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back baxi boiler being removed- new fire?
I am wondering if anyone has any advice or in the know. I live in a council flat and they have come today to do a survey to replace an old baxi back boiler with a new (condensation?) combi boiler, they will also be removing the fire (like an old bar plate gas fire). But they have said they will just board up the fire hole…
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Knowing which drill bit, wall plug and screw to use
Hi there, I'm embarrassed to say that I'm a bloke who is clueless about DIY. Never really done it and, for the most basic things, I wouldn't know where to start! I've decided to change all this and start doing some projects, starting with something really basic - putting up a large canvas picture. It came supplied with a…
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Can you have too many fans in a damp house?
We've just moved into a 1930's 3 bed Semi detached house that has a fair bit of condensation. The bathroom had no extraction fan and at the recommendation of several damp surveys and the original surveyor we've had a Vent Axia Centrif Duo unit put into the bathroom (installed yesterday). Prior to this going in, if the two…
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I think I have been ripped off/scammed (Electrician)
I needed 9 downlights installed in a new ceiling we've installed. So I got a proper electrician to quote me and they said £220. So I posted an ad on gumtree and got a local guy. He seemed a bit strange at first (smelled of alcohol at 12ish pm), dressed in a tracksuit etc. But I ignored this because he seemed he knew what…
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Northface outlet stores
Hello, I wanted to buy a new Northface jacket to go walking in the winter and was wondering if anyone had used one of the outlet stores online? I wasn't sure if some of these websites sell fake clothing because some of the prices seem too cheap! e.g. £45 for coat + fleece. Thanks Matt
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Ready Made Curtain Sizes
Hi folks, I wonder can anyone tell me, when ready made curtains have the size on them i.e 228mm width x 228mm drop, is the width measurement: a) the size of window they fit b) the width of the pair of curtains or c) the width of each curtain If b or c is it the width ungathered or gathered. Trying to work out whether I…
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Combi Boiler "playing up"
Hello All, Recently my (7 year old) combi boiler has been playing up. When I switch it on it can go off after a few minutes, and I have to continually re-set. The same happens with turning on the hot water - sometimes it comes on hot, other times it doesn't. Also when the timer is set, sometimes it works and other times it…
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Fridge freezer with fridge on top
Hiya all. My 1995 Hotpoint fridge freezer is just about to give up the ghost, fridge can't regulate temperature so is turning into a second freezer! I've been having a quick look on line but all the new f/fs seem to have freezer on top, fridge at bottom. I'd like to maintain my current arrangement as I have back problems…
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Plasterer advice please
Hi, We are starting to renovate our 1960's bungalow. Three rooms (two bedrooms and the lounge) have anaglypta wallpaper on them and as we are removing it the walls aren't looking too good. We are looking to get a plasterer to skim the walls and remove the artex ceilings. My OH seems to think that if a plasterer came in and…
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Will new radiators help warm our living room?
Hi We have a good size living room which even when the heating is on still feels cold. The current radiator is an older design but does have double fin. Would installing a new larger convector style radiator make a difference and how much would changing a radiator likely to cost? Or would we be better installing another…
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£750 Composite Doors
Hi I have just been to a local double glazing firm in Cardiff today for a new front door, and they have a composite door on special offer for £750 fully fitted, fensa certs, yale locks etc http://www.mpnwindows.com/offers.php Has anyone had a composite door installed and what are your thoughts of them compared to PVC? Are…
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Dehumidifier help needed before morning
Evening all I hope there are still a few of you around to help me with this one. I'm currently living in a rented farmhouse, with no central heating, single-glazed metal windows and no loft insulation and already it's bloomin cold and damp. I have a Supawarm dehumidifier which is efficient but blows out cold air due to…
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faulty bed
the mattress of our bed (which we paid nearly 900.00for 2 years ago)has collapsed and the company (Bensons) has admitted the fault but have said without the receipt they are unable to do anything and I cant find the invoice(they have sid they would replace it if I could provide invoice number) . They did tel lme that they…
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Replacement central heating boiler
Hi., I would really appreciate some advice on selecting the best, i.e. most appropriate, replacement boiler. Currently I have a combi boiler which must be around 20 years old. It has been on a service contract for years and is, I suspect, coming to the end of its useful life. I'm trying to work out which type of boiler,…
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Kitchen - breakfast bar?
We are doing the kitchen in our house. The kitchen and dining room were 2 rooms, now 1 room as we knocked through. Its a rectangular room measuring 6m wide by 3m. The actual "kitchen" size is about 3m x 3m. We are putting in a new kitchen and where the wall we knocked through was we are putting in an island - more units…
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DryWall - DryZone
Hi I wonder if anyone could help. I recently had a Damp Course installed in my property. It was injected with DryZone or DryWall (Hole drilled and back filled with this toothpaste like substance) about 2 months ago However, when I had one of the walls recently re-plastered, I could see through the wall and noticed that I…
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Plasterer confirms work via email? Is this legally binding
Hi, We got a few quotes for a plasterer to do work on our house, after much communication via email with one plasterer we decided to go with him where i gave him a list of work that needed doing and asked if he would send a contract. He then replied with the same list i sent him and said "please confirm" at the end, with a…
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Epoxy paint and bitumen paint
Does anyone know what would happen if bitumen paint is painted over epoxy paint? I'm trying to solve a damp floor problem. Also, can a water-based adhesive for floor tiles be applied on top of bitumen paint? Many thanks!
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Solar panels
Was having a discussion at work about these today. Love the idea of them myself. Some people think they look a bit unslightly. I've seen them on houses in the area & don't think they look that bad. The potential saving though is really appealing. I guess it depends on your house size. I don't know what a standard semi…
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Removing paint from tarmac
There's some paint markings on our tarmac drive, been there since before we moved in, that I'd like to remove. It looks like the spray marking paint the council use to circle potholes in the road, rather than the permanent road line paint. What's the easiest and cheapest way of removing it please? Thanks, Ian
