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_1584]

Hi Geoff/

l've got a weird one for ya , well it's weird to me anyway.

You know the fence l did awhile back , the side sections are in paling. 150 x 12 or whatever they are. Well , l used 50ml clouts to nail them on which goes into the rail all the way but not quite popping through on the inside. Figure the rough finish on clouts would help them bit in better as as ya know treated pine rails are pretty soft., and also the flat head would help hold the palings better.

Damned if l know but quite a few of them have literally pulled themselves out of the rails. Those palings have warped and pulled their nails out, be damned. We put two nails on each railing so 6 holding on a paling and spread the nails to the outer edges to help stop any warping and a nice even hold but be damned they're still warping and pulling out nails.

ls there something l did wrong or ways to stop this ?

Thanks for that. Cheers. rx

[geoff]

Hi Mikalah, there are people who are on this thread or who read comments that know much more about cars than I do, so please try.

Hi MF, softwood is different from hardwood and you will know that it's struggling when it cuts slowly or there is a lot of smoke, that's when either the blade is blunt or you have to change power tools.

If the metal is too thick 'tin snips' or a hacksaw will cut the metal, but cutting corrugated iron with a hacksaw isn't the best option, and if you are cutting timber (jigsaw) and hit a nail, then you'll need to change the blade.

A metal blade won't cut timber.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[geoff]

Hi MF, RX and Mikalah, I had replied but it didn't come through, sorry will try again.

Geoff.

[Music_Freak]

I've finished on of the garden beds, but have accidentally drilled holes in the wrong spots (usually hitting the timber connector plate thingys). Would I need to fill the holes when they're all in the “valley” of the corrugated iron (not the “hill”). Would wet area or ordinary silicone do since I have some?

The corrugated iron is a bit crooked but since it won't be seen I'm happy enough to leave it. The second one seems straighter, so not sure what happened. I thought it was straight...oh well. I'm a novice who's happy to have finished something 🙂

[geoff]

Hi MF, well done, it doesn't matter how it looks, as long as you are happy with it, that's what counts.

Those holes, it would be best to fill them with silicone, just make sure it's wiped on both sides with a brush first and then it's spread again on both sides with the silicone, just be careful not to cut yourself.

Doesn't it feel great to accomplish something that you've done by yourself.

Great effort, any idea of what's next.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Music_Freak]

I'm annoyed I messed up, but at least I know how to fix it, so thank you Geoff. I just have to take it apart to do so...maybe I'll be able to fix the crooked-ness...

I'm going to carry on with the cutting and garden edging when these garden beds are finally done

[Music_Freak]

Another quick question Geoff,

How long does wet area silicone take to dry? Say if I wanted to undo one side of the garden bed bottom, put silicone on and then re-screw it before undoing the other side? I'm hoping for less than full curing in 72 hours like the container says.

I had a second look (with fresh eyes) and the crooked-ness is a few millimetres, so happy with that.

[geoff]

Hi MF, you will be right, each one of us learns by our mistakes, and I'm not saying you have done so, it's just a general comment.

The silicone takes about 24 hours to be fully cured, and if the crookedness is only a few mm then you should be proud of yourself.

Hi RX how is it going?

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Music_Freak]

Another random tool question for you Geoff,

I want to sand back and re-stain/varnish a dining table and chairs and wonder if a detail sander from Bunnings would do it and most other DIY type jobs? Just in the planning stage currently because of finances, but I thought I'd ask early, so I don't feel so daunted by it all, like I do with this stuff 🙂

[geoff]

Hi MF, terrific, can I ask if there are any water stains, left by cups/mugs or something else you want to get rid of, or is the varnish just flaking off.

Best wishes.

Geoff.