No such thing as getting an accurate quote without a plan

I NEED to start following my own advice. Last week I was rabbiting on about getting up early to avoid the heat, and now because of bad planning I am writing in sweltering heat, and I can’t have the airconditioner on too much, as us semiretired types must save money by cutting down on electricity use.

As always, get your planning right for any task. No proper plan and any project will fall apart. And remember there are only 20 building days left this year.

We have got the local builders in again, we need a few more garden walls to protect my young trees and veggies from the maurauding boerbull puppy, who at 10 months still thinks destruction is a Godgiven right. I mention this because by trying to skimp initially and not planning properly it is costing me more because I am doing things piecemeal.

Adding little bits to contracts is expensive, one complete job and one price is the way to go.

Thanks to Arthur who e-mailed me and Theo who phoned with the same tip, both proving me wrong about cleaning old adhesive off wall tiles. I enjoy being proved wrong if we are going to help somebody.

Arthur says: “Here’s a simple method I have successfully used when dealing with a wall tiles which I needed to reuse.

“Fit a masonry cutting disc into your 115mm angle grinder’

“Place the tile face down on a flat surface, preferably outdoors, and applying the disc at a flattish angle, grind away. (Don’t forget your safety glasses).

“With a bit of patience and care, all of the adhesive can be removed,” says Arthur.

Dave has an interesting problem: “A fireplace was installed earlier this year, and later started leaking.

“The installer submitted my three quotations – one for replacing the laminate flooring, one for replacing the ceiling, and one for repairing the roof correctly – to his insurance company.

“They have agreed to pay for the laminate and the ceiling less a 5 percent excess, but said they would not cover the roof as they cover damage, not defective work.

“The installer says he will pay me what the insurance company pays him.

“Why should I accept this amount – I’m then paying the installer’s excess. Also, the installer says that he repaired the roof as per industry standard and is not willing to do anything further. My feeling is that the repair will not last and should be repaired with proper IBR sheeting as per the rest of the roof.

“What are my rights? Should I seek legal advice?”

First, as regards the excess, you have no legal agreement with the installer’s insurers, so you cannot be held liable for the excess.

Had the installer not had insurance you would have claimed the complete amount from him, so the situation is that he must replace at his cost the damage his faulty workmanship caused.

As regards the workmanship issue, and having seen your photographs, I can say with complete certainty that the work/flashings do not comply with industry norms. You are partly correct in saying that you want it replaced with IBR. What it actually needs is a proper back apron flashing made out of flat metal sheet running from the chimney flashing back up to the ridge line. This ensures that any rain does not fall on to the roof sheets where they run into the chimney flashing. This is standard procedure for all penetrations through metal roof sheeting.

A word of caution here to anybody having a metal chimney installed: ensure that it is done by the company which supplies the fireplace or by one of their approved installers – don’t let your builder tell you he can do it.

Once somebody else starts fiddling the guarantees are not worth the paper they are written on. The installer must do the flashings and everything else related to the installation, and ensure there are no roof timbers anywhere near the flue and that the flue is insulated properly.

● Keep questions or comments coming to don@macalister.co.za or SMS only to 082 446 3859.