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Builders Retention
The labour cost is £45,000 split over 6 payments of £7,500 over 4-months of work. What level of retention should I hold back and for how long?
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Garden tap - water not coming out
So over the last month slowly the water coming out of the garden tap has slowed down and now pretty much nothing is coming out. I had this tap fitted: https://www.screwfix.com/p/outside-tap-kit-15mm-x/33139 I don't think the green bit is the issue because when the taps are fully open it's still soft whereas in the past…
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Hammonds fitted wardrobes issue
Around a month ago we had 2 fitted wardrobes put in by Hammonds. Both of them were supposed to have a mirror inside but the mirror was not given to the fitter and the rest of job completed. We followed up several times with Hammonds to resolve but are still awaiting any outcome. They are giving us conflicting messages…
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My new neighbour has taken down my garden fence
I have new neighbours (6 months) who I have only spoken to once when I introduced myself to them. First I want to explain that because of ill health over the years I have let my back garden overgrow and also have been out of work so unable to pay anyone to do this. Today I have noticed that they have taken down my 18 foot…
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Blocking trickle vents - reversible solutions
Hello! Our wooden window frames have trickle vents in the top of the frame. They let in a lot of noise and I'm happy to leave my windows slightly open for most of the day, so I want to block them up to. I think are attached by rivets rather than screws - and I wouldn't know how to go about removing them. (Total DIY noob…
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Central Heating detergent?
Hi, Getting two radiators replaced in the living room. Gas Engineer is quite well recommended locally - he took radiator off and it sprayed black gunk everywhere on the carpet - mrs was suitably unimpressed - luckily we are getting carpets changed soon! he said this gunk means when they fitted the new boiler 2 years ago…
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Garage conversion - new floor
Planning to convert integral garage to habitable room. Have builder ready to start in August. To comply with building regs the existing concrete floor must be removed and a new one made. We will have electric underfloor heating under engineered wood (or possibly bamboo). So new floor would be concrete first, then 100mm…
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Subterranean Garage old stone and lime damp
We have just moved into a fab Victorian house. Under the garden is a man old subterranean garage. We have had it surveyed and structurally it is fine. The surveyor recommended patching up the concrete roof, which we have done. The walls are made of old Devon stone and lime, probably around 1930’s. Someone previously…
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Dishwasher leaves gritty residue on top shelf
Dishwasher is around 2 and a half years old, always been in the same position, was previously working fine. Lately we've noticed a grainy food residue that has been building up on the inside and outside of glasses, I've tried all the usual suspects I can think of - took the arms off and cleaned them for blockages, cleaned…
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My neighbours home just burnt down. Do I claim on their insurance for damage to mine?
My very elderly neighbours have just burnt down their house.(we think he was lighting the solid fuel! boiler and fell asleep. ) Fortunately they were rescued by a meals on wheels driver who arrived to see flames coming from their house. The fire was well established by the time the fire brigade arrived. Our houses are semi…
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Gas pipe under floorboards and new insulated ceiling
Hi all We are having a new boiler installed and that will require a gas pipe to be fitted under the floorboards of a bedroom that's over the garage. We are also separately having a new ceiling put up in the garage, with insulation rockwool or eathwool and celotex insulation backed plasterboard so keep the bedroom above…
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Hot water backflow - non return valve?
Son has moved into new (not new build) house. Bath has a mixer tap with shower head mounted on wall. Hot water is supplied by a combi boiler (old)with a pressurised red cylinder (no header tank). Cold water is from tank in the loft. Not sure what make the mixer tap is. The problem is when the shower is used, hot water is…
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subsidence
ive viewed a property i wish to buy in Portugal but there is a problem with the floor in the annex building it has dropped/cracked/sunk about 5-6 inches a length of about 4-5 metre's on one side of the building,the gradually sloping starts about 2 meters in over,i havent a clue about remedies or costs,but an estimated…
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Under cupboard LED strip lighting
Re the above, do any members have any hints, tips or tricks when installing this?
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What colour is your front door?
And what would you suggest to complement my light grey walls?
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cut piece of wood/kitchen
the little piece of wood that sits between the cupboard door and oven needs to be replaced... where can I get it cut? Any ideas? I don't have tools to cut it straight and since I won't be doing much cutting buying tools seems like a waste of time/money... it's just a straight cut just needs to be done precisely.
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Colouring paving slabs
Strange question but, is there anything that will colour old paving stones? They are the smaller riven patio slabs in a buff colour which I hate. I want to relay them and maybe use the underside which has small bobbles all over them. Is there anything at all on the market that I could use to change the colour? I know you…
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Building control inspection - concrete floor survey to find rebar
Hoping someone can help as this is a real worry. I've had some major building work carried and the builder neglected to take photos of a small area of the concrete foundations. This means there is no evidence to show to building control that the necessary steel rebar and beams have been put in place. Is there a…
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OK to Install Kitchen Units Against Damp Wall?
I am in social housing (ground floor) and just starting having a kitchen refurb. The Units are supplied by Howdens, a contracter is doing the work. They seem very professional. However, its taken some time for the refurb to happen, and meanwhile water from the sink has been going down the wall behind it. Probably for some…
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Painter has damaged my windows :(
I have sash wooden windows and paid someone to paint them for me. He's overscraped and has made a hole in the side of one of the windows, the others have scratches. I had to tell him to fix the hole (twice), he's put silicon into it but it's a real mess, there's a crack which goes pretty much the whole width too. Is there…
