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only 3 about 7 foot high. I'm a slow DIY er!

Update on column casting: Tried again. The results were more disapointing than the first column! I think the aggrigate I used too large and I still had difficulty compacting the concrete in the column. So after a rethink I'll cast the columns in sections and then assemble them in to a...

I have the same problem and I also want to include an element of acoustic insulation. I am thinking of putting up wooden battens with a rockwool/slab type insulation between, then plaster-boarding over. I'll then have to get someone in to skim it. But it's on my list of jobs!

ring dyson they have a help line !

We needed to seek advice about some beech trees next to our house. They are only 12ft from our house. The largest about 15ft away, and we are on clay soil! You will need to contact someone who is a 'registered abourculturist' You could also ask to speak to the councils 'tree preservation...

What a good ratio of sand/cement/agg ?

The post seems firmly fixed at the base. It just starts to sway 1/2 way up. The single piece of rebar I used was firmly fixed in a foundation. As it was a single piece, it was not rigid and would sway around. The concrete was poured quite wet, I hoped that would give me a better finish...

Update 19/9/05 I cast the column 2 weeks ago. I used a 110mm underground drainage pipe, lightly smeared with vasaline as a mould. That bit worked fine. I used a fairly wet mix and left the mould on for 5 days. The mould came off fine ( 1 week ago ) and the column has dried out...

I get 8 shovel fulls of sand out of the bags I buy ( about £1.10 from Wickes ). But then I'm a pathetic weak girlie, and have to use a small shovel.

I'll post pics when it is done, but It will take me a few weeks. I'm still thinking of how to cast them ( in parts, or whole in situe ), and it may take a few attempts!

My builders used a foil type sandwich of insulation. It had about 7 different layers ( not the one with just foil and air bubbles ). I think it was attched direcly to the rafters, so leaving an air gap behind. It was then plaster boarded.

I'm putting in a pebble/ gravel moziac boarder on my patio. It is an an area that won't get much foot trafic. I used PVA in the mortar mix, but is there any thing I can use to seal the surface to stop water/frost from lossening the pebbles/gravel. Is a coat of PVA good enough or should I use a...

I'm planning on casting the coloum in situ so how long should I leave the concrete to go off before removing the mould? Will rapid setting cement powder be a good idea? I'm casting the base and reinforcment today! Colums at the end of the week!

Is the acer wilting or are the top leaves turning brown and dry? Acers hate direct sun and windy positions and suffer from 'wind burn' where the top or exposed growth will die back. Also makesure you are not 'drowing' the plant with too much water. The best thing is to get it in a...

I've put a new patio in and instead of using a wooden pergola I would like to make one with cast 'concrete colums'. This is a small scale DIY operation so I only have basic tools. My plan so far: concrete footings with re-bar ( to form support for column). Use a plastic soil pipe as...

Thanks for the replies. I'll see which of those products I can get hold of. Just to check, by 'caulk' do you mean 'decorators caulk' or something else?

We had our shower cubicle tiled with mosaic tiles about 2 years ago. I've notice that around the bottom of the shower, some of the grout seems to be wearing away! Is it possible to regrout between the tiles? If so what is the best way to clean the shower junk of the tiles? Is there a...

I've wired lights in to my garden with the 'ring select-a-light' range. I've found it realy flexable. Good for me as I am always changing the design of the garden! The range is low voltage, so I just drilled a hole in the wall and ran the lv cable in to the house before connecting it up to...

I'd dissagree with Thermo's first post. The soil under the paving could be quite 'dead'. The last thing you want to do is spend time and effort laying turf and then finding it doesn't establish! Depending on the area you have to turf I'd suggest removing some of the top soil or at least...

Those pond grids are a good idea. If you are constructing the pond edges from sleepers you can arrange them to give you a shelf to rest the grid on. I would sugest getting one made locally, to the pond size, maybe with a wider spacing ( as the narrow spacing shown will just encourage the little...