Review - Sonin 50218 Digital Moisture Meter

My new favourite toy is Sonin 50218 Digital Moisture Meter.

I used few different moisture meters before, but this is the best one in my opinion. Unlike many other meters it is suitable formost surfaces – plaster, brick, concrete, hardwood and softwood timber. It’s compact and easy touse. It should measure a very wide range of moisture - from 0% to 40%. But I got a reading of 41% today.

Sydney received so much rainfall lately – it’s disturbing! Everysecond property has some water damage, and we repair water damaged areas almostdaily. So I will use my little Sonin 50218 a lot!

How to get your home or renovation in glossy magazine

Getting your home or renovation published might be easier than you think. Design magazines always on a look for suitable homes to showcase. If you believe your home have what it takes, you recently decorated, built or renovated – why do not show it off! Here are few magazine offers for you:

Home Ideas and Modern Home magazines are looking for stunning homes with personality and charm from all over Australia. To submit your home: 

Post few photos to 50 Silverwater Road, Silverwater NSW 2128 and attention it to the magazine you think your home would be suitable for. Or email - homeideas@expresspublications.com.au with HOME SHOWCASE in the subject line.

Australian House & Garden is currently looking for the best gardens in Australia. They run it as a national competition with fantastic prises - trip to 2012 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, more prices for finalists and winners of different categories. Check here for their conditions and Competition Entry Form

Real Living magazine also run a competition – this one is home decorating. Send them some photos and beside a thrill of being published in a glossy magazine you can win some fabulous prizes. See here for the competition entry details.

Handyman magazine. This one I can swear has a very real entry - one of our personal garden make-overs was published and we had indeed received a prize. I should send them my latest retaining wall! 

So take few before-and-after photos of your renovation or building, furniture or weekend project, a photo of yourself, write a short description about how you did it, and submit it through Handyman submission webpage. If it is published they will also send you a cheque for $300.

Cool & easy designer's metal look by Liquid Metal

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Remember Sydney’s 3 Wise Monkeys Pub? Did you know that the iconic front sculpture is actually made out of an artist foam and covered in Liquid Metal! It’s cool, light, and looks and feels just like a real metal!

If you have a vision of a unique metal architectural or décor item, but hesitate at the though of complicated custom welding, casting, and expensive price tag – we suggest you check Liquid Metal Technologies (LMT) products.

This Australian company manufactures unique metal finishes that can be applied in cold liquid form to virtually any surface – timber, plastic, PVC, foam, ceramic, etc. Unlike metallic paints these are real metals in liquid form. It gives a surface a real look and feel of a solid metal.

LMT product range is impressive – they basically can provide any metal, and in many finishes. They also have a ready to install panels in variety of textures.

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How to get timber turn a beautiful silver grey?

The naturally aged “silver grey” timber becomes very popular, as we search for low maintenance, environmental solutions and a look. Cedar is best known for it’s beautiful natural grey. But any exterior timber can be used to reach this effect.

However, without regular treatment any wood will become discoloured, weathered, mouldy, and cracked. The best product to let timber age naturally into a beautiful silver grey is Cutek® Wood Preservative, or its low VOC version Cutek CD50® LVOC. It’s quite expensive, but it’s worth it.

Cutek® Wood Preservative is a timber oil. Literally! It’s a fatty liquid, like a cooking oil you buy in a supermarket, but specially formulated for the timber. It does not create a hard finish coat, like a decking coat or varnish. Instead it gets absorbed deep into the timber, like shown on a picture.

If you want to get a silver grey timber look – use colourless oil. Initially timber will look golden, as if varnished. But with time it will turn a nice silver grey.

Cutek oil is water repellent, fungus and mould resistant. It does not peel or crack. Instead it will fade gracefully over the time. It has to be reapplied every 1-3 years – when oil starts to wash off. Application takes time. It requires 2-3 coats at least 1 week apart, so oil can absorb in a timber. If your timber is old and weathered it has to be cleaned and restored first.

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What is painters guarantee?

Ol’Painting gives 3 years warrantee against faulty workmanship on all work. We also use only premium quality materials that have 10 years manufacturer’s warrantee.

I believe this is the most reasonable deal. If there were any flows in painter's job it will show up in the first few months, definitely within a year or two. Three years will give you extra contingency. It is highly unlikely that there will be any paint damage due to painters fault after the first few years.

Whoever you chose for your painting project I strongly recommend that you never settle for anything less, and question longer warrantees - they are not necessarily better, but you have to know what to look for.

