In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Discussion List

• Socket for christmas lights

  I have Christmas lights left by the previous owners which I would like to light up this year. However, the lights have this 3 pins small plug The pins are really thin and pointed. I have never seen such plug before. This probably is a low-voltage plug but I am not sure. Where can I find a compatible socket (female part)…

• Alternatives to Hardy Board/Plank

  We are giving our house a 'facelift' and have been looking at Hardy board. The shades are not exactly what we want, and I wondered if there were any other companies doing the same sort of material (quality, guarantees etc.)

• Bad tiling job

  Hi, last year we refurbished our bathroom. Couple of week ago the down stairs bathroom was flooded, and the ceiling wet. We called the plumber, and to our surprised it wasn’t a plumbing problem, but a tiling problem. So we contacted the person who did the job, which agreed to come and have a look. He also agreed to re-do…

• Responsibility for fence

  Hi, We have bought a mid terraced house with no mention in the deeds who owns each fence. One neighbour said he owns the one on the left of his house the other said he doesn’t know. We are replacing some panels on the left of our garden which we have paid for because of what the 1st neighbour said. On the other side the…

• Public\shared sewer neighbours extension

  Our neighbour has submitted plans for an extension, which we are not opposing. However we were a bit confused/concerned about the access to a shared sewer which they plan to build over as this could potentially affect our private drain/sewer. We are the first in a line of two houses so I believe (based on discussion with…

• Leather armchairs?

  Hi, I would very much like to have a gentlemanly armchair in the corner of my room. I have seen the following on gumtree and love the look of it: https://www.gumtree.com/p/sofas/tan-leather-armchair/1354187239 Does anyone know anything about it? Is it old or new? What make/model? Seem a reasonable price? Also, it looks…

• Blind Corner Hinges Help!!

  I am having huge difficulties trying to find a blind Corner hinge for my glass door. I have tried many of the online companies who advertise the items. Can anyone suggest or help me get hold of a complete set. Thanks in Advance..

• Door Locks

  Will a locksmith be able to open a door in HMO block of flats if a resident gets locked outside of the door that has multipoint locking mechanisms strip on composite door if the key is lost, thanks in advance.

• Installing Washer Dryer

  Hope someone can help as we are less than useless! Firstly what is the pointy thing under my sink that I connect the WD drain pipe to? It looks like it is sealed off? Do I cut the pointy thing (spigot??) then connect the drain pipe and tighten with the white seal thing or chuck away spigot (??) shove drain hose in then…

• Gas engineers won't fit fireplace they didn't supply

  Hi all, Just looking to the team to see if this seems normal. We are looking to have a gas stove installed and I have already bought the stove we want which is now sat on a pallet in a spare room ready to install. Of the engineers I've spoken to for an install quote, they all seem to be flaky and non-commital sort of…

• Replacing Potterton Netaheat?

  We have a Potterton Netaheat system with boiler and 8 radiators, it is approx 40years old, still works fine but wife wants to replace it. Only issue we have is one of the radiators doesn't appear to work? I realise system won't last for ever so should I replace it? if so with what? Recommendations would be helpful, I'm…

• My builder or nationaltradesmen.co.uk

  Has anyone inhere used either nationaltradesmen.co.uk or my builder.com or any of the other finding tradesmen site like check a trade and which one is best. Thanks in advance

• Exposed Concrete Price

  Hi, As per the title does anyone here know what the price is per sq ft or sq m to get an exposed concrete driveway put down? Thanks.

• Mattress Problems?

  Both my wife and I are having back and neck pain from our current mattress which we have had for 5 and a half years. We spent over 1k on it as it had a 10 year guarantee and used fillings, materials and was compared against Vi Spring Mattresses. Does anyone know how I can check and prove there is an issue with our current…

• Permitted development extension

  Does anyone have knowledge of building an extension under permitted development? I have looked at the portal but can’t find an answer to my query We have a bungalow of non conventional structure which I would like in the future to rebuild but not yet On the back of the house is a very small conservatory and a damp weirdly…

• Fitting mattress up the stairs

  I have a king mattress and I’m worried that it won’t fit up the stairs. It’s a very sturdy one so bending it will be a problem. The stairs are steep, and I tried but the mattress was too heavy/I was tired. Do I measure the distance between the stair and the ceiling height? And if that’s bigger than the width of my…

• Lack of party wall agreement

  Hello, My neighbours build the wall very near boundaries line without party wall agreement. They have also moved shared gutter on our side obviously without permission. Now, rain water drains under our house. Currently there is no damage but it will be in few years if this won't be sorted as water goes straight under…

• Dead/dying wasps on internal window sills

  For about a month now I've been finding a few dead/dying wasps every day on my kitchen window sill and on the sill in my bathroom(the room above the kitchen) plus the odd ones in bedrooms. Will I have a nest somewhere, how to find it, is it something to worry about etc?

• Pipes, Joists & Floorboards

  Many years ago, I put down T&G floorboards in the bedroom. I've ripped up the carpet in the landing to continue T&G into the landing. The problem is that, when I did the bedroom, I used a 190mm, plain board to avoid a joint over the pipes. It seemed a good idea at the time but, over time, traffic has created a crack in…

• Dehumidifier - advice for a newby

  After having high humidity in my lounge last week, I've now got a dehumidifier. It's a Meaco 12ltr ABC model. I've never had a full size one before, so I'm looking for opinions on the best way to use it? Bit of context - just me in a 2up2down style mid terrace with a cellar. I leave the bathroom & bedroom windows locked…