FixIt Radio June 6, 2018

The dream team of DIY, Colin and Dan, from WeWillFixIt.com in Dubai.

The guys got in their last show with Nightline before the program, Nightline, goes off the air June 20th.

Lots of Q&A this week.

Click for the podcast.




Here are the notes.

DIY Hour- 9^th May 2018

Intro:

• Temperatures- Whilst its mega-scorchio now, according to Accuweather, from the 17^th its going to be relatively chilly for the second half of the month! Well its still 36-38 degrees but lower than the historical average. No need to get your skiwear out yet!
• Heat-related breakdowns been the main theme of the last few weeks. Poorly maintained AC units are under extra strain as the heat increases making more breakdowns inevitable.
• Tank Cleaning- crazy busy at the moment. Extra heat also means extra bacterial growth in water so lots of people getting their tanks cleaned now. Dubai Municipality recommends getting your water tank cleaned every 6 months. Can only be done by an authorized provider approved by Dubai Municipality using their official process & chemicals. If not either tank may not be cleaned properly or the chemicals could provide a risk for occupants of the property.

Section 1: Questions

·      Paints- Different types & uses:

o   Gloss, Satin, Eggshell, Matt- Most shiny and most resistant to least shiny & least resistant

o   Latex= Emulsion (US vs Europe). 2 main types being vinyl silk & vinyl matt. Silk more durable but shows up every error in the wall.

o   Oil-based vs Water based- wood/ metal vs walls (changing due to environmental regulations but not worth changing in domestic properties yet.

·      Kitchen Cabinets-What do I need to look at when thinking of replacing kitchen cabinets? Affordable, durable, sexy! Surely this describes me to a tee! Unless you want to spend a fortune, I can’t look past IKEA. Price, huge amounts of testing, replacements if needed etc. Other options- wrapping, door fronts only, spraying.

·      Grout for Kitchen Tile -Any simple grout replacement for kitchen tile? No unless the old grout has already fallen out. Grout removers- available but good chance of damaging tiles.  

·      Silicone-There is grout around the kitchen sink and it is mouldy any way to stop this when I have the grout replaced? Think they mean silicone rather than grout (but maybe not). Silicone- flexible & normally used as a sealer. Grout- used around tiles to fill gaps. Mould-resistant silicone available- Ace.

·      Low Flush Toilets-Low flush electric toilets like in europe do we get them here? No & difficult to retro fit due to both H&S & lack of original fit power in the right place. Safety- Power & electricity! Bricks/ interlock in the cistern to reduce usage- unproven, trial and error!

NEW QUESTIONS 05/06

·      Washroom extraction fan- is really noisy are these easy to change this unit is in the window. Need to be confident with basic electrics but apart from that easy enough. ISOLATE AT BREAKER FIRST NOT JUST SWITCH. TEST! Replacement needs to be compatible & same size as old one so remove old & take with you to the shop.

·      Toilet tank seems to not be attached to the base, oh dear that is not good, and there is a leak is this a simple fix or is a toilet replacement coming? Best case- screws attaching the tank to the bowl have come loose & the movement of the seal is causing the leak. Likely case- tank cracked & the tank (at least) needs replacing.

·      Guys is it possible to install urinals in a home? Technically there is no reason why not but it is likely to look ugly. We are not experts (as no demand!) but main issue will be water supply location & regulation of water to clean the urinal. Ceiling void solutions available but then needs a regulated (volume or time controlled) pipe to go from there to urinal height I would guess.

·      Any tips on upholstery people, you men know Satwa! We have both used Amrit Furniture (04-3445549) on Plant St in Satwa who are good

·      I want to install bike hangers any tips? Use expansion bolts (M6 should be enough) & make sure you allow enough space between the hangers for handle bars etc.

·      Tips on running wire in the back of the villa to light up a palm tree, do we need a new breaker, cover wire with metal tube… If its just one light it should be relatively straight forward especially if you already have some outside lights. Ensure all connections are made inside an IP-rated junction boxes with glands to be water-tight. Only use exterior-grade double-insulated cable and this really should be armoured for safety (gardener with spades are notorious). In addition I would use plastic conduit but metal GI can be used for even more safety.

·      Ever install a gas fire pit? Easy? No- never done! Surely its just like a BBQ though so should come with a standard high pressure pipe & regulator to attach to a gas bottle which is hopefully integrated into the housing. If a custom build FIND A PROFESSIONAL! BBQ Warehouse, Gulf Leisure etc. Ace??

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

DIYRadio April 11, 2018

Any time you can get Colin and Dan together to talk DIY and home repair you know you are in for a great time.

WeWillFixIt.com, Dan and Colin join us every week to walk through some of the issues you are confronting with the repair of your pad!

Click for the podcast.




The show notes!
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.
 Easy to repair sagging pavers? Supposed solutions available to inject liquid
solution under flags & tiles that sets but practically speaking this is a flawed
method. Best to lift the paver, add aggregate (sand, grit etc.) to the right level,
compact it & relay the pavers.
 Chipped marble steps is there a filler possible? Tend to be epoxy-based.
Important to polish afterwards or sticks out like a sore thumb! Plenty of
companies in Dubai able to do this like Marblelife
 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!!
 Loose banister at base easy fix? Depends on what the banister is attached
to & how. Plugs & Screws- remove screw, drill out plug & replace. May need
bigger size. Anchor bolts.

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.

