Recent content by chrisjc

Sadly the rafter is only 1/4 in from the gable end wall. We have thought of reinforcing it with (non-combustible) angle iron or channel along the bottom edge and then cutting a section away. But this is messy as ideally we would fix the reinforcing to the face as well but that would make it...

Obviously I am pursuing that line of thought too, not least because they did not inspect the flue in the loft at the time of the initial site visit but then decided to once the installation was under way. The additional work they are proposing will increase the installation cost to nearly 4...

Unfortunately there is at most only a 10mm gap. 9mm Supalux would fit and is rated for 60mins fire protection when used for stud walling, but is not certified for the current application. Ideally I would like to find some reputable authority for using it (or some other barrier) between a...

We are having a new woodburning stove and the HETAS fitters have belatedly discovered that the existing twin-wall flue passes only 10mm away from the gable end rafters. Having installed the stove they are now refusing to issue a certificate since Approved Document J and the Selkirk twin-wall...

Many thanks for yr help And I thought the standard bag was a nominal 25kg. :? Realised this as soon as I pressed "Submit"... Part F is on my mind because I am waiting for parts for a heat recovery system at the moment. Never really got used to the change from IEE Wiring Regs - nor for...

It's a long while ago now, maybe the leisure battery was 622 or something, but you could get leisure and automotive batteries in the same case size and both were available with the terminals either way round. For some reason the batteries in our boat were opposite handed, maybe to discourage...

Don't waste yr money on ebay, Birkee has provided the same advice for nothing! Correctly done it will at least stop the self-discharge so the battery will hold what is left of its charge from one day to the next. Re leisure batteries there is as he says no substitute for the correct plate...

None of the above. The bag just says Thistle Finishing Plaster - Finish Coat for Undercoat Plaster. It is a 2.5kg retail pack AFAIR bought at B&Q for a previous patching job but never used. The detailed instructions on the bag say it is suitable for both boards and undercoats so it might be...

Looks like the age of the raw material was the worst problem. Behaviour of the two bags was different in detail, the Multi sucked quite badly and went off quickly but the finishing plaster (British Gypsum Thistle, not one-coat, see OP) took best part of 3 hrs to set. Based on a very similar...

Anyone got any tips on connecting the remote control cables in an 05 Corsa door mirror? Fitting the replacement glass was the easy bit, but getting hold of the ball ends on the cables through the narrow gap behind the glass is tricky, even with the control lever moved to its limit (I have...

OK, in view of Rich C's comments about using VITCAS near fires I will probably have to get a professional in. But for such a small area, which will be papered anyway, to either side of the wooden surround for a new cast iron Victorian fire insert (not a stove) I thought I would have a go with...

Sorry, forgot to put this thread on watchlist. I mislead you earlier, IIRC now the Santon was 45 litres, but it only ever ran cold when we were e.g. washing walls down with hot water. A significant part of the consumption must have waiting for it to run hot down the 10m pipe run so the closer...

I had essentially the same problem and after considering the options installed a 25 litre Santon electric storage heater in the utility room, run off-peak on a timeswitch. Much easier DIY proposition than a gas instantaneous. With a dishwasher for the main washing up the stored quantity was...

No-one has yet said that after unscrewing the cap you can see the end of the motor shaft and you then need to use the screwdriver in the slot to positively turn it. If it is jammed through lack of use during the summer this may free it and also the gland may leak less afterwards, might save you...

Are you having a laugh? Have now got a quote of £600 for their DTE 600 plus £63 for the sensors. Hardly appropriate for a domestic upgrade, it would never pay for itself.