Recent content by stevenrafferty

I need to build an wall in the garden to replace an existing, single skin brick wall. It retains the garden upto a height of approx 0.6 metres. Was planning to use concrete blocks - is there any reason to not use light weight blocks as opposed to dense concrete blocks? The finished...

I'm looking for ideas for repaving my driveway? Its fairly short, just over a car length, leading up to the garage and slopes a quite a bit towards the pavement. At present, we have chips odwn, which are spreading onto the pavement given the lack of any lid/edge where the driveway meets...

I am considering replacing my current, electronic timer for the central heating system (combi boiler) with a new timer - for the sole purpose that the existing is looking grubby/door missing, so want to replace it with a new, fresh looking one. Is there anything I should look out for? Is it...

its the bottom corner below the bleed value at the top corner

I seem to have a couple of the upstairs radiators that are cold in one corner but normal heat otherwise - have bled them but no air comes out. Does this mean the system needs balanced? Ifso, how do I go about doing this? thanks

Does anyone know a stockist? This is commonly used in new built developments - consists of preformed pipe boxing, white lamanite type material, comes in a couple of sizes. I had seen it in a local timber mechant but they no longer stock it!

We have a white, chalky stain on our dining rooms wall, which is traditional lathe and plaster, with painted lining paper (emulsion paint). Although I have painted over it, this stain has reappeared. Its an external wall, but not in the slightist bit damp. Any ideas? The ironing board is...

Looking to fit some wooden blinds but can't believe the price for made to measure. I have found some in that well known swedish shed that that are just to wide and would need approx 10mm cut off each end. Has anyone attempted this? Was thinking of using a mitre saw but worried about...

I am planning to replace our current fireplace with a new hearth and back plate in granite or marble and install a livingflame gas fire. Currently, its a tiled hearth and back plate which will need to be removed and we want to keep the existing wooden mantle. There is a gas supply. Apart...

I took down an old lath and plaster ceiling in our diningroom last year -very, very messy Certainly leave carpet and make sure you tape up any doors to the rest of the house well - we found dust still crept through. If possible, have someone seal the door from the other side also. If you...

just undertook the same work. You can buy wooden threshold bars for this in wood to match the flooring. I couldn't find these in my local sheds but did in the specialist floor shops locally - costs about 20 quids each but do finish it off!

Thanks for the very useful tips In terms of trying to keep a blank area at the top of the wall (which makes complete sense) how would this work with the second strip? ie if I keep the pattern away from the top of the wall for the first strip, the second strip would have the pattern at the top?

I'm looking for tips on hanging patterned wallpaper? Quite handy at hanging lining paper but never attempted patterned paper? The pattern is quite large but does repeat obviously. Cheers

both walls are only 2 1/2 to 3 feet high

Planning to build a couple of garden walls which will be retaining. Was planning to build them out ot dense concrete blocks but is this overkill, would I get away with a lighter (and cheaper) block? Was planning to build only a single skin of blocks, but laid on the large face, so that...