Recent content by richw

I filled some chases and some old backbones (now unused!) the other day. For the first time, I bought some bonding plaster - it's a total revelation. Easy to mix and apply, and you can slap in in very thick. I was all set to get some EasiFill 60, but had a several-years-old tub of Wickes...

I find bark clippings are pretty good at keeping the weeds at bay. Yes, they can blow about onto the lawn or patio, so you really want some sort of edging.

Isn't there idea that a heat pump, with low-temperature radiators (or UFH) should basically be on low all the time? Because if your house goes gold, then you can't whack it on high for 30 minutes like you can with gas. Presuming the heat pump is cheap to run, so why not have the whole house at...

Surely it's fine to work on the non-gas? (excluding any sealed areas) It's possible your diverter is terrible. I had a Ravenheat RSF84 boiler which was similar-ish to a Baxi 105, and remember official diverters being expensive. I tried a £25 one, and it was a piece of junk. So I had to bite...

Well, yes, those who carry on (staying in the country, staying employed, maintaining their hours worked etc.) will pay more. But those who then drop-out... close that business, don't start that side-project, don't expand, relocate abroad, choose to live off others etc. will pay less. Hasn't...

Only thing I'd say is watch for the quality. If you are paying someone to fit, then you don't want a piece of junk, which will need replacing before long. I've bought Myson HE (traditional style) rads before, and they weight an absolute ton compared to the cheapo B&Q/SF/TS ones. Deffo better...

I used to have an RFS-84, which I think was the non-condensing model... so probably common heritage. A terrible fault I had was cycling, and changing the sensors and PCB made no difference. Had me stumped! Then, by accident, I noticed that the cabling between the sensors and the PCB, when...

There absolutely is/was enough labour already: in a supply/demand market economy, you would struggle to run out. The typical options are to pay the workforce more, or innovate to increase productivity (so you can do more with less). Importing a 'slave class', morals aside, would act on a brake...

Maybe there is some correlation: maybe not. Obviously, we only hear of loud-mouths, so don't really know what most think. I can't see why anyone would be in favour of illegal entry to the UK, from elite wokeists to whatever rough gammon image you want to imagine. On the other points, what if...

[No political appointments in the Lords] If we have elected Lords, are they really any different to MPs? Isn't the idea that they can scrutinise without fear of a quick vote-out, and not bow to the potential mob of democratic rule? So I can see why you would have people like judges and...

I don't think that's fair. What's the issue with not wanting people illegally in the country? It's not that different from not wanting people illegally in my house or car. I don't see how race comes into it: I do not make any distinction for race. Someone here illegally is here illegally and...

How about: - No political appointments in the Lords (there is value in a sensible and diverse second chamber) - MPs must live in their constituency (no one parachuted into a safe seat - you are supposed to represent an area!) - MPs must have children (skin in the game for the future) - MPs must...

Herringbone is currently rather fashionable! (which almost put us off having it in our new kitchen - but we have always liked it, honest!)

I would fix that myself before paying someone to skim (assuming you are skimming the whole room). Remove ALL loose plaster. PVC/SBR, then apply browning - might need to build up in stages. Get it to a level where the pro can just skim over. If they have to do that for you, then you are...

This is the way. If you really want professional assistance during the job, then you should draw on the wall where you want sockets etc. and lift/expose the flooring/ceilings throughout the house, then install all the backboxes. This would make the sparky's job much quicker. Maybe you could...