JamesCast, the James Piecowye Podcast : 04/01/2018

The guys, Colin and Dan join us every 2 weeks on Nightline to talk DIY projects and generally fixing stuff!

The April 18 podcast

The April 25 podcast

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DIY Hour- 25^th April 2018

Intro:

Temperatures- Over the last month, Accuweather has been a bit less than accurate. However its now got its mojo back and as stated last week the summer heatwave hit on Saturday last week & now it is mega-scorchio. Still showing above historical average until the end of the month.
Busy week in our office- Loads of people calling to sign for our new annual Essential Maintenance service. Great time to sign up to the benefits of an annual package as its now so hot or alternatively just to get your AC’s serviced ready for the heat (if you haven’t already!).
Main Jobs This Week:

Busy for DIY-

Painting- more people staying indoors so good to give it a new look
Moving- seems like lots of people are calling for DIY moving in & out jobs… in this weather!!! Curtains, connecting appliances, pictures etc.

AC- crazy crazy busy. Over 100 AC jobs per day currently. Still able to get to most jobs quickly. 90 mins response time for Essential Maintenance annual customers and a little more for ad-hoc bookings

Section 1: Questions

Solar cells ever install them? Tips No. Hire a professional that supplies & installs the entire system. One person to chase if it doesn’t go well. Must have a warranty!
Any one collecting water from ac units is there an easy fit v for that in the apartment. Fitted for a very good customer in Mirdiff in a villa & she uses the water for her plants in her garden. MUCH MORE DIFFICULT in an apartment but technically possible. Important that the water will NOT be clean & may even contain pathogens so usage is strictly limited & under no circumstances should it be consumed.
Where do you buy those plastic strip doors we see at shops are they easy to install. Do you mean the plastic strip doors you see at businesses to keep cool air in & hot air out? If so, they seem technically quite easy to install but as they are designed for commercial spaces, they are likely to be larger than domestic door openings. Possible to cut them down but makes it more tricky.
Chairs scraping on floor- Felt pads. Available from Ikea or Ace/ Speedex etc.
Installation of flyscreens- do-able DIY job if flyscreen material only. More difficult if it needs the rubber holding the screen in place replacing too. Lots of patience needed to get the tension right. Material available from Ace by the metre or by the roll from many of the DIY shops in Satwa. Buy black nylon version only. Aluminium stretches easily.
Whiteboard wall paint any good? No, not if painted on a wall!! Any roughness at all leaves marks when you try to clean it off which looks unsightly. Constant cleaning required. Blackboard paint & chalk more effective but not as versatile to use.
Window Cleaning Environmental Options- Window cleaning has changed radically in Europe in recent years due to both the Health & Safety laws (preventing people from climbing ladders unnecessarily) & the environmental lobby making people more effect of the negative effects of detergents. Discuss pure water window cleaning & poles.
Window Lock Installation Before Vacations- Modern development properties in Dubai (under 15 years old) generally have very secure window & door systems (UPVC- with up to 8 latches per window). For older properties, aluminium systems are often used which are not so secure. Window locks widely available (Souq, Ace etc.) but make sure you buy the correct version for the type of windows you have. Possible to buy a restrictor as well so it can be used for child safety as well as intruders.
Bird Spike Update- No update- our technicians have been too busy to fix my own bird spikes so far :o((((((((

Section 2: DIY Can Really Mean Do It Yourself!

· Definition: the activity of decorating, building, and making fixtures and repairs at home by oneself rather than employing a professional.

· We do lots of ‘Do It Yourself’ on behalf of our customers (& appreciate it)!

· It’s a funny one that putting up pictures, curtains, painting is classed this way yet we have a team of 10 specialists focused on this alone.

· The reality for many people in Dubai though is that they work long hours & DIY just isn’t a top priority when they have free time.

· However for those that fancy a crack, here are some hints & tips:

o Measuring- Measure twice, cut or drill once.

o Drilling- Use a good quality hammer drill & the correct drill bit for the task. Old bag held by masking tape below the hole reduces dust clear up.

o Curtain Hanging- If you are moving into an older property in Dubai, decide if the curtains would look OK if placed higher than normal above the top of the windows. (Below is often full of non-structural filler due to previous curtain-hanging which will disintegrate when you try to drill it.

o Picture Hanging- ALWAYS use a drill, rawl plug and screw & not a nail!!

o Electrics- Don’t even attempt unless you are sure you are competent for the required task. Hire a professional to keep you safe!

