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In My Home MoneySaving sticky
Please be aware of the MSE Forum rules, notably that you mustn't post personal information. Take extra care when uploading photos and make sure that they don't contain personally identifiable information. 🏠 Here are some Forum threads you might find useful: * Please ensure your electrics are up to date * Find Instruction…
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Matt pure brilliant white paint
What are your recommendations for painting wall and ceilingd including links to best brilliant white paint that leaves no streaks and minimal.coat required. One that is not off white but pure brilliant white Thanks!
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Skirting board options
Due to having to have a ridiculously thick layer of screed in our new kitchen (don't ask) there is now no room for a skirting board under the radiator. WWYD? Options I have thought of so far… Get plumber to come and raise the radiator. Get normal skirting and cut out a big section where the pipes are too close to slip it…
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Being asked for 50% deposit before any work is done
I’ve accepted a quote to totally renew my Conservatory which is an eye watering 15 K from a local firm that seems to have a decent reputation (although yet to find anyone who they’ve done a conservatory for) Having very badly burned by a local builder previously I am very much more careful and they say the job will be…
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Bathroom refurb, ideas please
Im Looking for ideas, so i sound at least vaguely knowledgeable when I talk to a contractor. I have an en suite bathroom, that needs refurbishing. It has a shower enclosure built in. It's currently tiles with 6in tiles floor to ceiling, circa mid eighties. I want to keep everything in the same place; shower, bidet, loo,…
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Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay a builder's VAT bill months after the work was done?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks… I’ve been sent a £1,584 VAT bill by a contractor who did work in my garden over a year ago, and more drainage/building work in August. At the time, he didn’t charge VAT for either job as he wasn’t VAT-registered. He now says he had to register from 1 May and needs to charge…
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worried sick , cracks in house
i have seen stepped cracks on outside wall and noticed same place inside as well. initially i thought inside was just blown plaster. blown plaster in other parts of house as other walls need re-plastering as well due to cracks. also noted a crack outside in straight line where bay window is attached to house. also , cracks…
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How do I remove these curtain tracks? (sorted)
Hi ………….too late……. I applied my expertise at breaking things, and broke it………… I intend to paint my walls, and want to remove fixtures from the wall. I'm not sure how to remove the curtain tracks to get access to the screws. Conscious not to break it. It felt like there was a moving part underneath one, but the other 3…
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Converting garage to make space for pool table
Hi Would appreciate some advice on whether i can convert my garage to make space for a pool table and what the costs might look like. I am thinking i can remove the bricks from the side of the wall (pictured) and then put bi-fold doors in it, so i can open the doors to allow sufficient space to utilise the cue properly.…
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Cavity wall insulation causing cracks on render - Insurer/Installer AWOL
Hi! Nearly 10 years ago I benefitted from a government scheme to have cavity wall insulation on my semi-detached property. In the last 2 years, the outside render has been cracking along the bricks (and some internal damp which I don't necessarily attribute to the work carried out) so I decided to raise a claim as the work…
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Poor roofing work
Hi, I was quoted for a flat roof replacement and this was carried out this week. The roofer had to come back twice as they did not finish the corner in the photo correctly and again because they had scorched my guttering and downpipe. My concern now is that the photo I sent to him shows that the osb is rotten at the joint…
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1960s garage roof
I've noticed for the first time that the underside (inside of garage) has what looks like papery cement peeling off in a number of areas. These multiple areas are around 4cm by 0.5cm. It's a timber garage with corrugated sheets for the roof. I had the house (John Lawrence semi) roof tested a few years back and came back…
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Washing Trainers
Hello all, I hope the hive mind of the forum can advise about whether I can wash my trainers and they'll remain useable afterwards. My normal trainers for just non-event running (Nike Pegasus 40) are smelly. It all began when I did a waterlogged ParkRun 7th February - this is one of the drier parts of the course that day:…
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Advice regarding a builder on a second day of work.
Hello all, I have started work with a builder regarding new foundations for a porch (2 + 1.5 meters) and foundartions for 2.3 meters of garage door infill. Bricking up a garage door and leaving space for a window. Replacing flat roof to lean to roof and a drainage as per thames water consent to connect (to a 100 mm public…
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Layout advice
I’ve lived in my 3-bed mid-terrace in South London for 10 years. Thought I’d grow into it, but it’s still just me. My kitchen and upstairs bathroom are getting tired and the boiler is very old, so I’m planning to replace them. That’s got me thinking about reworking the layout, taking some space from the garage to create a…
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Mis‑Metering, Suspected Leak, Unnecessary Pipe Replacement
I recently switched from an unmetered (rateable value) supply to a metered supply with Severn Trent. Three months later, I received a very high bill, so I followed their leak‑diagnosis steps. 1. Initial Leak Diagnosis - My external meter (in the pavement) showed high usage and the leak indicator was spinning. - I isolated…
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Thoughts on plug-in PV panels?
Curious about your thoughts on these, as it doesn't appear to me to be a practical solution. For most, there would be too few panels to provide a useful output, assuming most folk would go for 2-4 panels due to space limitations. Difficulty in positioning them on your property southish and at a 40o-ish angle. Visual…
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Isolation valve type
Can anyone identify this type of isolation valve? I can't get it to budge and the grooves are too wide for a standard flat head to get any purchase.
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Window handle not closing/opening easily
Hello When I open window from inside, the lock doesnt release easily and have to force handle open. When i close window by pushing inwards without locking handle its stiff before i lock the handle. I told the person who fitted it, i should not have to use force to lock or open it It was brushed off, there is nothing wrong…
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Worcester Bosch fixed price repair and repair plan
Has anyone recently used the Worcester Bosch fixed price repair for their boiler? I have a few things that need doing on my trusty, but old, Greenstar Cdi; diverter valve replacement, replace the plate heat exchanger, leaky keyless filling loop and possibly others, so the £381 in that respect would seem reasonable. I have…
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uPVC window foil repair
Has anyone had the foil repaired on their upvc windows. What is your experience. Is this worth doing? Heres the worst example of my wrinkly foil: 7 out of 8 of my windows have wrinkly foil There're some specialist companies that do this, and I am making enquiries. The questions I have are: Can you match colour Will I…
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348 discussions
1.3K comments
Most recent: Crack in party wall after neighbour building work by silvercar
2 February at 9:36AM
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