In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Archives for November 2011

Are low energy bulb lifespans misleading?
I needed a 40w candle bulb for my cooker. Got a Philips EcoClassic 28w bulb (£1.49 from Morrisons) and it says 2 years (2000h) on the front of the package. But on the back there is an icon of an on/off switch with 800 below it. So that means it can be turned on and off 800 times. Well we turn our cooker light on and off…
gaps between wood floor boards...
I had an engineered wood floor laid recently. Some of the boards seem to have a TINY gap between them (ie they aren't completely shoved up into the next one) It is really small-you can just about get a bit of paper to go into one, but not a folded sheet. Do I need to worry? Is there anything I could put in there to help…
Laminate flooring
Im not sure if this is the right thread but hopefully someone will let me know if its not. There weeks ago I went to a well known DIY store and ordered laminate flooring, underlay and beading to be delivered. The flooring and underlay were delivered but not the beading as they were waiting for a delivery. Last Friday when…
Problem with bathroom installation
Hi, I'm sorry for a long post. Please direct me to the right place if I have posted on the wrong board. We recently bought a house and the bathroom needs replacing. After getting 3 different quotes, we choose the one who OH knows from work. He came to see the bathroom and we told him what we want. He quoted about £800…
No hot water, advice pls
Hi all, I am having a new bathroom fitted. Water has been off today, fitters gone home, went to fill the kitchen sink and there is no hot water. Its a combi boiler and the fitters have been turning the water on and off outside in the drain hole thing as there is a prob with my stop !!!!. I do remember him saying something…
Friends with benefits! (Plastering!!)
Evening all, Not sure how popular this post will be but since this is MSE, lets give it a go! I have my lounge ready for skimming, I've done nearly all the edging and stud work taped the joints etc and so the next bit to finish off is the SKIMMING! Is there such a forum or thread whereas you can trade jobs? I dont have a…
Is this damp or something else?
Hi, a couple of images of one of our bedroom ceilings (the wall is a 1st floor outside wall) Looking very messy - really worried as to what could be causing it - seems to have rapidly got worse I have had TERRIBLE recent experiences with builders/plumbers etc and simply cannot trust them to come into my house & tell me…
Is a bin shed/bike store an outbuilding? Planning permission needed?
I want to put a bin shed/bike store on my drive. My drive is wide enough for 3 cars. I've checked my local council planning permission website and it says no outbuilding forward of the principal elevation fronting a highway. I'm assuming they say no to any buildings at the front as it could block the view for drivers going…
Plumbing issue
Hi I drained all the water from my system as I needed to replace a bathroom radiator with a towel rail as well as removing shower for re-tiling and replacing suite. I only want to turn on the water for the taps but not the central heating as this probably needs amending in a couple of days so is not blanked off How do I…
Plastic in freezer cracked/worn
Is there anyway of fixing the following? It's making the drawer very difficult to push in and out.
Rib,Pot or Silverside Roast..?
Whats the differnce between Rib Roast, Pot Roast and Silverside Roast..? And now that i've bought a 0.750kg Silverside,how do I actually cook it...? LOL...thanks.
Plywood advice
I am re-doing a en-suite and am sorting out flooring at the moment. I currently have a T&G chipboard floor nailed on joists. Karndean recommend installing a Plywood to comply with warranty of product and I was going to do this anyway because of it being a wet area. I am therefore going to lay a WBP plywood floor on top of…
Wall lights blowing - any ideas?
I had three wall lights installed about a year ago and a one of them blew recently, tried changing the bulbs but it still didn't work so I took it back and got a replacement which worked. However, all three of them blew at once so I don't know whether it's the electrics, or the lights. Any ideas why this is happening?
Tiles bigger than 50 x 50 cm's
I really could do with some tiles which are bigger than 50 x 50cm's. anybody know anywhere? Thanks
Combi boiler - how can i increase the pressure in shower
Hi I'm new here so hoping someone can help, would really appreciate some advice! We've just had our old boiler system removed and had a combi boiler installed. We have 3 toilets, 2 showers, 14 radiators. Water pressure in all basin taps and bath taps is strong (cold and hot) - no problems there. The showers run on the…
Sliding Patio Doors - help!
My elederly Mum has just moved into a house with sliding UPVC patio doors. We notice that she has some difficulty in sliding the door open and shut. Is there anything that can be done to make them easier to open and close? I was thinking that there might be some electric gadgetry in the form of a motor that could possibly…
Gas and electrical certificates
Hi All, We had some work done recently and are awaiting our certificates, but our builder says we only need a small works cert for the electrical spur in the kitchen, and nothing for the hob as the work was done by someone in the Gas Safe scheme. Someone else has told me we need certs for all the separate bits - who is…
wanted burner cap for gas hob
hi,can someone help with with where to get a spare part for an aeg gas hob.its a burner cap i need,please,otherwise i'll have to get a new gas hob.i've tried ebay,googling and cannot come up with anything
Shower head woes
I bought this shower head off Groupon thinking it would save water and energy costs: http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/national-deal/kazakos-group/1535547 It's to fit on an electric shower. However when I put the shower head on, the water comes out of the shower head, but is also forced out of the connection where the hose…
Asem Rio Steam Shower Cabin - Help Please
We have had an Asem Rio steam shower cabin for some years and it has given sterling service - until now, when one of the solenoid valves packed in. I have trawled the net for spare parts, but Asem seems to have been wiped off the face of the earth and I cannot find any stockists nor indeed any mention of the manufacturer.…

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MSE News

Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds to close 177 branches in 2024/25 – here's the full list, plus alternatives
Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds, which are all part of the Lloyds Banking Group, will shut at least 177 of their bank branches in 2024 and 2025, the Group has confirmed.
Barclaycard's cutting minimum repayments – you could be in debt YEARS longer paying DOUBLE the interest
If you've got debt on a Barclaycard, it's likely the minimum you have to repay each month will be cut from July. If you're unaware, and don't act, you could stay in debt for many years longer and pay possibly £1,000s more in interest.
NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank to close at least 100 branches in 2024/25 – here's the full list, plus alternatives
NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Ulster Bank, which are all part of the NatWest Group, will shut at least 100 of their bank branches in 2024/25, after RBS announced a further 18 closures.
Co-op Bank customer? You could be moved to Coventry Building Society in future – here's what's happening
The building society has today agreed to a potential takeover of the high street bank – though it's still very early days and the deal needs regulatory approval.
Got a text, email or letter from the Met Police? Don't ignore it – you may need to act to protect yourself from scams
If you got a text message or email from the Metropolitan Police between 4pm and 6pm on Wednesday 17 April – or you get a letter in the next few days – don't ignore it.
Save up to £1 on your takeaway coffee – while saving the planet
Many of us regularly reach for a cup of coffee or tea to give us a caffeine boost, but if you’re out and about and can't bring a thermos from home, the cost of this can quickly mount up.
Chase customer? Check if you can get its boosted 5.1% easy-access saver
If you have a Chase current account, you may be able to get a table-topping 5.1% easy-access savings rate to go with it, as the bank has launched a new, temporary bonus offer for some existing customers.
New online state pension boosting tool promised to Martin Lewis hit by delays – here's what you need to know
The tool was first promised to MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis on ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live last summer and was expected to launch before the end of the 2023/24 financial year.
Spotify to hike prices by up to £24 a year – here's what's happening
If you've got a Spotify Individual, Duo or Family account you'll see prices rise by up to £2 a month (equivalent to £24 a year) in a month's time, the music streaming service has announced.

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