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

[geoff]

Hi RX, it was a big house with 3 bathrooms and gutted throughout, windows closed off or made into doors and a house I had thought we would live in for as long as we could.

The views were magnificent, but depression decided to hit me, self-medicated with alcohol, so after a few years my wife had had enough and divorced me.

The house had to be sold and I thought I would rent for a short time and then purchase something, but I stayed in rental ever since.

People say that rental is a waste of money, yes and no, but at my age probably not, I don't have to pay rates, sewerage or repairs if something breaks down and as get rent assistance, plus I've given my 2 sons money so that's helped them.

When I was young I would never ever ask my Dad for any money at all, how times have changed.

I also prefer not to drive past any of the houses we've lived in or any of the spec homes because of any changes that have been made.

We both could talk for hours about our houses and what we did to them, so what's your greatest memory, and Bill please join in if you want to.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Skary Bill]

I'm quite fond of my brain's ability to cherry pick the good memories from the places I've lived. But I never had quite the physical or emotional investment as you guys as I've been a serial renter for most of my life. I poured the majority of my time, money and energy into motorsport related pursuits and outdoor adventure travel.

It's safe to say that I don't allow my mind to wander to any of my old cars or builds very often, and I wouldn't relish the opportunity to see one.. Except perhaps for a couple that were stolen. I've restored many classics over the years, and what they are worth now at auction staggers me. But as with you gentlemen, my life took some turns that were not nessicarily of my choosing and it seems best to look forward with perhaps an occasional nostalgic glance back.

I never thought unit living would appeal to me, probably because of my need for space to play in. But I've absolutely fallen in love with the whole tiny home thing, which has led me to a succession of cute little cottage and cabin builds. Being forced out of my house when things all went wrong hit me pretty hard. But I don't miss all that furniture and assorted trappings at all. These days a compact but very efficient space holds a great deal of appeal to me, be that in the form of a cabin, something more mobile or even a yacht.

Fwiw, I'm finding owning property a lot like renting. With my overbearing and needy council playing the role of landlord... lol.

My greatest housing memory takes me back to being a kid of around 17-18. My whole life was consumed by work, rock climbing and mountaineering.. I didn't need a house or even a room, I just needed a cupboard to put my gear in while back in the city working to afford the next adventure. So I rented a cupboard in an apartment. It was a huge linnen cupboard sort of thing.. 3m long 1m deep and full height with two big doors that swung out. It had a shelf up high, and that's where I slept lol. I remember swinging up there like a monkey and pulling the doors closed while my young flatmates partied on late. But it got me access to amenities and storage, cost me a pittance and I loved it. 🙂

Bill.

[Guest_1584]

Gday Geoff , Bill and all.

But nah , l don't even like thinking about places we lived or owned myself. l'm not that big on the past with anything else either really actually,

But l actually like unit living too Geoff l'm a weird mix. We lived in a unit in Cairns and geez that was nice too for all the things you've said . Getting a bit sick of having a never ending list of jobs around . l never realized this house was so big either and yeah l love compact living too these days if not for gf l'd def sell this one but she likes it . Says we should just stay put but turn it into a duplex so there's a thought half this would do me.

Best to all.

rx

[geoff]

G/Morning RX and BILL and anyone else who is reading this thread, it would be great to sit around a table and have a chat and I have a close friend who would love to see the cars you've done up Bill.

If you have a house/flat you want to rent out, then there is a landlord insurance policy which covers you for damage, loss of rent and much more, and if you pay it off monthly it's not too bad.

What you are both doing really excites me and I must say, I envy you both, but now one of my sons has inherited my interest and ability to follow on from me.

I remember on the farm a mate had helped me put up a 4 car size metal garage so it was sitting on blocks ready to be inspected (ha) by the council with all the footings, but the family wanted to go the Sunday market, once we got home the frame was all on the ground.

My mate had come up with his son who had just touched the frame playing around, and down she came, nothing more needs to be said. lol

I loved that garage, it had a TV, frig, and phone, but I couldn't hide in those dark days.

