Recent content by abinath

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    radiator gap to wall

    Morning all, Had central heating fitted to a cottage that had only electric rads previously. One of the walls is a plastered cob wall (that's mud bricks, basically, with hazel spars) with vertical wood stanchions. The wall is a bit uneven, though not excessively. The cob won't take screws. My...
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    new floor and wall repairs after removing fireplace

    Morning all, Period cottage with solid stone walls. It had an inglenook but with an ugly 1970s brick fireplace built within it. I've now removed the fireplace, revealing a very pleasant inglenook on the inside of an exterior wall. I don't intend to put in a burner for the time being, but to...
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    tools for removing brick fireplace

    Morning, I have started to remove a nasty 1970s brick fireplace, very solidly built and goes back a long way. I thought I was doing ok with a hammer and cold chisel, but haven't actually made much impression. An SDS drill with a chisel bit doesn't achieve much. Could an expert tell me please...
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    blown fibre loft insulation

    Morning, I have a thatched property with very old (but generally good condition) lath and plaster ceilings in the bedrooms. An insulation contractor has successfully got the council to agree to installing loft insulation for free (the loft has never previously had any insulation). But they want...
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    laying vinyl over ceramic tiles

    Morning, I want to lay vinyl over existing ceramic tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. I won't be removing the existing tiles as that would disrupt too much installed furnishings. I know that I need to avoid existing grout lines showing through the vinyl. What would anyone think of these...
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    Electric cabling in thatch

    Hi Recently bought a thatched cottage. It has a current electrical certificate, 10 year validity, valid until 2022. There is an observation on the certificate about cabling in the loft. This was before the days when the cat 1, 2 & 3 was introduced. My insurer is ok with this, but I want to...
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    bonding roofing felt

    Morning, I have a gently sloping single storey lean-to roof, made from roman tiles, with a skylight which actually comprises a glass roman tile. It leaks in heavy rain. I am not going to attempt to improve the sealing to the tile. I don't actually need the light offered by the skylight, so I...
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    line-neutral insulation resistance test

    Thankyou Iggifer I am trying to get hold of pages 2 and 3 of the certificate. I gather those two pages actually record the resistance measurements taken. Hard to imagine they could have been left blank. You are right, the certificate was for 'Change consumer unit and test', ie a brand new...
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    line-neutral insulation resistance test

    Thanks for all your comments, guys. I've just learned from the insurer, who also insured the property through the previous (deceased) owner, that the test results are satisfactory for insurance purposes, though she wouldn't tell me any more due to data protection. There may have been remedial...
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    line-neutral insulation resistance test

    Morning On a house that I am attempting to buy, the previous owner supplied me with a domestic electrical installation condition report from 2012 that has the comment: 'no line - neutral insulation resistance test on lights'. Should I be concerned about this, from a safety point of view ? I...
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    breathability of sand / cement render when it has lime in

    It does eeem surprising that a silicone based render is breathable. Krend do strongly market it as breathable though, and they have independent (supposedly) scientific reports on their website that support it.
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    breathability of sand / cement render when it has lime in

    I would have preferred Natural Hydraulic Lime, and that was the original plan. However I have been informed that the cost would be 100 £ / m2 assuming three coats. That would make the cost of rendering that relatively small area, 6 foot by 25 foot, £1400 !
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    breathability of sand / cement render when it has lime in

    Hi I am going to remove blown concrete render from a wall, and rerender with a well known proprietary silicone-based render. It is essential that it be breathable. I have been advised by the contractor that the mixture: 4 sand : 1 lime : 0.5 cement (or possibly 1 lime : 1 cement)...
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    removal of concrete render and repair of brickwork

    This is interesting thankyou Tireetim. So is SBR / concrete mix truly an alternative to rendering or painting ? It would have to be coloured or opaque if any bricks had been dubbed out, otherwise the wall would look a mess. I was wanting to have whatever covering I did apply to be breathable...
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    removal of concrete render and repair of brickwork

    Hi Tireetim I need to remove around the bottom 6 foot because below this the concrete render has blown and is clearly letting water in. When its off, I need to decide whether to paint with a breathable paint or render with k-rend. No doubt there will be some repairs to do first. I will have a...
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