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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Archives for February 2009

What’s your DIY Wow Factor?
Folks, I am currently decorating my house from top to bottom. New floors, new paint on the walls, some new furniture, new bathroom …you get the picture. The thing I’m really dreading is the completion of the whole project in the next few weeks, without that ‘something special’. I’ve had friends who have completed similar…
claned my carpets yesterday, still not dry???
i hired one of those carpet cleaners from bnq yesterday and they are still not dry, how long will they roughly take to dry? is there anything to speed up the drying process? also i noticed that they looked pretty clean a few hrs after but now they seem to have got worse?!?
New Kitchen units- advice please
Hi all, We are getting our kitchen done. Looking for white units, medium price range. Any advice on who to buy from? thanks in advance. babymum
Double glazing: is it worth going for A/B rated windows?
The in-thing seems to be to offer A or B rated windows. Is it worth it? I've been quoted a standard window that has FENSA and building regulation certificate. To upgrade to A-rated is 10% more.
Energy Saving Spotlight bulbs (60W)
Hi all, I've replaced nearly every bulb in my house with energy saving ones, one exception being in the kitchen. There are three spotlights, large ES type, all 60W. I'm very strict on the lights being switched off in the kitchen when no-one's in there, thinking about that 180W total usage... I have been looking at the…
Carpet for rental property
Anyone got any reccommendations for a reasonably cheap carpet supplier? I won't necessarily need someone to fit it but free fitting would be even better! Anyone know of any good sales at the mo? Was thinking alied carpet / carpet right etc? Good or bad reviews? Thanks in advance
Stuctural problem
Hi folks, hope you guys can give me a fresh pair of eyes and view on whether the following problem is the freeholders responsibility or ours as leaseholders. Its hard to make it brief so bare with me the saga.... I own a ground floor maisonette (leasehold) had it 5 years. Since June 2008 I have experienced some minor but…
Central heating question
We want to replace our central heating system (solid fuel, convection pumped, very old) with a ground source system. However we don't know how big a pump we need. We have a three bed house, aprrox 120sqm, solid walls and a poorly insulated loft, which we can't insulate any better. How big a pump will we need? Thanks in…
Something on the wall???
We're getting something covering the wall in DS's bedroom. He has 2 outside walls in his room and it's on both, especially around the corner where they meet. It's like a light coloured covering on top of the paint. At first we thought it was dust but now know it isn't. We painted his room 2 weeks ago and it's already back…
Slilent traps
Hi I have MacAlpine Silent Traps fitted on my bathroom sinks - and they don't work! The water in the basin takes a long time to clear and gurgles when it eventualy does. I can release the water when i open the trap but then water obviously drips everywhere Any body got any ideas?? Ta
How much discount to expect when buying new carpet for a whole house?
Hello, We need to buy carpet for our new house. We need to carpet (and underlay)3 bedrooms, stairs/landing and living room/dining room. We also need wooden floor/laminate for hall way. The carpet we like is in Storeys. They have 'mega days' etc but obviously they just bump up the 'origional' price then discount it to give…
Cheapest way to stop condensation?
Hi all Just wondering if anyone knows any cheap ways of getting rid of condensation? I have tried opening windows, having heating on and wiping it off the walls but nothing seems to work. My mum suggested bathroom paint but would this make any difference? I'm reluctant to spend money on redecoration if it won't change…
Wireless burglar alarm - any good?
Hi All, Have zero experience with alarms, but we're renovating our new house, so need a new alarm as the old one must have been fitted when the dinosaurs were around :) I have heard about wireless alarms. Anyone got any experience of these compared to wired ones? cost differences? Pros/Cons etc. Mess isn't really a factor…
Plumbing Help!!!
I am trying to find some taps for a bath. For some reason they have seen fit to put them on a corner but there is no shower divider:confused: They are not a standard size either :rolleyes: They need to be 150mm to the centre of the taps. I would love to have a shower one day *sigh* BTW - the slot on shower mixer thingies…
Kitchen Lighting. Advice please!
:hello: I have to decide on new kitchen lighting within the next two days and just can't decide what is suitable. I have a north facing kitchen/dining room with a supporting beam between the two rooms. The kitchen area is 3390 wide (length of the beam) by 2824mm length . There are three under cupboard fluorescent lights ,…
Fridge freezer spare part??
Hi those nice:rotfl: people at comet have writen off my NEW Prestige F/F because they cant get a termostat control for it. Does anyone know where i can get the part? Or just get a new F/F. The one i got was of comet auction site so i would have to put some money to a new one, i have been looking at Hotpoint F/F. thanks…
I need Help doing my own paintings!!!!!
We have been looking for some pictures for our spare reception room used mainly as the TV room and in fact most of the time as our lounge. In a mad moment this week we bought three 20" x 16" blank canvasses and thought we would paint them ourselves. However panic is starting to set in as even modern abstracts look hard to…
Does anyone know anything about stencil tech?
We are in the process of getting quotes for our driveway and someone mentioned stencil tech. Has anyone got this, or do any of you know anything about it?
Do you think this will help with drying washing?
I have been thinking about how to dry my washing was so pleased to come home from work 2day and no rain so washing lovely and dry from the washing line!:) Well i've been thinking about building a car port type cover for part of my patio to put my washing line under. Maybe this would be easier?…
Homebase kitchen quote - how to get a discount?
We have a quote from homebase for purchasing the kitchen and for installation but need to cut the costs down before we can buy it. We don't really have time to try and find a local fitter to install the kitchen even though we know it would be cheaper so were hoping to get homebase to do the job. We have tried to get the…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

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