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I need a little bit of pointing done at the front where the mortar is missing. Was going to get it done but was advised that sometimes surveyors miss silly things and to wait and see if it came up. And it didn't. :roll:

Thank you John. I agree. Plus at this stage in the game before the house sale I don't want to get embroiled in legal issues. The quote was £850 for a new liner secured as you say. However I suspect that could turn out to be more. The buyer is proceeding on the basis I reduce the price by £600...

Just put me down to being strange then. I had no reason to suspect the liner was defective. I regret it now obviously but we are where we are. I've contacted the relevant trade organisation for advice. On reflection I think I might have a case. He said the liner was defective and should have...

The chimney has not been swept this year and was getting a little less draught than usual. I just thought I was playing fair by the buyer. Plus in case there was any delay at least I would have an efficient stove. I didn't know they were going to use this mode of cleaning before they started...

Adopt concerned expression 'Have you heard the news about Battersea Dog's Home'? Keep straight face 'They're in deep financial trouble' Wait for other party to look concerned 'Apparently they've called in the Official Retriever' Boom boom....

I live near a village and there is a well known local handyman who advertises in the parish mag. That said most of the neighbours have used him so it's word of mouth as said. It's not necessarily about getting a cheap person to do a skilled job. He does jobs like cleaning out gutters (we aren't...

Buyer had a full structural survey but I guess checking the chimney liner was not in the remit. Would be pretty difficult to inspect anyway.

It's tempting to resort to tit for tat measures. Heaven knows some people deserve it! But living in the middle of a constant low level feud can be pretty wearing. My gesture did sort out the hostility. Unfortunately it had unexpected repercussions. From then on (I'm female) he started making...

Thanks people. I suppose if the buyer wants me to pay (or reduce by the equivalent) the whole cost I will just have to grin and bear it.

I knocked on the door of a nasty neighbour and said something on the lines of 'Life's too short' etc etc and presented him with something dear to his heart - a 6 pack of lager. It completely wrong footed him and from then on he couldn't be more helpful. In a funny way, it gave me the moral high...

This links in with another of my posts. Just days away from an exchange of contracts on the house and stupid here decides to have the chimney swept as a nice gesture for the buyer. Sweeping reveals badly damaged liner/chimney. The whole thing needs redoing. Would you keep quiet now that you...

My chimney was cleaned today with a rotary power tool. The firm is a reputable company which issues certification including notes of any issues found. He couldn't get the rods all the way up and said there seemed to be a blockage. When he took out the tool there were ribbons of chimney liner...

This is weird. I've just come on here to post the same thing. All the power in the house went off. Reset it and the cooker switch stayed down. If I try to reset that one all the power trips again. It wasn't as if the cooker was on at the time. Not competent around wiring so an electrician...

I'm sprucing up the house for sale. The interior of the porch is just rough painted plaster. No idea what sort of paint was used. I have some spare oil based undercoat. Can I use this on the walls instead of emulsion?

I live in an old stone cottage circa 1840 but not listed or in a conservation area. A few years back a local firm replaced the awful (unoriginal) windows with wood effect UPVC - with accompanying FENSA certificate. An elderly farmer neighbour who lets properties on his land has told me that...

I'm sprucing up the house ready for sale and was repairing a couple of cracks above the bath prior to painting when I noticed some light crazing on the shower end wall above the tiles. You can't see it ordinarily - it's only noticeable when you are on a ladder up close and personal! I can't...

Hi For the first time even - probably due to the damp winter - I have had mould on the bedroom window reveals. This despite it being a well ventilated room. I've cleaned and treated the mould and am just about to repaint the affected area. Would it be worth mixing in a fungicidal additive?

That's what I thought. I suppose I could disguise that if painting rather than varnishing though.

I have some small wooden French doors - with the glass on each side divided into 4 panes. I've been thinking of improving the view into the garden by just having plain glass. Would it be a simple job to remove the 3 horizontal cross pieces on each side and refit with single panes of glass? I'm...

I've painted the (outer) stair wall a deep raspberry. It's an old cottage with thick stone walls and the window reveal is about a foot deep. At the moment I've left the window reveal as cream (which is the colour of adjacent/opposite walls) but I'm thinking it would look better, albeit darker...