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Monthly costs
First apologies if this is not the correct place, I was not quite sure. I am about to buy a 1 bed flat, having been living at home recently. Single, no kids. As part of doing the figures, I want to work out my monthly outgoings in order to figure out how much mortgage I can afford to pay out. But as I have not been paying…
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Firewood for open fireplace in SE London?
Hi, I'm looking at the likely cost of using an open fireplace in a flat in SE London. I've had a look at previous threads on MSE and they're all quite old (2007), so the costs will be out of date. I know a fireplace is supposed to be cheaper than gas or electric heating, but is that still the case if you have to buy in…
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aerial plug socket to tv ?
hi all, i have just moved into my new plaace to find that i have an aerial plug socket in the wall where as before my aerial came straight from outside and through a hole we drilled in the wall. i brought an aerial extension cable thinking i connect from the swocket to my tv but it was too loose for the socket and when i…
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White Goods
Where do I begin? I need to replace my fridge which is an under the counter integrated fridge - unfortunately they all seem to have a lift top for the salad area, ideally I'd like the drawers to pull out but I think the fact that it is under the counter means the plinth area prevents this from being a feasible design. I…
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Anyone got a Slimline Hoover HEDS968 Dishwasher?
Hi folks, I'm looking at this Hoover dishwasher and wondered if anyone has it and can tell me what its like? http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4715195/Trail/searchtext%3ESLIMLINE+DISHWASHER.htm They also sell on Debenhams and various other places... I can only find two user reviews - one said it doesn't fit…
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Chimney just lined with brick
Hi, I want to reinstate an original fireplace in our home. The problem is that the chimney has no lining so it is just bare brick. What are my options in this situation, bearing in mind I want to keep price down but have a long lasting fire/chimney with no smoke leakages. I know a little about this in that I will have to…
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Home Insurance
Hello I am trying to place my home insurance and need to answer "Is there any tree within 5 metres of the home" I have a large tree trunk 6 metres from my conservatory and 9 metres from the house BUT branches almost extend over the conservatory (not the house). How do I answer the question?? Is the tree within 5 metres???
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Problems with bathroom fitting - what to do?
We are having our bathroom refitted at the moment and it's taking much longer than originally estimated. More fool us, we accepted an estimate rather than a quote, as "Bob" said he only provides estimates in case there are issues that come up. That was fine, we didn't mind if it took a day or two longer, these things…
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Upvc back door - locking problem
My back door has developed a locking problem. I usually have to struggle and struggle these days to get the key to turn properly in the lock to lock it. Unlocking is no problem - still as usual. A friend of mine said that when he started experiencing similar problems it turned out to be because the door hadnt been made…
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Astroturf
I have a 2sqmx3sqm roof terrace which was recently refinished in asphalt. I need to cover it to protect it from the sun Iit's very exposed) and was thinking about astroturf instead of decking. Does anyone have any advice about astroturf? The roof has a slight incline to allow rainwater to drain off but I'm wondering if…
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Gas oven turning itself off
My belling gas oven has an odd problem. It has two sections - a big one and a small one. When i turn and press down the dial to release the gas, then hit the ignition button to light the flame - it does that with no problem. However, when i release the gas dial, the flame goes out (and no more gas comes out). I do not have…
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Central Heating - which is more cost effective
Probably the wrong time of year to be asking this, but... Is it more cost efficient to have your boiler/thermostat turned low and all your radiators turned up to their highest setting OR to have the boiler/thermostat turned up really high, and the radiator valves on their lowest setting? Something I've always wondered...
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Boarding the Loft, do we need to strengthen
Hi everybody My husband wants to board out loft out, to use to put a weightbench up there and some other gym stuff, he says its okay to board straight on to the joists there because 2 other people have done it who live in the same type of houses, but I thought we would have to strenghten the joists as these are ceiling…
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thermostat or Boiler
My boiler isnt firing up on the heating at the moment, the hot water is ok though so I was wondering if it is my timer/thermostat? I have got a wireless timer/thermostat and also a timer on the boiler which is switched to on permanently, can I test if it is the thermostat not working by simply connecting the two wires that…
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Replacing and potentially moving place of boiler
Hi the wall mounted combi-boiler I have is sunk completely into a fake wall with minimal clearance on each side of it and a wall mounted cupboard in front of it. As well as this the pipes run down behind the fake wall and infront of the fake wall below the wall mounted units is a work top with cupboards. (See existing…
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Glass splashback query..
We ordered a made to measure black glass splashback. When it arrived there was a scratch on the back of it, and a piece of the black paint had chipped off in the middle of the glass (you could see right through this area) I pointed this out and they siad they would 'send it back and get it resprayed at the back'. A day…
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97 year old Hemlock 4 panel doors
I've dipped & stripped all the internal doors (removed rimlocks first ;) ), however not sure what the best product is to use to finish them off with? Varnish - if so, clear or coloured? Wax - If so, clear or coloured? Their currently quite pale, panel parts are darker for some reason? I look at other peoples old doors…
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New Kitchen Concrete Floor
I dont want to tile the floor for about 6 months (due to money saving), however will need to seal/paint it somehow?? to stop the concrete dust going everywhere. Can someone advise please what is suitable and inexpensive for this job? I intend to lay ceramic tiles in about 6 months, so just need something as I say to stop…
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Double Glazing Problem - Please Help!
Hello, I'm new here so hope I have posted in the correct place. What a great site by the way. I'm hoping to get advice on behalf of my Mother, who is having problems with the company that fitted some double glazing with a 10 year guarantee approx 6 years ago. Her front door went wrong recently & wouldn't unlock, the key…
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Overhead phone line
Need advice please... The new build house next door are getting a BT phone line. Openreach have been out today and erected a tall telephone pole between our properties at the gable end. It is about 2m from their wall, 5m from mine, but the overhead cables will run through my garden - possibly through 45ft trees that we're…
