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Ikea Lack TV Bench - finding a new use?
This post is a result of reading http://www.ikeahackers.net !! We have an Ikea Lack TV bench in white (bleh) like this: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00105323/ We already have a TV unit which is lovely and also the white colour fits NONE of our furniture! It would be a waste to not use it somehow though and…
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Mira Shower - which one???
I'm thinking of buying a Mira electric shower but when I go on the Mira website there are more than 50 to choose from!!! I can narrow the choice down by selecting a 9.5kw one but even then there are almost 12 to choose from. Having read their associated advertisemnet details they all seem very similar. Has anyone any…
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Crack in exterior chimney wall
We're in the middle of renovating a house which is approx 200 years old and until recently had lain empty for 2 years. The exterior chimney wall is covered in harling (roughcast/stonechip) and was somewhat 'bossed' on purchase. Last week I removed the old fireplace surround and hearth and I noticed a crack in the concrete…
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House renovations and extension costs
Hi, I am meeting a builder and a plasterer this week, just wanted to see some advice first for a bit of piece of mind. We're extending our 3 bedroom house, and renovating the existing rooms as well. Here's my list: Husband to do: Remove wallpaper, coving, skirting, ceiling tiles, dado rails, sand down bannister, replace…
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Boiler has gone off - Pilot fires then goes off ??
Hello I am hoping someone can help me please as I cant get hold of my landlord !! My ravenheat boiler has decided to go off . When I switch it on with the water and heat buttons it sounds like it is firing then moments later I get a red light and it doesn't start up . I have looked online and cant even find which model it…
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council fees for planning and inspections
I have a fee sheet for my local council. Based on the estimated cost of the works it states: Plan Charge £113.17 Inspection Charge £339.53 Building Notice £452.70 We are hoping to apply for planning permission for a ground floor extension. Are all three fees payable or is there an overlap? One builder said that some…
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Bridge taps & hot / cold balance
Hi, Currently we have a kitchen sink with separate hot and cold taps. We would prefer one single mixer tap. The simplest solution seems to be a bridge mixer. The cold tap is mains fed while the hot is coming from the cylinder upstairs (header tank in loft) My question is, would there be anything we need to do w/ regard to…
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Replacement Double Glazing question
We have just signed up for replacement double glazing and I suddenly realised that we have polystyrene beads as cavity insulation.... Will, removing the old double glazing units - allow the beads to spill out or are they somehow sealed in ?
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Boiler refill too often
I had a Vaillant ecoTech boiler installed 9 months ago. I just realised that it seems I have to refill the system too frequently, to keep the water pressure above the minimum requirement. It is about every two months before I need to refill it again using the refill loop. Is it normal? I was expecting something like 6…
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contractor dug my drive up???
This morning a contractor knocked on my door and asked if they could dig a section of my drive up as he was fitting a new "smart metre" to the electricity supply of my next door neighbour. Due to the way the houses were built back in the 60's we shared a main cable which runs down my drive and into my house and then from…
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Shower head bracket
Shower head keeps 'keeling over', looks like bracket on 'pole' is not holding the shower head. Can I buy such a thing as just the bracket or do I have to buy a whole new pole with bracket, etc please. Anyone know............... IF I can get just the bracket that the shower head goes on, wheres the best place to buy one…
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Who pays for drainpipe over kitchen extension?
Hello, I hope this is the right place to ask this question. I own a downstairs flat that has a small flat roof kitchen extension. Recently the pipe that runs over this from the upstairs roof drainage has come off in the bad weather and I am unsure who pays for this. Normally I believe the upstairs flat sorts out pipes from…
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Help choosing a new boiler
We currently have a Halstead Best 30, its about 12 years old The fan is on its way out yet again, its had 3 fans and 3 circuit boards over the last few years so decided its time to change so its just costing me money every year as there is always something that's going wrong But i haven't got a clue what to change it to ,…
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stupid question but not sure of the right answer
can someone please tell me if 1 meter square is 3ft by 3ft :beer:
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Dividing 2 rooms - alternative options
2 up 2 down terrace. The front and back rooms downstairs have been opened up completely making one very large room (not via an archway). we've never liked the layout and the idea has always been to divide the rooms again back to how they were originally. I was going to do the work myself but due to my problems with my legs…
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gas fire problem
we had our gas fire serviced and a load of smoke came back in living room, guy who serviced just shut the gas pipe off, then he went. While in the loft he i noticed that the metal flue a lot of the bonding had come away and there was gaps, so im just presuming that this has fell down and caused a blockage also there was a…
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Radiator Valve packing
The rad valve is leaking at the spindle. The nut cannot be tightened further as it has reached the end of its thread. Whilst I can replace the valve, I would prefer to pack out the gland. Any suggestions as to the best material eg washer, steel,brass or fibre or some form of grease. Thanks Roger
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Boiler advice - mid position valve?
Hi there, Can anyone explain to me what a "mid position valve" does on a boiler? We recently moved in to a property with a fairly old boiler and it seems that we can only get Central Heating when the Hot Water is on? Is this right? I have noticed some paperwork from the previous owner that mentions "freeing up the mid…
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New Bathroom Suite
I have just been quoted a ridiculous price of approx. £6000 by Wickes to renovate my bathroom. So I think I will project manage it myself. After being taken for a ride by a trademan I found on Rated People I am very wary of all tradesman. I would to buy the suite myself and employ a Pumber, Tiler and electrican. Could…
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Overall cost of installing new garden fence panels
The garden fence panels in our garden are old and falling and I am trying to install a new set. Couple of questions that I hope someone can help us with a)Is this something that can be easily done as DIY or do I need to pay someone to do it? b) Also whats the best way to buy them ? Many thanks
