HOMEMAKERS Durban April 2024

do it right the first time, live onsite work whilst you live in comfort. DOL

Outdoor paint Now is the right time!

Ever wondered what are the rules about exterior painting?

A worthy winter DIY.

Winter is coming and while most of us are migrating indoors, there is still a lot that can be done outside. Instead of just focussing on your “Netflix and chill” zones or once again reorganising your kitchen, why not give your home’s exterior a fresh look.

Any home renovator will know the power of a lick of paint to uplift any space in you house, but the same rings true for your exterior.

Check the weather.

This obviously only works if you live in a summer rainfall area. By implication you shouldn’t try to paint your house’s exterior in driving rain, so this will influence your timelines and decisions.

What’s your aesthetic.

Are you sticking to the same colour and simply refreshing it or are you up for a change. If you’re happy with what you have, go for it, but if you want a change, just take the rest of your house into account. If you have a neutral roof and trim colour you should be good but remember that colours appear differently when they are put next to each other and the grey you have on your gutters might show a purple tone, or the current beige window frames might look custardy yellow, so try to keep in mind if you are switching things up.

Fix while you go.

This is a good time to check your home for any structural repairs.

• Do you need to redo your barge boards, facias or gutters?

• Does your roof need a bit of waterproofing, how are your exterior lights?

• Are there cracks in your walls or even larger issues with exterior walls or window/doorframes?

Before you paint, it is best to give your home a good walk around and ensure that all the basics are covered. This is also a great way to keep track of any developing cracks and structural issues. If the hairline crack you painted over reappears immediately or comes back bigger, it’s time to call the professionals.

Scrub a dub.

A good scrub will help your paint adhere better and go on smoother. This is particularly important for your roof or any metal finishes. Prepare the surfaces you are goint to paint to get the most out of your paint job in the end.

Ready, set, GO!

Now that you’ve done your research, scrubbed your walls and picked your paint, it is time to prepare your area. It is obvious that you have to tape off fixtures and fitting and lay out newspaper or draping when you are painting inside, but did you know that you should do this outside as well? Many roof paints, as well as gutter or metal paints and treatments are oil based and spilling that down a wall or onto tiles or pavement is more of a headache. Washable PVA can be hosed off, but streaks of “gunship grey” waterproof roof paint on you light grey patio tiles will put a bit of a damper on your next braai...

Now go, get your painter’s overalls and bring your home back to life, one roller-roll (or brush-stroke) at a time...and if DIY isn’t your style, you can always get a guy!

Find service providers online.

Going gradually Off the Grid

Energy independence is the dream for many South African households, but can it be done incrementally, and without the massive cash injection, most solar conversions require?

One Solar Panel at a Time

Something to consider as you plan your escape from the grid:

• What type of home do you have?

• Who shares your house with you?

• How much electricity do you currently use?

• Do you want to be completely off the grid, or simply be less reliant on Eskom?

The Options

In South Africa, Solar, gas and battery systems are our main options for residential alternatives.

Solar Power

With its abundant sunshine, even in winter, South Africa is well-positioned for solar energy as a residential alternative.

Solar Panels

A solar panel is made of Photovoltaic Cells that generate direct current from sun rays. With an inverter, this is converted to alternating current, which is what your house runs on.

DIY It

Probably not, installing a well-structured and safe solarpowered system isn’t easy. To get the most out of your solar power system you are going to need a professional to assess and install a correctly sized and specified system based on the needs of the house.

One Step at a Time

Look into getting a solar geyser as a start. You will save on the electrical or gas and will be able to take warm showers when the rest of the country is suffering from loadshedding chills. Installation of a full solar geyser with a solar panel and geyser tank costs anywhere between R14 800 and R27 200, depending on the size of the geyser.

Gas

Gas Geysers are cheaper than solar options, but factor in that you would be buying gas. Full installation of a gas water heating system ranges between R9 800 and R16 500 depending on the water flow rate you chose.

Battery Power

This is usually the go-to option for businesses that want to remain open during loadshedding. However - the cost of a high-end battery system that generates enough power to keep the lights (and basically everything else) on for a large house can be prohibitively high at around R50 000.

A relatively small bettery set up, that can generate 1000 W continuously (1,2kWh) can be more affordable at approximately R15 000. With this you should be able to charge a few devices, run the television and one or two lights.

Our Top Tip Wind Energy

Although South Africa does have abundant sunshine, we also have some pretty spectacular weather in the form of storms and wind storms. If you live in a more rural area and have more space, a backyard wind turbine might be an option for you.

For under R15 000 you can get a wind turbine generator for your rooftop. The technology, long already in use in other parts of the world is still pretty new in South Africa but why not look into it?

Find solar service providers online.

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