There are 2 parts to every painters guarantee:

• Manufacturer’s guarantee on paint
  Premium quality paints have 10 years manufacturers guarantee (with few general exceptions), but paint must be applied correctly. I previously wrote about in details.

• Warrantee against faulty workmanship.
  99% of poor paint performance is caused by painters mistake in preparations or paint choose. This warrantee requires a painter will fix any faults in their work within specified period for free. Keep in mind that this warrantee does not cover damage from external factors, eg. water damage.

1 year or less warrantee usually is a sign of a poor workmanship and/or low quality materials being used.

More then 3 years warrantee on labour is misleading, as it makes you feel you are getting a better deal, when you don’t. It is highly unlikely that any damage due to painters fault will appear after initial few years. Ussualy it would be caused by external factors that are not covered by any warrantee – eg. water leak, dry rot, timber cracking, decay of lover layers of paint or plaster). Some 5 years warrantees are made under the pressure from a manufacturer in exchange for an advertisement and certification.

10 years warrantee is so excessive, I would seriously question it! Most likely you will receive only a manufacturer’s warrantee on paint, and it does not cover a faulty workmanship at all. In addition, many painting companies are less then 10 years old businesses. When they give you 10 years guarantee – this is just not serious!

What is paint manufacturer’ warrantee?

All paints from the premium quality range are covered by 10 years manufacturer’s guarantee, notwithstanding the paint brand.

The only exceptions are membrane paints – 7 years, and timber varnishes – 1 year. The newly released Taubmans Endurance is Australia’s first with 15 years guarantee.

Paint from any lower quality range would be a compromise on quality and will have shorter manufacturers guarantee.

Modern paints are very good and consistent in quality. I never in my experience had to apply for manufacturers warrantee (Ol’Painting works only with a premium quality paints). But I heart of people having big problems with “designer” & "hand-made" paint brands and taking the manufacturer to the court. I strongly recommend to use paint form the main manufacturers whenever possible!

Keep in mind - a manufacturer warrantee is not valid if psint is applied incorrectly. This is when a personal painter’s warrantee against faulty workmanship steps in.

Is Dulux a good paint?

Some people believe that any paint other then Dulux is poor quality. This can not be further from the truth. I am rarely choose to work Dulux paint. Here’ why:

• Dulux does a lot of TV ads targeting “normal mum’s & dad’s” who only occasionally are involved in painting – they charge about 30% premium, and no real quality benefits. Their TV commercials sais they are the best – but this is call marketing!

• Taubmans & Bristol target traders and are much more negotiable with the price.

Being a professional painter I personally prefer Taubmans premium quality paint because:

• They are as good in quality as any other paint brand in a premium quality range including Dulux paints (do not believe everything TV commercial says! :))

• Have same 10 years manufacturers guarantee as Dulux or any other paint in the same quality range (Taubmans Endure is actually the first Australian paint with 15 years guarantee).

• Have same have extra “Dirt Shield” (dirt sticks less to it) – something Dulux paint do not have;

• My prices for Taubmans paint are about 30% less compare to Dulux – so I’m just passed this saving to the client.

I would not change a warrantee on my work depending on a brand of paint. I only work with premium quality range paints. I know for sure that within the same quality range all paints are basically the same. So why would not take the best value?

If a client really wants to use Dulux, I don’t mind, but I would have to charge extra to cover additional material cost. But in my opinion it would be a waist of money with no real benefits gained.

Boomerang Reclaimed Paint

I came across Boomerang Paint when browsed the web for some recycling ideas. Cannot say enough about the work that they are doing! How I wish we had a similar product in Australia!

This Canadian company collects unused paint and stain (even the hardened stuff!), reformulates it, then sells it in a recycled plastic container, at about half a price of the new paint of the same quality.

In 2008 Boomerang Paint recycled some 4,000,000 litres of paint!

To the best of my knowledge we do not have paints like this in Australia. Here even taking your left-over paint to recycling spot would cost you few dollars per litre. We have a lot to catch up!

Source: Boomerang Paint via Natural Chic

Is your shower killing you?

I never though that something as common as a shower curtain could be harmful. But the US Centre for Health, Environment and Justice have released a report stating that new PVC shower curtains may contain and release more then 100 toxic chemicals including volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), phthalates and metals, some even 28 days after curtain was unwrapped. Hot water even further promotes the release of chemicals.

I got it – no plastic should be heated! Anything plastic that smells is bad for you.

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Project of the Month - December 2

Spider boom lift (I wrote about in this article) were such a disappointment!

They look so cool on photos and even have a remote control. I so much looked forward to this weekend so I can try them at BMW Kings Cross project. What a waist of time!

