The Home Improvements Thread (3)

W@P said:
Update:

The tiling is almost done.
Done with the pouring of the concrete and building/welding of the frames for the countertops.
I had a friend assist me with this, as my welding skills are severely limited. Spray-painted the frames.

The concrete came out pretty good, I would say. As I thought, you can never vibrate/hammer the form work/molds enough to get rid of the air bubbles. I have some pinholes on the counter surfaces, but overall, it came out good.

I planned on using beeswax that I got in the area for the release agent, so the concrete doesn't stick to the melamine. What a ballache to work with. You have to melt it, and as soon as it touches the melamine, it sets. Gives you no time to spread evenly. I took a torch flame to the waxed surface just to even it out a bit. Oh, and the bees zoomed in on me out of nowhere when using the stuff.

I did one mold with the wax. And said fsck it. I will just use the Q20 and hope for the best.
The beeswax mold came out pretty good. Like, in really good to seal the surface. But the wax sticks to the counter surface. So I am going to have to melt it off the surface. Bit of a pain.

The molds that I sprayed with Q20 worked amazingly good. They came off with ease.
The tops have been opened and left curing for a week now. My corners that I caulked came out decent enough.

I plan on finishing everything off by the end of this weekend.

Still to do:
  • Fine sanding and sealing of the tops.
  • Mounting the tops to the frames.
  • Mounting the surface-mounted prep bowl and mixer, as well as connecting the plumbing.
  • Installing the stove/oven and doing the gas installation & COC.
  • Securing each counter frame to the wall.
  • Finishing the slatted wooden shelves that come inside the frames.
  • Some more lighting.
  • And odds & ends.
Still some work that needs to be done, but it feels like it is all starting to come together. Atm, my costs are about R20k, excluding time and fuel.

Some pics:

View attachment 1828143

View attachment 1828144


View attachment 1828145

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Click to expand...
Update #3:

Replaced the SMEG oven door with the new one. What a ballache to remove the thing. YouTube came to the rescue as usual. Installation and gas COC have been done.

The pieces are starting to come together. Still, some finer details and finishes need to be done. The floor needed to be tiled where the old POS cupboard was. I just got something that resembles the rest of the tiles as closely as possible. One day I will redo the whole house floors.

If you see something that looks skew, it most probably is. The walls are so out of angle that you can build everything to the T, but if your walls are skew, then it's game over.

Plumbing was done and connected. That feeling when you open the tap for the first time, waiting for the leaks to appear, etc., and then, nothing... All your connections are 100%. Sjoe. Feels good.

Got some base-mounted pull-out baskets with soft closing rails from Gelmar. They work a treat. For around R360 a basket, I will take it. Still figuring out the rest of the storage options, like the baskets, etc, for the rest of the counter frames.

Countertops came out fscking good IMO. Some pinholes. Some this, some that, but overall I am pleased with my attempt.
Mixed a 20ml bottle of Woodoc Colours - Beaufort Grey with 1L of Woodoc 45 tile and cement sealer. Did 3 coats, letting it dry in between and lightly smoothing out with steel wool, cleaned the surface, and then next coat. I think one more coat and they will be golden.

Wooden shelves are normal pine pars 20mm x 70mm. Sanded smooth, and the sharpness of the corners was removed. 3 x coats with 1L of Woodoc 5 Matt/Clear with Woodoc Colours - Oak mixed in. Also, steel wool to smooth it out between coats. Wipe clean and give the next coat. This is so so so important. You get the best finishes this way.

Last night with my broken/aching body I stood in front of the one counter and cut some pieces of salami on a chopping board, and I was like, WTF, first time using the new counters sunk into my head. And to top it off they are the perfect hight. What a feeling.

And I made a chow on the stove, realising that my late mother were the last one to make a meal on this thing.
The day was a bit emotial for me with everything starting to come together and begining to see your plans become a reality in front of your eyes. This house was my parents favourite place and I wondered what they would say if they saw me now doing all these things.
Pencil pusher with carpel tunnel attempting a mini kitchen renovation lmao.