Section 3: THE PVC PIPE SHOE RACK

MATERIALS:-

- 150mm width PVC pipes from hardware stores in Satwa

- Marker pen

- Measuring tape

- Hacksaw

- Pipe cement

- Clothes pegs

INSTRUCTIONS:-

- Measure the longest shoe you want to store

- Add 3cm extra and then mark the pipe into equal length sections

- Cut pipe lengths using the hacksaw

- Wash pipes in the shower/bath

- Use a bookcase as a guide to help you stack the pipes

- Add pipe cement along the areas where you want the pipes to stick together

- Use clothes pegs to hold pipe lengths together while the glue dries

- Place against the wall and add shoes

DIY Hour- 18^th April 2018

Intro:

Temperatures- Last week, Accuweather said that by last weekend it would be all change with lower than historical average temperatures for most of April starting last Friday. Clearly they had an off day! Now saying that most of the month will be over the historical average!! Last weekend was mega-scorchio. Friday +6degrees and Sat +4degrees & now showing above historical average until at least 20^th April. Time to sack the weatherman?
How hard is it to install smart home lighting as a retrofit? No but not sure now is the time. The technology is evolving rapidly. Direct control wireless bulbs, wireless light switches, sound, curtains, AC, smoke alarms etc. etc. Every established fixture manufacturer & new players in this market such as Nest, Amazon, Google have their own independent range. However who will still be in the market in 3 years time? Who will continue to update their app to match phone & tablet updates. Who will continue to manufacture electrical fixtures? Too early for us to get involved. Think long & hard from a customer perspective.
Kitchen cabinet do over easy? Wood, aluminum, vinyl different options. Wood Respray- Lots of companies but best to use 2K (2 pack car paint) Jumeirah Carpentry 043392938 Vinyl- Creative Wrap Solutions 055 566 4263 Auminium- change your kitchen!
How easy is it to install a sun shade, see then at Ace, worried about the anchors. Expansion bolts- best to use eyelets & carabina clips. Good quality rope that doesn’t stretch is the easiest (braided) or chain (more difficult). Tensile cable the ideal long-term solution.
Solar cells ever install them? Tips No. Hire a professional that supplies & installs the entire system. One person to chase if it goes well. Must have a warranty!
Any one collecting water from ac units is there an easy fit v for that in the apartment. Fitted for a very good customer in Mirdiff in a villa & she uses the water for her plants in her garden. MUCH MORE DIFFICULT in an apartment but technicially possible. Important that the water will NOT be clean & may even contain pathogens so usage is strictly limited & under no circumstances should it be consumed.
Where do you buy those plastic strip doors we see at shops are they easy to install. Do you mean the plastic strip doors you see at businesses to keep cool air in & hot air out? If so, they seem technically quite easy to install but as they are designed for commercial spaces, they are likely to be larger than domestic door openings. Possible to cut them down but makes it more tricky.

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Section 1: Pump Problems

· Message on British Dad’s Dubai this week ‘my pump keeps turning off & on’ which is a common issue. Villa issue & not apartment

· Can be caused by a number of issues but not normally the pump itself

o Water Leak- Toilets, sink taps, showers, bidet, outside garden tap, tap on the roof for AC Servicing. Even a drip every 10 seconds will cause. Spare room, maids room, roof!

o DEWA Bypass Valve- If your pump fails, most (not all) villa’s have a Dewa bypass valve so you can temporarily connect your villa directly. Low water pressure. Not allowed as a permanent connection!

o Irrigation- Defective solenoid.

o Pipe leak- after the pump & NOT if between the tank & the pump.

o Pressure kit failure- turns the pump on & off. Often when it fails, you see a small jet of water coming out of it- replacement time! 975dhs fitted 1 year guarantee. ESPA

o Mechanical pressure switches- Frond villa’s on the Palm, The Villa, Layan Community & Al Waha, some of the Springs etc. More sensitive to air temperature so may need adjustment to turn off effectively. If your pump is constantly running & not turning off, this could be it at this time of year.