The Home Improvements Thread (3)

D4N_CPT said:
Make sure to get a standard seat size, for example not square, as getting replacement seats later is near impossible and stupidly expensive.
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agreed had to try track one down after we bought our house was a nightmare
 
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.
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So finally got around to this by cutting a blank 4x4 plate to the right size and mounting the switch on top. Cuts look messy but once the switch is on they cannot be seen.
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Syphonx said:
So finally got around to this by cutting a blank 4x4 plate to the right size and mounting the switch on top. Cuts look messy but once the switch is on they cannot be seen.
View attachment 1732025
View attachment 1732027View attachment 1732029
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Legrand make 4x4 switches: https://www.glolighting.co.za/legrand-arteor-p444wwh-4-lever-1-way-switch-4-x-4-white.html

And if you don't have 4 switches you can use blanking plates: https://www.glolighting.co.za/legrand-572341-blank-module-arteor-square-1-module-white.html

This is their Arteor range, which imo is the nicer one.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Legrand make 4x4 switches: https://www.glolighting.co.za/legrand-arteor-p444wwh-4-lever-1-way-switch-4-x-4-white.html

And if you don't have 4 switches you can use blanking plates: https://www.glolighting.co.za/legrand-572341-blank-module-arteor-square-1-module-white.html

This is their Arteor range, which imo is the nicer one.
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So I actually got a blank plate like this: https://www.glolighting.co.za/legra...ver-plate-arteor-for-2-gang-box-graphite.html

However the size of the electrical unit on the back of the M5 switch is slightly too big for the cutout, and also too big for the metal backing plate. So I had to cut both with a dremel to make it fit.
 
Had this brainwave last night with regards to our ro water system!

Man I'm excited to do this

3-stage water filters

How do you end up in hospital from COCT water? How did that happen? They only promise 98% safe to drink ratio, I was an unlucky 2%.
mybroadband.co.za
 
TedLasso said:
The irony was that I had to spend 800 rands on a square seat for the toilet that broke 2 months ago which was soft closed and all that good stuff. Anyway I'm taking it out as a backup for the other two toilets I have which are identical


I did not think at the time when I bought the toilet seat at 800 rands was stupidly expensive but today when seeing what price you can get a full toilet for yeah very expenses thanks for the tip
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Pretty annoying that here in SA you usually need a builder+cement to do the toilet work, instead of the US type where they just use bolts and its much easier to do using a plumber or even yourself.
 
animal531 said:
Pretty annoying that here in SA you usually need a builder+cement to do the toilet work, instead of the US type where they just use bolts and its much easier to do using a plumber or even yourself.
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Had two toilets installed recently, neither required a builder or cement.. both came with bolts to mount it to the floor..

It's more of a matter of what you buy these days..
 
WAslayer said:
Had two toilets installed recently, neither required a builder or cement.. both came with bolts to mount it to the floor..

It's more of a matter of what you buy these days..
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Woo nice, we're catching up!
 
animal531 said:
Pretty annoying that here in SA you usually need a builder+cement to do the toilet work, instead of the US type where they just use bolts and its much easier to do using a plumber or even yourself.
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The last toilet I bought, about 10 years ago, had big bold text saying that the warranty would be nullified if the toilet was installed using cement. The package that accompanied the toilet included 2 bolts for securing it to the floor.
 
WAslayer said:
Had two toilets installed recently, neither required a builder or cement.. both came with bolts to mount it to the floor..

It's more of a matter of what you buy these days..
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Yup, my new toilet is also the same - two bolts mounted into floor. Ended up buying from Italtile as it was the fastest/time efficient.
 
SAguy said:
Did you swear a lot when trying to get the screw through both switch and backplate and then still into the wall box?

Cause I would have used many a curse word
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The screw only goes through the faceplate. I got as short as possible and use a nut on the other side to keep it in place. The drill hole in the back plate is just there to give space for the screw and nut.

So the whole switch unit comes off with the faceplate, actually easier to access now because the m5 plates are insanely difficult to remove.
 
Syphonx said:
The screw only goes through the faceplate. I got as short as possible and use a nut on the other side to keep it in place. The drill hole in the back plate is just there to give space for the screw and nut.

So the whole switch unit comes off with the faceplate, actually easier to access now because the m5 plates are insanely difficult to remove.
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Ah, smart move yeah

Yup, and the m5 baseplate can only be fitted with the screw they provide or one with a smaller head. There's like no tolerance at the back of the m5 plate for a bigger screw head at all
 
Kitchen and dining room sealed off...

So the big task begins!


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The before
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The designs for the after :)

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Beyond EXCITED now such a long wait etc and prep to get here!

That closed door leads into the new utility room which is also in progress but after looks like this (design)
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Snyper564 said:
Kitchen and dining room sealed off...

So the big task begins!


View attachment 1734111


The before
View attachment 1734109

View attachment 1734107

View attachment 1734105


The designs for the after :)

View attachment 1734113
View attachment 1734115


Beyond EXCITED now such a long wait etc and prep to get here!

That closed door leads into the new utility room which is also in progress but after looks like this (design)
View attachment 1734099

View attachment 1734101
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Chow kitchen!
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SOOO MUCH SPACE NOW!!!
 
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