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Wanted: Howdens Hampton cornice/pelmet
Hi does anyone know where we can get hold of a length of Howdens Hampton (light walnut) cornice/pelmet? Kitchens Now let us down and I understand Howdens have now discontinued the range so don't have it in stock. Can anyone out there help us please? Thanks Jo
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Had work done on gas/elecs what certification can we expect from fitter?
Hello, We are homeowners, and have had some work done on our house. Can anyone please tell me what certification should be provided following the servicing and repair of a gas boiler, fitting of a new thermostat and renewal of electrics for an immersion heater, the installation of a new gas cooker and diagnosis/fixing of…
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Confused about loft conversion rules
If I had a house with no room for a permanent staircase up to the loft, does this mean it's actually illegal to spend time up there? What I would actually like is a strengthened floor with laminate over it, maybe a window or two for light, and then walls which are painted so that it's all nice and clean and not dirty and…
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planning portal site location costs
does anyone know where to get a location plan & a site plan cheaper or for free. planning portal & my local planning office, want to charge me £19.50 each. Apparently you cannot use Google earth as its got to be a certain scale. Help
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Painting old pine wall panelling?
I have acquired a 1950 house with panelling in a utility/hall area.The panelling is probably about 30 years old or more and is making the room very dark.If i painted it,would i need to seal the wood knotts? I am planning to use light coloured farrow and ball paint. Any advice on preparation please.
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Balancing radiators
I have a new A+ gas boiler in my house, serving 12 radiators. The house is well insulated and I want to make sure I use the energy as economically as possible. What's this about "balancing" radiators? It's something to do with the valves at the other end from the thermostatic valves I have on the rads....? Is this…
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Old bad walls
Please can someone tell me what to use on bad plaster thats bumpy, is it better to use lining paper, which I really dont want to as I think that you can always see the lines. Any suggestions would be great thanks.
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House wide sound system?
It's a small bungalow and we have a basic refurb underway - just about to start decorating Before we do, should we consider some kind of sound system through the house? I'm not at all techie - but I know there are wireless systems now.............where should I look? Has anyone installed them?
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Burglar alarm Optima XM
I have not touched this since we moved in. It has sensors in several rooms (some of which we have disconnected while replacing doors etc) Is it worth bothering with? What would it cost to get new sensors set up? Or would it be better to fit a new system? Will this one qualify me for an insurance discount when I renew? Do…
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Painting concrete steps
Our house has 2 concrete steps at the back door which a previous owned had painted a tasteful shade of red! A couple of years ago, I sprayed them with a stone effect grey paint. Unfortunately this has now peeled off, along with the top layer of red paint. Beneath that appears to be burgundy and white I have tried to remove…
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Any recommendations / good deals on washing machines?
I'm moving house in the next couple of weeks and am shopping around for appliances. Fridge choice was whittled down due to colour but I have no idea where to start with washing machines (first time I've had to buy my own): It'll be in a utility room so looks are unimportant 2 people, won't get especially heavy use Ideally…
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Flat pack buildings
Does anyone have any experience of the new flat pack houses / buildings. Would it be feasible to use a flat pack style product for an extension to an existing brick property? Can anyone suggest any links to companies that specialise in flat pack buildings?
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Cleaning a huge extra thick white wool rug.
My rug (desperatly) needs cleaning. Its not just a regular rug though. Its a huge (8 foot x 5 foot) thick (about 3 inches) shaggy hairy pure new wool white (:eek:) rug. I'm guessing its a specialist clean? Is there any specialist rug cleaners (Surrey)? Any ideas? Its so thick that you couldn't do it with a hire machine. I…
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free decking, will it work
Advice needed, we have just put a shed up in our back garden and there is an area to the front and back that would look good with decking. We have enough wood for the joists for the decking to sit on, we also can get lots of pallets for free and my husband plans to make the slats to walk on from the pallets, will this…
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DeWalt tools are they made by B&D?
I am after some power tools for our refit and was told by our neighbour (he is a builder) to try and buy DeWalt tools as they are some of the best you can buy but not too dear. However after looking at them in the shops they look mighty similar to Black & Decker just slightly different plastics and mmm.. yellow. Problem is…
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How does damp travel?
When we moved in to the new house we decided to rip out a built in wardrobe in our bedroom (it smelt very foisty and I refused to hang my clothes in it). Behind the wardrobe was an old lime plastered wall covered in fungus threads but no big growths. The damp spread round to next external wall and when we peeled off the…
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Tv bracket help..
Ok for months we have ummed and ahhed over which tv to buy, finally today i joke to dh that i am going to go into out local Panasonic shop (as a friend of ours owns it) and say to him if he will take £500 cash i will buy i there and then. It was origionally £600 then £550. We go in..we get him down to £480 and i'm chuffed…
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Changing from door handle to door knobs
Hi Folks, All the doors in our house have door handles similar to this one from B&Q: http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9371179&fh_view_size=10&fh_location=%2f%2fcatal!!!1%2fen_GB&fh_search=door+handle&fh_eds=%C3%9F&fh_refview=search&ts=1279919278964&isSearch=true I hate them and my husband…
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JML screw extractor
I am trying to change my letterbox and one of the screws is stuck and a bit broken so I bought a JML screw extractor but can't get it to work properly - clearly its the tool rather than the operator ;) The box says to do it slowly with minimal pressure but it is just wreaking the screw more. I have tried slowly with lots…
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Hotpoint Aquarius condenser tumble drier
This is kind of an electrical appliance question, but I need to know whether it’s worth calling out a repairman or getting rid of my tumble drier: I have a Hotpoint Aquarius (TDC32) condenser tumble drier that has recently stopped collecting water in the water container (but it still dries clothes). I’ve tried cleaning all…
