and carefully cut out where the switch should fit. It also needs 2 thin strips of tin with holes in the right place, to mount the new switch onto the existing box. I did that in the early 2000's and it still looks like a store-bought unit.
 
deesef said:
I did that once. I bought a 4x4 blank faceplate and carefully cut out where the switch should fit. It also needs 2 thin strips of tin with holes in the right place, to mount the new switch onto the existing box. I did that in the early 2000's and it still looks like a store-bought unit.
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What did you use the cut the hole?
 
Syphonx said:
Any suggestions for installing a 2x4 smart light switch where the existing light switch is 4x4 in size?

It feels like overkill to replace the wall box with a 2x4 and cement up the sides but I'm struggling to find any sort of face plate or adapter plate that could be used? Either with a border on each side or conversion to two 2x4 slots and then placing a blank plate on one side.
Click to expand...

Where about are you?

I could, or you could find someone who could, 3D print you a custom faceplate.
 
Steamy Tom said:
Fixable, new element and seal and a new thermostat
Click to expand...
Only potential issue might be the age of the geyser and availability of parts e.g. Kwikot moved from Slim-Line to the "Fat-Line" range, and I think the gaskets are different in size, I could be wrong, just double check
 
Syphonx said:
What did you use the cut the hole?
Click to expand...
Drilled a pilot hole in the middle, then cut the rectangle out with a jigsaw. For the last mm or 2 filed to get a s good fit. Bottom left-hand corner shows a bit too eager with the file


c3626f5551f94078153bfa3fa7bd1f48.jpg
 
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Steamy Tom said:
Where about are you?

I could, or you could find someone who could, 3D print you a custom faceplate.
Click to expand...
I'm in Cape Town Southern Suburbs. I am going to look at buying one of these blank plates because they are almost the same colour as the switch and cut out the middle for the electronics unit of the switch. Then first prize is being able to screw the switch onto this plate. If that doesn't work I may just glue it.

www.glolighting.co.za

Legrand Arteor PBL44GP Blanking Plate - 4 X 4 Graphite

Blanking Plate - 4 X 4
www.glolighting.co.za www.glolighting.co.za
 
Syphonx said:
I'm in Cape Town Southern Suburbs. I am going to look at buying one of these blank plates because they are almost the same colour as the switch and cut out the middle for the electronics unit of the switch. Then first prize is being able to screw the switch onto this plate. If that doesn't work I may just glue it.

www.glolighting.co.za

Legrand Arteor PBL44GP Blanking Plate - 4 X 4 Graphite

Blanking Plate - 4 X 4
www.glolighting.co.za www.glolighting.co.za
Click to expand...

Ah ok im in gauteng. I can help you model it but would make more sense for someone local to you to print it.

let me know if you want it modelled (for free)
 
Steamy Tom said:
Ah ok im in gauteng. I can help you model it but would make more sense for someone local to you to print it.

let me know if you want it modelled (for free)
Click to expand...
Thank you, will reach out of my caveman brute force method doesn't pan out.
 
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