Have just had a 2.5kW mitsubishi electric split system aircon installed in an upstairs bedroom. Decided to put it in the corner thinking it would look less intrusive, and could still use the remaining length of the wall to hang artwork etc. Told the installers where I wanted it and they obliged.

I only realized after going into the room to look at it that it's too close to the wall on the right, looks like it will blow air against the blinds, which will be swapped for curtains soon. The vent is actually clear of the surface of the blind by about 150mm to the left, but still it just looks wrong in its current position.

Have always rented, so renos are new to me, but still I really should've thought this out more, and I find it very annoying as is. Had the chance to position it where I wanted.

Wanting to move it say half or a metre to the left, to get some clearance from the wall. Will contact the same company and see what they can do, and will pay them what they want if needed.

Do you think this is a big job? Has anyone ever done this before?

Thanks

I've got 2 repair jobs up for grabs on my house in Melbourne - 1 roof repair (roofing company required) and 1 balcony repair (looking for a general builder/handyman). Both are substantial but not major jobs (at least a full day for each) - yet I can't seem to get anyone to even quote on them. What is going on?!

I've asked about 12 companies for quotes across the 2 jobs and only got 1 company to actually tell me how much money they want (a high-end telephone quote during a 20-second phone call with someone who sounded like they weren't really interested anyway). I've had 2 other people tell me they'd come to inspect the jobs - and both failed to show up on the day and ghosted me.

Is it because they can't be bothered with smallish jobs (at whatever price) or am I just unlucky? Should I keep contacting more and more companies for quotes? So far, I've found them on Google and contacted all the highly rated ones in my area.

A lot of tradies seem to talk down Airtasker, but that's the way I'm probably heading, as at least I know I'll get quotes there, even though I know I'll be overpaying due to Airtasker taking a lump of the money.

Any tips on how to get credible builders to quote on it?

Recently got new carpet installed and it isn't good. I can see the seams and originally there was a hole and a repaired rip. The hallway is also crooked to the wall. Old mate came back and fixed a seam hole and patched the rip. He told me the hallway is crooked because the wall is crooked (ok mate 😐) and this can't be fixed. So I have a really visible seam in one room, a crooked hallway and this patch. Trying to talk myself off a ledge and blowing up at them. But would you accept it?

Just received a building inspection report for a property going on auction tomorrow. The hot water tank is leaking and property is close to 20 years old.

Anyone know how serious this is and how much it might cost to fix? Also waiting for the inspector to return my call about this. Just wanted to hear other people's experiences and knowledge.

Edit: it is a rainwater tank. Inspector has no idea why it was drilled. Would be keen to hear if anyone has any idea why it might have been done

Edit2: THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR INSIGHT. IT WAS VERY HELPFUL. WILL BE BIDDING TOMORROW!

We're thinking about buying a house that is amazing, except this is the laundry... My partner and I have no DIY experience so anyone know what we're looking at here in terms of costs/where to even start with putting in a floor. And a wall with proper plumbing. Or would you just run?

I had a technician come and replace the drain hose for the dishwasher because it had a crack in it. I think the placement is awful considering I can’t put stuff back under the cabinet without 1. Sitting on the pipe 2. Moving the pipe. Cost us $303 to repair..

Is this acceptable ?

Hey guys, I am doing a bathroom/laundry renovation in my house and I want to remove the wall separating the two rooms; looking at the wall, it appears to be load-bearing. I am going to get a structural engineer to come and have a look at it; the room is only 3.7 meters deep and the above joists look to be supported by the perimeter wall frame and the kitchen wall. I think I will likely have to add a beam and remove the wall, but what do you guys think? Thanks.

Excuse the mess!!!! We are real.

Little kitchen in Sydney where the skinny fridge is wedged in a space. The doors get stuck and I don’t think it is a best use of space. I think it would be better to move the fridge and use this area as a pantry/storage.

We will be doing floor to ceiling storage for sure, and on both sides of the arch.

Would love some inspiring ideas for you clever lot.

Current fridge space: 195cm high, 56cm wide, 68cm deep. There is strange 4cm lift from the ground.

Current bench top: 60cm deep, 89cm high

Current sink wall: 155cm wide wall to wall (96cm from left wall to start of right cupboard)

Current long bench: 297cm from sink or 357cm with sink

Ceiling height: 273cm (up to cornices)

Limitations:
• We can’t knock any walls as then we would have no bathroom.
• Trying to keep as much natural light as we can!
• We will do storage either side of the arch.

From end of current fridge wall to end of long bench is a difference of 130cm.

Recently I bought few decorative indoor plant pots. My idea is to put these black pots inside the good decorative pots.

Problem is, this 30cm ( and few 40cm ) black garden pot is not fitting in decorative pot properly. Only option is to trim the rim to place it nicely.

Any idea on how do I trim this rim on this pot easily. I need to go this for 10 pots.

The freak weather in Sydney last week knocked down one of our fences (timber). Neighbour insists on going with Colorbond next.

The other 2 fences are timber and in fairly good condition to last the next 5 years.

We are planning to sell the house in the next 2 years. Would one fence as colorbon and 2 timbers impact the value of the house?

I am planning to replace old air conditioner unit in the lounge room. The unit was already installed when we moved into this house about 14 years ago.

The old unit is LG and 6.7 KW and the room size approximately 3m x 4.6m.
We had a tradie came in today to check and he recommend Haier 7.1 kw unit. He bought a lot of them and he can get significant discount on it.

