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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Archives for July 2016

Will a Belfast sink fit in here?
I'm planning a new kitchen and would like a Belfast sink. I think I may have a problem though as the waste pipe seems quite high. Making the waste pipe lower would be a massive pain as we'd have to rip out a couple of walls. This is a picture of the current sink: The measurement from the underside of the worktop to the top…
urgent advice required/width of extension
we are having an extension, plans have been approved showing full width of house to rear extension. however, builder saying that we need to leave a gap and are not allowed to build to edge of house, is this correct as it has substantially reduced the width advice required urgently, I have trawled internet but cannot find…
Would you want an en suite WITHOUT a door
Hi All New place I'm buying, planning to put an en suite with large walk in shower, loo and sink, no huge bath or extra cupboards, to the main bedroom. Thought about having a wider doorway opening, but no actual door, making it more like 'part of the bedroom' plus more natural light and an open plan, feel. So....do you all…
Refurbishment: where to start?
I'm looking for some pointers to help me get going on this. I have a million things to do in my two-bed ex-council flat (dry-lining, plastering, painting, new doors, kitchen, bathroom, flooring), and I can't work out what order they would need to be done in. My previous experience of such things is limited to having got…
ADT HOme Security Quote
Hi All, Has anyone else had home security with ADT? As I'm just trying to work out what's best for my first house I have just built. The ADT engineer came out and had a look around and this what we came to: - ADT interactive wireless package - Keyholder Response package (Visonic PM360) - Keyholder response by mobile…
Stiff Double Glazing windows
Hi. Our Double Glazing was fitted around six years ago, now each window is stiff to open and close. What can I use to lubricate the hinges? Some parts of each hinge are metal to metal, others are plastic running along metal channels. Never had much faith in WD40 (works OK at first then dries up), so is there an ideal…
The sheer unadulterated hell of pencil pleat curtains
After my cat pulled the curtain rail down last week, I though drilling into a reinforced lintel in a heatwave was hell enough. But I hadn't accounted for the sheer rocket science of pencil pleat curtains. So I can grasp the pulling the cords and tying them off, but the tape pockets - these appear to be several rows of cord…
Porch build questions
see picture attached. I am building a porch which has just received planning approve. I have some questions. we plan to have the porch to have the same size door as the current door. And the piller as a wall. 1) Does this porch need a cavity wall? Or should we double brick like the piller. We was going to tooth into the…
Thermal insulation
Has anyone used SEMPATAC THERMAL? We have a damp and mould problem due to penetrating damp. After the exterior has been remedied, this Sempatac has been recommended for the internal cold walls. Failing that I wondered if a house warming party may help ha ha Seriously though, has anyone used this stuff? I originally posted…
Second hand conservatory
Hi everyone, new here and looking for some advice, sorry if I get anything wrong. So I am in the process of having a second hand conservatory being attached to our house. We are having the concrete put down tomorrow for underneath and we will be putting up the conservatory Monday/Tuesday. The conservatory for the most part…
Automatic garage door only working intermittently
I moved home last year and the new place sports a garage with one of those automatic 'rolling' doors that can be raised/dropped by either a remote keyfob, buttons on the controller box, or by winding a manual handle. As the months have gone by it has become increasingly unreliable. It started off where the controller box…
swimming pool heating system
Anyone know how to heat an indoor pool economically Also how to stop the windows in the room steaming up
Would a roofer carry out all of these jobs?
We need various jobs completed before winter, think they're all for a roofer, but would appreciate confirmation. * Replace wooden soffits that have rotted through (to the extent a bird nested behind one...) :o * Replace guttering * Possibly replace iron wear at the base of downpipes (not sure if they're just blocked, or…
Dri Buddi Elite
I have been using a dri buddy for a while and whilst it drys clothes nicely and warms up the flat whilst working it does have some limitations. Not least it only really fits 9 items plus undies. I find if try to fit on more they touch each other and don't dry properly. I have seen a dri Buddi Elite on the Argos website, I…
Walk in shower
We are thinking about getting a walk in shower to replace our bath (I have just had a replacement knee and as such, have limited mobility) I have seen AQUABILITY - Who, appears to be good quality - but what do they cost ? Their website does not even venture a guess. We have a bathroom window above the bath - so this may…
Painting bedroom wardrobes
Just getting ready to paint some wardrobes that need refreshing. I don't know what material they are made out of, is it melamine? Do they need a special primer and then separate undercoat first before a top coat of satinwood? Or would a combined primer /undercoat be better? And if they are melamine does it have to be a…
Help please central heating/hot water timer
Hello, I hope someone knowledgeable can advise. Forgive me, but I am not that technical I have a Drayton Lifestyle dual channel programmer and the screen was blank this morning (thought something was amiss as the shower was only lukewarm). Would flicking either or both of these off switches to "on" bring the system back to…
Vax Air Pet U87-MA-Pe plug issue
Hello Wanted to see if anyone has had the same issue that happened to me this morning. Purchased the above vacuum from Amazon on 9/5/16. Used it the other day and it didn't seem to be working. Checked with better half who advised you need to sometimes wiggle the wire near the plug to get it to work. I wasn't happy with…
Please could I have help with a single extension and bathroom move quote?
Hi, We are looking to extend our 1950's bungalow, which has a double foundation (cannot remember exact terminology :rotfl: but has 2 layers of concrete). The extension itself will be approx. 7.5m x 3m and will inculde extending the porch, extending one bedroom and adding a bedroom. Alongside this we are looking to convert…
Sachsen Kitchens
Hi everyone, Has anyone had a Sachsen kitchen fitted? Thoughts? How does it compare to brands like Leicht? Pronorm? !!!!!!!? A local is recommending the brand though I am struggling to find any information about the brand other than the official website. They used to do Schuller (which is why I engaged them in the first…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

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