• It takes an hour to set up the lift up in each position (with experience you may cut this in half). Lift doesn’t start until perfectly leveled & has legs wide enough to keep the balance. Indicators are very poor. So you just keep trying different levels or moving it a bit for a different leg position until the lift starts.

• You not always can make it work where you need it for the best access. You probably could eventually. But I quit after 1 hour!
  

• The crane only turns 180º, then stops. No indicator shows how far it can turn each way until the stop point. Few times we moved and set up the lift, got in the basket and found that it wouldn’t turn a little bit to right-way to reach the place we need. We didn’t have enough space to turn it left-way 180º. We have to get out, dismantle the lift, turn the base 180º and set up the lift again. 2 hours for 2 people gone, no work done…
  

• The basket is too small for 2 people working effisiantly. This affects the cost of job – you pay a fortune to create a workplace for only 1 person (and lots of time wasted moving the lift, not getting the gob done).
  

• The high hire cost makes spider lifts unfeasible for most projects. For the fraction of the price in hire and labour I could have built a scaffold, and have few people working on it (not just one). I would get the job done faster and cheaper.

I would only use a spider lift in high courtyard-like area, were I need a machine lighter then an ordinary boom lift, and were it can reach most of the areas from the same spot, so I do not have to move the lift.

Spider Boom Lifts

Spider boom lifts are amazing new type of lifts that can reach virtually anywhere. They come in few types and sizes. Usually they are just 1.1m wide when not operational and can go throguh the doorway. But when fully set up they can reach up to 50m height and up to 35 mitres to the side! I absolutely adore them!

Update:

Spider boom lift were such a disappointment! Not happy at all. Click here to read my review.

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Dulux Waste Paint Hardener

Dulux EnviroSolutions Waste Paint Hardener is a new environmental product from Dulux. It works in a similar way as a substate used in Dulux Enviro Wash System.

Simply pore a powder into any left-over water based paint or timber finish. It will turn paint into solid no-toxic waste in just 2 hours. Paint Hardener available from Dulux paint stores and hardware stores, like Bunnings or Mitre10.

As with any new and unique products the price is still quite high. It cost nearly as much to harden paint as to buy it. But we rarely throw paint away. We give left-over paint to clients for future touch ups or use it as a base for a colour matched jobs. Still, we now keep a box of the Waste Paint Hardener in every OL’PAINTING car. So it’s here when we need it.

Low VOC paint – PROS & CONS

As I mentioned in this article low VOC paints are a great product. I strongly believe that in a close future majority of paints will be low VOC. But being a relatively new section of an industry VOCs paints are not perfect. Below are the main pros and cons of low VOC paints:

PROS

1. Non toxic & non allergic
With allergies and asthma being so common low VOCs provides a healthy solution.
2. Minimal smell
Sniffing paint is not usually a pleasant sensation. Low VOC paint has minimal smell.
3. Safety during project
Significantly quicker drying time and recoating means unit doors will be opened for much less period of time.
4. Easy touch up
Water-based enamels are non-yellowing (unlike conventional enamels). Left-over paint can be used to touch ups for years. Brushes are easy to clean up with water.

CONS

1. Paint tint contains VOC
This is the most upsetting part. The darker the colour – the more tint you need and the more VOC it gets. So for better benefit stay with white or off-white colours.
2. Poorer coverage
You will need more coats of paint to change a colour and this may blow off the budget. If you stay with the same colour – you are safe.
3. Higher price
Add about 50% extra for material coats. But from Ol’ Painting experience the extra cost per unit usually under $100.
4. Environmental
'Low-VOC' label does not necessarily mean it is environmentally preferable. We have to consider the entire manufacturing process and its' environmental impact.

Low VOC Paints

When you think about painting your place, most of you will get a slightly controversial picture - a renovating thrill on one hand and worry about paint odour and level of chemical it contains on other hand.

Why is Paint Toxic?
Conventional paints release petroleum based solvents, called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as they dry and cure. These VOCs are used as solvents in the paint and include such toxic compounds as benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, and xylene, all of which can pose a risk to your health.

Think of a petrol station on a hot day – sometimes you can see the petrol ‘haze’ or fumes coming from the nozzle. This is the petrol volatilising, becoming a gas. Petrol is toxic, and we are usually careful not to breathe it in. Paints are also toxic, but it’s difficult not to breathe it in when it’s in the building you are living in.

How VOCs affects us?
VOCs affect us in many different ways. We use aromatherapy oils to alter our mood – lavender to relax etc. Our bodies can usually tell when VOCs are good or bad for us – we recoil at the smell of methane, chlorine and car exhausts. Paint smell is not a delightful sensation either.
The VOCs in paint can trigger headaches/migraines, nausea, allergy, asthma, irritation of the eyes, nose or skin, dizziness, and even convulsions or nerve damage.

