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

[ecomama]

Thanks for that info Geoff!

Yes I'll be painting the timber between the rough sawn rafters.

I have a few paint rollers on long handles. And trays for the paint.

I'm going to have to be careful with the amount of paint on the rollers for the timber floor / ceiling slats as they are the timbers for the loungeroom above.
No lol I don't want to put in a ceiling in the glass room. I think it would get full of filthy grit from the room above. Yuck.
I'd rather all that fall through to the room below - being more of an outdoor room. Then I just sweep it up.

Okay. Yeah my Uncle used the Granitrex product to "render" his studio's external walls and loves it. We want a fine grit matching the already rendered walls it butts up to.

My Uncle's 80y old & worked in an office till retirement at 50yo. He's been building all sorts ever since.

I'm really loving getting into all this work, it's so enjoyable lol. I wasn't allowed to become a Carpenter because I was a girl grrr, so I've been making up for that ever since lol!

I love this thread. Thankyou so much Geoff.

EM

[geoff]

Hi RX, those small a/cons were expected to do far more than they were capable of, simply because they are overworked and lose the gas, normally this means they're useless and need to be replaced, although they maybe able to be regassed, but the technique probably won't do it.

Hi EM, I've seen a run down dilapidated weather board house made good and then coated with a Granitrex type product and has rejuvenated the house 200%.

Your uncle must be a champ at 80 years old and please wish him all the best.

Geoff.

[ecomama]

Thanks Geoff I will pass on your regards to my Uncle lol! He'd like that very much, so thankyou!

He said ages ago that he was trying to make up for my father (his brother) being absent and irresponsible with us.

He's an absolute sweetheart and we appreciate his caring for us very very much.

Uncle's away with my Aunty on a holiday atm and as soon as they're back, he's planning to get straight back into the "Glass Room" here.

Thanks Geoff, we'll go with the Granitrex.

EM

[Guest_1643]

Hey all -

Interesting question - a year ago I was fleeing DV and started up in a new apartment. Welfare services like St V D Paul donated to me some items to start up my life - very kind.
New items from Super Amart!

I want to get rid of these things now - I've moved on. Where can I give them? I would feel wrong selling them - I thought maybe nature strip - or is there a place to pay it forward?
Thanks for any ideas,

Sleepy

[geoff]

Hi Sleepy, this is very kind of you and if you advertise what you want to give these items away as being 'free' on one of the sites, they will go quickly.

Thanks.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff - thanks!
As expected, the items went very quickly and I was quite happy to have the space. I had a lot of clutter and it feels a bit breathier now. Thanks for your help.

[ecomama]

OH wow Sleepy21, what a lovely thing you did!

A bonus to many people and to you and your clear spaces too!

Lol, you're very swett.

xxEM

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, that's terrific, you've made someone else happy.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Hi geoff and all.

Wanted to ask Geoff when you get a minute , l'm not a builder or in the building trades my only experience in that area is painting and property reno and so like everyone else l really appreciate you making this thread and your help to people.

So anyway l do have to me an odd one but it'll be nothing to you. But my bloody paling nails on the new fencing l did a yr or so back , keep working their way out. Some have even popped all the way out others spots l've banged back in a few times which of course loosens the grip butttt, 100s of them are still working their way out . We get major cross winds here read somewhere that vibrates nails out. Thing is though , what damn nails do l use then and how do l get them to hold long term ?

Treated pine rails which l know is soft wood and so l thought l'd be clever and used 50ml or so clouts because their rough finish was suppose to hold them in but they still don't hold . Gonna have to go over a lot of it.

So what nails or screws should l use then ?

Anyway , hope your well mate and holding up . Think your in Vic too so if so some freedom finally coming back to eh. All the best. rx

[geoff]

Hi RX, good to hear from you.

Palings which are nailed on wet mean it's going to affect the nail as the timber dries out, especially if they are objected to strong winds, so there are galvanised nails which are corrugated (twisted depending on your finance and also used for decking) that actually twist when hammered in, so you can replace the nails coming out, with one of these or with a stainless steel screw, galvanised or screw for a treated pine fence.

If you are in no rush then screws are better, use your cordless screwdriver and they aren't too costly.

The only reason nails are used is simply because it's so much quicker for the contractor to use a gun or hammer to nail in, so they can get to their next job.

The other option is to keep hammering the nail in.

Best wishes.

Geoff.