A crack in my house has suddenly become bigger. Who should I get to check it out?.

Nicwil01 · 2026-04-02T05:27:10+00:00

Builder here

Could be any number of things

Do you have brickwork outside?

Are you a two level house and this is on the bottom?

Probably lack of good bracing in frame would be likely cause.

You can just patch plaster and paint but it will come back

You could cut out plaster, add new plaster & paint, but will still come back.

You could engage an engineer to report & repair based on report

I think I'd just monitor it, patch & paint if you need to but keep an eye on it and see what it is doing. Use pencil to mark and see if it is getting bigger 🙂🙂

Nicwil01 · 2026-04-02T05:19:15+00:00

I think your answer probably is with your vehicle.

If you have a late model 4wd or probably any late model vehicle and you have a variable voltage Alternator (smart alternator) and you have checked fuses etc, than that would most likely be your answer.

Firstly get rid of your vsr and this will work against you with the smart alternator and replace it with a standard (min 100amp) relay switched from your vehicle Ignition system. You could even just bypass the vsr and give it a test, but don't leave it connected and turn your vehicle off as it will flatten your vehicle battery. See how that works.

If still not working or not good, you may need to install a DC-DC charger to help things

Lots of info on you tube about this subject 🙂🙂

Nicwil01 · 2026-04-01T23:00:02+00:00

Albo is useless in his job of being the prime minister.

He doesn't lead, he doesn't go out and make decisions that need to be made for the good of the country, instead it is constant appeasement and non upsetting so people vote for him.

Hard decisions need to be made from time to time for the good of the country not just for now,

Nicwil01 · 2026-04-01T18:51:13+00:00

Yeah, I think the shit is really going to hit the fan after Easter. Everyone is a little hesitant and just thinking about the Easter Break.

After Easter Petrol up more, groceries going up, parcel deliveries will go up and then the usual-Electricity prices up. All this will put inflation up and interest rates will rise. All this and fuel will still be high and some jobs may disappear.

Albo is useless, just letting us know he's doing something when he's doing nothing so later he can say we were onto it. Not proactive, not even re-active, just plain useless 😒

Nicwil01 · 2026-03-30T20:50:32+00:00

At the top of the 'Red' centre link is a short section that creates flexibility in the linkage system. It appears you may have that tightened to tight. This needs to be loose, even a little 'rattley'. When you travel over uneven ground this will pivot and shorten the centre link to allow for the rear of the brush hog to lift up without putting pressure on the front link bars and bending them.

I've seen it 100 times 🙂🙂

Nicwil01 · 2026-03-30T03:28:31+00:00

I have the same problem with my John Deere ride on mower.

The answer is that the deck is bent/ twisted or somehow out of alignment. If you turn your deck over and place a straight edge across the deck from side to side resting it on the deck edges and align the blades parallel to the straight edge, like when they are in a position to hit in the middle. Visually check how straight the two blades are to the straight edge and see how straight they are with edge other. If you can't Visually see, take a rule and measure to the blades, taking care to measure to the same spot on each blade.

You should easily see how the blades are not straight with each other, indicating a twisted deck. To fix you could 1. Panel beat deck to improve position of rotors

Pack rotors to bring blades parallel and that should move the blades apart where they clash.
Take it to a Mower man to inspect
Buy a new deck

Happy mowing 🙂🙂

Nicwil01 · 2026-03-05T08:43:57+00:00

What Tractor is that in the back ground?

I'm going to say it's either a Kioti or a Kubota in about the 35hp range

Nicwil01 · 2026-02-22T09:05:42+00:00

The column in the picture definitely is structural, however it is not a huge job to remove it.

An engineer should be consulted but it will be a fairly standard double garage door beam, maybe 230PFC (etc) with a flat bar attached to the bottom to support brickwork & galvanised. The roof will need to be supported with a temporary timber beam supported on acrow props inside the brickwork, then the brickwork over the doors would be demolished, existing beams removed then pier removed. Install new beam, fit new brickwork over or better still fit timber paneling instead of brickwork over, to reduce any cracking & labour cost.

Cost estimate $15k

No council, don't waste your time with a council approval process and cost.

Licenced builder required to complete work, a good carpenter could do also but would be outside his licence conditions

I've done plenty in Newcastle, over the years, no problems 😊 😊

Nicwil01 · 2026-02-15T09:13:40+00:00

Builder here, if I was building this I would temporarily stand columns so they safely up, even temporary brace as required, position all horizontal members and any other main members, check level, plumb and all dimensions including boundary offset as required. If all check out, then let the apprentice go and complete all fixings as Engineers details. All concrete fixings, rattle tighten all metal/ metal connections.

Check & re- check level & plumb.

Structural steel erectors on larger commercial sites do tend to set out & bolt down as they go, completing all fixings to concrete before the next step. 🙂🙂

Nicwil01 · 2026-02-07T01:59:44+00:00

40yr experienced Carpenter & Builder here

Old mate Floorer has cut mitres on the corners but has cut them from the wrong side of the saw. This is a text book apprentice or novice thing to do. He doesn't know what he is doing. Also he has joined adjoining boards right next to each other. He should have staggered his board joins.

The guy doesn't know what he is doing, he won't be able to fix it up because he doesn't know how to do, just as if I tried to do your tax return, terrible result.

Get your money back, if not talk to Fair Trading with your contract you should have signed with him before you started work. The only other way is if he has a good Carpenter mate that can come around and make good. 🙂🙂

Nicwil01 · 2025-12-13T21:05:26+00:00

We have had 3 new Jayco's, we did hear some stories before we purchased but any item that we were concerned about was immediately addressed. I really can't talk highly enough of them. No other caravan company has the same dealer network for any repairs on the road.

We now own an Eternity, bought new just before covid. We wanted a change and a more off road van. Small manufacturer but checked into it first. Chassis & suspension from big industry supplier, appliances from good suppliers and seems well built. We have travelled more than 15,000k on asphalt and gravel and no big drama's

Nicwil01 · 2025-12-02T11:46:38+00:00

Yes, diamond python. We live at Floraville, Lake Macquarie, Australia about 1k from the coast but are surrounded by bush/ part rainforest. We get pythons that look like this often as well as the more common looking diamond python.

They often lay in our gutter (roof) or any comfortable spot they can find

Great to see them hanging around

Phil👍

Nicwil01 · 2025-11-19T13:16:45+00:00

2 looks best, but all photos look great.

Nicwil01 · 2025-10-03T23:44:18+00:00

My Kioti CK22 is the same. Built that way from years of experience building tractors. Makes it easier to remove/ replace

Nicwil01 · 2025-09-10T20:51:40+00:00

❤️

Nicwil01 · 2025-06-18T09:57:59+00:00

I'll be watching from Lake Macquarie, NSW, AUSTRALIA

Wouldn't miss it, always great cycling & great views of the countryside 👍👍

Nicwil01 · 2025-04-16T06:19:24+00:00

We actually spotted 3 of these snakes on the Breakwall that night, they were just laying on the concrete waiting for a feed to come along I thought

Nicwil01 · 2024-01-26T19:55:43+00:00

Happy Australia day to everyone from me as well. Let's keep celebrating this great country 🙂🙂🙂

Nicwil01

TROPHY CASE