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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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Levelling floor
Hi Just in the process of redecorating my hallway including fitting new flooring and skirting. An area near the back door is slightly raised and the tiles have broken. Didn't want to put flooring over this so looking to get it level again. I dampened down and used diluted PVA on the tiles before lifting and was wondering…
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Flame on living flame gas fire not lighting quickly
I've a 10yo Valor coal effect living flame gas fire where I have to turn a knob to create the spark. The spark still sparks and I can hear the gas coming through but for the past week or so I've had to turn the knob 10+ times before the spark lights the flame, sometimes it's been so many times I've almost given up. At…
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Killing Weeds
Hi folks, I've just bought a new home and it seems the garden has been ignored by the builders. There are some weeds in the back garden. I've never been a garden enthusiast, but I thought I've come to an age where I could learn a new skill. Unfortunately, I cannot afford someone to come and treat the lawn right now as all…
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Simple gardening advice
I have never done any gardening before. I moved house recently. I don't actually have a garden but there is a kind of flower bed along the front of the house. Here's a picture: I pulled all the bushes and plants out including the roots. As you can see the neighbours don't care about theirs and it is massively overgrown, so…
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Bathroom window humidity sensor extractor fan
Hi Does anyone happen to know if you can buy bathroom window humidity sensor extractor fans? If anyone can maybe give me some links to some decent looking ones ie on B and Q or Wicks etc I would be really grateful as I have had a look and can't quite figure it out. Anyone any suggestions on the best type of extractor fans…
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Securing small bit of guttering
So a few weeks ago I had to secure this piece of guttering over a balcony drip edge because of constant water flowing over the edge, running down the wall and leaking onto the ceiling in the room below. In the heat of the moment I had to secure it with string attach to the balcony rail as seen in the photo. I dont really…
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Driveway?
So I get bored of my current chippings and I changed a slab which has more green on it due to the lack. Any new slabs won’t match up with neighbours other than a 3 grand driveway what else can I do?
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Council tax banding
Hello there I was wondering if someone could help me please, as I am getting zero answers from the council. My bungalow property, number 10, had an annexe flat built that was rented out for years, 10A. It has its own door and gas/electric supply. Due to life changes, 10A is no longer being rented out and never will be. It…
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Is the wood rotting in my loft under the valley?
I have recently been told by a roofer who went into my loft, that the wood under the valley in the roof is rotting, because of the white colouring on the wood. I have been up in the loft myself and felt the wood from the top of the valley the bottom, and it is bone dry and doesn't have that rotten wood feel to it. The rest…
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External cladding
Hi - hopefully a quick question/answer! I have a house which already has timber weatherboard cladding on the rear which was permitted as part of a planning permission for an extension (way before we bought the house). Will I be able to put cladding on the front of the house as it will be of 'similar appearance' to the rest…
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Washer/dryer leaves clothes with damp smell
I have a washer/drier installed in an outhouse at the rear of my property. After I run a washing cycle, I usually do a short drying spin, about 60 mins before hanging them up to dry fully. However the clothes have a damp-ish type smell to them. I tried running a 90 degree hot wash with some vinegar but it hasn't resolved…
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Lone contractor on site and 2 watches go missing
We had a plumber at our property yesterday, left him to do the work in the ensuite and now I cannot find 2 watches worth £3K. I keep them on my dressing table because they are may daily wear. What would you do?
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First house - kitchen Reno advice pls
We’ve just completed on our first house purchase and are wanting to gut the existing kitchen and fit a new one. But we’re met with two issues that I’m confused about so any advice would be great as I’m clueless. the gas metre and electric metre / consumer unit are both relocated in two separate base units - would it be too…
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Kitchen refit on a budget
Hello, I am a first time buyer and am currently refurbishing my property. I was initially not going to replace the kitchen as the units although dated, seemed ok. However, as I started to use them, I realised they were more broken, damaged and potentially damp that I first thought. This has left me with the situation that…
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Recommend paint stripper for decking paint?
Want to remove all the paint from our decking so we can move to staining instead. However using the pressure washer a lot of the paint remains. I've had a google and seen to use paint stripper, leave to rest for 15 minutes and then pressure wash. Currently has Ronseal decking paint - slate on it Has anyone done this and…
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Pancking! Are these asbestos tiles which I discovered under my carpet
So I was taking up the carpet in a bedroom using a standing knife to cut and accidentally ran my blade across these tiles which are around the chimney breast. I assume a fire maybe used to be here. Are these tiles asbestos? Or could there be any concern around this area for asbestos material?The house is from the 1930's. I…
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Rubble in underfloor void
I've just had a damp surveyor out to look at various issues at my Victorian terrace. They lifted a few floorboards in the living/dining room and (the areas visible at least) look to be filled to the brim with builders rubble. From what I could see it seems to be a mixture of all sorts - bricks, plaster, ceramic tiles. A…
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Re-Lining Ceiling advice
We have some old textured wallpaper on the ceiling in one bedroom that we have always hated and plan to remove. The room in question is in an extension that was built in 1987 so the ceiling plaster underneath should be still in decent condition (although you never know untill you start removing the paper!) - however even…
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Wall mounted oil filled electric radiator
Can anyone recommend an oil filled electric radiator that can be wall mounted. Must have a timer and thermostatic control. My current Dimplex is making a ticking noise from the timer, so its about to go. Can I use a plug in timer with it? The wattage is 1500 watts. Dimplex no longer make the radiator.
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Our home renovation project - Opposite of MSE philosophy!!
I've always tried to follow MSE philosophy of saving and using money with care which has set us up well to mid life (40s). But COVID showing how fragile life is, and childhood memories of watching Kevin McCloud quiz home owners why they have 'risked it all' in the name of design has made us do something that's the total…