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French doors and cold bridging.. advice needed
Hi. We have a timber frame house that is brick skin on the bottom half and block and cladding on the top half. The windows are all set back in a recess assuming within the timber frame or the cavity. We have 2 sets of French doors, one in the kitchen and one in the lounge and both are getting wet plaster where the sides…
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Latest House issue; boiler replacement/Ohms from plugs sockets issues!
In the latest instalment in new house saga... Boiler dead. 13 years old, main red round pressure-stopping bit broken, too expensive to fix for age. Call-out plumber got drenched. Tried to get 3 quotes for replacement (Worcester boiler with non-smart tech clock/timer due to visual impairments, 3m long flue etc) 1) Local…
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Door hinge screws
I need some screws for a bedroom door hinge. The length of the screws should be about 1 1/2 inches in length. I've looked online a lot, but I can't seem to find suitable ones. Either the screw head doesn't seem the right type for a door hinge or the length of the screw is wrong, or they are sold in big boxes such as 100…
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What are these cloudy spots on dishwasher interior?
Dishwasher is 5 years old, I've lived here for a year. These cloudy spots started to appear around 6 months ago on the stainless steel interior. They are completely smooth, and cannot be removed (have tried vinegar and Barkeeper's Friend). Around 6 months ago I re-filled the dishwasher salt (the light came on indicating to…
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Kitchen appliances changed after quote
Morning all. We are in the arduous process of having a new kitchen fitted. The initial plans (which we signed and paid based on) quoted for all AEG appliances. However on checking they’ve fitted hotpoint for the fridge and freezer (incorrectly too,doors won’t fully open on ice box,top freezer shelves). They don’t seem to…
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Building regs, new roof, loft insulation compliance.
Just in the middle of having a new roof fitted. Council building regs inspection finds that the loft insulation is only 170mm and say we have to have 300mm to comply. Our loft is boarded over. Do we have to lift the boards to add insulation or can we add insulation over the boards? The loft isn't used for anything, not…
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Enlarging an Access Opening
We have a small service void with access through a removable panel in the side of a cupboard. I need to enlarge the access opening. This needs to be done in situ. I do not have access to a jig-saw. How can I easily and reasonably neatly enlarge the access opening?
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Dewalt battery and hand tools
I've been given one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dewalt-DCB547-FLEXVOLT-Battery-DCB547-XJ/dp/B07HHB6ZSD?th=1 Do the batteries fit any Dewalt tools or just certain tools ?
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Openreach box, how to check whether obsolete and remove
Hi I'm looking for some advice on an Openreach box in our hall. We are fairly sure that it was decommissioned some years ago and the line brought in through the sitting room. One of the wires coming out of it goes through to the lounge and the other (we think) through the outside wall. Can't see where it comes out…
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Hot water problem in shower and taps
I have a problem getting hot water. The boiler is working fine and regularly serviced and the heating is working fine. I have mixer taps and when I turn the hot on it takes ages for the hot water to come through (its a lot faster if the heating is on at the same time). The shower is the same, a mixer and that runs cold for…
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Cost of re-bedding roof tiles.
Hi folks, What would be the expected cost (N Ireland area, so probably not London prices) of getting 3-5 roof tiles re-bedded ie, old cement cleaned up and tiles cemented back again? I think one ridge tile over triangular small roof over main doorway is cracked. Semi detached bungalow, so shouldn't be any problems getting…
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New quooker reducing the flow of the hot water
I just want to check if what the plumber says is reasonable. Having a new kitchen and as part of it we have a quooker tap installed on the kitchen sink. We also have a sink in a utility room, so can compare the flow rates. The hot water comes from a non-combi boiler, the hot water tank is downstairs, its base about 1m off…
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Electrical Safety in Spanish paddling pool
Take a look at this unsafe electrical light fitting
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Creating new bathroom
Hi there, Floor plans attached for a house we are interested in but some queries. * want 4 bedrooms upstairs by changing bathroom back into a bedroom so how easy would it be to create a bathroom at end of landing (utility with sink and toilet directly underneath on ground floor)? * How easy is it to create new…
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Thickness of triple-glazed windows
Is there much thermal difference between 40mm tripple-glazed and 44mm? Looking at Deceuninck PVC Heritage Flush but they only go up to 40mm triple-glazed whereas I was hoping for 44mm.
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Prefabricated Extension
I had two quotes for refashioning two rooms into one in my kitchen. Both were double the estimate the architect gave at the planning stage. I can't afford £100k. He has suggested a prefabricated alternative which is cheaper. I\ve looked at the website and the results do indeed look impressive for £50k. A post on this board…
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Brick Spalling; is this a reason to abandon buying a house?
Hi all, I'm buying my first home and the survey has picked up that a "large number" of bricks are spalling. It says I should have a contractor look at it urgently. The problem is that I can't find anyone willing to come look. It's getting really frustrating - the contractors I've spoken to just aren't interested. The house…
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What's the UK laws about fire saftey in new build flats
Cigarette smoke coming from flat below coming from underneath the bath area in my flat. Being a new build there must be some fire regulations to prevent a fire spreading. Has something been overlooked when they were building these flats. I find it hard to believe that cigarette smoke coming from the flat below is not a…
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Delonghi Dragon 4 oil filled radiator worth the money?
I have seen that the De'Longhi Dragon 4 TRD40820T Oil Filled Radiator has come the top of some reviews, but I can buy a much cheaper oil filled radiator such as a Von haus which also has some good reviews. I wanting a heater for a garage conversion which is a bedroom, also my glass roofed conservatory. I understand that a…
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How do I get the cover off this light fitting?
I've had this Bosch oven hood thing for a few years. The fan doesn't seem very effective (whenever we cook, we still get a lot of condensation on the kitchen windows). Also, one of the bulbs has gone but I am not sure how to get the plastic cover off to replace the light. Can anyone advise how to remove these type of light…