Low Toxic Paint Alternatives
Lower VOC paint do not ‘outgas’, they do not make the air in our homes toxic and they are low odour. Today all of the major paint brands (such as Dulux, Taubmans, Wattyl , and some smaller brands producing water-based acrylics and enamel paint with VOC levels of around 5-10%.

Strata Building and VOCs
High-rise buildings and larger unit blocks often have long enclosed corridors with no natural ventilation. So the smell and air pollution of enamel paint can stay here for weeks. Low VOCs water-based enamel paints are a fantastic alternative to conventional enamel paint for all internal woodwork.


Ol’ Painting has been using low VOC paint for few years. Just recently we completed internal painting of "Paladium" - a large 279-unit strata title building at Pyrmont.

Being a relatively new section of industry VOCs paint not perfect. See this article in Pros an Cons of low VOC paints. But this sector of paints is developing and improving very quickly. I believe that in a close future most of paints will become low VOC.

Dulux Envirowash

OL’PAINTING just purchased our third Dulux EnviroWash unit. The first one is permanently located in our storage room for everyday use. This second unit we now can install at the larger projects, such as strata title, commercial or renovation projects.

Dulux EnviroWash allows an environmental way of washing painting brushes and rollers. It turns paint wash-out into clean water and inert solid waste. Treated water is clear water and can be recycled or released onto a gardens. Remaining paint sludge in non toxic and can be dried and disposed into a common waste.

We also how offer one of our EnviroWash units for hire (subject to availability).

Lead Paint Leads to...

There are over 3.5 million homes built before 1978 in Australia. Most of them have paint that contains high levels of lead – a highly toxic metal, which if not managed can endanger human health, especially young children and pregnant women.

If your house is built prior to 1978 it most likely contains lead paint, unless it was removed during previous renovations.

If you suspect that your house has lead hazards ask a professional painter trained in lead management to test the area. DIY lead test kits also are available from most paint or hardware stores.

Why Is Lead Dangerous?

Lead cannot be excreted. It stores in the body for up to 20-30 years in bone, from where it can be mobilized back into the blood. From a single exposure, lead is readily absorbed and quickly distributed to the following areas of the body: blood (1%), soft tissue (4%) and bones/teeth (95%).

Lead is especially dangerous for children under the age of 6. It can cause irreversible brain damage and can impair mental functioning. It can retard mental and physical development and reduce attention span.

In adults, lead poisoning can cause irritability, problems with reproduction, poor muscle coordination and nerve damage to the sense organs and nerves controlling the body. Lead distorts the production of red blood cells in the body.  Anaemia can occur if lead accumulates in blood and in blood-forming tissues (bone marrow).

Where is lead paint found?

Lead paint can be present on any painted surface, but it is most often found on internal woodwork, house verandas and outside walls.

Similar to asbestos, lead paint is not usually a hazard if it is in good condition and left undisturbed. It is the dust from deteriorating or damaged lead-based paint that is very dangerous.

Prior to 1978 the oxide of lead was commonly used as a whitener and drying agent in paints in Australia. Today, it has been replaced by titanium dioxide. Lead is a designated hazardous substance by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its use is highly regulated.

What To Do If Your House Contains Lead?

There are some immediate actions you can take to reduce your family’s risk of lead poisoning:

• If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.
• Consult your doctor. A simple blood test can detect high levels of lead in children and adults.
• Clean up paint chips immediately.
• Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other surfaces weekly.
• Wash children’s hands often, especially before they eat and before nap or bed time.
• Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys, and stuffed animals regularly.
• Keep children from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces.
• Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium, such as spinach and dairy products. Children with good diets absorb less lead.

Removing Lead From Your House

Use a professional painter trained in lead paint management to remove lead based pant.

Do not attempt to do it yourself. In recent decades, the majority of children admitted to hospitals with lead poisoning were as a result of unsafe home renovation and maintenance activities.

Never attempt to remove lead-based paint with a belt-sander, propane torch, high temperature heat gun, dry scraper or dry sandpaper. These actions create large amounts of lead dust and fumes. Lead dust can remain in your home and around it long after the work is done.

Sasha Nadezhkin from Ol‘Paiting has over 10 years of experience in lead paint removal.

Sources: www.lead.org.au , www.housing.nsw.gov.au , www.environment.gov.au , “Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home” by EPA,
MPL Laboratories “Fact Sheet”