Beyond Blue Home Improvement Thread

[geoff]

Hi everyone. I'm Geoff and have been a dedicated Volunteer on the forums for 13 years. I am proud to have stopped some of the stigmas that are associated with mental health as well as doing my best to help others too

Before my health went south I was a builder in all aspects of home construction and renovation. If you don't have a handyman around I hope I can offer you some tips that may be of help. I have had many years of experience in home renovation and will do my best to help you out if you are stuck and need some advice

I hope my experience may be of help to the people on Beyond Blue and make their life a little bit better. Even if you need help with the most basic painting job or putting up a shelf I can help there too with some tips

I will do my best to get back to anyone that has a question when I can as this is social yet important thread

Geoff

[geoff]

hi Paul, I can say this happened to me many times, but one thing for certain is that takes off any loose paint and tells you where are the spots that need scraping back.

It happened when I was painting loungerooms, kitchens and hallways all joined together, so the ceiling was just one, but painters who first painted 'glass plaster' ceilings needed to paint them with a special undercoat, not just the ordinary ceiling paint, otherwise the paint will come off when you are repainting it and that's exactly what happened on many occasions.

It was so annoying so what I had to do was put a small coat of wet plaster I had mixed up just to fill the area where the paint came off, then sand it and start to paint the whole ceiling again.

If it's your own place and in the bathroom you may decide not to do it, but I had to because it was a rental house/unit and would look terrible being such a large area (loungeroom/kitchen/hallway) and wouldn't be paid.

The new paint is peeling off the old paint because it isn't stuck to the previous paint, or with 'glass plaster' it hasn't stuck to the original plaster.

Good luck. Geoff.

[blondguy]

Thanks heaps for your help Geoff. Now I have an idea whats happening

Its two small places about 20mm x 100mm......in bathroom near the shower

The old paint is Berger Paint and its 27 years old

Paul

[geoff]

hi Paul, do you have a fan in the bathroom because the paint may become loose right above the shower as all the steam from hot water goes that way first of all.

Do you know if the paint is oil based (need to cleaned by turbs) or water based, in order to tell get a rag and soak one corner in methylated spirits and rub on paint, if the cloth shows paint on it straight away then the paint is water based, but if it was Berger Paint and 27 years old, I'm positive it would be oil based paint.

If you do have a fan in the bathroom then the ceiling can be painted with acrylic paint, but if you want to paint over oil-based paint then you will need an undercoat designed to cover oil-based paint so that water-based paint can be used, your paint store will tell you.

Exciting isn't it.

Good to see you back. Geoff.

[blondguy]

Thanks Geoff

I appreciate your help on this one. I have had an exhaust fan installed since the house was built and the flaking is next to the fan and the light bulb housing...interesting.....hmmmm. I have checked for ceiling leaks but its dry as a bone up there.

I tried the cloth with some metho and the paint showed color straight away.

The paint was applied in 1990 when the house was built. The ensuite also has some peeling too.....and an exhaust fan...

Golly....My tiny brain cant get a grip of this lol. I will stick to being a tech head instead 😉

Paul

[Guest_1584]

Ahh,don't worry about it Paul you'd be amazed , even with experience the things painting can do to mess up.

Rover report , 3 mows now, goin like a rocket. think l'll get another 20yrs out of him yet.

Well l had to tell someone.

Cheers.

rx

[geoff]

hi Paul, having a ceiling fan in the bathroom is a must but it has to be cleaned, otherwise the steam will be drawn towards it, but if it is not clean then the steam will overflow onto the ceiling next to it making it flake off.

If you wash the ceiling any loose paint will tend to bubble, indicating that it is loose and needs to be scraped off, and if you want to you can then fill where the paint has been scraped off with wet plaster mix, then sanded to be painted again.

If you choose to paint the ceiling with oil based paint then it will take longer for it to peel off, but I would get a cheap roller to use and then throw it away after it's been used, because to clean it with turps will cost a bit of money and also be a hassle to clean it.

Hi Ransomx, yes if you don't like painting it can become messy. Geoff.

[blondguy]

Hi Geoff Tony RX Bethie Stevexr ElizabethCP and everyone

Thanks heaps for your help with the peeling paint. I do clean my exhaust fans frequently and I will be taking your advice on washing the ceiling (with a squeegee) to expose any flaky areas of paint 🙂

Hey RX.....You are winning the battle with your Rover Ride on Mower and good on you! Its always a bonus to read any of your posts and say hello

I have a 6x6 garage....with no rear wall....Everytime I move anything there is a cockroach....ewwwwwww which would suggest an infestation. Instead of using surface spray on everything.....does everyone think that a 'bomb' type of insect killer would do the trick on a still day without any wind?

I cant stand bugs....grrr.....and ewwwwww

Paul

[geoff]

hi Paul, there is an outside bomb you can buy which people use when they are having BBQs, they should cope with all the creepy crawlies, perhaps get a lizard or even a snake. lol Geoff.

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone

Thanks Geoff....I took your advice today and bought some poison...I mean an insecticide bomb and let it off when their was no wind....(as the back of the garage is open)

I will check for the dead bugs in the morning

[geoff]

hi Paul, let us know if it worked, might need a big broom. Geoff.