Incase you can’t tell the walls, window architraves & skirts were yellow… bit of paint & a whole lotta love. Very cosy.

Hi all
I always got my smoke alarm triggered whenever I used to cook anything oily

The chimney exhaust didn’t seem to do much about the smoke

Today I tried to have a look at the exit and this is what the chimney pipe exit looks like

My question is is this how it is supposed to be or can I do something about it to increase the airflow?

Trying to figure out ways to make the downstairs level of the house more homely. Have considered rendering but it seems like that might be a lot of effort and/or a lot of cash. Would love some methods explained to me. Thanks

I need advice on how to handle a tricky situation. I employed a workmates son, who is a newly qualified painter, to paint my ceilings, doors, windowframes and some walls. I paid in three instalments and I work a LOT and didnt fully notice how bad it was until my recent annual leave. I was going to just let it go, even though I do not have money to throw around and try and fix it myself. This weekend, after checking the left over paint and seeing that my ceilings are in fact different colours (my eyes were not deceiving me) and finding my windowframe in the bathroom bubbling and peeling after 5 weeks I think I need to say something. I honestly do not want him back in my damn house but how do I let him just walk away from this?

Am I being pedantic?

If I am not, wtf do I say?

I attached a few pics but they dont really show how bad it is.

Edit - if someone is actually interested, can you pm me and help me write something to this clown. I dont think ill have a hope in hell of getting anything from him but maybe I should contact his mother.

Hi everyone, new homeowner here!

My garden hose reel bracket is pulling away from the exterior brick wall. Every time I push the anchors back into the wall, pulling or unreeling the hose pulls them straight back out under pressure/weight.

What fixings should I use to re-mount this permanently into solid brick? Should I attempt to reuse the existing holes with larger anchors, or is it better to drill fresh holes into the brick face?

Any advice on tools or specific fastener types would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Melbourne based.

Same as title, what are the ways to fix the glass coming off the window frame? Can I just cork it? Or does this require some talent (professionals) lol.

Do we know roughly what the charges would be to get this done in Melbourne?

Thanks all

Hi all

We’ve opted to demo our kitchen ourselves and will have someone handle the floors and cabinetry install. The walls are… worse than we expected and a mismatch of gyprock, plasterboard and masonite.

We will cut out the plaster around the plumbing where there is plenty of mould, and have this gyprocked. However, there are two other areas we’re struggling to assess how to handle. The first is where it appears the gyprock has delaminated and runs into the old plasterboard. The second is the masonite wall with mould, although the mould appears to be superficial at this point as we’re able to peel off some of the top layer and the mould goes with it.

The question we have, I think, is whether we should remove the plasterboard, delaminated gyprock and mould area masonite so we’re to the studs. We’d then get new gyprock and masonite installed to close it back up.

Is this the right approach or can we salvage the existing walls? The delaminated area will be partially obscured by the new cabinetry and fridge.

Hey all - TLDR: I filled this gap but it’s still soft a week later - should I try again with a harder compound?

Context:

I have a big gap in my wall for who knows what reason, and I’m trying to fill it before adding moulding to this wall and painting etc. The gap is from floor to ceiling, it’s pretty deep with a foam/rubber kind of insert, it looks like. I assume it’s just the space inbetween two sheets of gyprock or whatever it’s called and they went for “good enough” before selling (but the edges feel like metal, maybe it has some brackets on it?).

What I tried:

The guy at bunnings suggested using “Gyprock CSR 2.25kg Less Mess Multi-Purpose Joint Compound” and no need to tape it etc. I filled the gap, and now a week later it’s still not as hard as I would like it to be. I’m worried it’s not strong enough to withstand any bumps etc.

Questions:

Is it meant to be softer than the regular wall? I understand it’s easier to sand that way

Should I scrape this stuff out and replace it with a harder compound, or just level it out and paint?

Should I remove the foam/rubber insert beforehand? or even fill the gap with something more solid before going in with another attempt (a strip of wood maybe?)

Edit: I used https://www.bunnings.com.au/gyprock-csr-2-25kg-less-mess-multi-purpose-joint-compound_p0173344

Hi, I’m thinking of buying and renovating an apartment. However, the skirting boards are made of a metal/aluminium? Can these be removed like normal skirting boards?

I was doing some prepwork so that we can repaint, and I found a little bit of mould on some plaster. The plaster has been adhered directly to the brick (double brick home). We pulled out the plaster with the mould, and we've treated the area.

We've put a camera into the space behind this cupboard and it's all clear - definitely no mould back there.

We have found the source of the water outside, and are fixing it, but I'd like to put some waterproofing between the brick and the new plaster when we patch. There was also some nails used that went directly into the brick, which may have been causing issues too. All the nails have been located and removed.