Anyway, some pics.
Remember, this is not an attempt at an upper-class super-modern kitchen. Farm house style vibes, ok. Not everything is 100%.

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My attempt at adding a personal touch came out a bit meh, still has meaning to me.
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If a geyser element is pulling substantially less kW than its design spec (whilst having proper connections and correct voltage)... does that mean it's busy dying ?
 
Last edited:
abudabi said:
If a geyser element is pulling substantially less kW than its design spec (whilst having proper connections and correct voltage)... does that mean it's busy dying ?
Click to expand...
I would say that according to ohm's law, yes

Like an incandescent light-bulb getting dimmer

What's the water temp like?
 
The_MAC said:
I would say that according to ohm's law, yes

Like an incandescent light-bulb getting dimmer

What's the water temp like?
Click to expand...
chilly :D
1751015476364.png

You can see early this morning it climbed at its normal rate and then at around 9 something happened.
 
abudabi said:
If a geyser element is pulling substantially less kW than its design spec (whilst having proper connections and correct voltage)... does that mean it's busy dying ?
Click to expand...
Yes and No, depends on How much is substantially less? Let say supply voltage is 225V, A 3kw element, will do about 3.3kw on the high side and 2.7kw on the low end.
 
Walls up... All 63 x 2m average. Could've been a week and 1/2. Wild journey... Missed the building experience but also still PTSD from the prior experience.

Used basically all my local hardware shops. Green, Yellow, Blue and Red. Results were mixed on being able to deliver when having committed to a time. So lost about 3 days to stock issues/broken down trucks. Eventually got a trailer and spent the day ferrying 2 brick pallets at a time.

We did a slurry with Drikon preplaster, and now using Sika in the plaster for water and moisture management, which is live now.
0ad4161bd317a580758a2f42591385f8.jpg
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Mosgi said:
So, the time has come to replace the shady wooden fence. Looking at a double brick, had wanted 2m high (privacy not security) but apparently that would require an architect, engineer sign off and COJ approval (seems excessive, but okay).

Wall is 63m long x 2m (wishfully), otherwise 1.8m to manage costs .

Few questions:

Gpt reckons the rule is up to 2m no plans & anything above - all in. Anyone in the know ?


First quote came in for labour only as R28k build & R18k plaster (friends and family discount). - Seems reasonable but what's the ball park for this. I've seen people speaking of R80k-R90k for a 20m long wall...

I need advice on the lollipop iceberg roses. I think its prudent to relocate them for the build. They are much too close to the wall. Any advice on the best way to do this. Thinking getting bags from a local nursery plus the 20l buckets from the garage and basically storing them well watered in a partially lit corner in the garden.

Obviously time is of the essence given we made the decision late and we are coming into rainy season.


5995b425a096887bd98233056760deff.jpg
Click to expand...
Here is a Quote to the previous post about this wall. For anyone that might be interested in it.
Mosgi said:
Walls up... All 63 x 2m average. Could've been a week and 1/2. Wild journey... Missed the building experience but also still PTSD from the prior experience.

Used basically all my local hardware shops. Green, Yellow, Blue and Red. Results were mixed on being able to deliver when having committed to a time. So lost about 3 days to stock issues/broken down trucks. Eventually got a trailer and spent the day ferrying 2 brick pallets at a time.

We did a slurry with Drikon preplaster, and now using Sika in the plaster for water and moisture management, which is live now.
0ad4161bd317a580758a2f42591385f8.jpg
898319927ba7b28e93f86c48283a163a.jpg
bcdc086d5339989824024802e9b2c1bd.jpg
20431cb1346e7658ce8b541e91c47d40.jpg
933faae3000360f737cc05aa5b3dbf69.jpg
9011dfa11692b50560cd5852585fbba1.jpg
Click to expand...
 
W@P said:
Update #3:

Replaced the SMEG oven door with the new one. What a ballache to remove the thing. YouTube came to the rescue as usual. Installation and gas COC have been done.

