Beyond Blue Home Improvement Thread

geoff
Champion Alumni
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
1,301 Replies 1,301

Guest_1584
Community Member

Hi Geoff and thanks very much.

l thought of screws but then l thought that's overkill our fence growing up was 30 0r 40 yrs old but that was just nailed. H wood though back then eh holding then in l suppose . l remember using those twisted nails on something once .

Anyway no worries cheers for that. rx

ecomama
Valued Contributor

Hi Geoff

My Uncle's coming back this week to do more work. I'm so grateful for him doing this but also anxious at the same time!

He's planning to make some timber frames for the metal louvres.

We haven't got the glass yet, he's just doing the metal frame fitting.

I'm anxious because his mistakes are expensive and I'm running out of money before I return to FT work next year.
I can see me having to tell him this this week.

He hasn't exactly been "careful" with my atm card lol!

He also plans on fitting a new (expensive also!) shower head that he took upon himself to remove, so we've been without an upstairs shower for over a month, noice.

the fitting wouldn't fit first, 2nd, 3rd, 4th go with 4 trips to Bunnings over it... ahhh I need grounding exercises!

Just the headsup for coming back with issues later in the week Geoff!

Love EM

geoff
Champion Alumni

Hi EM, I'm wondering whether you should put a hold on your card, it's easy to go and buy something again if you're not paying for it yourself, sorry.

Let us know how you get on, and only if money grew on a tree. lol

Geoff.

Guest_1643
Blue Voices Member

Hi all 🙂
lol re the credit card EM - uncle seems well meaning but is buying big!

Hi Geoff I just wandered what your thoughts rae on dehumidifiers? My bedroom is very humid, I wake up boiling hot and I don't think it's healthy - hopefully there's not mold but it's an older place, bad ventiliation and not insulated well.

I'm reading about dehumidifiers - pretty expesnive but if they work would they be worth investing in?
other people were suggesting fans or air con, i have neither in the apartment. Would love your input. Thanks so so much

Ggrand
Community Champion

Hello Geoff...

I’m stuck again...and need a bit of advice...It’s not major..bit silly really..I need to replace the runners on my back screen door...I can’t get the screen door off..I know I need to lift it up to get it out...but it’s not lifting high enough to get it over the thing it runs on down the bottom....If I twist it to force it out I’m scared I will break the glass door and the other glass panel..

Do you have any ideas at all how I can get it off please...

Thank you so much for being here...for us all new diy handy people...

My kindest thoughts with my care Dear Geoff...

I hope you are doing great both physically and mentally...

Grandy..

Hi Sleepy, I 've never used a dehumidifer, but from is said they seem to be good.

I've copied this which you probably hav read

Dehumidifiers reduce humidity levels, making your home less hospitable to allergens such as dust mites, mold, and mildew. ... Running a dehumidifier helps reduce dust in your home, so you won't have to clean as often. A dehumidifier also lowers energy costs because it helps your air conditioner run more efficiently.

You maybe able to pick one up through Gumtree someone that has no use for it any more for their own reasons.

Hi Grandy a good question because it happens to sliding doors quite option.

Move the door along the track, inch by inch, then try and lift it up, but remember where you were able to lift it up.

If the track is loose then rescrew it down, sometimes putting a large screwdriver wegged under the door and the track may help lift the door up, the glass is probably 6 mm which means it's thick enough and won't break.

Let me know as I'm logging off now.

Take care.

Geoff.

Ggrand
Community Champion

Hello Dear Geoff....

Thank you so very Geoff....Woohoo I got it off by using a large screwdriver like your suggestion.....replaced the runners and new screen....it’s working like a brand new one...

Thank you for your time....I so much appreciate you..

Grandy....with a working screen door 😁..

Hi Sleepy, my place is very hot in the bedroom and where I lived before it was a very humid climate - I use two box fans in the bedroom, one diagonally across from the other so it makes a lovely breeze - you could use just one fan... they help move the air around and make you feel much cooler with a breeze... I've never used a dehumidifier even in a very humid climate everyone used a normal fan... I prefer box fans you might like a pedestal fan. Good luck.

geoff
Champion Alumni

Hello Ggrand, that's great, I'm so pleased for you, were you able to take the door off in the middle of the track or close to the right or left side, just curious.

Hi Hanna, pedestal fans are great, when it's blowing directly on you, all you want is for it to stop, but when it isn't, all you want is for it to come back, but it's air moving.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

ecomama
Valued Contributor

Hi Sleepy21

I used a dehumidifier for years until I realised it was really difficult to face the exhaust end to a place I DIDN'T want heated up.

I sold it lol.

Now for those rooms downstairs (they get pretty hot)... I'm thinking of installing a removable air con that fits in the window.
This is a plan for next year now due to finances and Uncle having a ball with my atm card lol.

Love EM