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
clearup.
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

DIYRadio February 21, 2018

It is always a good night when Colin and Dan from WeWillFixIt.com join us in the studio to talk about home repair and maintenance.

Maybe you have no desire to fix stuff around the home BUT it sure is nice to know what is involved so when the repair guy comes in you can talk with authority and not get over billed or worse.

This is simply some of the best radio on the planet, the tool shed on radio.

This week it was all about he questions.

Click here for the podcast.







The show notes.

Lots of Questions Have Come In.

Why screws are better than nails?- Dubai cement wall construction, ‘blast holes’, little chance of whatever you hang falling, easy of filling on removal. No need for major repairs & repainting.

‘I did it...i put my finger in a neked wire to  c if it has a current’- ARE YOU CRAZY! You could have killed yourself!! (AC Tech on roof etc.) Electrical tester pens are 5dhs!

‘The screws removing tools are called extractors, some people call them easy out’- Thanks- had a mind drain. Available in a set on Souq.com for 49dhs & delivery

‘Can’t find crystal clear shrink tube anywhere in Dubai 1 inch diameter. Any suggestions on where I can find it? Thanks John’- Shrink tube used to cover an electrical wire join usually after soldering. Put the shrink tube over one of the wires BEFORE soldering, solder the 2 wires together (either place them parallel or a tidy twisted join), slide over shrink tube & use the soldering iron to shrink the tube so its tight over the joint. Clear shrink tube- no surprise its difficult as the shrinking process can leave small burn marks. Hence usually coloured. Souq- multipack for 15dhs PE Heat Shrink Tubing 2mm Dia-KT-1502

---------------

‘Do toilets have a 1 way valve or something to stop sewage odour from entering the villa? We are getting smell in our WC and wonder if there is a valve issue?’ U-bend is designed to keep water in the toilet forming a seal for air. Can ‘blowout’ if an air surge happens within the room pushing the water out. Same with sinks & showers. Flush toilets not regularly used every few days & run taps to make sure there is always water in the u-bends & bottle traps.

Our front door latch doesn’t line up to the fame, building happening in the area maybe the villa shifted, how do I fix this is there an easy way? Often caused by basis ‘settlement’ of a property often 2-5 years after construction. Easy way is a bit of a bodge- remove striker plate & using a chisel extend latch hole (usually downwards). Try closing the latch again to check you have no impediment & then re-mount the striker plate in the new position.

-Can we talk about AC issues, service- Next week! Big topic with lots to discuss.

‘we have ceiling fan outlets on the ceiling but no fans are they easy to install?’ Yes but… no but! If they are designed as ceiling fan outlets, it should be as easy as attaching a light fixture however often much more complex especially if there is a separate wall-mounted multi-speed controller which may require electrical rewiring. Flush-mounting a ceiling fan also not easy due to wiring etc.

The DIY Show February 14, 2018

Colin and Kevin in the studio from WeWillFixIt.com to solve your home repair problems.

And we have a little project for you!

The Notes.

• Incoming Questions:
• -how to reseal a tub, silicon, grout...
• -rewire a doorbell
• -easy loose tile fix

Section 2: The Oddest Jobs & Main Jobs of the Week

The Oddest Jobs:

• Rat in the AC Vent- Everybody scared of this but it does actually happen! Odd noises coming from the AC’s happen a lot & very rarely is it actually an animal. Expansion & contraction due to temperature changes, fan motor vibration, damper valves but this one really was a rat with its tail hanging out of the vent!!! AC service turned into full duct & coil clean & total disinfection of the unit.
• Gardener puts fertilizer into the HOUSE water tank- Planned to add fertilizer to the irrigation tank so it automatically dispensed. Didn’t know that the irrigation water came from the same tank as the house water! Luckily villa owner saw it but only clicked at dinner when discussing it with friends. Tank clean- only by Dubai Municipality approved suppliers like us!

Main Jobs of the Week:

• It’s been a DIY & Plumbing Week- Its Spring & January is over so time for home makeovers- pictures, shelves, painting etc. & lots of DIY from house moves. Spring plumbing leaks!
• Summer is Coming- 33.5 degrees in my car this week. Noticeably hotter. Good time to service your AC’s before it gets too crazy!  

Section 3: Pallet Furniture Building (SENDING THROUGH THE BUILD SHEETS BY LUNCHTIME TODAY AT THE LATEST!)

• Cost of garden furniture is crazy!
• Issues with different types:
• Wood- warps. Needs preservative. Softwood versus hard wood.
• Natural Rattan- Drys & cracks
• Plastic rattan- UV from the sunlight initially discolours it & unless top quality needs recovering (if viable) within 2-3 years if unprotected.
• Sail shades- additional protection- last longer than outdoor umbrella’s. DIY job to install (or we do!)
• Make Your Own Pallet Furniture:
• Basic & cheap material- Used available for 15dhs each. New 40-60dhs.
• Easy to build designs available online.
• Perfectly tailored to your needs & your space.
• Outdoor sofa’s, tables, bars, coffee tables, benches, day beds- options only limited by creativity!
• Simple to build & you great to involve the family to learn DIY skills (e.g. drilling, screwing, painting) along the way.
• Cushions can be cheaply custom-made from ‘Plant St.’ in Satwa.
• If it wears over time, cheap & easy to replace pallets.
• Dubai Eye Facebook page- Instructions for making a pallet coffee table & L-Shaped Sofa

Click for the podcast.