Keep coming any new ideas to what you're doing is exciting.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[geoff]

Hi to All, if someone like your elderly parent was in the bathroom or toilet with the door locked and didn't respond to you when you wanted to see how they were, there is a way for you to unlock the door from the hallway.

There is a pinhole in the outside knob and all you have to do is get a paper clip, expand it and then put it in the pinhole, but it has to horizontally straight, that will unlock the door and allows you to go into the bathroom/toilet.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Skary Bill]

Now that's a good tip Geoff. I probably would have ruined a doorjam and scared the heck out of Granddad.. Just out of interest, I went and inspected the handle at the place I'm staying, and it's got fancy brass and porcelain knobs. I found that I could turn the brass collar at the base of the handle and remove the knob, revealing a way to actuate the latch externally.

Well, I've got the shed kit loaded onto the ute. It's not a 1 tonner and you could really see it take up the strain as the forklift lowered the 560kg pallet onto it. I've got air override springs in there as well, so it's riding ok. But about as loaded as I'd ever like to have it for the lousy country roads where it's going.

And I just took delivery of a brand new forestry clearance saw.. {read: Brushcutter on steroids} This week while In the big smoke I'm going to get a few things fixed and sorted, but I can't wait to get this bad boy down to the property to do war on blackberry and end it's evil reign of terror. The whole region is just a big bowl of tinder and fires have been popping up East and West of me.. South is already gone.. 49k hectares burned. By the end of next weekend, I am absolutely determined to have removed any standing fuel on my property.

But for now, I've got to go rewire the headlight stalk on the ute.. Because never ending falcon maintainance 🙂

Bill.

[Guest_1584]

Gday geoff.

Mate l'm gonna do my back fence next wk , it'll be 6ft high and l'm using round 100ml pine poles and 6in treated pine palings.

l wanna do the rails and palings between the poles for exposed poles on the outside , give it a nice look.

But l can't decide how far apart to put the poles , what dp you think?

Checked lots of neighbours and the poles are anything from 1.7 to 2.7 apart , one fence they look about 3mtrs apart.

l want as bigger distance as possible , less work and poles and holes.

Ho Bull. Sounds like your gonna be working like a dog soon eh. Think the ute'll be right with 500 on it seen a lot worse than that. Have fun , ahh, or not haha

rx

[Skary Bill]

As far as ute's go, this thing is a sports car with a tray on the back lol. It's riding pretty low in the water. But it'll have to do.

Sounds like a pretty nice looking fence. GL with it all.

Bill.

[geoff]

Hi Bill and RX, yes I know what you're saying Bill about the porcelain knobs and you are right, good on you.

Those Forestry Clearing Saws are like animals if you know what I mean, chomp through anything, especially if you take your eyes off them, and I've used the blade myself, but kept them away from the wife's favourite bushes, and if something happens, the bushes will only look OK for a day in the ground without any tree roots.

Hi RX, the fence will look great and the distance between posts can be up to 2.7m, can I ask how many rails you are going to use and whether attach a plinth, nails or screws.

There's a place that sells an enormous lot of good hardware, you spend all day wandering around it and it sells some timber but it's so warped you could build an arch with it.

By the way, have any of you installed an arch inside the house through a doorway?

This is great.

Geoff.

[geoff]

Hi Bill and Rx, I had just replied but it didn't go through, so I'll try again.

I have encountered many of these porcelain knobs and some can never stay tightened up, they always become loose, but you're right.

The forestry clearance saw can be very helpful but can do a lot of work and damage if you take your eyes off it.

Hi RX, you can have up to 2.7m, easier to put the palings and rails up when the timber is green, but can I ask if you are putting a plinth in and screws or nails.

The timber's much easier to handle when it's green, sometimes a rail come be put at the top of the palings to keep them from warping.

Great to hear from you both and anyone else.

Best wishes.

Geoff.