Recent content by phykell

Hi, I just had to unclog an outside pipe which runs from a sink and wasing machine and exits the house as a fixed black plastic pipe which is positioned directly over a drain gully - image attached. The reason it clogged is because the end of the pipe is very close to the drain gully - it was...

I did try scraping off some of the paint as had been suggested in another thread and I can't detect any bitumen feel/smell to it. Breathable paint it is then.

Yes, the DPC is slate. There's an even older (pre-1750) part of the house which is built in sandstone, internally insulated, no DPC and still no damp! Yes, it's modern render (supposedly breathable) - the house is internally insulated and no damp problems.

Hi, My house was built around 1750 and there's a patio running up to the wall which I want to fill with gravel. The wall was previously painted black below the damp course at some point and before I fill the channel with gravel, I'd like to refresh the paint if it serves any purpose. Do I use a...

I was trying a few things and thought of just using a jubilee clip but I'd have to be very careful not to crush the cable and the SW into the insulation. Your suggestion solves this issue perfectly though and is definitely the one to go with - thanks so much (y) This page goes into some more...

I also found these on eBay which might do the trick if I was to run the cables up the side of the posts (not as elegant as running them internally):

Thanks, I'm going to get some glands to give that a try. The other option looks OK with a black Wiska box - thought I'd mount it as low as possible and gland into that. It wouldn't hide the cables like your method would though :cool: Sorry if I didn't explain it properly. There are five...

Thanks for replying and my apologies for the late reply - I didn't have notifications on! The cables from all of the lighting points (five of them) are all routed to a Wiska box on a wall which is in close proximity to an external double mains outlet - the idea is that it would be simple to...

Hi, My patio has been fitted with SWA cable poking up from holes in some of the flags - please see the photos. I've got post/bollard lights but looking at them, it's not obvious how the SWA cable will fit to them. I think I've got two options - if they're wired for mains, I need an...

Thanks, another thought was to carve out slots to make the base look like individual concrete slabs and fill in the slots and around the thing with gravel like in the picture. Looks like it will take a hell of a lot of angle grinder discs to do it though!

Hi, I've got a concrete base in my garden that's approximately 5m wide by 15m length. At one end there's a timber shed about 5m x 7.3m. I'm trying to think of what to do with the rest of the concrete base and thought about a 5m x 5m gazebo/outdoor kitchen to the other end, leaving 2.7m space...

Quick follow-up on this for anyone interested :) I had a plumber in for a different job and mentioned the shower drainage issue. He had a quick look and removed the blue inserts from the sinks' anti-syphon bottle traps which had been plumbed into the same drain as the shower. So far, so good...

Thanks - I ended up buying the Water Filter Man XL system. Hoping to have it fitted this week so will try and report back on results. Can't wait to have a decent coffee in the morning again without the smell of chlorine/bleach!

Hi, Can anyone recommend a good whole house water filter/descaler system? My water supplier, United Utilities, changed our supply from relatively soft, reservoir water to very hard, clinical-tasting water and I'm seeing deposits on bathroom fittings and in my kettle. I'm more worried about my...

I guess there's no way of telling until the ceiling is opened up and the pipework examined - I'll be somewhat irritated if that is the problem ;)