The Home Improvements Thread (3)

[xrapidx]

What is the best crack filler that allows for movement? We finished painting the exterior last week, many of the cracks are already back and open.

I watched the prep work, they spent a good 3 days on it - opening up and filling... think its just this shitty house.

 

[WAslayer]

What is the best crack filler that allows for movement? We finished painting the exterior last week, many of the cracks are already back and open.

I watched the prep work, they spent a good 3 days on it - opening up and filling... think its just this shitty house.

Tile adhesive..

 

[xrapidx]

Tile adhesive..

That's exactly what they just used first.

Thought of using something like this:

HOME DZINE Home DIY | Cracks... gone with Sikaflex-11FC+

Cracks are inevitable in brick and plaster walls, because these materials are not flexible. Even the slightest ground movement can result in cracks. Sikaflex-11FC+ is a flexible joint sealant that will fill and seal cracks with ease.

www.home-dzine.co.za

Want to try and resolve of much of it as possible - while the new coat of paint is still fresh

 

[Tinuva]

What is the best crack filler that allows for movement? We finished painting the exterior last week, many of the cracks are already back and open.

I watched the prep work, they spent a good 3 days on it - opening up and filling... think its just this shitty house.

When I did my walls on the one side of the house, I asked if they can do something extra. So they looked for where they could add crack lines or whatever you call it. So they grinded open straight lines from top to bottom at strategic places on the walls. Now this didn't prevent 100% of the cracks, but it is much much better than it was before at least.

They did fill these lines in with a sort of expandable silicone that is of similar color as the wall paint, So now it at least looks like something that was intended to be there.

 

[WAslayer]

That's exactly what they just used first.

Thought of using something like this:

HOME DZINE Home DIY | Cracks... gone with Sikaflex-11FC+

Cracks are inevitable in brick and plaster walls, because these materials are not flexible. Even the slightest ground movement can result in cracks. Sikaflex-11FC+ is a flexible joint sealant that will fill and seal cracks with ease.

www.home-dzine.co.za

Want to try and resolve of much of it as possible - while the new coat of paint is still fresh

Then you still have extreme movement of your walls..

Need to break the cracks open significantly, drill hiles either side of them and insert some u-shaped bent rebar with chemical anchor..

Plaster back over..

 

[xrapidx]

When I did my walls on the one side of the house, I asked if they can do something extra. So they looked for where they could add crack lines or whatever you call it. So they grinded open straight lines from top to bottom at strategic places on the walls. Now this didn't prevent 100% of the cracks, but it is much much better than it was before at least.

They did fill these lines in with a sort of expandable silicone that is of similar color as the wall paint, So now it at least looks like something that was intended to be there.

We've actually done this at some of the more serious cracks - worked well.

 

[xrapidx]

Then you still have extreme movement of your walls..

Need to break the cracks open significantly, drill hiles either side of them and insert some u-shaped bent rebar with chemical anchor..

Plaster back over..

I'd have to redo most the house

These are not wide cracks, they're borderline hairline - but - they always come back almost immediately after painting, and they don't get much worse than these pictures - the problem is water gets in - and then the paint starts to come off.




I havent even had time to put the damn lights back.

 

[Kung Fu Porkchop]

We finally decided to go ahead with installing a solar system for the house, just a few days before Eskom decided to screw everyone over again. Given the ongoing issues in town due to maladministration and the deteriorating infrastructure, we were left without power more often than not, even after load shedding supposedly "ended." So, we figured it was best to get something in place.

The team was supposed to only do prep work on Saturday, but they pushed through the weekend and finished the installation last night. Excuse some of the photos. I still need to clean the garage properly and close up the trench through the concrete to the house.

5KVA Inverter
5.12 KWH Lithium Battery
10x 550W Solar Panels
Smart Geyser switch etc.

 

[Benmasjien]

We finally decided to go ahead with installing a solar system for the house, just a few days before Eskom decided to screw everyone over again. Given the ongoing issues in town due to maladministration and the deteriorating infrastructure, we were left without power more often than not, even after load shedding supposedly "ended." So, we figured it was best to get something in place.

The team was supposed to only do prep work on Saturday, but they pushed through the weekend and finished the installation last night. Excuse some of the photos. I still need to clean the garage properly and close up the trench through the concrete to the house.

5KVA Inverter
5.12 KWH Lithium Battery
10x 550W Solar Panels
Smart Geyser switch etc.

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Would you mind sharing the cost (including installation)?

 

[xrapidx]

I recall someone recommending a seamless gutter company here for Cape Town, if anyone has the details please let me know.

 

[Thor]

I just to share my friend's business. It's called Legends Freight - they do rubble removal, waste collection, and building material deliveries across Cape Town.

• They're super affordable (starting at like R600)
• They provide the truck, driver, AND helpers who does all the loading for you
• They cover pretty much all areas (Cape Town, Northern Suburbs, Southern Suburbs, etc.)
• They're properly insured and dispose of waste responsibly

If anyone needs this kind of service, you can WhatsApp them on 082 264 5161. Their website is legendsfreight.co.za if you want to check them out.

Just thought I'd share it here in the Home improvements section, since form experience I know finding a reliable removal service can be tricky, and these guys actually do what they say they will.

 

[marhsava]

I just to share my friend's business. It's called Legends Freight - they do rubble removal, waste collection, and building material deliveries across Cape Town.

• They're super affordable (starting at like R600)
• They provide the truck, driver, AND helpers who does all the loading for you
• They cover pretty much all areas (Cape Town, Northern Suburbs, Southern Suburbs, etc.)
• They're properly insured and dispose of waste responsibly

If anyone needs this kind of service, you can WhatsApp them on 082 264 5161. Their website is legendsfreight.co.za if you want to check them out.

