Recent content by PhilFromYorkshire

Thanks - would never have thought to put some screws in to give it something to grip. I'll give that a go.

Is the kitchen adjacent to a bathroom? Shaver socket or extractor?

I know, I know. The answer should be just don't do it . But it appears a previous owner has and it lasted fine until I drilled a big hole in it that I'd like to patch. The long story is, we live in a 60s terrace, at some point the lounge and dining room seem to have been knocked together, with...

Oh, and with the coach bolts used for sistering, what washers do I need for the head end of the bolt? They have the square section that normally forces into the wood, so do I need washers with larger holes?

I'm in the process of repairing significant rot in a 1930s semi. House has been empty for about 6 years and neglected for much longer - old hoarder who moved into a home then passed away. The stop tap in the kitchen was leaking and most of the boards/joists are rotten. In the adjacent dining...

Called their technical number - it's just a recorded message saying please use their website to contact them. Can't be doing with that - life's too short.

Yes, the spark who fitted it went round last Monday to retest. He found no problems but said he nipped up the terminals and reseated the push-on plugs. Just got a text this morning from the tenant saying it went off today. They are mains powered interlinked with battery backup. I forgot to...

Hi I've got an issue with a repeatedly false triggering Kiddie (previously Firex?) KF20 optical smoke alarm. I'm a landlord and this is a rental property over 3 stories, so it's required to have smoke detectors on every floor (not heat detectors - rental regulations) and these need to be...

Not sure - it's intermittent but next time it happens I can try isolating it and see if it stops. Great suggestion

The radiators are currently drained and filling loop disconnected while the bathroom is getting refitted.

The gas engineer I use just called round. We wondered about similar things. He's suggested fitting a mini expansion vessel after my stop tap and perhaps a pressure reducer too. He said that might stop the pressure fluctuations.

Hi I'm posting this here because both me and my gas fitter are pretty confused by this. I'm renovating a house and the combi boiler is banging - loudly but intermittently. However the boiler is switched off at the isolator, which has a glowing light that goes off so I'm a sure as I can be that...

Thanks for the advice. You're right, probably best to speak to an inspector. Yes, all the easy stuff is done. According to the last report it needs the loft conversion insulation bringing fully up to standard to get to C. I think ripping down the existing ceiling is not going to happen. That's...

Hi I have an existing loft conversion built and signed off by building control in 1992. I am considering improving the insulation. The house is a rental property and I want to get it to an EPC C rating. From what I can find of the standards at the time, the insulation should have a u value of...

Hi I'm refitting a bathroom and wondered if anyone had found such a thing as a really bombproof bath waste? This is for a residential rental property. For rentals I normally stick to the most reliable fittings I can get hold of as they can take a hammering. I have found that click clack wastes...