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How to build verandah post footings?
I am replacing steel posts, which hold up first floor verandahs, with Merbau posts. The last one was buried 60cm, which I have excavated, but now I need to build a pier to bring the timber post above ground level. Previously I have made a concrete pier but this one is deeper so I am thinking of build it out of bricks. I am…
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How to add sound insulation in a ceiling?
We have been desperately trying to reduce the noise in a bedroom from people weeing into the toilet above. We are reticent to put a sign on the toilet asking people to wee quietly. So far we have: 1. Boxed the plumbing up with insulation around the pipes 2. replaced the toilet with a more modern "back to the wall" toilet…
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How to replace supporting posts?
I have discovered the posts holding up the roof at the front of the house have rusted off at the base. There are 5 all up but I have started on 2 which are the worst. They are spaced about 2.4m apart and have a set of sliding doors between them and windows on each side, all floor to ceiling. My plan is to cut them off near…
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How to stop aluminium sliding doors from leaking?
I have been trying for 7 years to stop the frame of 2 sets of aluminium sliding doors from leaking when it rains. I understand there should be a waterproof sill under them and I am trying to avoid removing the frame and putting one in as I think it could be opening a can of worms. The 4 pieces of the frame are simply…
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Flashing a polycarbonate roof against a brick wall
I have just completed roofing the pergola with polycarbonate and now need to flash the high side against a brick wall. Do I need to cut a channel into a mortar line and sit the polycarbonate flashing into this channel and water proof with silicon? 1. is there an alternative to channeling the wall 2. is silicon the best…
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How to repair a smashed bay window?
In the recent winds we had an edge tile fall off the roof onto a roof glass of a bathroom "bay" window. (see the photos). It is about 6m high so to access the top of the glass panel I would need scaffold. It is too hot in this bathroom in summer with this glass panel so we keep it covered. I am thinking, instead of…
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How to remove a whiteboard from a wall?
A friend is moving out from a rental and a previous renter has put a self adhesive whiteboard on a wall. She needs to remove it without damaging (woops: too late) the paintwork. I have advised her to buy a heat gun from Bunnings with which she will hopefully be able to warm the board enough for the glue to release from the…
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How to replace verandah support posts?
I am in the process of replacing steel posts supporting tiled verandahs with timber posts (90x90 cm Merbau). We are located close to the coast so the steel is rusting where fixings for hand rails etc. have removed the galvanizing, hence the change to timber. I have several questions: I have had to excavate the buried post…
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What are the alternatives for gluing timber flooring to fibreglass?
What are the alternatives for gluing timber flooring to fibreglass? I am looking at using epoxy as it adheres well to fibreglass but am up for alternatives. I am a bit sceptical as I think epoxy may not cope well with movement.
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How to clean plastic outdoor chairs
We have some plastic outdoor chairs which we bought from Bunnings. They are getting a black colouring which looks like mould. Also they have a plastic smell. We like the look and comfort of the chairs. Can you suggest a remedy for us. We have tried bleach and various other cleaning products.
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Removal of rusty dynabolts from bricks
I have quite a few places where dynabolts have been put into the bricks in the past and have since rusted up badly making them thus far impossible to get out. The rusting is expanding the bolts and breaking the bricks (see photo) The bolt itself has broken off inside the surrounding metal cylinder. I have a plan A and a…
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What is the best foundation for posts in a high salt environment?
I need to replace 4 supporting posts under 2 verandahs. The old posts are steel and have corroded as we are in a high salt environment. I have purchased four 4X4 Merbau posts for the job and am going to raise the foundations for the posts slightly to keep the posts out of the ground. I am going to use bricks or concrete…
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Can I safely tile on a tappy concrete floor?
I have extended the laundry on a concrete slab floor and have concreted the area which was not tiles previously to get it up to the same level as the tiles (I have scuffed the tiles with an angle grinder). One part of the new concrete is tappy. Can I safely tile on this section or should I remove the concrete and redo it…
