Handy Mac, aka Don MacAlister, is our expert on household DIY issues

IT IS that time of year when everyone realises they should have listened to Handy Mac and had their roofs checked when the roofing contractors were quiet and the sun was shining. Yes, I know you are all saying it did not rain so you didn’t know there was a leak, but damaged areas are easy to spot with a good inspection.

Now that we’ve had a few showers people expect a roofing contractor to be at their beck and call 24/7. Every year at this time I appeal to everyone with a leak to be patient as there are only so many reliable roofing contractors in Cape Town, and so many hours of daylight.

People wail, “But why can’t you come now?”, and don’t seem to understand the answer: “Because it is dark and dangerous.” Some people still don’t see this as a problem but I think they would feel differently if someone slipped on a roof and was seriously injured.

If you are going to attempt DIY roof repairs, remember that rain turns most types of roofs into skating rinks, and if it is not dry and you are unsure about what you are doing, leave it to an expert. Also, whether you are doing it yourself or using a professional, remember there is not much that can be done while it is raining, so please be patient.

Do not expect your insurance company to rush to your aid if you have not abided by the terms and conditions of your policy. In most instances you are held responsible for maintaining your property in a sound condition. Lack of maintenance or poor upkeep can lead to claims being rejected.

Our neighbourhood is again reverberating with the noise of chainsaws as Alfred has returned to tidy the gardens at two properties. We all stood in the street recently, commenting about how much better the neighbourhood was looking. I think once someone makes a start everyone gets stuck in.

For those who enjoy my dulcet tones on the radio, I will be back on Cape Talk with Pippa Hudson on June 28 at 1.30pm. DAYNE sent me a question on which I could not offer much advice.

Q:

I would like to buy a plot but require planning permission, as per the agent in charge of the sale.

Please see the idea I have for the plot. My concern is what am I able to do and not do as I wouldn’t want to buy and then be told I cannot proceed. The title deed is attached. I have tried to get information from the government, but they are taking their time.

A:

This type of question is way above my pay grade, but I would like to warn anyone buying into a new estate or a plot-and-plan project to ensure you get the right advice. You need to have your own lawyer and any other necessary professionals batting for you.

Chatting with Jutta

A few weeks ago, Jutta asked me about switching her geyser on and off. She has sent this as a follow up:

Thanks for your answer. I have turned off the power to the geyser and was hoping to let you know about the savings, but we will have to wait and see because I finally received an actual bill after four months of estimates.

It will be great to hear the result. You were prepared to make the sacrifice of showering less frequently to save water, and hopefully you will be rewarded with a drop in your electricity bill.

Now the geyser location. Nowhere else where I have lived was it outside. In Germany and the US it was in the basement/cellar or a “broom closet”. In Singapore, it was in a little room accessed from outside – not so good because the thunderstorms often tripped the switch on the electricity.

I have still not come up with a definitive answer about where a geyser is best situated. I would appreciate more reader feedback on this.

In reference to the plastering, I love this texture, so I had something similar done in the cottage. There is not much traffic in there and the geckos have taken over. Their deposits on the walls are nearly impossible to get off this rough surface. Do you have a tip?

This is one of the reasons I do not like any form of stippled or textured plaster. To me walls are meant to be smooth. I do not have much experience with gecko droppings but a quick check on the internet reveals the following from a blogger in Hawaii: Geckos are like cats in that they tend to go in the same place every time. Their droppings, which are in the form of a small missile, is about the size of a grain of rice.

If it strikes the wall or the floor moulding on its way down, things become more difficult.

An ingredient in gecko droppings seems to allow it to bond strongly to house paint. This produces dark streaks on walls that are difficult to remove. The longer you wait, the worse it becomes in terms of both quantity and the tenacity of the bond. Besides a daily clean-up of the missiles, we go on regular “poo patrols” around the house to wash the walls. If you wait too long, the only remedy is another coat of paint. We’ve learnt that it helps to repaint with a glossier finish.

On Sunday roasts and electricity use, we bought a toaster oven, not a microwave, so it bakes and toasts only. It has settings for temperature and time and is the same size as the microwave. I use it for cakes, pizza and casseroles. The only thing to watch out for is the height of the item as it may burn on top. It works really well and now I rarely use the big oven.

For anyone who uses their oven a lot, this is a great idea, but I admit I would be lost without my gas hob and oven.