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Baz Du Bois’ guide to easy home maintenance which will save your bank balance

May 18, 2015 Leave a Comment

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It’s funny, the average price for an average medium sized car in Australia is around $33,000 and over a five-year period we will spend about 30% of the purchase price on service and maintenance (remember this is just servicing, not rego, insurance etc, just upkeep). For all that money, your car depreciates at the rapid rate of about $50 dollars a week.

Baz Du Bois roof

Now let’s look at our homes. The average home in Australia is currently worth just under $600,000 and generally has positive capital growth. Let’s ask ourselves how much we spend on regular maintenance and servicing of our home or investment property? Most of us donโ€™t carry out regular maintenance at all and just wait until something breaks, when whatever it costs to fix seems too much.

There are some simple facts here that many people donโ€™t allow for or realise. Here are some average maintenance figures to consider:

  • A good guide for maintenance costs for the average owner occupied house is 8% of its value over 10 years.
  • For a tenanted house: 10% of value over 10 years
  • For an owner occupied unit: 4% of value over 10 years, not including building strata levies
  • For a tenanted or investment unit: 5% of value over 10 years, not including building strata levies.

Basically, if your home is worth $600,000, you will spend, one way or another, about $50,000 maintaining it over 10 years. Your home is a very important asset and if you donโ€™t look after it you could end up spending a lot more than the estimates above.

Here are my DIY maintenance tips:

INSIDE

Silicone is a great sealant and is used in the bathroom around the top of the bath and at the junctions of wall and floor tiles. The thing is, it only has 100% integrity for about five-to-seven years. Whilst it may look okay, if the seal is compromised and moisture is able to get below the surface, the damage that could be caused may run into the thousands. Water damage is something that may not be noticed until the real damage is done. Removing silicone and replacing it is a job that can be DIYed but even if you get in a pro, the average bathroom would only cost about $250. A re-grout and new silicone make for a nice bathroom facelift.

Another bathroom nightmare is clogged or leaking drainage and one of the biggest enemies of drainage is hair; mixed with other debris, body oils and soap, it will clog drains could even cause premature leakage. A hair strainer for the bathtub drain is a great idea but I recommend removing the grate of shower and main floor waste and using a large bottle brush, twisting and dragging out hair that will have accumulated. Skip products like Drano. Though the acids it contains can help unclog a drain, they can also cause significant damage to your plumbing, including leaking. This can lead to costly repairs later on.

The main cause of dripping taps is worn out washers. The washers inside the tap handles are rubber and tend to wear out quickly. Replace them by turning off the main water supply, unscrewing the leaky handle that controls the flow of water to the spout, removing the old washer, and dropping in the new one. Rather than turning the water off every time a tap leaks which means a waste of water, I turn off the water every two years and replace all the washers at once, regardless. The cost of the washers is insignificant but leaving pipes to rattle or over-tightening taps to stop the water will eventually cause major damage to plumbing.

OUTSIDE

While roof gutters may go practically unnoticed when you look at your house, they are the main line of defence between your foundation and siding and the elements. Gutters are designed to capture water and debris runoff from your roof and divert it away from the perimeter of your home to help prevent undermining your foundations and it basically get the area around well drained which will help prevent subfloor mould etc.

Clean your gutters at least once a year by physically removing debris from the channels and rinsing them thoroughly. I have made an extension for my leaf blower from PVC piping and two 90 degree bends which will blow out the larger debris, then a flush with the garden hose. If you have installed gutter guards, these help with the large debris but I recommend removing them every couple of years to flush out built up silt that will cause early corrosion.

There’s no one answer to the question “How often should I paint my house exterior?” The answer depends on several factors, some of which include:

  • The climate in your area.
  • The type of cladding on your house.
  • The quality of paint that was used previously.

Timber exposed to the weather will expand and contract, jeopardising the integrity of joints and junctions which could allow moisture penetration and eventually rotting. However, well sealed timber will last decades so the key is to create a good base with quality primer and sealer and two top coats, then about every five-to-seven years, give it a wash down, light sand and a single top coat to give your timber work its longest life.

Baz Du Bois headshot

Having a home maintenance plan can make a huge difference to your bank account. And, fortunately, performing proper home maintenance does not require a lot of specialised training, nor does it require a lot of time or money. Take on small jobs and build your confidence. After a while, it will start to come naturally.

Read all Baz’s articles, read more about Baz or ask him a question.

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I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new @madeinaustshow in Sydney this August.

๐Ÿฆ˜๐ŸจForget every tacky association you ever had about touristy Australian made and prepare to see a showcase of the best of home, lifestyle, fashion and beauty made right here. If the pandemic has made you appreciate buying local even more, this is for you.

It's the first business to business trade event connecting retailers with Australian made products to champion our local makers๐Ÿ™

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Do I recommend a timber vanity top? A big fat NOP Do I recommend a timber vanity top?

A big fat NOPE! ๐Ÿ’ง 

Which is why we have recently covered ours with a Caesarstone top (thanks to @justinplace_sydney for the advice and supply) and the sweet RELIEF of not having to worry about this high traffic area anymore, I'm telling you!๐Ÿค—

Doesn't matter what they tell you or how many times it's sealed, I'm not sure it's a great idea in a room which is so, well, wet!

I love having the warmth of timber in the bathroom and it's a beautiful piece, but timber on the top? Never again.

Ours probably lasted a year (if that) before it started to go downhill (and we want a good decade out of a bathroom, right?!). 2.5 years on, everything else in this bathroom looks virtually brand new and the water marked vanity top was really letting the side down and making me sad!

