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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Got a question about home improvement, DIY or home appliances? This is the place to get help from other MoneySavers.

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…
Cosy roof - Please help!
Hello everyone Unfortunately, I need to replace my conservatory roof as it’s leaking. It’s quite a big conservatory 6 metres by 8 metres and it was erected by the previous owners.. im interested in cosy roof as they seem to have great reviews but one of our local companies has dismissed them completely and said they will…
Carpenter won't give me an itemised receipt
I had 6 doors fitted by a husband and wife carpentry company local to me. Communication has been dire throughout due to continued excuses about someone being ill or the kids keeping them busy. I was desperate to get the job done though after struggling to find someone to even give me a quote! Eventually they did the job…
Viessmann annual service for waranty
Hi, the safe gas engineer who usually services my boiler told me today Viessmann requires a full strip-down of the boiler for their annual service, which amounts to about 2h and costs about 250 in private. He advised me to book a service with Viessmann directly as it would be cheaper. This is my second service and the…
Internal and External Cracks in 8 year old single storey extension - due to pile-driving?
hi there i will try to keep this short and to the point, We had a single storey rear extension built in 2017/2018 and K-Rendered externally along with bi-folds and windows supplied and fitted by well known reputable company. Everything was completed to our satisfaction. A construction site is ongoing at a lower level,…
Under The Stairs - Ideas!
Hey guys, So it seems my next project is tackling the under the stairs storage. I'm not 100% sure what to do, what's within my capabilities etc so I thought I'd ask and see what people think. At the moment it's just got one door, which means most of the space is tricky to use without crawling lots! We spent ages trying to…
Concrete standard lamp base powdered/perished...
... very suddenly and without warning. Totally crumbled and left a nice carpet hoovering job. This is the concrete filler added to the underside of the round metal base of the lamp to give weight and therefore stability. Can anyone suggest a fix..?
Painting wall before replastering/rendering
We have a problem with rising damp in MIL's bungalow. We have removed quite a lot of plaster, and the aim is to deal with the source of the damp, and then plaster or render the wall. This will take some time, and in the meantime we want to do some temporary decoration to make the room more pleasant. What I'd like to know…
Repair cracking roof strut
Hi, this roof strut is cracking as pictured. What's the best way to sister supports onto the strut to avoid further cracking?
Help with room design.
Having a room refitted and I would welcome suggestions as to where to position furniture. Layout and designers suggestions below. I was thinking of an L shaped sofa in the far corner, but that would mean cutting out the area between a sofa and the bay. Following the designer suggestion means an extra chair and I feel they…
Neighbours fence
My neighbour is the owner of the fence dividing our properties. Three panels have fallen together and the bottom half are lying in my garden. He said he has no money to fix it. I want to secure my garden so will put up a fence on my side of the boundary but his broken fence needs to be moved before mine can be installed. I…
Time to replace these 'ugly' lights?
We have a period property, and the hallway has these light fittings (2 x ceiling pendants and 3 x wall lights). A visiting family member once remarked that the lights are ugly! I'm starting to think they might be right. Can anyone suggest what type of light fittings might be better suited a hallway in a period home? Is it…
Fridge Running Continuously
Hi Having a problem with our fridge. It's a simple, larder type fridge with no freezer compartment. There are no fancy control boards or anything, just a simple, variable thermostat that should turn the compressor on and off to control the temperature. The problem is that the fridge compressor is running continuously,…
Internal door frames crack
Visited a friend, partially blind - thought get that out the way first before questions why left etc Noticed this in their internal wooden door frame, any ideas? Some parts are soft when touched.
Does anyone have the BOXT referral code?
Does anyone have the BOXT referral code? As an existing customer, if you refer a friend or family to BOXT you’ll receive a £100 voucher. It’s a win win, they’ll also get £100 towards their BOXT purchase. There's no limit to how many referrals you can make!
Remove rust from bike chrome handlebars
My wife has a Dutch bike which has chrome handlebars. It’s been outside and the chrome is rusting. What’s the best way to bring it back to life without scraping off the chrome? I was thinking wire wool but it might be too harsh. Aldo what’s the correct paint to repaint the framework? Is it metal enamel? Thanks
Loft tank leaking via overflow
We have a small water tank in the loft that occasionally drips through an overflow - not badly but I am concerned that it might need looking at. I wonder if somebody might be able to explain what this tank does so that if we need to speak with a plumber I have a little bit of understanding. The bungalow has a gas boiler…
Cabin wireless access point - splitter needed
Hi, I have an Ethernet wire which runs from my house router to my cabin into a wireless access point. There are no Ethernet ports to connect a cable to my laptop to in the WAP. Is there such a thing as an Ethernet splitter that I can put between the the cable and the WAP which will allow one side to go to the WAP and the…
Vented Integrated Tumble dryers. Anyone still buying these?
My Tumble dryer has packed up. Sounds like the motor so probably beyond fixing. It's 11 years old and cost less than £200 at the time so served a decent life. However looking you can't buy these very easily or at all anymore. The new ones are all heat pump, lots more money to buy upfront and looks like the plinth cut outs…
Should I pay for plumber who didn’t fix problem?
Last week the inlet pipe of my toilet cistern was leaking. I called out a plumber who replaced a part inside the cistern and told me not to use it for a few hours and that it may leak for a little bit. A week later and after paying quite a hefty sum (for me) there and then my toilet is still leaking. Should I be paying for…
Date on fitted smoke alarms
Hi, I live in leasehold flat and earlier this year, got an alarms specialist to come and replace and upgrade my smoke alarm as I wasn’t confident getting them linked up myself, and also wanted the fire safety certificate. I now have a replacement mains smoke alarm, and a new battery heat alarm in the kitchen. The thing is,…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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