Cape Town - Let’s get back to stocking our tool boxes. By now you have mastered your hammer and screwdriver, I hope, so what’s next?
My next item would be a decent tape measure – you would be surprised how many people don’t have one. Whether you’re building a cupboard or measuring to see if that flat-screen TV will fit in your lounge, a dependable retractable metal measuring tape is a must. Go for the most expensive that you can afford – the cheaper ones tend not to retract properly after a while – and check that the end tip is properly secured.
As with all your tools, keep it clean, wiping off the tape section with a cloth as it retracts.
Deciding what length to buy is a personal choice but as most rooms are over 3m wide or long, I would never get a tape shorter than 5m. Over that length they do tend to get a bit heavy and unmanageable.
For finer work in the workshop, I prefer a solid metal ruler. If I want to cut a piece of wood 800mm long, I want it to be 800mm, not 802mm. Over time the ends of retractable tapes do become loose and you start getting a bit of creep, which will mess up accurate dimensions.
Don’t get caught up in the “electronic” measuring tape idea, they are fine for measuring rooms etc, but not for much else.
Tips of the week:
They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but it just has, so I am going to repeat my tip of a few weeks ago and tell you always to check that your taps are properly turned off before you leave the house, and never ever leave a plug in a sink. Our dodgy tap resurfaced and, as we had left dishes soaking in the kitchen sink, we arrived home for a second time to find a flooded kitchen. Never buy and install a sink, basin or bath that does not have an overflow outlet.
Second, don’t buy secondhand power tools unless they still have the original manual and you can check that all the parts, especially those relating to safety, are still there. Many people become frustrated or over-confident using machines and remove or adapt parts to make their life easier, but this could seriously affect your safety.
Last, only use tools for the purpose that they are designed for. All too often I have seen injuries or damage to a special piece of furniture or the like because somebody could not take the time to fetch the correct tool. Screwdrivers are for inserting or removing screws, not for opening paint cans or as a substitute for a chisel; likewise, axes are for chopping wood, not for knocking in nails, etc.
Question and answer
Henry asks: I have recently had an insurance claim rejected due to “lack of maintenance” on waterproofing over a flat roofed section of my house. Can you please over the weeks ahead give us some tips on maintenance?
Answer: This is a subject very close to my heart as over the years I have seen people with claims rejected or seen them waste huge amounts of money fixing something that would not have gone wrong had it been properly maintained. I will try and address some of these common items in my next few columns, but let’s start with your waterproofing problem.
Any waterproofing system, whether liquid, ie, a painted-on acrylic system, commonly referred to as “pap and lap”, or a torched-on sheet system, needs to be properly maintained. These systems generally carry a guarantee of five to 10 years, but the fine print will always say they need to be maintained if the guarantee is to be honoured.
To start with, ensure you get a written guarantee from your contractor, read the terms and conditions and ensure you abide by them. This is where people start going wrong as we tend to say “why waste money if it’s not leaking”.
I know that my old company used to send out reminder letters after two years of having done a contract, reminding the client that to maintain the guarantee an inspection and service coat was needed. There were very few positive responses to these letters so eventually they stopped doing it. This kind of maintenance service not only applies to waterproofing but also to most types of metal roofing, where rust can be treated if spotted early. One only needs to stand on a high floor in a city office block and look down at the surrounding roofs to witness the lack of maintenance.
Your roof not only needs to be protected from natural elements like wind and rain but also from pollution, bird droppings etc. The flatter the roof the more maintenance it will require, as standing water combined with pollutants will slowly wear away the protective coatings. If nothing else, begin by keeping your roof clean by washing off and sweeping clean regularly.
Different waterproofing systems can be protected in different ways; a heavy torched-on system can be covered with stone chips or paving, while acrylic systems are best left exposed. However, any system needs to be over-coated to protect it – not only from the items mentioned above but also from ultraviolet rays.
A quick visual check will tell you whether it is time for a service coat – once you can see the original top coating is wearing off it is time to take action. This is something you can easily do yourself. Check what the original finish was, ie, bituminous aluminium paint, or pure acrylic paint, and then apply another coat.
* Keep your questions or comments coming to don@macalister.co.za or SMS only to 082 446 3859.
Weekend Argus