We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More » This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

The Forum is currently experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. Thank you for your patience.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

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.

Old unknown wire.
I'm shortly going to getting some of the pointing on my property (bungalow built in about 1960) and prior to this, I've been removing some old screws and nails from the brickwork. I have an old cable running up the front of the house and I was wondering if anyone knows what it would have been used for. It's very hard…
Skim or Replaster?
Renovating spare bedroom in our victorian terraced house. Taken the lining paper off and skirting/architrave. This wall separating front main bedroom and spare bedroom seems to be lime plaster and skimmed at top in gypsum for some reason. There's a fair old chunk missing at base. Should this be stripped back to brick and…
Boundary screening
Hi everyone, we have a low boundary fence at about 3ft high. Wanting some privacy between the garden and next doors, so I’m looking at putting up some screening. The type i was looking at was the wicker/willow shoots that come in a roll. I was wanting to put up 6ft high screening, will this be ok if i attach it to a 3ft…
How to hang this picture on solid plastered wall
I have this picture that is lacquered back and front, so I daren’t drill into it. The hook is too near the top, so any wall hook is going to show above the picture. What can I use to attach it to the wall? It is quite heavy, so I’m unsure if a nail will hold it.
Should a decorator be able / willing to remove a picture rail and make good?
1930s house with a wide (9cm) picture rail with attached architrave below it. I guess it was designed for displaying plates rather than hanging pictures. It needs removing as part of a revamp of the room. I’m having some fitted units built and so it is in the way of the units. The designer has got a quote from a plasterer…
Dinner plates to last a lifetime
As per the title, I’m looking to buy some new dinner plates for everyday use. We currently have 1 x Corelle set which has been going for 20 years+. They are dishwasher proof and seem to be hard wearing, so we will keep using those. But I could do with an additional 4 dinner plates, side plates & breakfast bowls. I looked…
external conservatory door - new door or new hinges?
Hi - please could someone give me advice on this? (photos below) We have a (old ish?) conservatory - the back faces south, and the side with the door faces west When it's hot, the door is a bit difficult to close, and really difficult to lock. We thought we could just have the hinges replaced - you can see that the…
Can I apply dye to an Oak veneered door?
Can I apply dye to an Oak veneered door? The door has already been treated with Osmo Door Oil. I have tested a small area on the top edge and it seems that the dye does actually soak in which surprised me. However I am more corncerned with whether the dye will affect the glue and cause delamination of the veneer? Also are…
How to turn off child lock on washing machine?
Hi all We have a Indesit My Time EWD71453WUKN 7kg Washing Machine with 1400 rpm - White - D Rated However, when I pressed some buttons by mistake I think I may have activated the child lock. Now I can't turn it off or open the door. I've unplugged it and left it for ages and pressed and held the on off button and the start…
How do I lift this drain cover?
I have not come across this type before. Is there a special tool? Thanks
Kitchen Sink Drainage Problems
Not really sure where to start with this, the whole story! We had an extension built in 2021, this involved moving the kitchen sink into the new extension and removing the old one. The new sink is about 10 feet from the old sink. I'd just assumed they would plumb the new sink into the old drain as it was fairly close, the…
Anything I'm missing with my proposed bathroom design?
Planning my first major bit of work in my home. Found a builder I think I can trust, though I'm getting the impression there will be little guidance and more just fitting whatever I get. I've tried to get the proportions as best as I could and want to get others opinions on the layout and whether there is something I'm…
Pulsacoil boiler replacement
Hi all, I have been advised by engineer to replace the Pulsacoil boiler as it is leaking (it is over 10 years old). I wanted to find out if anyone has dealt with (the only people I can find on line that do these boilers), https://pulsacoil.group/book-a-repair? Are there any others worth considering? The price given for…
Unsafe conservatory conversion almost killed us - what can I do?
Hi, We recently had a conservatory conversion, which involved replacing glass panels with aluminium ones and then plasterboarding the interior. A day after the work was completed, part of the ceiling collapsed, smashing into the floor and the furniture underneath. I have a toddler who was playing directly under it hours…
Scaffolding Question
I'm looking to have some chimney repairs carried out on a capped off chimney at the gable end of my terraced house. There is a small single storey "extension" attached to the gable end wall with an apex(?) roof which spans the full width of the wall and is half mine and half my attached neighbours'. I believe this…
Cookware for glass ceramic hob
can anyone recommend cookware saucepans frying panels that are absolutely safe to use on a glass ceramic hob. I did buy a saucepan from Tesco last month and I moved it slightly across the glass and it scratched all the glass despite the label stating it was anti scratch suitable for all Hobbs and stoves including glassm…
How To Remove Hoppe Concealed Fixing Handle ?
As title. Handle has come loose on door but has no visible fixings. internet says remove screws or pins in handle, there aren't any. There is a slot in the bottom but can't see if it does anything. Any ideas please.
Will the Combi Boiler Fit?
Currently in the process of switching to a combi boiler, but running into some issues with space. A reputable boiler engineer came round and confirmed that fitting a Navien combi (395mm wide) would be fine—our current boiler is 390mm wide. I ended up ordering the same boiler through BOXT, as they were £1,200 cheaper than…
DIY Stable Renovation: Need Your Advice and Ideas!
Hi all, I’ve been sitting on this stable renovation for two years now, and the delay has made it more challenging than I expected. The reason for the holdup? I’ve been busy with a garage renovation, which is now 90% complete. But it’s time to shift gears and get this stable sorted before it falls apart! Current Condition:…
Minor crack in sink -
I've got a minor crack in the bathroom sink (it's either ceramic or porcelain) that I need to repair. Would a 2 part epoxy resin do this job? Some only seem to be water resistant and/or not white so would welcome recommendations. I'm not a DIY expert so the easier the better! Thanks

