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Alternative to stain block paint?
We had our dining room skimmed recently and we are ready to paint. Around the chimney alcove and french doors they had to put some metal beads and it was skimmed over. I understand that with regular metal beads you need to apply stain block before the mist coat and emulsion is applied. As this is a very small amount of…
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Underfloor heating
Good Morning.... Does anyone out there have any recent experience of having a wet underfloor heating system installed on a suspended timber floor? Our architect (nice chap, friend of the family - but not necessarily the most innovative) said this would be too difficult as they can only be installed into solid concrete -…
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bay window badly fitted - gap to outside
Hi i'm decorating my living room (hence other post today!) and when I was about to caulk down the side of the window, I found a largish gap between the side of my bay window frame and the wall - you can see outside light through it :( Looking from the outside, it looks like the putty stuff they have used to fit it has not…
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Loft Conversion - Architect or builder
I'm planning to have the loft converted this year but what are the advantages in getting an architect to draw up the plans rather than just getting a building firm to do it all? I've done the RIBA site and seen why they think I should go with that route but, in the spirit of this site, is there an actual advantage?
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switches & sockets - which make would you recommend?
Hi In our constant home improvement we need to replace some light switches and plug sockets . I dont want to buy rubbish ones and have seen several makes in the screwfix catalogue including MK, Crabtree, Varilight and Volex. Does anyone have any info on which make is best, or is it all about looks :) I'm off to buy them…
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Plumbing Advice
Hi We have just bought a new house and we have just had a new boiler Worcester Greenstar 30 CDI system boiler along with a new tank in the loft which replaced two galvanised steel tanks in the loft. The previous boiler was a floorstanding stalrad boiler which was on its last legs. Originally we were going to go for…
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cheapest place for zinsser perma white paint
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How much for fascias, roof trims, guttering and soffits
Hi there Has anyone had recent quotes for replacement with UPVC for fascias, roof trims, guttering and soffits? We're in a 3 bed semi so there is one side and front and back that needs doing. Anglian have been around but my husband got called away suddenly with work and they refused to quote me (I imagine because you need…
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Electric shower help
I currently have a cold water ONLY supply shower and as the pressure is lousy, I want to replace it with one that has more oomph. Can anyone recommend a pumped shower that will operate via cold water supply or is the best solution to have hot and cold feed? Thanks.
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Electricians report pre-exchange of contracts. Wiring pretty bad?
Hi there About ready to exchange contracts on a 1960s semi, its all nicely done and modern inside but the surveyor (strongly) recommended an electricians report. The electrician just called me and theres a lot of stuff, a lot went over my head but the main things were: Fuse box. This is one of those old type wire ones. He…
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New Central Heating System - which boiler?
Having read through various posts, it seems tha Valiant or Worcester are most popular?? I have to have complete system installed - rads & all the works (currently on electric storage heating). Solid wall semi 3 beds, 2 receptions & big kitchen. Want to ensure if possible that I'm not overworking boiler. I think the water…
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Panel replacing tiles
I've got an old mixer shower which I'm replacing with the new bar type shower. I will need to take off a few tiles - is there any decent looking panel that I can place instead of the tiles - I cannot find the matching tiles. Thanks
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Fensa regs or planning regs?
Hi, I recently moved in to a new house that has an upstairs extension. When the planning application was approved for this in 1982 they stipulated that side elevation windows had to be a height of 1600mm and above. This makes the current windows 350mm in height. We are looking at replacing the windows throughout the house…
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outside pipes - which tradesman?
Can anyone advise what tradesman I would call to fix an outside pipe? It's the one that takes the waste water from the upstairs sink/bath and it has a leak. It's an old cast iron one and it's been repaired temporarily but really needs to be replaced. Would it be a plumber?
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Vacuum cleaner advice
Hi again, I have a Panasonic vacuum cleaner with the bags. I only bought it last year as prior to this I had a Henry which had a great hose on it but the machine was awful to pull around. However, I am now finding the hose on the Panasonic too short and I can’t clean my lino floors with the actual cleaner and have to bend…
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Cleaning roman blinds
Hi, I have roman blinds and quite heavy curtains. This is the first time I will be cleaning them. My sister in law advised me that you can just leave them up and dust them down as they seem fiddly to take down but I would feel better giving them a proper clean. Any ideas on how to clean roman blinds in particular.
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New engineered wood floor questions
We are going to lay the new flooring (engineered wood) in the dining room, living room and a spare room downstairs (well, one room at a time). We had it in previous house and we love it. These are lacquered 3-strip planks, 'click' laying method. We are replacing the skirting boards as well. We got the underlay with…
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Leaking hot water cylinder
Hi Yesterday my mum's hot water cylinder started to leak, the water was dripping through the ceiling in the downstairs living room and running down the wall. She called a plumber yesterday who was reccomended by a friend who's recently used him. I was expecting the cylinder to need replacing as its 20+ years old, and was…
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Water marks, damaged shower door
Hi, can anyone help. I have really really bad water marks on shower door which I cannot shift. Have tried all makes of cleaner but nothing will touch it. Also tried bicarb of soda ect, does anyone have any brilliant ideas? thanks:)
