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To Pay or not to Pay?
We have a problem with our Alpha boiler in that the water runs lukewarm rather than hot. I contacted a local plumber via Checkatrade who got on to the Alpha support team who suggested divertor valve/motor/heat exchanger problems. Given that the heat exchanger was only replaced 18 months ago, his diagnosis was motor which…
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Rear extension boarderline wall on neighbour side
I recently have purchased a semi detached house and have put in application for extension of 6 meter at the back under neighbour consultation. We had a visit from the council and they said will let us know their decision by end of Oct-15 as the publicity end date is today. The plan that we submitted shows the wall of the…
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Outdoor smart socket
I am looking to buy some low voltage garden lights which come with a plug. I already have a standard waterproof outdoor socket to plug these into. What I want, though, is to be able to control turning these on through my iphone, similar to smart sockets you can get which can be controlled through wifi. Do a similar version…
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Secondary Glazing
I already have double glazing in my bedroom but it's not sufficient enough to dampen traffic noise enough with me being a light sleeper. It's a fairly small bedroom window probably 0.8 x 1.2m I've been quoted £500 to £700 which seem ridiculous considering it doesn't need locks or weather proof. How much does a unit roughly…
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Bark, pebbles or slate
Hi, We're just in the process of sorting out our front garden and was wondering if anyone knows the pros and cons of the above. The area is south facing but is shaded by two very large tress (which are protected), so is very mossy at the moment. As we don't really use it we thought we'd take up the grass/moss and put one…
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Baxi Duotec 40 vs ATAG A325EC X
I am looking to fit a new boiler and have narrowed it down to the the Baxi Duotec 40 HE and ATAG A325EC X I can get both for the same price, fitted, and the load (i.e. shower / bath/ sinks and radiators) is within the range of acceptable for both boilers. The Atag is new, so not that many people have had as much experience…
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Oven timer/clock keeps resetting - strange noise
Hi, My ovens clock keeps resetting itself (every 14 hours or so) and makes a strange hissing noise. hitting the timer button suppresses the hissing noise?! Any ideas whats going on? The actual oven/grill etc work fine. Thanks
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Boiler problem expansion vessel
Hi, I have been informed by an engineer who did my boiler service/certificate that its needs a new expansion vessel. However, he passed the boiler on inspection and didn't tell me about this until a week later. Can anyone please tell me what would happen if I don't get this fixed. Trouble is I now don't trust him because…
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machine mart refunds/exchanges???
Hi I just wanted to know what people's experiences with machine mart is. I've recently started buying a lot of power tools from them and now I'm questioning whether it's worth buying from them any more. I had the trip switch activated on my compressor (at the time I didn't know what a trip switch was, it basically cuts the…
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Corrugated Sheeting on flat roof?
Hi, I am considering putting some pvc corrugated sheeting on the (nearly) flat roof on our garage. It has a very slight fall on it from front to back, and is currently covered with bitumen felt. It has been weeping water into the garage, and re-proofing the felt with sealant was not effective. therefore as a cheap and…
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carpet cleaning issue
just had our downstairs carpets cleaned on monday. all fine except our fitted coir matt by the front door (around 1.5mt square) was also cleaned and this appears to have stretched and rippled. called the carpet cleaner on the tuesday and he said that was normal and it would shrink back to correct size when fully dried out.…
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Where do you keep your spare keys?
I'm really trying to get more organised and one issue that has come to light is that I can't decide on the safest and simplest place to keep my spare house and car keys. I live alone, so have no family to take a key and the only idea I've come up with so far is a locked cabinet in my office at work. It's a 24 hour…
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Garage conversion cost - ballpark figures NE England
Evening all, just thinking about this one and after some rough figures for a garage conversion. The house is a 1970s semi, the garage is integral, and has been extended at the front to go out the length of the porch. The rear of the garage leads to the kitchen through a single door. Towards the rear of the garage on one…
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Boiler service
Hi, Just wanted to see what people's thought are. I have moved into my new flat and how the kitchen has been designed means the boiler is in the corner and has been boxed in by two cupboards either side which are removal with tools etc. My issue is British Gas can't service it as the cupboards are in the way and I can't…
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Best One Coat Paint
I'm looking for a really good coverage 'One coat' paint. So far (from tester pots) they don't seem to be one coat at all :( I want to paint some wood and a brown coloured wall in cream. I've tried B+Q'S one coat and Crown 'Solo'. Dulux seems the best of a bad bunch. Is there such thing as a good one coat in cream? I don't…
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How to set the clock on my oven?
Help! Bought a refurbished electric oven yesterday and it didn't come with a manual. It's fairly self explanatory to operate, but I can't work out how to set the clock. I know it's only a trivial thing, but the clock showing the wrong time is going to drive me batty! It's a Comet own-brand ISIS 60FGDP. Des anyone have one…
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Extra tall kitchen wall/larder cabinets?
We are in the process of planning a new kitchen and we want cupboards right up to the ceiling (just over 2.5m). We will have some larder/appliance housing cupboards and some wall units so need something like 2.4m tall units, and about 1m wall cupboards. Ikea do this but I don’t want an Ikea kitchen. Benchmarx do the tall…
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Grange Fencing gates and fences
Hallo I just bought matching Wenlock metal driveway gates, side gates and fences, very nice too except I need 2 drop bolts to properly secure the drive gates on a breezy bend. Grange will only supply as part of the set 1 drop bolt and 2 brackets to attach onto the pre drilled gate frame. So far I can't find anything that…
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Problems with some roofing..
Hi all, Wondered if anyone who knows about this stuff could offer advise. 4 years ago I had a loft conversion done, which included building a dormer on the side. It went well, I got on well with the joiner, and its performed well. I also drafted a contract to say he'd see to any problems for a certain amount of time. I…
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planning application extension
Hi after opinions please, hoping to have an extension put on the back of our house arranged to have drawings and building regs made up by local drafts person who put in our application for planning permission, this has been refused, I rang the case officer dealing with our application and he says we should have applied for…