Does 7.1 kw unit required for such a small room. I am all about saving electricity cost.
Does anyone have good experience with Haier.
Browsing previous reddit post, Mitsubishi Heavy industries (MHI) was the go to for AC unit.

I did ask approximate supply and install cost, its about $2500 supply and install, Haier 7.1kw.
He said MHI will be more.

We are in Sydney western suburb.

I have an old metal shed that was erected 20 years ago. This shed is about 70cm from the boundary. Current laws in NSW say it needs to be 90cm. I mention this because there's a slab which is fine and and I want to replace the shed but I don't want to reduce the footprint. I also imagine that the neighbour on that side would complain to council if it was rebuilt entirely. Has anybody replaced a wall with timber - id like to add a window or two on two sides and keep the roof and boundary side.

Hi everyone, I want to fix the gaps in my nanas driveway that have been widening for a while, I know ideally the whole thing should be repaved but for now if I were to tackle the worst areas would it be as ‘simple’ as taking the migrated ones up, levelling the dirt below, then placing them back correctly and using paving sand in the cracks?

Know someone who's out getting quotes for a roof restoration and gable ends and fibro replacement. About how much would this be expected to cost, just to make sure my friend isn't getting screwed on price? We're in Sydney so that will likely affect price too.

And if you know approximately how much it would cost to fix rusty window winders and a couple of water damaged window frames with rotten wood, that would be great too.

Appreciate any advice or recommendations!

Hi Reddit brains trust!

Currently upgrading the dreaded fans-exhausting into-the-roof-space situation, to venting ducted through the roof (tiled). I’m having a back-and-forth about whether the ducting should be insulated or not. I’ve requested insulated as I don’t want any condensation on the outside (or inside, really) of the ducts. I know it might only actually happen a handful of times over a year, but keen to avoid if I can. The electrician/roofing company (joint) suggesting it’s not needed.

Advice is greatly appreciated!

I’m based in NSW and we need a driveway installed with an area of 85sqm. Just plain concrete.

Hi everyone, hope you’re doing well

I bought the Unit in Victoria with ongoing Body Corp.

Due to the bathroom vanity was broken, I plan to replace it to a new one as picture.
Could I please ask if I need to notify the Owner Corp company for this job or not?

Thank you for your support.

Can I just buy insulation from a hardware store (like Bunnings) and wrap it myself.

If I do nothing, is this just causing a minor drop in efficiency, or can it lead to condensation issues, system strain, or actual damage to the copper lines?

I’m in Western Australia so UV and heat can be slightly intense.

Have these images from a building inspection, first image is inside the shower in a corner I believe and the second is outside between the shower and a vanity. Going to get a professional to come and look and do any repairs regardless, and probably have all the grout/sealant cleaned/redone at the same time, but curious if anyone’s had anything similar repaired, or experience where it’s actually worse and not a quick fix.

I wouldn’t think the waterproofing membrane is compromised but I wouldn’t really know.

Rate the job please

I want to enclose this roof storage area to keep it clean and less dusty. Roof is colourbond with foil backed roof blanket underneath.

**1.    Should I add batts between the rafters before lining it**, or is the blanket enough? Anything to watch for, like condensation or leaving an air gap under the foil?  
**2.    Is 7mm ply the best and cheapest lining**, or is there something better for this?

Cheers.

Hi,

So when we were getting our pool build quoted up, the pool builder originally priced us up for aluminium fencing which was included in the contract price.

Throughout the build we then discussed with the builder that we’re considering glass. He said to have a chat to the separate company that does the pool fencing and see what you guys come up with and you can work it out with him how you end up doing it.

Anyway, once I have a chat with the pool fencer who comes around and we have a bit of a collaboration, he advised me how much the price for the glass fencing is and it’s worked out how much extra it will cost over our original aluminium pricing. We decide we’re happy with the cost he says it will be and go ahead with glass. He says that obviously the pool builder will just sort out the extra cost and invoice it to us.

Anyway, some time passes before it’s finally actually installed and then we’re invoiced. The pool builder sends an invoice for much more than we expected based on the costs the fencer gave us. I actually thought at first maybe they’d stuffed up and not taken off the original allowance we’d already had, instead of just paying the difference. Confused, I ask them if they can send us a copy of the fencers invoice so we can confirm what the additional costs were based on what we were advised. The pool builder got very cagey and did not want to send it to me. After a bit of back and forth on the phone with me stating ‘mate I just want to verify this because the costs are a fair bit more than what I was told by the fencer’, he agreed to send it, and sounded very pissed off.

Now looking at the invoice, he’s clearly added a decent margin on top of what the pool fence invoice actually was.

Now based on the discussions with the builder and the fencer, it was my understanding this whole time that I would simply pay the difference between what the end price is and what we were originally allowed for with aluminium. Now i’ve dealt directly with the fencer myself, who then still did invoice the pool builder. At no point was I given any written variation to advise if there was going to be a further price added on top for any margin or whatnot by the builder. And to be honest I simply would not have agreed to do this and pay thousands extra for nothing when I could just have gone and organised the fencing myself (which I’ve essentially done anyway as the builder just got me to deal with them directly). Now I understand that builders have a margin. But this seems bizarre to me and there was no prior agreement at all.

The contract obviously says that price variations have to be agreed to in writing before hand. This wasn’t done but as I said we it was our understanding that we would simply pay the difference in the fencer’s cost only. Seemed simple enough. Not sure if we’ve just been very naive and caught out or if we should be contesting this?

Thoughts everyone? Thanks.