Just thought I'd share it here in the Home improvements section, since form experience I know finding a reliable removal service can be tricky, and these guys actually do what they say they will.

Anyone similar in Gauteng?

 

[Hazy_Living@79]

I have these tiles in my place where the grout is cracking or has pulled away. The tiles are starting to sound like they're on the way to cracking themselves whenever someone stands on them. What's the best way to deal with it?

 

[WAslayer]

I have these tiles in my place where the grout is cracking or has pulled away. The tiles are starting to sound like they're on the way to cracking themselves whenever someone stands on them. What's the best way to deal with it?View attachment 1793986View attachment 1793987View attachment 1793988View attachment 1793989

Your tiles are lifting, most likely because of insufficient allowance for expansion.. that's why you hear cracking sounds when standing on them because they are moving up and down..

To fix it properly, you need to retile the floor and make sure there's sufficient allowance for expansion..

 

[The_MAC]

I have these tiles in my place where the grout is cracking or has pulled away. The tiles are starting to sound like they're on the way to cracking themselves whenever someone stands on them. What's the best way to deal with it?View attachment 1793986View attachment 1793987View attachment 1793988View attachment 1793989

Poor workmanship or problematic underlying surface. There is a section in our open-plan kitchen/dining-room/lounge that looks exactly like that.

As a quick fix, I removed the grout and re-grouted, but I know eventually we will have to redo the whole area, and no doubt, get to the root cause of the issue which could be the underlying surface as well.

 

[qscwbt]

I have these tiles in my place where the grout is cracking or has pulled away. The tiles are starting to sound like they're on the way to cracking themselves whenever someone stands on them. What's the best way to deal with it?View attachment 1793986View attachment 1793987View attachment 1793988View attachment 1793989

Yup when grout cracks and comes out it means you have no expansion joints.
Building regulation requires movement joints inside 5 meter in every directions and you need a perimeter joint around anything immovable such as walls etc.

The joint should be the depth of the tile and the adhesive all the wat to the original subfloor, thus if your tile is 10mm and your adhesive is 10mm your joint should be 20mm.


Before you re tile cut joints and perimeter joints with into the floor and clean joint and silicone. Re-apply loos tiles and problem should go away.

Tile contractor should be able to help if you don't want to do it yourself.

 

[qscwbt]

Poor workmanship or problematic underlying surface. There is a section in our open-plan kitchen/dining-room/lounge that looks exactly like that.

As a quick fix, I removed the grout and re-grouted, but I know eventually we will have to redo the whole area, and no doubt, get to the root cause of the issue which could be the underlying surface as well.

quick fix is to ad movement joint and rather use silicone.
The underlying issue is your sub floor naturally will expand and contract. Tiles pop in winter when building contracts.
Tiles can not expand and contract. the reason you have to have joints to aid in movement. no joints tiles fail.

 

[qscwbt]

if you need help or assistance with tiles or tile issues please contact me. I am happy to advise. Its what i do.
I work for a importer and we supply to residential and commercial projects.
Trust me contractors fail to tile as per building regulation and then you sit with the ****.

 

[Hazy_Living@79]

Your tiles are lifting, most likely because of insufficient allowance for expansion.. that's why you hear cracking sounds when standing on them because they are moving up and down..

To fix it properly, you need to retile the floor and make sure there's sufficient allowance for expansion..

Poor workmanship or problematic underlying surface. There is a section in our open-plan kitchen/dining-room/lounge that looks exactly like that.

As a quick fix, I removed the grout and re-grouted, but I know eventually we will have to redo the whole area, and no doubt, get to the root cause of the issue which could be the underlying surface as well.

Yup when grout cracks and comes out it means you have no expansion joints.
Building regulation requires movement joints inside 5 meter in every directions and you need a perimeter joint around anything immovable such as walls etc.

The joint should be the depth of the tile and the adhesive all the wat to the original subfloor, thus if your tile is 10mm and your adhesive is 10mm your joint should be 20mm.


Before you re tile cut joints and perimeter joints with into the floor and clean joint and silicone. Re-apply loos tiles and problem should go away.

Tile contractor should be able to help if you don't want to do it yourself.

quick fix is to ad movement joint and rather use silicone.
The underlying issue is your sub floor naturally will expand and contract. Tiles pop in winter when building contracts.
Tiles can not expand and contract. the reason you have to have joints to aid in movement. no joints tiles fail.

It's never anything simple, is it? We recently bought the place, so a full re-tile definitely isn't on the cards. Also it's a big open plan, where all the tiles match.

@The_MAC how did you remove the grout from just those areas? And how's it holding up after regrouting?

if you need help or assistance with tiles or tile issues please contact me. I am happy to advise. Its what i do.
I work for a importer and we supply to residential and commercial projects.
Trust me contractors fail to tile as per building regulation and then you sit with the ****.

Thanks for the offer. Will keep this in mind when we're in a position to re-tile the areas.

 

[qscwbt]

It's never anything simple, is it? We recently bought the place, so a full re-tile definitely isn't on the cards. Also it's a big open plan, where all the tiles match.

@The_MAC how did you remove the grout from just those areas? And how's it holding up after regrouting?



Thanks for the offer. Will keep this in mind when we're in a position to re-tile the areas.

You dont need to re tile. Just cut in joints.
Lift the loose tile and re tile those loose ones again.
use proper glue, any glue that says S2 or polymer modified