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Rough estimation of cost of new complete rewire and new central heating installation
I've got a 4 bedroom terraced property that's empty with the carpets up and floor boards showing. Approximately what ball park figure range should I budget for would you suggest? - Thanks in advance 1. A new fresh rewire of the property 2. Installation of new central heating pipes and radiators but not replacing the…
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Carpet beetles
I moved into my current house 3 years ago and done a full refurb - new carpets, decorating etc. Since i started finding small brown beetles upstairs and downstairs every year around this time. Did some searching online to identify them. I don't have any wool or leather materials in the house, just about everything I have…
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New sewerage drain on neighbours property - what are my rights
Hi, I live on a terrace and an alley separates my neighbour and i, with their first floor above the alley. They own the alley however they have to maintain access for everyone on the terrace. My land starts when the alley ends and the path from the alley is split into two - i own one half next to my garden wall, they own…
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I need a heavy duty drill
I need to drill a load of drainage holes in some concrete and pavers, and so far have burnt out a cheapo hammer drill (it was about £20 from Lidl) and even using a Bosch SDS 36v cordless it'll only do 6 or 7 holes before needing to be recharged. Is there anywhere i can hire a real heavy duty drill for a day or 2, and what…
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Poor building work partial refund offered
Before Christmas, we had some building work done by a sole trader, recommended by some friends of ours. His wife works with my wife (others at my wife's work have hired him). It was during the lockdown I have been shielding and as we have also used him before we believed he would do a good job at a fair price. He took on…
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New build house - air bricks placed incorrectly?
I am about to move into a new build Barratt home and became concerned when I noticed that the front garden slopes towards my house in 2 directions. This in itself is a concern because I feel the grass could become waterlogged. I looked back at previous photos to check if I could see if Barratt had put in anything to help…
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Mission Impossible (guttering)?
Long story short: guttering above conservatory between my brothers and his neighbours home leaking, wanted to install a long piece and separate from the neighbours. He has been told even scaffolding will be almost impossible as the neighbours have 2 conservatories leaving no room for ladders or scaffold poles over their…
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Rechargeable batteries for 'phone handsets
We've got a Gigaset A510 for our landline. The rechargeable batteries in the two handsets obviously need replacing - they no longer hold a charge for any reasonable length of time - and I'm wondering if I can replace them with any rechargeable battery that meets the spec? The spec is NiMH AAA capacity 550 - 1000 mAh. Can I…
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Toilet seems to have a weak flush
I noticed that one of the Heritage toilets in my home appears to have a weak flush. Specifically, it won't easily flush away toilet tissue. I think this has become more of an issue in the last 6 months or so. I took the lid off and looked in the cistern. The water level is approx half an inch below the white (overlow?)…
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Swarm of flies at back door?
So outside our French doors at the back of the house I’ve noticed a swarm of tiny flies buzzing around the past 2 days when it’s been sunny. They don’t appear to be there at night but can’t be certain. I assumed it was due to our food waste bin which is around 3 metres away. However, there doesn’t appear to be any flies…
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Gardening adivce
Hi allWe have a really bad drainage probelm in our garden, it gets really soggy during rainy months, I've got a landscaping company coming to do "herringbone drainage trenches" which I know little about. I was wondering if anyone here has had experience with fixing gardens with drainage probelms, and drainage channels, I…
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Electricity usage has jumped
Looking for some advice on what seems to be a huge jump in electricity usage since moving house. We lived in a detached, 4-bedroom house last year (rented). Our monthly engery bill (gas and electricity) was £100.25 per month, based on a standing charge and we actually ended up over-paying for the year. We bought a…
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What size tile trim?
I'm having my kitchen retiled & guy doing it has left it to me to get the materials needed. If tiles are 6.5 thick, what size tile trim do I need?
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Drain removal
Hi Just wondering if anyone has come.up against the same issue as me ? I'm having to remove a manhole completely and fit a Y main pipe . It's been two weeks and I'm left with this big hole . It's not my builders speciality and his having to change his liability insurance just to do the job . So I've contacted a few water…
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Problem nighbours.
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post or ask this question but im not sure where else to go. The neighbours of my elderly aunt had building work done last year, where they erected a large single storey building at the end of their garden. This construction was much larger than was allowed by building control. The…
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How much to spend on a blowtorch for DIY plumbing?
Hello again, On previous threads, I have asked about radiators, pipes and valves. I'm quite proud that I have now chased out the walls, re-routed pipes and swapped to a column radiator - with everything still working and dry! But, I used a combination of pushfit and compression joints, which although technically OK, are…
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External Wall Insulation: End of my tether
Hi there, I am really struggling at the moment. Our house was built in 1925 so the walls are solid and not cavity wall. The external walls have been rendered, however the render has been failing for some time and it has got worse over the last month. Lots of cracks and disintegration which is causing some discolouration on…
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Is Party Wall Agreement required for new wall wholly on own land of semi-detached property
We are planning a single story rear extension on our semi-detached property under permitted development. The extension will create a new wall adjacent to the neighbours boundary line, but wholly on our land. Even though the foundation will have to be excavated within 3 meters of the neighbour's property, as per our…
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Buying an Indesit washing machine
I've ordered this Indesit washer + dryer: Indesit BDE861483XWUKN 8Kg/6Kg 1400rpm for £325 from AO. Just wondering if anyone has direct experience with Indesit. Any better models to consider at around the £300-400 mark? I looked into machines a lot and it seemed bosch and miele are most recommended. However my specific…
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Crack on wall/Ceiling upstairs - serious or superficial
Hello, We have a long thin crack on a wall/ceiling upstairs and wondered if there is an easy way to know if it is serious or superficial. Pics attached. It starts from the top of the door and extends up to the wall with cracked plasterboard and across the ceiling to the far wall in a very thin line. (There is also a…
