Recent content by simchan101

Haha, yes, that was a full explanation! I understand exactly what you're saying and it makes more sense to me than the cross-batten approach. How deep should the counter-bores be? I can't seem to find the thread with your picture now!

Thanks again. Although I noticed on another thread that FMT disagrees saying there would be no strength gain unless the new timber is perfectly mated with the old joist so it acts as one unit, and that it should be cross-battened instead! As always, conflicting advice and confusion...

Thanks, Tony. And if I do decide to add to the insulation, I should use the method you described of additional 4x2s fixed atop and in-line with the existing joists, not at right angles? And this will increase strength and rigidity of the span? I'm a little concerned as the boards will be...

Hi I'm planning to board an area of loft space (about 3m x 3m) in my Victorian house for light storage - suitcases, boxes, etc. I've read some articles advising battening at right angles to the exisiting joists but I'm concerned that the combined weight of the battens, the boards, and...

...or you could try a wallpaper stripper. See my thread 'removing oil-based paint with steam'. Surprisingly, this actually works and is great for indoor use as no lead is vaporised. However, it's a bit slower, and as you'd be working outside, you could take advantage of the speed of a heat gun...

Sound advice from a health viewpoint. My suggestion would be to invest in a proper half-mask respirator suitable for lead paint removal when using a heat gun. Will cost you about £50 with all the gas and particulate filters. (ABEK1 gas filters, P3 particulate filters) Chemical stripping is...

Toupret TOUPRELITH F masonry filler. Had my limestone cills repaired a few months ago and that's what the builders were using.

I think it all depends how good a finish you want. It looks like a grand, old door hiding under all those layers of paint. If you have the time and patience, remove all the furniture and strip it back to bare wood with a heat gun and start again. The lines of those mouldings will look sharp and...

Thanks for that. I ended up buying a Draper 2kw wallpaper steamer a couple of weeks back for £45 off Amazon. It comes with 2 steam plates, 1 of which is about 6x3" which proved ideal for my window frames. I found it very effective, no nasty vapours or sticky mess like a heat gun, and...

Hi all I want to remove over 150 years of paint from my internal wooden window frames. I've tried Nitromors, which doesn't work anymore since the VOC changes and an Eco stripper, but it's painfully slow, only removing a couple of layers at a time, even when left overnight. I know my heat gun...