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filling gaps around window frame/tricle vents
trying to help eliminate road noise from outside checked all round the window and found I could fit a credit card up between the frame and the side and top parts took the trickle vent c off and found even bigger gaps above those, maybe 6-7mm deep and about an inch up the way again, problem is the vents go right up to the…
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Repainting front door..
Our front door is looking rather knackered and could do with a spruce up. Years of painting layer after layer of different colours have it looking a bit like a half finished gobstopper. Would you suggest stripping all layers off and getting it back to the bare wood, or simply add to the affect bu giving it a fresh coat or…
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Drain unblocking
Hi all, I live in a fairly old house (approx. 1910) and I have a blocked drain. I know nothing about drains but its the one that the sinks feed into, and water is backing up and overflowing over the grate. I've tried putting my arm in and although I don't really know whats 'normal' I can feel an opening at the bottom of…
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Survey results, advice on chimney, hot water, electrics
We’ve had our survey report back on a house we’vre buying near Crawley (West Sussex). As first time buyers a few things highlighted but are a bit naïve to their true consequence, given other advice we’ve seen that suggests the surveyors often want to cover themselves. The house is 1950’s built 3 bed end-of-terrace, we…
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Kitchen Appliances - White, Silver, Red?
Or what other colour? Our oven/hob is currently silver, although I'm moving somewhere where it's white. To be honest, the white does look a little cheap :( But then the whole kitchen is really dated so I suspect that isn't helping. However, we've just bought a new fridge freezer (one of those big American ones!) and a…
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Plug in oven on extension lead?
Can anyone offer any advice please? Am about to replace our old Beko oven with an Indisit 51 KA1X (voltage: 220-240V ~ 50/60 Hz maximum power absorbed 2250W) The old oven is wired directly to the mains via a dedicated socket which can be switched off at fuse box - seems to be only thing on the circuit. The new Indisit…
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Blanked off electrical socket
Hi Guys Wondering if anyone can help please..... My Mum had an old cooker socket blanked off when she had the kitchen done about 20 years ago as it wasn't needed. She has just bought a new gas cooker and this has a plug for the igniter. Am wondering if I can now use the socket for the igniter plug ? Wires are still in…
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Vinyl tiles and dirt
Hi, I found a luxury vinyl tile which I really like. The brand is Higena and the price is reasonable. I would like to use it in the kitchen, but I am concerned about dirt. The tiles have a texture to them - I suppose it is to make them less slippery or maybe for looks - and the textured surface could catch stains from food…
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Cost of moving bathroom upstairs?
Hi, A house we're buying was originally a 3 bed with downstairs bathroom. The previous owners changed it into a 4 bed (by just installing partition walls) and kept the bathroom downstairs. We'd like to move the bathroom into the bedroom above (pipework already in the right place I think) so that we can have a 3 bed with…
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Single storey rear extension - seeing planners
Our 4 bed semi has already been extended full width across the rear of the house (goes out 3.8m - as do a lot of the other houses in our street, it seems a common extension in our road). Id like to extend out again, single storey, full width by another 3.2m. Before I get proper plans drawn up at a fair cost, I'm planning…
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Creaking floorboards under new carpet: what to do?
Had new carpets fitted in our new home and now realise some floorboards are creaky so should've been sorted before carpet laying. Do I need to hire another carpet fitter to take up an area of the carpet & underlay in order to get to the boards and screw them down (assuming that's what's needed)? Or is it safe and…
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Subsidence Nightmare
It's 5AM and I'm struggling to get any sleep worrying over the subsidence in my home, and the potential for the insurance company not to help out and therefore for to it derail my life, just at the point where my wife is 8 months pregnant with our first child. Here is the situation: basically, over the past 3 weeks a…
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new flume bath mixer tap dripping
Can anybody help me with my new installation. I've fitted a new bath flume mixer. Since replacing my old mixer tap they have dripped cold water from day one. My cold water feed is from the mains not a tank so I'm wondering if the pressure is too high for the tap or that maybe the tap is faulty. When I turn of the cold…
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House Alarm - DIY
Hi All About to fit a diy house alarm in my house. The house was already wired when built about 4 years ago. The wires are all ready to be wired into the box, siren and keypad. Only issue is the wires arent marked so i cant see what goes to the keypad and which goes to the bell box. Is there anyway to check or is it trial…
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Boiler pressure too high?
I bought a flat a couple of months ago which I have been renovating and moved in recently. I noticed the boiler didn't look like it had been serviced for about five years, so first thing first I called out British Gas who did that - and installed Hive system - no problems at all (it's a Worcester boiler which apparently…
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Preparing a flaking wall for painting
Hi, We are currently in the process of decorating our open lounge/dining room/stairwell/landing, so quite a large area. The walls were previously wallpapered and we are looking to paint but before starting, looking for advice to prep the walls to get the best possible finish for the paintwork. The current condition of the…
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DIY EPC prediction
Hi, I am thinking of renting my flat out in the next couple of years and travelling, but I know I need an EPC cert by 2018. I don't think there is a lot I can do to make my flat more efficient, the only improvement I think I can make is replacing the boiler. So I would like to gauge what grade my flat would get before I…
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Doorbell
The doorbell has stopped working on me. Can't think how - as it's worked off electric... So I've bought a new one. Will be sticking it up with double-sided tape stuff outside and it sends wireless signals to a plug-in one inside. 1. Have I got this wrong after all and there is something quick/easy/etc I can do to get the…
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Plumbing for washing machine and sink
Hi everyone, I would like to know how much it would cost to put plumbing for a washing machine in the room next to my kitchen? The room is a second sitting room which is next to the kitchen which I hope to turn into a Utility Room. Any help is appreciated. Thank you
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Washing machine help please
My Bosch varioperfect has just stopped working mid wash. The drum is not turning (power is still on) and it is making a horrible noise. It sounds like it is trying to turn but something is just hitting the drum. Any ideas please? We are out of guarantee and happy to attempt to fix it ourselves. thanks
