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

[Hanna3]

Thanks Birdy it's the top sash window that keeps sliding down - I can't see what's wrong with it I just keep shoving it back up again... this whole house is falling apart... the other night during the storm I had to shut all the windows because the rain was blowing in through the windows onto the curtains, walls and carpets.. oh joy. Thanks anyway!!!

[geoff]

Hello Birdy, Hanna, RX and everyone else.

With these sash windows, I would think they are timber ones can you please let us know?

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Hanna3]

Hi Geoff, yep mine are timber and would be the originals - very old! Long vertical ones.

I'm also wondering here - I have very high ceilings, way to high for me to change a lightbulb standing on a small stepladder, you would need a long ladder - I forgot to ask Housing but they wouldn't expect me to climb up something to change them would they, as there is no way I can climb up a ladder - and I couldn't afford an electrician or handyman to come... I wonder what is the deal once a bulb blows in the ceiling of any of the rooms?

[geoff]

Hello Hanna, I'm sorry I'm late in getting back to you, had another incident which has slowed me down.

There is an easy way to fix these windows, easy as I've done it many times in my grandmother's house where my ex and lived for a couple of years and in lieu of rent, the house was to be repaired.

The cord has to be replaced but getting to it isn't easy if you're unsure, I'd love to be fit and able to do this because the end result is so satisfying.

No please don't stand on any ladder, unfortunately, housing won't come and replace the light globes, maybe someone who lives near you can do it and bake a cake in exchange for replacing the globes.

I wish it was easier than this and hoped that I could do all of these for you.

Take care and please keep posting.

Geoff.

[Hanna3]

Hi Geoff, I hope you are OK...

Thanks for replying. Gosh I thought Housing would get maintenance to replace a ceiling light bulb given that there is no way I could climb up a ladder to do it. Maybe if I expain I am in my 60s and somewhat disabled they will send in a maintenance guy to do it. I don't know anyone here who could do it for me, and the neighbours on one side are elderly and on the other they never speak...

The sash window keeps coming down of its own accord - maybe when I get someone in to fix that I'll wait until a light needs replacing too and ask whoever comes if they would do both... worth a try...

Thanks again Geoff!

[geoff]

Hello Hanna, isn't it awful getting old, changing light globes is also something I don't do or been told not to even contemplate standing on a milk crate or ladder because there's only one place I'd end up.

Have you tried the local council handyman who can perform 'simple' tasks like this, but not so simple when we age and definitely an annoying task, they may even want to learn how to change the sash cords on the windows and sometimes a real challenge.

Another option is whether or not you either know or you visit the same op shop that anyone there has someone who can help you with the globes or perhaps they maybe eager to learn how to fix the windows.

The gardeners may do the globes for free or a couple of dollars or perhaps they maybe eager to do for you.

There are many curious people and thankfully I have a son who will anything a go.

Let us know about the council handyman and really sorry I am no help for you.

Geoff.

[Hanna3]

Hi Geoff,

You've been very helpful thank you for chatting to me here. I'm seeing a doctor tomorrow as i'm feeling unwell and I am concerned about yet one more thing with this house and would love your opinion - when I moved in I kept noticing white flakes all over the carpet like confetti. I kept vacuuming and they kept coming back. I didn't know what the tiny white bits were until I noticed inside the wooden sash window frames is what certainly appears to be very old lead paint (white) which is peeling and flaking badly Each time it gets windy here - and I'm on top of a hill - the bits of paint are flying in and all over everything inside the house.

So I figure if this is lead paint - and it looks very old, where it's come off on the inside window ledges it's back to the original wood - it must be in the air in the house and I am breathing it in - and so is my little dog. From what I can see this is not OK for our health. Housing made me sign a waiver about asbestos and lead paint - I didn't know the lead paint was flaking off inside the house! I'm going to see if the GP tomorrow will give me a blood test for my lead levels... I've taken photos on my mobile.

Just wondering if you know anything about how to detect lead paint? Surely this all should have been sanded back and repainted and sealed before I came into the house? Oh the joys of public housing! Thanks Geoff!

[geoff]

Hello Hanna, I am really sorry that this doesn't improve at all, but here to be alongside you for as much help as possible.

If you had to sign a waiver then presumably the paintwork would have been in good condition, but now that it's not and flaking can be dangerous and I would definitely be going to see 'legal aid', because legally I'm not sure you should be living there with these problems, especially if it's flaking and the waiver wouldn't have included this.

If I was living there I would be someone housing didn't want to know about, because, firstly, the windows need to be replaced with aluminium ones, which would solve the sash and lead paint issue or for them to pay to help you move somewhere that's healthy and safe.

If the sash has broken and the lead paint flaking off then they must be old so the house should never have rented out.

To test for lead paint, well usually there are different colours, especially a red colour or you can take some paint down to a paint shop who can also test, but normally they will be able to tell you straight off.

Housing would have to answer some questions, but please let us know and thanks for talking with me.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Hanna3]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks so much. This place is really only fit to be bulldozed I think. I have to dig out the waiver but from memory it merely said fibro/asbestos and lead paint were there, nothing about the condition. I doubt anybody from Housing checked the window sills..

Several gas leaks were found when I moved in and my bill was ridiculous as gas is only for oven and heater (which I haven't used) and hot water, so I know there must be gas leaking somewhere else. Outside gutters are rusted through so when it rains windows have to be shut as the water comes in. Flyscreens come off the windows in the wind and Housing will not replace the one in my bedroom, I have requested it several times. Several windows I can't open as they're jammed shut or behind fitted furnishings such as laundry tub/oven so I can't reach them to open or shut them.

The paint on the window sills is white but flaking and crazed and looks like pics I Googled of lead paint - underneath it's back to the old wood.

When I moved in there was no hot water and the heater didn't function and the oven didn't work. Only two of the hot plates on the oven work now.

I'll see if the doctor today has anything to say about the paint - I'd like a blood test to check my lead levels... and yes personally I don't think anyone should have been put here - the people before me had children, if that paint is lead - and I am pretty certain it is - they shouldn't have been living here.

Sorry to whinge but it's put me in such a difficult position living here without the funds to move - you do expect the house to be basically sound - I don't expect flash, but safe and fit to live in would have been good!

I'll let you know if I get anywhere with the GP and might take a flake of paint to a paint shop somewhere, although can't make it today.

Thanks for putting up with all my problems here Geoff, you've been great!

[geoff]

Hello Hanna, you're not whinging one bit, it's so good to have a thread where people are as Paul says 'a rubber shovel', quote, unquote and hope he doesn't mind me referring to it, as it's a classic.

The waiver intrigues me and interested whether or not you actually saw the asbestos and window frames before you signed it and I'm sure if you go and see your local member or local newspaper then something would be don, however this maybe difficult for you and I understand.

Anglicare Victoria can also connect you with financial counsellors, no-interest loans and if you have the time you can google this 'What services do Anglicare provide?'

Something needs to done to help you with this problem, so please get back to us.

Geoff.