But I'm so pleased with this solution, I have to say! Took the plumber less than an hour to remove the sink, install the top and connect the sink back up. We didn't need to move the tap and it isn't too close to the basin.

The kids are allowed to brush their teeth and wash their hands (liquid soap ๐Ÿฅด) in here again and I can leave my hair straightener on there with gay abandon ๐Ÿ˜†

The reflective surface (which I can clean with whatever I like!๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป) brightens the room up too!

Next week I'll tell you what I really think of my brass tile trim too ๐Ÿ˜‰

#interiorsaddictbathroomreno2 #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #timbervanity
Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

โœ”๏ธ I'm English ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008๐Ÿ˜† 

โœ”๏ธ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. ๐Ÿ› 

โœ”๏ธ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) ๐Ÿ““ 

โœ”๏ธ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London ๐Ÿš” 

โœ”๏ธI had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK โค๏ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 

โœ”๏ธ At school, my favourite subject was French ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท and I was head girl ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿค“

โœ”๏ธ I'm addicted to โ˜•๏ธ , long hot baths and๐Ÿ’„ (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

โœ”๏ธ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My favourite cuisine is Japanese ๐Ÿฃ ๐Ÿœ and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

โœ”๏ธ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

โœ”๏ธ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or๐Ÿท 

โœ”๏ธ Cheesy as it sounds, ๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธbeing a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life ๐Ÿง’๐Ÿ‘ฆ

โœ”๏ธ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view ๐Ÿ“– 

โœ”๏ธ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

โœ”๏ธ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker ๐Ÿ˜ฏ ๐Ÿ…ฟ๏ธ

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better ๐Ÿ˜˜

๐Ÿ“ธ @vanlowvanlow
Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ @nood_co coloured con Blue, green or lilac? ๐ŸŽจ 

@nood_co coloured concrete basins is a great Aussie business success story. Although co founder Matt Di Costa first found fame as one half of Matt and Kim on The Block, he hasn't relied on this to build his brand.

โ€œWe are very honoured to have been a part ofย The Block, and all they have done for us. I am, however, a believer in letting the product take centre stage,โ€ he says.

Read our interview with Matt via link in bio now.

๐Ÿ™Share your favourite colour basin in the comments!

#colouredconcrete #noodco #colouredbasin #blockheads #the block #bathroomtrends2022

Pic 1 by @naibudesign_ and 2 by @twostyleinteriors
I'd love to see more colour in Aussie interiors! I'd love to see more colour in Aussie  interiors! ๐ŸŽจ 

At the end of the day though, it's a matter of personal taste. I love pops of colour but it's not for everyone. 

We couldn't resist featuring this Canadian house tour today. The amazing Kelly Green  hutch (swipe) was an upcycled $200 find ๐Ÿค—

Head over to the blog via link in bio to see the rest including one of the best playrooms we've seen in ages!

Project by @in.house.design
๐Ÿ“ธ @philcrozier
Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis o Create an unexpected city oasis with an emphasis on light and nature.

That was the brief for the conversion of a corner shop and a warehouse bakery into a luxury family home in Sydney's Newtown. And how about the library?!

Take the tour of this very special @annacarindesign project on the blog now, via link in bio.

Pic: @justinalexanderphoto
The things that excite me as a 40 year old ๐Ÿคญ N The things that excite me as a 40 year old ๐Ÿคญ

None of us enjoy laundry (OK, there are a few of you out there who do. Weird!) but we have to do it. And often. So if your laundry bin can be as good looking, functional and space saving as this, then why wouldn't you?!

I've lost track of how many baskets I've thrown out because they've gone soggy or mouldy. They look pretty, sure, but they're not fit for purpose and they're often messy and overflowing.

Here's what I love about his @brabantia_australia one:

โœ”๏ธ ventilation holes
โœ”๏ธ no need to remove the lid for small items plus it hides your dirty laundry from view
โœ”๏ธ easily removable and washable inner laundry bag that velcros back on 
โœ”๏ธ corrosion resistant so fine in bathroom or laundry 
โœ”๏ธ Brabantia make things as sustainably as possible
โœ”๏ธ compact, sleek, European design
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โœ”๏ธ tall and skinny so takes up less floor in my tiny laundry

The Rolls Royce of laundry bins? I think so ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป

TOLD you this was going to be exciting!

Now I need to know, do you have your laundry basket in the bathroom, the laundry, every bedroom? We used to have one in each bedroom but moved to the laundry-only situation which I much prefer (one for colours and one for whites). My boys know to put their used clothes in the bin in the laundry each night and they're 7 and 3!  #raisingfuturehusbands

#gifted
"Living rooms are important spaces where our publi "Living rooms are important spaces where our public and private lives intersect."

So says stylist @nataliewalton in her gorgeous new book Style, the Art of Creating a Beautiful Home.

"They are where we gather to welcome guests and entertain. But they are also where we decompress and relax at the end of the day. Increasingly, they are open-plan spaces and need to work within a greater scheme. Bringing all the elements together cohesively requires care and consideration. And, if you want a space that lives up to its true potential, make it personal and create with conviction."

Read an extract, the chapter on elevating your living room, on the blog today via link in bio.

Published by @thamesandhudsonau Pix by @chriswarnes 

#livingroomdesigns #nataliewalton #coffeetablebooks #designbooks #interiorsbooks #livingroominteriors #elevateyourspace
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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Comments

  1. AvatarLaney says

    May 19, 2015 at 9:49 am

    Hi Baz,
    Great article and advice.
    It’s really easy for homeowners to opt for “if it ain’t broke…” approach so its very interesting to read about the expectation of investing a certain amount in your home over time.

    Whereabouts do those rules of thumb for maintenance spend come from?

    Reply

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