Recent content by mad_as_a_fish

Thanks for the replies chaps. I didn't find your thread as I searched for 'vacuum + brick' and not 'hoover + brick' in the forum search. So, it looks like i will get a Henry (or maybe a George, Charles or Edward) but probably wont get a Bertie, who I think is Henrys little brother.

I need to buy a new vacuum cleaner as my ageing Samsung is finally falling apart (not bad really as its 12 years old now) I want a machine that will suck up nails, brick dust, rubble etc. I have heard favorable things about 'Henry' and his family, but I am interested to know what you...

From experience 'trade paint' is normally a far superior quality paint than 'regular' paint available from the DIY sheds. For instance the trade gloss paint I use has a glass-like finish to it, BUT, is much more difficult to apply than the regular paint. It is much more likley to 'run' than the...

"I did it at my previous house and my gas bill was ridiculous, we had to have the central heating on ALL summer" I think you may be exaggerating a little!

Thanks for the prompt reply.

I would like to make a fireplace hearth, but would like it no more than 1" thick. Would this be achievable with a sand / cement mix? If so what should the ratio be? Should I add any agregate? I have some steel rod kicking around the shed, can I use this in the mix to strengthen the hearth? The...