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Hello I'm planning to replace the concrete tiles on my pitched porch roof with clay tiles and can see the lead flashing is split in a couple of place. I was looking at the replacement cost and came across EPDM lead alternative. Does it work for pitched roofs? It looks like it's easier to...

Hello I've got cracked roughcast render on an upstairs elevation of the house which I think is due to the different expansion/contraction rates of the brick and timber substrate. (It's 1920's brick cavity but many years ago two bay windows were removed and the area below the windows are now...

Hello I’ve had new UPVC soffits, fascias and guttering put over the existing timber. The wall is rough cast and has been painted over the years. To fit the shiplap/T&G soffits some of it has been chipped away and paint has flaked off below the level of the soffit. The roofer says he can...

Hello I've just had my close boarded roof re-done. The original price included 'supply and fix treated batten timbers' but the roofer says that didn't include counter-battening, because he hadn't expected to have to do it. If you're laying a new membrane wouldn't counter-battening go with the...

Hello In sorting out some ceiling issues between a bedroom and a converted loft above, all the insulation has been taken down. It was a hideous job and I've now got slabs of rockwool in chicken wire stacked up in the room. I can't access from above because it's T&G floorboards and I'd...

Hello In a small shower room on the first floor of the house I currently have a tiny wood framed window (brick and a half width) that doesn't open. There's no lintel above it and it's a 300mm exterior brick cavity wall. I'd like to put in a proper window and am told 450 is the minimum width...

Hello I need to fit an extractor fan in the side of my new dormer, which will be clad in vertical plain tiles of Sandtoft Humber (Tuscan colour). I've only been able to find one place that sells what I think I need but it isn't available. Sandtoft Humber Tuscan vent terminal Are they...

Would be grateful for some advice. I'm getting the roof of my 1925s house replaced. It's currently got Redland Grovesbury Farmhouse Red tiles, the fitter has suggested Renown Farmhouse red, which seem similar so I'm okay with that. What I don't like is the look of dry ridge system, the...

Hello I've searched the forum for opinions on the best makes of upvc soffits, fascias, guttering etc but it's returning ones from years ago so thought I'd try to find more recent ones. I've come across Swish (although I can see it's had its critics), and I know that Eurocell acquired Deeplas...

Hello, any reason why manufacturers are doing trickle vents differently? I've had four quotes for double glazing, two have the vents in the the sash and two have the vents in the frame. Currently my windows have the vent in a rail above the frame and it's quite discreet but no one has made...

Hello I've had double glazing quotes from longstanding local suppliers each using different profiles - Liniar, Spectus, Deceuninck and Profile 22. From what I've read here, these are all much of a muchness and it'll be down to the quality of fitting. So on to the glazing... The house is on...

Hi, would appreciate some advice re installing a Vaillant Sensocomfort wireless thermostat VRC720F. It comes with control unit, base station and outdoor temperature monitor. I've also bought an Ambisense starter pack which has three TRVs and a VR920 internet gateway. I'm competent but no...

Hello I bought a Vaillant Ambisense Starter pack (three TRVs and control unit) for my EcotecPlus boiler. I've connected the boiler's BUS terminals and the R920 controller's BUS terminals and , set up the Vaillant VRC700 app. There's an internet connection but when I open up the app I get...

Hi. I currently have a sink trap with outlets for the washing machine and dishwasher. I also have a water softener where the brine drain and overflow currently go out through the wall and into the external downpipe. I'm getting the external wall rendered and moving the downpipe and rather...

Hi. I'm a bit perplexed about the quotes I'm getting for some external rendering work so wondered if I'm missing something. I have a garden wall of concrete block, 9m x 1.6m so approx 15 sq m. I've also got the back of my brick built extension, 4.6 x 2.9 so call it 14 sq m. The door and...

Hi. My central heating flow and return pipes run up the surface of the living room wall into the bathroom upstairs. I'd like to add another radiator in the living room and thought I could lose most of the pipework by getting a vertical radiator with top and bottom entry valves. The ones...

Hi. As per another post I want to have two thirds of my garden re-paved. It's 8m long x 4.6m wide, Victorian terrace with back to back gardens. The paving I've chosen is 1000 x 500 porcelain slabs and the installer has asked how I want them laying. Any thoughts on stacked bond vs half...

Hi. I want to get my garden patio re-paved and ideally I'd like to pave over the manhole cover. I know you can get recessing trays for paving slabs but because of its location it really will spoil the look of it if I have to do that. In 25 years it's never had to come up but I appreciate why...

Hi. I'm fitting a cat flap for a friend in their wood panelled door. I haven't seen the door yet but they've sent me a photo with measurements and I've downloaded the cat flap dimensions. The cut-out area falls within the panel section but the flap's outer frame will bridge the panel between...

Hi. Any advice on how to remove the bars from the base of a cast iron fireplace? They have to go so that a DFE gas fire on legs can be fitted. Someone suggested an angle grinder but I'd have to go in from above and am thinking it would be too big for the space. Would a multitool do the...