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Wood stove causing structural damage?
I posted this on the energy board but I didn't attract many replies so I hope more people may see it here. I have an inset stove, with 6 inch granite slips around it installed in the autumn 2013. It's a modern house built in 1986 with a chimney that used to house a gas back boiler. No liner as the flue is concrete, I have…
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New drive advice please
hi all Just popped over from Oldstyle Moneysaving to ask some advice if you would be so kind. We currently have a concrete drive with a brick edging that has seen better days. It is about a foot higher than the rest of the garden which is lawn. We want a new drive to cover most of the garden and to take the front wall down…
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Heated spotlights?
Hi there, In a previous flat in which I lived the whole place had recently been refurbished with some spotlights that seemed to produce some serious heat? Unfortunately I have not idea what type of spotlights they were. Now I am having my own place done and I'd like to install spotlights partly for the secondary heating…
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under floor breather membrane...roofing membrane ok?
I'm renovating and have asked a few questions on here before. Suspended floors... it seems the consensus is that when insulating under floor you need a breather membrane to cut out draughts and slow movement of internal moisture while allowing drying out in the summer. But I can only find membranes in diy stores which are…
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plumbing in washing machine
I'm about to attempt to plumb in a washing machine. Plumbing skill level: very low! I've heard about these self cutting valves. Do they do the job well enough or is it worth spending more time to cut the pipe and fit a connection that way?
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Air bricks blocked
I have recently moved into a ground floor flat and have noticed that the air bricks at the front and back of the property have been blocked by the previous owner. My property seems to be the only one in the block that has the air bricks covered. Would there be any reason why the previous owner would have done this other…
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Can a boiler connect to CH/DHW anywhere on the "circuit"?
I won't be DIY'ing (or is that D'ingIM?) this job but I want to know the situation so that I can consider how big a job we're dealing with and approach contractors accordingly. Basically, given a normal combi boiler, with outputs to DHW and CH, can it connect to any given point on those "circuits" or are there special…
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Outdoor PIR light
I'm trying to find a light to go outside the front door of my house - ideally I want one with a motion sensor. The house is a traditional 1930's end terrace and I'd like the light to 'fit' with the style of the house. So far I've seen three sorts: really modern looking ones, 'security lights' that look quite industrial and…
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painting textured wallpaper
We're wanting to decorate our hallway to brighten it up a bit. At the moment, it is textured wallpaper that seems to have been painted with a slightly glossy paint. Can I just paint on top of this with matt paint? Will it adhere to the gloss? Do I need an undercoat of some sort? We're not prepared to strip the paper off,…
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1st (ever) new kitchen. Some advice please.
Hi guys My housing association is putting in new kitchens, and howdens are the supplier. We can choose from either the sapponetta or Greenwich range - the kitchen planner said Greenwich is the better quality. I have never had a new kitchen before so am taking the oppurtunity to get a dishwasher put in and built in cooker…
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External door options to conservatory.
So I posted a while ago about our proposed conservatory and should we remove the window/door to open it up. That thread, well, lets leave it where it is. What I'm after are options of EXTERNAL doors, that we could use to replace the rather large and bulky existing external door. It's just a standard size door, and there is…
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Combi system, extra rad, and inhibitor question
We have workmen in our house building an extension, and they are fitting two extra radiators to our combination boiler system (Worcester) today. For several reasons I am not totally confident with their decisions and experience so I would like to check that they are doing the job properly and won't be doing anything that…
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When did they stop putting asbestos in vinyl floor tiles?
EDIT: post longer than I thought. Short version - are vinyl floor tiles from 1990 likely to contain asbestos? Just bought a new house. Previous owner had a built-in desk in the study which has been removed. Carpet had been laid up to it, so there are two holes in the carpet, 54"x22" and 22"x14". Owner left spare carpet…
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Window companys for Double glazing..
Would like to get Double glazing fitted to our house which at the moment is just single wood frames .. Our house is a 3 bedroom end terrace , so we would like 7 windows and two doors, l know it depends on window sizes but what would the the average cost be . Our house is a ex council house. A few questions for people who…
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Finding decent Painter & Decorator
I'm looking for someone to do mainly internal decoration - cracked plasterboard & painting, but ideally some carpeting and minor outdoor work as well if they would. How reliable are the star recommendations in Yell? Any better than Checkatrade which I'm not too impressed with. Do the tradespeople have comeback or influence…
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Masonry Paint
I need to paint my house this year, anyone have any views on the best Masonry paint to use. Thanks.
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107mm hole to hole kitchen handles
Does anyone know where you can purchase kitchen door handles which are 107mm hole to hole and preferably approximately 142mm in length? BTW I have searched online and looked in shops but I cannot find any. :(
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Frog tape painting disaster!!
Having newly decorated my front room I decided to use frog tape to mask between the wall and skirting board. I gave the wall a good 3-4 days to fully dry first. On carefully peeling the tape off it's bought strips of paint off with it!! Some bits look great, just the two foot bald patches I'm not happy with! Any ideas how…
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Condensate Removal Pump
My home is in need of a new central heating system, currently has gas fires in a number of rooms. I had planned to get the Worcester Greenstar 29CDi but the only location available for installation is not near a drain so a gravity fed condensate pipe is out of the question. I have been reading about condensate removal…
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Fence Panels
Help, ideas please. Some years ago my sister paid professionals to erect concrete posts and drop in 6' x 6' fence panels down the side of her garden. They looked good when new, with concrete "kicker boards" below each panel. In recent winds a panel blew out and broker, which I replaced this week. The foot of the panel is a…
