What "man jobs" have you done today?

If my walls are old painted plaster, do I need to seal them before skimming? I thought this was just needed on fresh plaster so it doesn't such all the moisture straight out of the skim.

Do I need to PVA just before skimming to the plaster (Thistle Multi-finish) has something to adhere to or will it be fine on the keyed paint (and in some places bare plaster where I've chipped/sanded the paint off :p)?
 
First attempt at plastering this evening.. Thought I'd go straight for the ceiling as I knew that would make a bit of a mess of the walls so didn't want to do walls first and ruin the hard work. Definitely regretting my first attempt being on a ceiling :rolleyes: Some bits look great, others I made a right pigs ear of. Think my mix was slightly too stiff to start with and ended up only getting half way across the ceiling before the first bit was going off. All in all a big learning experience :o
 
Skillmister said:
First attempt at plastering this evening.. Thought I'd go straight for the ceiling as I knew that would make a bit of a mess of the walls so didn't want to do walls first and ruin the hard work. Definitely regretting my first attempt being on a ceiling :rolleyes: Some bits look great, others I made a right pigs ear of. Think my mix was slightly too stiff to start with and ended up only getting half way across the ceiling before the first bit was going off. All in all a big learning experience :o
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The key to plastering is a few things. Firstly you need to have a decent trowel. None of this 10quid B&q crap. Secondly you need a power drill and wisk, blend blend and blend some more. Consistency of toothpaste I suppose. Can't think of a way to describe it.
Put on a thin layer, quite thin. Little by little cover the area. Then after about ten to fifteen minutes, check consistency. When it starts to go a little firm, start to flatten it slightly. Allow a little more drying and then do the same.

Wash your bucket and knock up another batch. Apply another thin layer over the first and repeat the process, however when this layer goes firm, nearly dry, splash with water and begin to smooth out. Get it flat and keep splashing with water and smoothing.

Key is not to go over the top with the thickness and waiting for it to go firm before smoothing. Trying to smooth soft plaster will make a nightmare of lines.
 
In my 40 odd years of house ownership two things I can't do - Plastering and bricking - Plastering I can do a door way but anything bigger no way - bricking I can get line level but bricks lean back - or get them dead flat and line is up and down. - I hope you can finally match up to your user name.:)
 
My jobs today, were too set up the table saw and go to town on the skirting boards. White washed the walls and tomorrow will be finishing some ceilings and sanding window sills.
Bungalow project onto decorating stage so nearly time to move in.
 
I covered the citrus trees ahead of the incoming frost.

Odd weather here. Last 10+ days it didn't drop below 25c in the shade. Next week predicted snow flurries in the morning. Accuweather though, so to be taken with a pinch of salt.
 
ChroniC said:
The key to plastering is a few things. Firstly you need to have a decent trowel. None of this 10quid B&q crap. Secondly you need a power drill and wisk, blend blend and blend some more. Consistency of toothpaste I suppose. Can't think of a way to describe it.
Put on a thin layer, quite thin. Little by little cover the area. Then after about ten to fifteen minutes, check consistency. When it starts to go a little firm, start to flatten it slightly. Allow a little more drying and then do the same.

Wash your bucket and knock up another batch. Apply another thin layer over the first and repeat the process, however when this layer goes firm, nearly dry, splash with water and begin to smooth out. Get it flat and keep splashing with water and smoothing.

Key is not to go over the top with the thickness and waiting for it to go firm before smoothing. Trying to smooth soft plaster will make a nightmare of lines.
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Thanks for the advice! I watched a ton of videos, read tons of articles and spoke to a few guys I know that either dabble or do it professionally so I think I have the technique in my head but putting it into practice when you've never done anything of the sort before is a different matter.

Got decent equipment, proper mixer etc.. First problem was that I didn't want to mix a whole bag as there was no way in hell I'd use it all first time out so was trying to mix up a smaller batch but accurately which meant ****in around with the powder for too long. Ended up giving my drill a right workout to mix it up! Think I'll divvy up the powder beforehand next time! It seemed like a loose enough mix in the bucket but once I started applying it felt slightly too stiff.

I didn't realise how much plaster was needed even to cover a smallish area. Think I'll buy a job lot of bags and a few more buckets to be on the safe side.

I am impressed with a couple of areas that are very smooth so at least I know it can be done..

Also cleaning tools before it sets is a bit of a mission :p
 
Fixed the noisy shower mixer tap on the bath. Basically the valve had not been cleaned since installation before we bought the house.. with the additional water pressure it caused the washer to vibrate making the entire set of pipes vibrate.

Unscrew out, initial decalc, dismantle the valve completely to allow the descaler to remove anything inside, rinse and reassemble - and no more noise :D
 
found the source of the water hammer in the south end of the house. an old isolation valve which wasnt quite fully open (and had ceased). Removed, replaced....quiet at full flow.
 
made a Morrocan flag for a friend at work and trying an idea for a Patriots flag, still gotta do the stars yet.

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How they look when they are finished.

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Raked gravel back away from drive - Got white van men coming tomorrow to dig up concrete and lay tarmac.

Killed off lawn earlier in year and been dumping soil/sand I have dug from garden and from around stop tap on it - Today started to rake it level and get stones out. Will stock up on bags of garden manure to spread next spring then rake it well again.

It's a bit cold today

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Changed out the bulbs in the bathroom and en suite room for LED ones. Managed to slightly damage the plastered ceiling in the en suite, filled, sanded and 3 coats of bathroom anti condensate paint later. Good as new.
 
Last week or so I've been off work. I feel like I've done about 1% of all the stuff that needs doing. But these things always end up taking time when I take on a job. Complications creep in!

