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Thanks Gasguru, yes you're spot on there - the auto air vent is defective. I ordered a replacement which just arrived today. I'm going to drain, flush, clean and renew the inhibitor while replacing the auto air vent.

My Glowworm Flexicom 30cx was installed about 17 years ago. After DHW has been used, the boiler continues to run for about 1 minute and sounds like it's still pumping water around (normal operating, not an issue). However - the pumping sound has over recent years started to become a noisier...

I'm planning a concrete driveway and have selected to use Dek Drain's aluminium edge "Slot Drain" drainage channels. I've checked the manufacturer's website, and although they don't say much about using it with concrete their installation guide shows two examples, one with block paving which...

Thanks guys for all the tips and advice, I have a much clearer idea how to do this now. I'd describe the soil as relatively dry clay. Would it be okay to dig the first metre trench, support it with wooden shuttering, then dig the next metre right next to it, support it, and so on? It will be...

Won't it make the retaining wall and foundations less strong if they're not constructed contiguously? I was expecting to lay long reinforcing rods or mesh across the whole trench of wet concrete. When you say to consolidate the bays, do you mean like effectively build boxes with timber shuttering?

Yes, I bought a Cat, Genny and Mouse about a year ago and mapped these out. Services-in are at one side of the garden and run quite shallow under a concrete path and steps which lead to the house, then they continue along the side passage to the back of the house. The sewer runs along the back...

I've received full planning permission to dig out half of my front garden and create a driveway. The distance from the public footpath to the house is approximately 10 meters. So at half way (5 meters from footpath, 5 meters from house) I need to construct a retaining wall, at this point I will...

When I fitted an 8mm glass balustrade on the landing I found that I had not screwed down the base rail perfectly straight, so it was a bit of a struggle getting the glass to fit. Luckily the landing was only a short section, and I was also able to adjust a few screws to get the glass to slip in...

I have a ceiling which is approximately 2.6m x 3.6m. How can I fit tapered edge plasterboard without having to plaster over it? The problem is that I can't find plasterboard with all 4 edges tapered. Therefore some square edges will need to be butted together, and these joints will end up...

80m is a lot of paviors! I take it you didn't mortar between each block - so how did you deal with bends? Or were they straight run(s)?

I've just laid a concrete patio and paths which I'm going to edge with salvaged charcoal kerb blocks. The kerb blocks will sit between the concrete and flower beds. The paths slope at various gradients and the patio is circular, so I plan to butt the blocks together with mortar between each...

Good point about using the board. Anyway, I've been shovelling the new ballast delivery and it's not very difficult getting the spade in at all. My previous bad experience was with a bag that had stood for several years, so I think it was only difficult because it had become compacted.

Went back to the builder's yard thinking I could get it all sorted today, but they threw a spanner in the works and said they don't do 10mm ballast. I'm not that experienced with concrete. Not sure if 20mm ballast would give as good a finish with PIC as 10mm would. Also I would have to bring...

According to noseall's post here: https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/cement-ballast-by-volume-of-weight.92001/post-617142 1.9 tonnes of ballast (+ cement and water) will make 1m³ of concrete. (I'm not sure his calculations to take account of the weight of the water?) Since I need 0.62m³ which...

I'm having a go at PIC concrete garden paths and patio. I've measured the areas and calculated the total volume as being 0.611m³ (cubic meters). I went to the builder's yard and asked for a quote for 10 bags of cement and a 0.62m³ (rounded up for margin of error) bag of 10mm ballast...

I'm looking for the most robust method of screwing the newel post to the stretcher. Would it be better to drill a large pilot hole through the side of the newel post so that screw threads only grip the stretcher, thereby pulling the post closer to the stretcher? Or pilot drill through both so...

I had this problem in a flat, it was coming from the cupboard where water services rise/fall between flats. If you opened the cupboard door you could clearly hear every word the neighbour below was saying. Your neighbour might not be keeping their service cupboards closed. Also check around...

It's not actually a pit. As mentioned, the garden is on a hill and divided into terraces. The retaining walls only need to be on three sides. The fourth side will face the lower ground level of the next terrace. I will try to upload a sketch...

Oops! Let me rephrase that last bit. If I dig out a deep base and build a 3m high shed near the boundary (and surround with retaining walls) so that the top of the shed is still only 2.5m above the original ground level - would this be acceptable?