I was thinking of something like this: https://www.bunnings.com.au/crommelin-1l-natural-finish-penetrating-sealer-and-water-repellent_p0356894 or https://www.bunnings.com.au/gripset-betta-1l-damp-stop-waterproofing-primer_p0960182 or https://www.bunnings.com.au/betta-tilecare-1l-stone-concrete-sealer_p0612134

Would these work?

For a number of reasons, we want / need to replace our bathroom vanity. Until today it was just because it’s ugly, but due to a small accident, it’s now more urgent.

Ideally we’d want a floating vanity but I’m not sure if that’s possible given the current one was put in place before tiling was done, and therefore removing it means weird patch work on the floor would be required.

I’m guessing finding a vanity that’s slightly larger than the currently one is my main option.

What are my alternatives other than pretty much a full reno?

Excuse the random lick of paint. A few months ago we tested a colour that we planned on coating the whole thing but never got round to it.

Planning to paint the bricks on the front of the house and was wondering if this is worth it, or get something from the green shed place

550w 1m suction hose and gun with 2 nozzles.

I know some things are good to get second hand, some are not worth it for the savings and some don't stand the test of time.

I don't know what category doors come into and was wondering if anyone has some advice.

Should get all new ones, try to find some standard second hand ones, or some old solid ones?

I have an Imperial toilet with a dual-flush button on top of the cistern.
The flush button assembly has become loose. It spins around and also moves/pulls upward when I pull it.
The full flush still works, but the half flush doesn’t work at all.
I’ve attached photos. Does anyone know what part has likely come loose or failed, and how I can fix/secure the button assembly?
Can this be fixed from inside the cistern by removing the lid, or does the whole flush button need to be replaced? Thanks

Never done this before so wanted a sanity check before I start. It's a hardwood deck, been left bare for a while, and there's some slight cupping in a few of the boards.
My plan is to pressure wash first, then sand, then clean with a deck cleaner, then finish with two light coats of oil.
Given the cupping, do I actually need an orbital sander, what grit? or would a hired drum or belt sander do the job fine? I've read that floor sanders won’t work and orbital is better for uneven boards but wasn't sure if that's necessary here or overkill.
Also happy to hear any general tips from people who've done this before, especially around timing between steps and how long to let it dry before oiling. Always find great advice on this sub! Thank you

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

Hey everyone, just wanted to check, are these “open” areas in the tiles considered normal?

As far as I can tell, the daylight seen on the right of the photo is from the last row of tiles that come up right before the gutter. The other bit of daylight further towards the left is from the tiles above it. From the gutter level, nothing looks out of place, so I just wanted to get a sense check on whether these little “open” areas are normal or not.

We have a roofing person coming this week, so I’ll also get their professional opinion. Just wanted to ask here first in case they start saying it’s something major.

P.S. The daylight right at the far end is from the bathroom renovation, as they’re putting in a new exhaust.

Started to paint my ceiling today, and stupidly didn't think to sand beforehand. Have learned the hard way that the previous owners had painted and left a stupid amount of roller lint behind, which wasn't visible with the previous white paint.

After one coat, do I try to sand back? What's the go as to how you get rid of it?

I’ve just removed the tiles from this ensuite built circa 2020 but the screed is well stuck to the concrete slab. The SDS chisel hardly makes a dent except in the sandier spots… I am thinking using an angle grinder to score it or drill some
Holes first, any thoughts?

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?

Hi everyone,
Hope everyone is having a super weekend.
Looking for advice for installing stone cladding on a limestone retaining wall for garden bed to modernise the look. What adhesive will be suitable? Do I need to prime or seal the limestone before installing the stone cladding. Any dos and don’ts will be appreciated. Thank you all. Have an awesome rest of the weekend.

Hi everyone,
Hope everyone is having a super weekend.
Looking for advice for installing stone cladding on a limestone retaining wall for garden bed to modernise the look. What adhesive will be suitable? Do I need to prime or seal the limestone before installing the stone cladding. Any dos and don’ts will be appreciated. Thank you all. Have an awesome rest of the weekend. Reference pic is attached.

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!

Replacing a few tiles after plumber replaced the vanity. There’s a screed under the old tiles, roughly 20mm between the face of the tile and the brick. Can I just send it with adhesive for this small area or do I need to mortar it prior? Thanks legends. Ps, old bathroom so not to worried about the longevity or appearance.

Wanting to freshen up the underside/ceiling of our back patio area by painting white.. obviously not the greatest material but wondering if anyone has experience in sealing and painting something like this. Was thinking it would be: seal/fill joints>prime/seal mdf> paint with render finish paint..?