1: Started with sorting mine and the wifes phones. Took pretty much most of the day! Hers would not update basically to the OTA latest update so I force updated it then did two more updates. First I backed it all up of course. Anyway...now running nougat and all good. I then did mine. Then I put a brand new posh tempered glass screen protector on her phone. Spent ages getting it perfect. You know whats coming...
She brings the phone back to me the next morning and greets me with, "you know you really love me"....
At which point I reply "what have you done".
She's smashed the phone...but it's ok...only the protector! Random coincidence she does it the day after I put a new one on. So then I put a whole new one on.

2: Did the rear brakes on my car.

3: Uninstalled an old security light and crappy wiring and re-did a whole new wire pull and installed a new LED one. The new security light came with only 1 meter of cable. So I bought some new stuff and pulled it through the wall. I had to take the new light apart and wire it up inside using terminal blocks then re-seal it to make it weather proof.

4: Fixed my lads BMX.

5: Fixed the rear view mirror on the car. Was wobbling on a worn mount inside all the plastic housing surrounding it.

6: Installed speakers in the front doors of my mate's car.

7: Wall mounted the bedroom TV and moved the previous virgin cable running down the wall to inside the partition wall. At the same time put all TV cables in the wall including 3 new spec HDMI cables to semi future proof against any additional things I ever connect up to it. At the same time did 4 cat5 drops from the loft down to the same area again to future proof once I finally get the house fully networked.

8: Replaced the exhaust manifold on my other car as it was blowing.

9: Installed a call blocker as I can't stand the time wasting calls on our landline anymore.
 
Finished the winter pruning on the east lawn. Started to pollard some of the trees down the drive. Half dozen ash trees to take down and log tomorrow.
 
jaybee said:
Last week or so I've been off work. I feel like I've done about 1% of all the stuff that needs doing. But these things always end up taking time when I take on a job. Complications creep in!

1: Started with sorting mine and the wifes phones. Took pretty much most of the day! Hers would not update basically to the OTA latest update so I force updated it then did two more updates. First I backed it all up of course. Anyway...now running nougat and all good. I then did mine. Then I put a brand new posh tempered glass screen protector on her phone. Spent ages getting it perfect. You know whats coming...
She brings the phone back to me the next morning and greets me with, "you know you really love me"....
At which point I reply "what have you done".
She's smashed the phone...but it's ok...only the protector! Random coincidence she does it the day after I put a new one on. So then I put a whole new one on.

2: Did the rear brakes on my car. - SNAP

3: Uninstalled an old security light and crappy wiring and re-did a whole new wire pull and installed a new LED one. The new security light came with only 1 meter of cable. So I bought some new stuff and pulled it through the wall. I had to take the new light apart and wire it up inside using terminal blocks then re-seal it to make it weather proof.

4: Fixed my lads BMX. - Gonna do that today!

5: Fixed the rear view mirror on the car. Was wobbling on a worn mount inside all the plastic housing surrounding it.

6: Installed speakers in the front doors of my mate's car.

7: Wall mounted the bedroom TV and moved the previous virgin cable running down the wall to inside the partition wall. At the same time put all TV cables in the wall including 3 new spec HDMI cables to semi future proof against any additional things I ever connect up to it. At the same time did 4 cat5 drops from the loft down to the same area again to future proof once I finally get the house fully networked.

8: Replaced the exhaust manifold on my other car as it was blowing.

9: Installed a call blocker as I can't stand the time wasting calls on our landline anymore.
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Tell me about it! I'm into the final week of 4 weeks off and have done barely a thing!

I handed my notice in on the 13th October, giving 4 weeks notice. Week two was already filled with a holiday but I made a mental list of all the things I could finally do around the house. Loads of the stuff. :(

Well, I've built and hung two 'Besta' box shelf thingies from Ikea. I've trimmed a massively overgrown creaping plant in the back garden. I have changed the rear pads and front discs & pads on the car, which I'm glad is finally done. But I'm struggling to think of anything else I've done. :(

I'm going to sort my boys front brakes on his BMX now - but it's raining - so maybe I'll put the kettle on and wait for it to stop... :D
 
Tenant handed back the rental so been sorting all the things they broke.... Some are done some are in progress (urgently as we want to get it re-let!)
* 4 new bulbs fitted where there were none (tenant took the bulbs with them for some reason!)
* New kitchen tap as they badly dented the old one
* Rehanging 2 kitchen cupboard doors
* Filling, sanding and painting all the dings, dents and scrapes on the walls. (numerous)
* Measuring up for a new bedroom door... The old one was broken by them, large section of door around the hinge 'snapped off'.
* Pressure washing the patio that was a (dog) **** state...
* Cleaning conservatory of algae growth, and getting rid of the dog **** that was on the conservatory roof (dont ask, no idea how that got there!)
* Fixing conservatory door where they broke the plastics. Again, dont ask... Door is substantial, looks like they tried to force it open when they couldnt figure out how to open it.
* Fixing bathroom window handle that broke off...

None of this was notified to us when they were in, most of it would have been an easy fix (which I would happily have done asap) or a simple answer on how to open/do certain things.

Sigh. So many jobs I need to do at home and get left with this. And they are already getting very very pushy about a full deposit refund (it wont be, need to deduct for some of the above.. Breakages/beyond fair wear and tear)
 
adamau5 said:
found the source of the water hammer in the south end of the house. an old isolation valve which wasnt quite fully open (and had ceased). Removed, replaced....quiet at full flow.
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How ******* big is your house that you refer to a bit as the "South end" of the house!
 
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