★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

MSE News

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.
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 Payments 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.
Which NatWest and RBS branches are closing from 2025? Here's the full list – and banking alternatives
NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which are both part of the NatWest Group, will shut at least 108 of their bank branches in 2025 and beyond, after the Group announced a further 52 NatWest closures.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
Winter Fuel Payments will be reinstated to all pensioners in England and Wales this winter – but will be clawed back automatically from those earning over £35,000 a year, the Government has confirmed. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis.
Car finance mis-selling update: regulator prepares for compensation scheme – and warns against using claims firms
Payouts for mis-sold car finance could be another step closer as the financial regulator has set out the factors it will consider if it were to introduce an industry-wide redress scheme – though we won't know more about how this will work until after a key Supreme Court decision expected in July. In the meantime, the regulator has warned that you DON'T need to sign up with a claims firm to be included.
Winter Fuel Payments to be extended to pensioners earning £35,000 or less – here's what we know so far
Winter Fuel Payments will be extended to all pensioners with incomes of £35,000 or less this winter, the Government has confirmed. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up.
Winter Fuel Payments extension confirmed for this winter – watch Martin Lewis' instant response and his message to the Chancellor
Winter Fuel Payments will be extended to more pensioners this winter – though not to everyone – the Chancellor has today confirmed. However, exact details of who will now qualify still remain scant. Watch MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis give his instant response, as well as his key message for Rachel Reeves.
Nationwide Fairer Share: Free £100 bonus confirmed for 2025 – here's who will get it
If you bank with Nationwide, you could get a free £100 paid into your account in June or July as part of the building society's 'Fairer Share' scheme. The bonus will be paid to millions of its current account customers who also have savings or a mortgage with it.
Forced onto a prepay energy meter? You may be due money back as 10,000s to be compensated
If you had an energy prepayment meter forcibly installed or your smart meter was remotely switched to prepay mode without your permission, you could be entitled to compensation of up to £1,000 and may even be eligible to have your energy debts written off.

View All

In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free

In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Category List

Discussion List

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free