Recent content by David J Williams

You will need to use scrim tape on the joints. You may be better to use a one coat plaster than standard plaster as it is easy to sand smooth. Have a look on YouTube videos of drywalling these will help you

When I moved into my property they had used old pallets with concrete blocks under and then paving slabs on the top. This could only be a temporary solution. I built the 3-sides of the 1st step using concrete blocks and then filled the inside with rubble and a layer of concrete and then built...

I removed the socket and swapped in the original to avoid damaging the USB circuitry

Hi The Rcd was tripping and wouldn't reset until the kitchen LHS breaker was set to off. I have thought about putting the socket on another circuit in the house but have lost faith in them. The socket with a mains plug is a good idea.

Hi, not looking for advice but wanted to share a problem which was driving me around the bend. Soon after we moved into our latest house which is an old former Welsh pub we decided to change one of the double gang plug sockets for one with the USB plug points built in. The socket change over...

Try a different type of connector as this may solve the issue. Possibly a flexible one may be suitable

Thanks for the reply. I have persevered with it and with the wallpaper steamer and a sharp scraper I am finally managing to move it. It turned out to be black wallpaper.

Hi I am in the process of decorating and I am trying to get some black stuff off the wall. It had been painted over by the previous owner. It seems bitchem like and tried heat and paint remover on it but it just goes sticky. I think the area may have had a cooking stove etc as the house used to...

Do you think aquapanel or insulated plasterboard will solve this problem? I have been looking on the net for a couple of days to see what others have done but not found anything

Hi Sorry to join in on an old thread but I was interested in what Frank mentioned about fitting cement boards to the window reveals in old rubble and stone thick walls to stop mould growing. I have recently moved into an old property with 24 inch thick walls and I have sealed all around the...

finally a dry day and managed to get up on the roof. I had bought a Colt top 2 cowl which looked suitable. The existing cowl as can be seen on the picture had been leaking smoke where it joins the pot so I guess that may be where water entry was taking place. Fitting the new cowl was not as...

Yes I didn't apply any sealant as there wasn't any applied before I dismantled the chimney. I have ordered a new cowl

I have only lived here just over a year and know that the previous owner ran a wood burner through this chimney which had no liner but used this cowl so I find it strange that they used a capping off cowl? Do you think this is the problem with water entry to the pot?

Sorry maybe I have named the cowls incorrectly. The capped off chimney is on the left and the wood burner on the right of the stack

Hi The elephant foot is for the bedroom fireplace that is blocked off. I am not sure why the hood top is unsuitable?