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Light renovation on early Victorian terrace.
Hi everyone! I am about to (hopefully) close a deal on an early Victorian terraced house in Bow, London. Contracts haven't been exchanged yet but I thought I would go ahead and get some advice on the work that has to be done on the house anyway. The walls are all lined and I'd like to get them skimmed for a smoother…
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Painting coving
Quick question...... Do you paint coving in matt paint (like the walls and ceiling) or in satin (like the skirting and doorframe)? P.S. I'm guessing matt but thought I'd check.
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Removing musty smell from bedding box
I bought a wooden bedding box off eBay with the intention of painting it and giving it a shabby chic makeover. However, the box has a horrible musty smell inside which is obviously no good when I want to store linens in it. I have tried sprinkling it with bicarb and also putting a dish of bread soaked in white vinegar in…
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what thickness solid wood worktop
I'm getting a beech solid wood worktop Is there any drawbacks to getting a 27mm rather than 40mm thickness? There is plenty of room above my oven for the hob even with the 27mm worktop. The worktops will be a 3m and a 4 meter straight run, with units and appliances sat under them, so I wouldn't imagine they would flex I…
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Where to get cheap mortice handle/knobs?
So, I bought the mortice locks off ebay for some internal door locks but the handles I currently have, the plate of them covers the key hole. I've been looking for some alternative handles/ door knobs online, B&Q anh John Lewis but they all seem rather expensive. Any tips as to where I can buy cheap ones? Thanks
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Installing outdoor electric point- help
Hi My daughter is building an aviary however it will need some kind of heating in winter. As i dont have an outdoor electric point i was wondering how much this would cost to get one fitted? Ideally i know the aviary should be heated with some kind of tublar heating and power cables buried deep beneath the ground but i was…
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Decorating artex wall - asbestos?
Hi all, I have recently moved into a house, and am about to paint over an artex wall. Is this safe to do so? As I was advised by my surveyor before moving in that the wall may contain asbestos. Please help me if you can, thanks :) x
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Best Underfloor Heating Type
Looking for advice to check the sytle of install I am planning to put into the downstairs (Retro-fit). I'd then have thermostatically controlled radiators upstairs. I have seen recommendations for ambient-elec.co.uk which I am happy to follow, I was previously considering theunderfloorheatingstore.com I have a 25m2…
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re-skimming a wall, any prep needed?
Hi I would like to reskim (or get in someone who will do it well ) our hall and stairway as the wall quality is very poor. It is currently covered in kitchen/bathroom style ultra tough paint (latex based from what I have read?). Does this have an effect on whether it can be skimmed... does it need clearing off first, or…
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Checkatrade dissapointment
I was looking for a kitchen fitter on checkatrade and found someone that I thought could do the job. Rang him, have a nice chat, he agreed to come to my house 4 days later for an estimate. He sent an email to confirm. He didn't turn up, didn't ring, didn't contact me at all. He doesn't pick up the phone when I ring, also…
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Custom computer/office desk
For years I've been using a very cheap Argos office desk and now it's time for an upgrade. There were very little quality tabels to choose from so I've decided to go down the route of making my own. Has anyone else done this? Or has anyone ordered from a company who will source, cut to size and deliver a solid oak board? I…
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trees outside boundary
basicially our fence is old and at some point we are going to replace it however directly behind the fence is a row of trees which are over hanging our fence and also pushing against the fence. the land behind the fence is council owned. so gf rang council to ask about the trees, we never heard anything so a month later…
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Wood Flooring
Hi I'm looking to put down a nice wooden floor in a house we've just bought. Any advice where I can get the best deal? I want real wood not laminate, and I need to cover around 37sqm. Thanks in advance F
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Help installing 2 outdoor lights
Hi all, I was wondering if someone could help with an issue I've got. We've recently bought a new build house and asked for 2 outdoor light points either side of the door to work off an indoor switch. We've bought 2 lights and now have come to fit them. On the left hand side of the door is the first light point. It has 2…
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Utility room building regs q
I had an extension with a utility room built 3 years ago. We never got a building control completion certificate because a few things were left outstanding as we ran out of money! We are now thinking of selling so need to get sorted. Can you tell me whether I need a fan in the utility room? It has an opening window. If so,…
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Clear or obscure double glazing window in landing
My friend is having double glazing and told me she wants clear glass on her landing. I found that very strange why would she want clear glass instead of obscure for some privacy. She said she will be using blinds. I would never dream of having clear glass on my landing, but I guess everybody's taste is different. Thanks
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How much room do I need for this fridge freezer
Hello, a carpenter is coming tomorrow to install a second hand kitchen that will be a fantastic improvement on what was falling to bits (old kitchen 28 year old). Anyway, I have dreams of buying a samsung fridge and would like to leave room for it The width seems to be 597mm but does that mean if I leave 60 cm it will fit?…
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Dishwasher leaving 'grit' all over the dishes...
I've a built-in Smeg dishwasher (DWI 45.1) that is driving me crazy. Almost always when I take out a load, I have up to 2/3 of the contents covered in a odd grit substance, particularly on the bowls/mugs/glasses on the top rack though less frequently and to a lesser extent on the bottom. I've cleaned out the filter and the…
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Limescale!
Hello all, Limescale keeps depositing itself in the kettle and the shower head. I'm having to get rid of it using "oust" from the supermarket once every 6 months on average. This got me thinking about the effect limsecale is having on the rest of my home. Is limescale a big enough issue on my pipes and appliances for me to…
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Painting gloss on top of matt
Small toilet room has had two coats of white matt paint, painted on top of previous dark plum gloss (previous gloss was apparently sanded down first). I think it is is matt, it is a white chalky/powdery feel to it, is that matt? It could even be a primer coat for all I know! Anyway we want to put a new gloss finish on.....…
