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Thanks. Scribing a skirting board - do I use the other board to draw the profile outline, and then saw it? What kind of saw should I use? Would "No Nails" be OK for the architrave, perhaps with a couple of pins to hold it while drying?

Thanks. Another two questions please. Is it worth using jointing compound with olives? I've only just heard about jointing compound, not sure what it is or what it does. Does the size of the olive have to match that of the fitting exactly? For example would it be wrong to use a 3/4" olive...

Is it better to use an asymetrical olive, rather than a symetrical one, or dosnt it matter? When using an asymetrical olive with an end cap, should the more tapered side of the olive be next to the pipe side or the cap side? Thanks

I want to get the right size fitting for a copper water pipe. The house was built in the 80s I think. The pipe used to be connected to an immersion tank, so it is I think wider than pipes attached to taps. Internet surfing suggests that pipes can vary in size by 1/8th of an inch if imperial...

How are architraves usually fixed in place? Looking at my door, I see about half an inch of wood next to the door, and the rest of the width is plaster. How should I fix it? I have two metre-long lengths of skirting board, joining at right angles, to fix to a plaster surface. How should I do...

Does the thing illustrated have a name please, so I know what to buy? It would be great to solve the problem with a £2 fitting rather than pay 50 times more for a plumber.

I just remembered that I replaced a washing-machine valve with a new one recently, no problems at all. Although I'm not sure if the end of the pipe had been shaped somehow, as I used the old 'nut' already on the pipe and just replaced the rest of the valve. Edit: actually the old olive may have...

Thanks. What does one hour's labour cost nowadays?

I had my old central heating system converted to a combi. Where the immersion heater used to be, are some open pipes I'm going to saw off. There is also another pipe which ends in a valve. Opening the valve produces water under pressure. I would like to cap this pipe further back, under the...

Whenever I try to paint a door I get dribbles of paint on the surface. If I use less paint on the brush then the paint does not cover all the surface. I think I spread the paint out evenly, but as it dries it forms runs. What is the secret of painting doors or other vertical flat sufaces...

Would it be best to put in laminate or a carpet in the living room of a house I'm letting to tenants please? I thought that laminate would last much longer than carpet, but I'm not sure if that is true or not. It is more expensive than carpet, but carpet may get soiled or worn or damaged more...

Just leave them - dust and pollution will darken them for you. Dirtying them again will probably result in a drop in resale value of your home.

What is the best way to remove paint from brickwork please? I mean ordinary red bricks. The paint could be gloss or emulsion. I mean small amounts due to splashing, dripping, or graphitti. Thanks

I've decided to remove a tile from a less conspicuous area and use that.

I'm considering removing a carpet and putting down laminate instead. The underlying floor is concrete slab. 1) Is it a good idea to leave the carpet underlay in place and lay the laminate over it? 2) Am I right in thinking I should I remove the carpet grippers? 3) I've never installed...

Any constructive suggestions about trying to get or make a match please? The size of tile is not important, as I have to cut it to shape anyway due to being next to a plug socket. I've got a white tile, but the existing tiles are a very very pale shade of grey. They are nearly white, but not...

A plumber told me that you just put gloss paint on the bare metal. Was that wrong? Thanks.

Thanks, what do I prime the walls with please? I've also noticed, when looking though similar questions here, that some people suggest painting the interior with emulsion, some people suggest masonary paint. What is best please? Its in a heated room, not a garage. I suspect that whatever...

What is the best way to paint copper central-heating pipes please? Does it make any difference if they are indoors or outdoors? Thanks.

In an extension I have some cavity wall made of grey concrete blocks. I would like to paint both the indoors side and the outdoors side white. What would be the best way to do it please? What should I do to prepare the surfaces? Do I need any undercoats or pre-treatment please? Am I...