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 and MM and anyone else as well, please post a question.

It hasn't really rained where I am, maybe today.

The expanding foam can be cut when it's dry by a handsaw, knife pretty well anything and it will need at least two coats of paint because it's very absorbent.

You don't need to press the button on the can too much, because it really expands once it's out and remember to clean the nozzle when you're finished.

Try putting some glad wrap over the nozzle before you put the lid on.

It's great to use, but not cheap.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Music_Freak]

Hi Geoff,

I was just looking at the Bunnings website and I found aluminium sheets...would they work with the garden beds. I made the timber frames with a support in the middle (it looks like a B), so I wondered if I could just fix the sheets to that? The cheaper ones are quite thin though (Metal Mate 0.5 x 600 x 900mm Plain Aluminium Sheet), but they have thicker, more expensive aluminium tread 2mm ones, but thought perhaps I could double up the thin stuff, if it was economical to do so.

Just a thought to make my life easier. I do still plan to use the colorbond for garden edging.

[Music_Freak]

Hi Geoff,

Sorry about the multiple posts, but I'm feeling a bit lost. I also found some “Fielders 900mm Zincalume Mini Flute Steel Sheeting” on the Bunnings website and wonder if this is another option for the bottom of my garden beds?

I'm thinking I might need to line them with plastic to protect the timber from rotting, but haven't decided for sure yet.

[Music_Freak]

Oh dear...now I'm looking at poly carbonate sheets. What about that for the garden beds?

At least looking online saves you walking miles...but it means poor Geoff gets pestered easier...

[Music_Freak]

Sorry Geoff,

I'm trying to wind down after a day of uni study.

Obviously, the flat aluminium sheeting is easiest with no gaps to fill, but I just wonder if it'll be too flimsy, even screwed to timber, for garden beds filled with dirt. I guess I could go in and look at them, but maybe I still won't know...I hate feeling so stupid.

I wish I had a clue about what I was doing. I was in a bit of a panic yesterday because the garden bed frame and timber frame suddenly weren't fitting together as well...luckily I managed to force it and all is good - phew!

[geoff]

Hi MF, don't worry about posting it's great.

If you use any tin, that's not a worry because I used corrugated iron for a compost bin, but what I suggest is to hammer some wooden posts are those 'star pickets', which are black and metal to the outside of the tin, between the wooden posts which are actually on the other side, in other words, you will need to support both sides of the tin.

It would also be best to do the same if you use timber, such as an old door, and you can use plastic to try and protect them from rot, but all it needs is a small hole in the plastic caused by a hidden nail or perhaps a shovel then the plastic won't be much protection.

Actually that's how a galvanised pipe starts to rust, all it needs is one small hole in the pipe to start the rust off.

Best Wishes.

Geoff.

[Music_Freak]

Hi Geoff,

Been reading online waiting for sleep to come and a website mentioned a reciprocating saw as something handy for diy-ers. I looked on the bunnings website and they have corded ones for $60 (XU1 - never heard of them) and ozito corded for $100. I'm not fussed about corded since I'm not likely to use it too much (would likely use a drill WAY more). I hope to cut the colorbond with it, maybe, as well as the bed timber. That's all I can think of for now.

I also found an ozito 18v drill driver kit (cordless) for $100. Just wondering if they're an OK brand? I assume it's better than that UX1 stuff...not willing to buy cheap junk again, but also don't see the point in a beginner spending bucketloads like tradies would.

[Guest_1584]

Hey mf.

Funny , l have some of both those and l'm in the trades. Most tradies buy the big brands and yeah if we can afford them at the time your gonna work it hard , great idea.

But l know guys and even geoff was saying he does too , ya grab one of the cheepies just to finish a job or something, l'm also can't resist em at 1/4 the price hey.. Well funny thing. few yrs back bunnings had 18v ozito drills on sale can't remember cheap as, some long guarantee l grabbed 3 of them , l could always swap them if they're crap. l go through a lot of small drills at work but they've done enough to killem for sure but all 3 still goin , think 1 battery died. So they'll be fine especially just handyman stuff..

But another funny , those xu1 or whatever it is tools. Same again , bought one of their cord drills and a circular saw. Because they were so cheap l just treatem like shyt yaknow. The drill has had the daylights thrashed and strained out of it , can't kill this thing l've had it 3 or 4 yrs. And the saws the same, l cut my firewood logs with this thing 2-3yrs now, hate chainsaws, can't kill it. lt should've died long ago,

So there ya go. Neither are the fanciest or most powerful but eh , they should get the job done for years.

[Music_Freak]

Thanks rx 🙂

I might just buy the XU1, sounds like it might do OK for my few jobs...and cheaper with my limited income to boot.

[Guest_1584]

ps mf , the xu ones are the toughest , remembered l've got one of their sanders and a battery drill too , can't resist at that price,

Hey Geoff , got my new double gates up today going with the fence. one 3.6 and one 2mtr, need it wide for work, l now have a fully private back yard , can't believe it , first time in nearly 3 yrs. Me vedy happy.

Hope you well.

Cheers