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

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff,
I had my own person today come to check out the mold.
He said it was really mild and removed it himself and sprayed it so it won't come back for he said, at least 6 months.
He was amazing and kind. No charge! I showed him other spots of concern but he said it's just very dusty around the windows, they are extremely old and haven't been well maintained, but he said it's dry - no mold. It was only in the shower and he said it was an easy fix and didn't charge me even for the call-out.
In other good news, when I came to get the real estate agent to check out problems in the place, they said they know my heater isn't very updated and are now sending someone tomorrow to consider installing a new heater - a split system with air conditioning. He'll then provide a quote and send to the landlord for approval.
I hope he will approve it.

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, must be a kind person to help you out like this, at least that's one tick, and in regard to the heater, the real estate have agreed it needs to be replaced, that's good because it's not suitable and could be a major reason for the mould.

If they agree with you, that it needs to be replaced, ask if you can have a copy of the report to the landlord, only because this would probably protect you in the future, because if other problems are caused by the old heater not being able to suffice, then if you have to go to VCAT this will prove that the landlord should have replaced it.

When a tradesman comes out to quote on the split system, try and convince them to install a 5kw system instead of a 2.5kw, the difference in power is remarkable and ask them to say in the quote that a 5kw needs to be installed for the area it has to cover and try not to get a cheap split system installed, get them to quote on a decent and popular brand.

If a cheap one is installed the landlord will have more repair work than it's worth.

I had a cheap one where I now live with it was hopeless, and replaced them with a good brand.

Please let us know how you get on.

Geoff.

[Guest_1643]

hi Geoff

you're amazing and so helpful to us all here - thank u!

That's great as the tradesman is coming very soon so I'll know what to ask him

I think a powerful heater would make the place loads better!

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff he is trying to say that the 5 won't fit and suggesting a 3.5 althoguh i'm tryig to push for the 5 to be put somewhere else

[Guest_1643]

Hi Geoff,
You're such a legend!
With a bit of a push he found a spot and is recommended a 5kw heater. The landlord has requested it and is interested in getting it done ,but the next step is body corporate. I've heard they're not great so i hope they approve it.
In terms of brands... He says he uses a well-known brand starting with S

I have heard and seen previously ones starting with D that are very reliable and strong however this brand is not the one starting with D that he wants, but the S brand is also well known and not a cheap or unknown one, I hope it will also be as good.

u are a legend geoff thank u so much for ur timely tips as I knew what to push for and ask for and was ably to (hopefully) get it.
At least in his recommendation he is recommended a 5kw one starting with S.

He was thiking the 5kw would not fit in the area where it seemed most suitable, but after checking around, he could see that on the large wall (with no fit restrictions) it was actually smarter to put it there, because that wall faces the bedroom and can thus effectively heat up the bedrooms too if needed. So he decided he could fit the 5kw and has put in a recommendation for its installation.

Yes and yes and yes> (until the body corporate says no, which I sincerely hope they do not do!!!)

[Guest_1643]

should i maybe push for the one with the d? they are more expensive but they are really good.

[geoff]

Hello Sleepy, I know which brands you're talking about and if you can get the one starting with D that would be fabulous, although I've got the one starting with M and have no complaints about at all.

The one starting with S may be the one he handles the most, because of his commission, but try and get D or M ( only wish the rules would allow us to mention their names, it's not as if we are giving them business, because people are still going to research all the types).

Perhaps to suit the body corporate the unit can be put in your back yard because these split a/c are so much quieter than the ones put through a window, and certainly much cheaper to run and the stipulation is that the landlord will need to maintain it and not the body corp.

Please let us know how you get on.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Hi Sleepy and Geoff.

Sleep how did your panel heater go from last yr , not enough or too dear to run or ? Didn't realize you had a split system too anyway what that one wasn't doing the job either eh ?

At any rate sounds like you'll have it sorted this time then with the 5. Good luck . rx

[Guest_1643]

thanks rx 🙂 the panel heater is still fabulous, i use it in my bedroom though. I don't have a split system but an old gas fireplace in my lounge. It isn't very good. SOmetimes it doesn't start, it's so many years old.
They are now offering to put in a new split system which could make things a lot better.
I hadn't actually heard of the S brand doing heaters although it is a decent brand. I see the D brand is a bit more expensive but I think worth it.

[Guest_1584]

That's great sleepy i'll really dry the place out properly .

l was renting before here and it had a monster in it , only split system l've ever had .

Have a nice Sunday hey. rx