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_093]

hey geoff great diy advice, the skirting boards are timber and a lot of paint over them, the paint used is acrylic, so the 1st option is the way to go for me, broom head and bucket/metho method, it looks like something has been tried by housemate similiar method to what you said but he used a sponge mop and metho, little does he know that i nose about these things and he did'nt know that i did lol. The floor is just basic lino so by using broom head and metho hopefully no major damage will be done. Just a bit of hard yakka ahead of me but i is got the time???lol. Cheers Spitfire1

[geoff]

Hello Spitfire, and sorry Elizabeth and Grandy will reply back to you I just flicked down the last reply and then work my way upwards.

Is there a big area you have to clean?

Hi Elizabeth CP, pleased the leak has been fixed, but you can turn off the hot water at the actual hot water service, if you have the hot water tank in the ceiling then there should be a tap on the inside wall, normally in the laundry which will turn it off, just let the water run out in a sink.

The damaged floorboards or any shelf in the cupboard and anything else that's been damaged should be covered by your Home and Contents insurance policy, so you will need a couple of quotes from the respective tradesmen, and let me know if you need help on who to ring, but I will need to know what's been damaged, then ring up your Insurance Company and ask for a claim form or they may do it over the phone.

When I used to quote I would ask the person how much their excess was and then include that in the quote so you wouldn't be out of pocket, then when the insurance co. pays you don't lose anything.

The tradesmen do all the work for you and hopefully take away the debris.

Please let me know.

Hi Grandy, I know it's a nuisance but if you ring up a glass and glazing supplier they will do all of this for you.

If your excess is very low then you can claim it on insurance or do as I've said to Elizabeth CP, ask the glassier to include your excess.

If you do it by hand then a hammer and chisel is needed, too hard for your hands and you don't want to cut yourself, that hurts, plus it's a dirty job for someone, whereas glassiers do it in no time and finish the putty off nice and smooth.

You may want to consider putting perplex in instead of glass, that's much harder, but dearer.

Let us know how you get on.

Take care.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_093]

good morning geoff yes it is a big area to clean the paint off the floor, as we have only just moved here the housemate went wild in painting the walls after the cabinetmaker put the new roof in and before we moved here so he towards the end he just painted forgetting to put covers on areas when painting so paint ended up where it should'nt be perhaps you have a better diy suggestion for cleaning up the paint as there is a lot of paint spots on floor and on bits where there should be no paint!!! All the best for today. Cathy

[geoff]

Hi Cathy, looks as though you have just moved into this place, can I ask if it's through an agent and if so you would have to fill out a 'condition report', that would be great to know.

This is where you go through the house/flat and note down any damages in the walls, or the shower door has a crack in it and the floor has paint on it.

The paint store that sells paint will have a cheap mop that is used to apply 2 pack lacquer to brand new wooden floors so they become nice and shiny after about 3 or 4 coats, the mop has a broom handle and the actual mop head is flat and has some lambs-wool on it, that's what would be useful to rub over the paint with or a squeegee mop.

You might be able to buy one at a $2 shop, although they will cost a bit more than that.

If metho is too dear, then try some hot water, with some white vinegar, dishwashing liquid mixed up and then rub over the paint on the floor.

The paint will eventually wear off as you walk over it.

I only wish I was there to help you.

My Best.

Geoff.

[Guest_093]

hi geoff it's all good, thanx 4 all ur info to me, we have actually bought our first home which is a dream 4 me which I never thought would come true but it has so no more on the renting roundabout so I am very fortunate for this to happen. No they are not wooden floors but wooden looking vinyl with a lot of white paint splotches on it, but housemate did try to keep it clean when painting. Will try the mopping with metho method & then maybe the white vinegar & detergent concoction which is similar to the one I use @ work for cleaning the grill except I use water as well. I have taken so much of your time on this matter that I feel guilty over it so on Thur/Fri am putting these methods into practise and preparing for a bit of hard yakka. Thanks again Geoff for your diy tips. You are a legend. Cheers Spitfire1

[geoff]

Hey Cathy, you have not taken up any of my time, it's always lovely to help someone who appreciates our comments.

It's a pleasure to respond to you, just as it is to all the others as well, that's why these forums were created.

You are a kind person, so please Cathy let me know how you go.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Gday Geoff , hope your well.

l'm taking a bow from finally finishing off painting my new porch this wkend. lt's the only thing l've done in 6wks off so far, been trying to get a good rest from a crazy year in buttt, got off the butt this wkend and she'll be done by tomorrow.

What l wanted to ask ya was floor boards in the hall from porch doorway, are a bit rotted just a touch but other spots have small cracks and gaps a few inches long running in from the doorway. A bit of rains made it in that far over the years and crept in under the door. l'm not sanding the floor much goin for that beautiful old board rough finish in a dark oak lacquer..

What could l fill the boards with , thinking about liquid nails might be a bit stronger than no gaps and more along a woody colour . Thinking l could streak in a bit of dark browns over the liquid nails then throw on the lacquer . blend it in. Whoever did it last , about 40yrs ago l'd say going on the carpet l ripped up , filled gaps this grey stuff , no idea what it is but it's cracking out now.

Just thoughts , what do you think ?

Best to all

rx

[geoff]

Hi RX, good weather to paint the porch, hope the paint doesn't dry on your brush before you paint.

To fill the gaps in it would need to be a flexible filler between the floorboards, if you fill them in with a filler that goes hard they will crack.

Selleys have 'no more gaps 'for flexible timber flooring, the hardware store may not have it in stock and may have to order it in for you, there are 3 or 4 different colours.

Another option is a crack going along the whole floorboard as it can be filled in by another way?

There is a filler sold by a couple of companies to fill holes in timber which can be sanded down but this is not good for floorboards you walk on, as it dries hard, it will crack and something else needed to fill the gaps.

I'm interested to know whether the cracks go all along the edge of a floorboard.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

Selleys No More Gaps Timber Flooring Flexible Gap Filler

[Guest_1584]

Gday Geoff and thanks a heap for that.

But yeah rightio no worries , l'll get some of that stuff then . l was wondering about brittleness seeing how this grey stuff in them is all cracked up so that sounds great.

There is one or two boards where there's a meter or so split running along in the join. l was thinking whatever l use , push down on the nozzle and force the filler down into the cracks good. That sort of gave me the idea of the liquid nails to bind the joins again too but maybe better off using that sellys , you think ?

Cheers mate and thanks again as always.

PS. finished the porch today , ehh haaa, looks bloody great too if l do say so myself. No paint troubles l only worked in the mornings before the heat and sun hits it, in this kinda weather.it's good till about lunchtime.

[geoff]

Hey RX, terrific pity I' can't see it, I'm sure it looks great, especially if you are proud of what you've done.

The only reason I asked about the cracks between the f/boards is you maybe able to cramp them together and if so you can use liquid nails.

Sorry, it maybe confusing you from my previous reply, if you can hammer a chisel into the edge of a f/board close to the skirting board, then try and lever them to close the gap, if you can do this then put the liquid nails in the crack before you can lever them together, then hammer a nail into the board where the joist is.

Please let me know if this is possible and ask any question you want.

Best wishes.

Geoff.