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Home repair questions from a DIY dummy
As per thread title, I am an enthusiastic amateur who knows his limits. First time on this particular forum on MSE, so please bear with me. I have just received a survey on a house I will buy (think positive! Offer accepted cash buyer, no chain, so pretty hopeful). This is not a house buying question, though, so am not…
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Pine flooring
We'd like to install a new wooden floor in a large dining/living room area. At the moment there are old narrow beech(?) 1970/80s era floorboards direct onto joists over an open hard subfloor (it's an early 1800s stone cottage). These boards aren't salvageable unfortunately as they're too damaged, areas missing etc. It was…
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Possible problem with removed chimney breast
Whilst lying in bed last night I looked up and noticed a thin crack on the ceiling. I'm sure I haven't noticed it before and it was right where the chimney breast would have been (I popped up into the loft to check if it corresponded)to the same point along the wall). The chimney breast was removed upstairs and down about…
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Led Strip light problems
Hi Bought 2 x 5m 24v led strip lights. Installed both ,on same lighting circuit to replace fluorescent lights. One set works absolutely perfectly. Second set however- Transformer blew after about 3 hours. Replaced transformer only, and again blew after three hours. Third time replaced the strip lights completely ( led…
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Unused integrated dishwasher-use it for storage?
I'm about to move into a house with an integrated dishwasher. There's only me and i know for a fact that I won't use it - I quite like washing up! I'm thinking of storing my crocks in it though-just wondered if this will work or if it will be 'damp'. I've never had a dishwasher so clueless. Any other ideas about what to do…
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Help! integrated washing machine too deep
Our old washing machine has finally given up. Luckily we were covered by a policy which replaces with new if the old one is irreparable. They sent a replacement but it is too deep for the gap by about 15mm. Looking online it seems machines are deeper nowadays. We wonder about removing the plaster from behind the cabinet so…
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What Single CCTV camera to move around the house?
Need some advice and recommendations. We already have a house alarm. At the moment I don't really want to go down the full CCTV route but instead would like to try out a single camera, one that I could move around the house. So first requirement is wireless. My intention is to leave it on a windowsill pointing out through…
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Party wall agreement question
Hi all So I’ve decided to go ahead with a loft conversion (with a lot of advice from you all in a previous thread - thanks :) However having researched more I have discovered the wonders of the party wall agreement act! I have a strange set up in my house where I have one neighbour to the side and one behind. See attached…
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The circuit or the cooker?
I have a double electric oven, approx 4 years old. Went to use the larger of the two (hardly ever used) and it tripped the electrics. Top oven now also trips electrics. When I reset the circuit breaker there's a blue flash in the unit. Is it more likely to be a fault on the circuit or a fault with the cooker? I don't know…
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Repaintung built in wardrobes
Hi, The house I recently moved into has some built in alcove wardrobes. These are currently painted in a shiny gloss paint! I'd like to change this to a matt paint-does anyone have any tips? Do I need to fully remove the gloss paint or is there something I can paint over it with? Thanks
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What should we expect from the insurance company
Two or three days before Christmas, we ended up with a large chunk of our kitchen ceiling, on the kitchen floor. The insurance company sent out a contractor and the problem was traced back to the toilet in the bathroom, in which, apparently, a nut hadn't been tightened properly when the bathroom was refitted just over two…
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Light Switch - Neutral and Live Wires
I know the most common method of wiring up a light in a house is to have the neutral wire going to the bulb and only the live wire into the switch. But does anyone know if current electrical regulations require that both a Neutral and Live wire are present in light switches. If so when did this requirement come about? What…
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"Pet Friendly" Carpetright carpet, not so...
... "Pet Friendly". Hi all, My folks moved into a new pad before Christmas and after the whole family chipping in to gut it and redecorate they invested in a new "pet friendly" carpet from Carpetright to go in the lounge, hall and bedroom (so quite pricey). Mum had told sales guy they had 2 cats, and their site lists it as…
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Downlights and gap in hole
Hi everyone, We've just had a bathroom installed with new false ceiling. We have 3 downlights but the holes aren't super snug around them, is this an issue as I'm worried about water vapour getting through the gap and causing issues? Thanks
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Switching to LED bulbs
At the moment I have a 5 bulb chandelier type fitting in the centre of my living room, and another in my dining room. I want to get LED bulbs but since I don't want to buy 10 I was going to replace the light fitting with a single pendant. I am wondering if that will be bright enough? The rooms are both approx 3x4m and…
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Window cleaning etiquette
I hired a window cleaner yesterday - an old man who I saw cleaning windows on my street. He only charges £3.50 to clean the windows and doors including frames and sills. I think this is far too cheap and I'm wondering if there is some window cleaning etiquette that I don't know about? For instance, is tipping expected, or…
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I’m after a wired smart security system
Hi, I am struggling to find what I need hear but I have one quote for a Pyronix system that seems to tick the boxes. I don’t know how good or up to date with current technology they are though? Basically a wired or hybrid system that i can activate via my phone and would alert my phone please? Don’t want call centre…
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How to haggle for a kitchen?!
Has anyone had success haggling with any of the big kitchen providers such as Howdens, Wickes, Magnet or even local firms? I'm reluctant to accept the first quotes because I know they will have sales but I'd really like my new kitchen over the summer. I'm not planning to use their installation services. Thanks !!!128522;
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Radiator valve stuck?
I turned on a radiator in my bedroom, which has been left off before. When I now turn the valve to switch it off, it stays warm. The valve does turn. Is it just a matter of replacing the valve, will all the water come out of the system if I remove the valve?
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kitchen cooker hood through tiled vent outlet
The house i moved into has a cooker extract unit fit which currently extracts and vents through the adjoining wall into the garage. The garage roof has been extended by previous vendors into a tiled (about 45 degree angled) roof. I would like to vent the cooker hood externally instead of vapours/odour going to garage.…