The pieces are starting to come together. Still, some finer details and finishes need to be done. The floor needed to be tiled where the old POS cupboard was. I just got something that resembles the rest of the tiles as closely as possible. One day I will redo the whole house floors.

If you see something that looks skew, it most probably is. The walls are so out of angle that you can build everything to the T, but if your walls are skew, then it's game over.

Plumbing was done and connected. That feeling when you open the tap for the first time, waiting for the leaks to appear, etc., and then, nothing... All your connections are 100%. Sjoe. Feels good.

Got some base-mounted pull-out baskets with soft closing rails from Gelmar. They work a treat. For around R360 a basket, I will take it. Still figuring out the rest of the storage options, like the baskets, etc, for the rest of the counter frames.

Countertops came out fscking good IMO. Some pinholes. Some this, some that, but overall I am pleased with my attempt.
Mixed a 20ml bottle of Woodoc Colours - Beaufort Grey with 1L of Woodoc 45 tile and cement sealer. Did 3 coats, letting it dry in between and lightly smoothing out with steel wool, cleaned the surface, and then next coat. I think one more coat and they will be golden.

Wooden shelves are normal pine pars 20mm x 70mm. Sanded smooth, and the sharpness of the corners was removed. 3 x coats with 1L of Woodoc 5 Matt/Clear with Woodoc Colours - Oak mixed in. Also, steel wool to smooth it out between coats. Wipe clean and give the next coat. This is so so so important. You get the best finishes this way.

Last night with my broken/aching body I stood in front of the one counter and cut some pieces of salami on a chopping board, and I was like, WTF, first time using the new counters sunk into my head. And to top it off they are the perfect hight. What a feeling.

And I made a chow on the stove, realising that my late mother were the last one to make a meal on this thing.
The day was a bit emotial for me with everything starting to come together and begining to see your plans become a reality in front of your eyes. This house was my parents favourite place and I wondered what they would say if they saw me now doing all these things.
Pencil pusher with carpel tunnel attempting a mini kitchen renovation lmao.

Anyway, some pics.
Remember, this is not an attempt at an upper-class super-modern kitchen. Farm house style vibes, ok. Not everything is 100%.



View attachment 1829491

View attachment 1829483

My attempt at adding a personal touch came out a bit meh, still has meaning to me.
Click to expand...
Looks great, but I don't think your isolator location is compliant.
 
Contractor starting a complete re-thatch of my lapa today. I was hoping for a patch and comb, but the old thatch was beyond saving, don't think it was ever maintained properly.
 
_Jakes_ said:
Contractor starting a complete re-thatch of my lapa today. I was hoping for a patch and comb, but the old thatch was beyond saving, don't think it was ever maintained properly.
Click to expand...
If you don't mind, can you say +- how much it's costing you to redo the thatch.
 
spiff said:
anyone have experience with these gasless mig welders? brand / cost etc.

thinking of buying one, don't want to buy cheap sh it.
Click to expand...
I used mat weld, worked quite well, it is just wire that is for gasless process.
Later on I got gas but now at the end of it not sure if it was worth to get gas.
 
spiff said:
anyone have experience with these gasless mig welders? brand / cost etc.

thinking of buying one, don't want to buy cheap sh it.
Click to expand...
Yes, i got this One. I am happy with it. It can do Mig gas/gasless,stick and tig. I started with gasless mig but switched to gas mig now.
FYI gas for mig welding is expensive, I currently pay R2000 annual just for rental of a bottle. That's excluding the gas which R900 for a refill.
Afrox sells lifetime use bottles they are about the same size as medical oxygen bottles, but last I checked they cost R8500.
 
spiff said:
anyone have experience with these gasless mig welders? brand / cost etc.

thinking of buying one, don't want to buy cheap sh it.
Click to expand...
Don't buy cheap. Make sure you get adjustable wire speed and adjustable volts if going for mig.

As others have said. Gas is expensive so if you're not planning on welding lots of stuff. E71-T1. (Flux cored wire)
 
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