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Beyond Blue Home Improvement Thread

geoff
Champion Alumni
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

I have to agree with Tony, you can spend an arm and a leg on what's meant to be the best paint, but it's over-rated and believe you're wasting your money and you also have to remember that each 4l can of paint isn't perfectly the same colour as another 4l, because a different person or even the same person has added the tint and all it takes is for a bit extra of one colour to change it so very slightly. Geoff.

Doolhof
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Thanks Geoff,

Very much appreciated! Hubby has decided he likes the dull, boring, horrible brown colour of the cupboards and coffee table, so if the coffee table is wood of some kind I might at least be able to stain it or use bees wax of something to make it look like it is not so horrible!

Some of the indoor wooden window sills are really dried out and faded in patches. One is right near the kitchen sink! What was someone thinking when they did that? Ha. Ha.

I think a those on the west side of the house will need a light sanding and staining perhaps. Thanks for your help Geoff. Cheers.

geoff
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni
hi Mrs. Dools, if the cupboards and table are brown by some type of stain then the only way to lighten them up would be by white enamel,there is an earlier comment I made on bees wax so you might want to look at that, remember someone with depression or any other illness doesn't want a change, so would he mind if you did what you want to do, just curious.
I know my wife did things that I didn't want but when she did I didn't care and was quite pleased.
The windows sills are thirsty if I can say that, they need something to replenish them otherwise they will only get worse and need replacing, there are different types of wood fillers to fill the cracks.
If you want to stain them rather than paint them with white enamel paint then do so and then you could put a couple of coats of estapol on them to finish off, this will protect water getting into the wood and I really suggest doing this. Geoff.

Doolhof
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Hi Geoff,

Makes sense about the window sills. I will but some products and try to fix them up a bit.

The furniture all came in various shades of brown when bought. Maybe you are right, my husband does not want to change stuff and does not like "Pretty". I might just give it all a coat of polish and see if that helps after fixing up some of the marks and scrapes.

I will go back and find the comments on bees wax.

Thanks heaps Geoff, you are the legend of home handy man tips! As are others who help out here.

Cheers from Ms. D.

blondguy
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Hey Geoff

If I can ask you as I am stuck...after removing ceramic floor tiles off a concrete slab

I know that I need a tile remover 'bit' for a demolition hammer to remove the tiles........but what power tool do I need to get rid of the solid bits of adhesive residue on the concrete slab to make it smooth after I remove the tiles?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated when you have the time..Paul

geoff
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni
hi Paul, sorry I haven't got back to you earlier, in regard to the adhesive there's a product on this site so if you google 'best way to remove adhesive from concrete' it will describe different ways on how to do it, it's a pain to do but it has to be done.
If you try and use sandpaper on a belt sander or drill attachment it will be useless, the sandpaper will lose all it's grit immediately.
What size are the tiles, but a 4 inch or 6 inch colt bit using a hammer can do it, usually the tiles will come off quite easily, they will break but that doesn't matter.
If the tiles are placed on cement sheeting you may want to pull up all the sheeting, normally on wooden floorboards, but then it's extra cost to install new sheeting, plus you will need a saw either handheld or an electric saw or a tool you can but which specifically cuts cement sheeting and/or hardiplank, if you prefer to get a handyman to do it for you, sometimes it makes your job easier.
The tiles can't be put straight onto the wooden floorboards, because they will crack as you walk on the boards.
Another option is to have polished floorboards, where you take up everything then get a floor sander to sand the whole floor and then lacquer them, probably about 3 coats.
In my kitchen, dining room, lounge room, hallway and spare den, I laid parquetry throughout, it wasn't cold on our feet and can always be resanded if need be, or perhaps a floating floor maybe your choice.
Let me know if ythis helps you. Geoff.

white knight
Community Champion
Community Champion

We replaced our lino in the kitchen and dining with a floating floor.

Available at bunnings you make sure the staples are out or hammered down. Lay sponge that comes in 3 densitys we vhose medium. Floating floors need about 6mm end space to expand so they need end cover strips.

We a reasonably happy with the result. The floor does gather fine grit in the joins so the occasional vacuum is needed. Cost from memory 7mx2.5m $400

Tony WK

Hey Geoff & TonyWK

I really appreciate the help. I do have a concrete slab Geoff....I can get the ceramic tiles off but how do I get the slab back to smooth for another floor covering?

Hi TonyWK...I keep forgetting about Bunnings and how good they are on price....When you mentioned a floating floor did you mean laminated strips? I am new at this. I am just about to get rid of Pegulan Vinyl flooring that is nearly immaculate and 27 years old. (Pegulan is still around and they have a 20 g'tee)

What would you install Tony....Laminated or Vinyl?.....and they are both nearly the same price from the quotes I have had. Kitchen/family/lounge circa 70m2

Thanks guys!

Paul

Hey Tony/Geoff/Randomx or anyone that can offer their help would be appreciated

What would you install Tony....Laminated planks or Vinyl?.....and they are both nearly the same price from the quotes I have had. Kitchen/family/lounge circa 70m2

Just thought Id ask if anyone had any advice/thoughts. I am as handy as a rubber shovel....seriously....any tips would be appreciated...Paul

Hi paul

Having had lino professionally laid and now floating floor (yes laminated strips woodgrain) if I could afford it I'd go the lino again.

If I was tight on budget floating floor is ok but just ok imo.

Tony WK