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Hi - Thanks for getting back so quickly. Yes, I think you're right though I'm a pessimist and always expect the worst! Is it a simple flat washer inside the cistern and what's your opinion on using sealant as well (under or around the washer)?? And IF the cistern would accept a new siphon with...

Hi - it's leaking slightly on the underside of the cistern (on the outside). It's a bit messy with some kind of sealant and presumably a washer or just the backnut. On the inside of the cistern there seems to be a kind of squishy doughnut of sealant - isn't it normally just a flat rubber washer...

Thanks for your quick reply - of course that's the burning question! Especially the siphon tail fitting my existing cistern - the fact there's no reducer to 32mm makes me wonder. If it does fit I could presumably then use a 38mm to 32mm at the cistern end if the pan won't accept 38mm? I was...

My toilet and low level cistern don't bear any name and are at least 20+ years old. I'm wondering if toilets and cisterns (and siphons) of that age could only accept 32mm flush pipes, does anybody know?? - there's certainly no reducer at the siphon end. But I don't think you can get a siphon now...

Hi to all - I was thinking to change my toilet siphon, a (theoretically) easy job. But my flush pipe is 11/4" or 32mm diameter and most siphons are designed for 11/2" (38mm) flush pipes. Presumably my toilet is not so unusual it won't accept both sizes of flush pipe?? I appreciate I can buy a...

I have another pair of wall lights on the opposite wall – these and the offending ones use a 2-gang wall switch. When I switched the wires around the (remaining) wall light on the offending wall switched on and off ok. Which suggests (as footprints said) the dodgy wiring at the wall light fused...

Thanks for that. I'm not sure if the cable in the wall is in conduit but my main concern is the wiring from the ends of this cable through the wall light to the bulbs. I doubt the wall lights were secondhand and they probably came wired up to each bulb. Because there's only a shallow recess to...

Thanks for the further replies above. To be honest, because of the poor state of things, I've taken photos but they're probably less revealing than my written explanation (not sure if I should've inserted photos as thumbnails or full images?). The cable emerging from the wall is sheathed and...

Thanks for the replies. Yes, it could well be the switch. The wall light wiring threads through hollow metal tubes to each bulb so I think the outer sheath of suitable wire would have to be removed as there's tight twists and turns to negotiate - presumably the insulation to individual wires...

Hi all - I have 2 wall lights and each has 2 bulbs – they both operate from a single wall switch. The wiring concealed behind the lights is in very poor condition and insulation has dropped off in places. Recently I slightly disturbed one light whilst decorating - there was a small flash and...

Thanks for all the info - there's more to guttering than meets the eye! I believe with plastic gutters some allowance is made for expansion/contraction on the fittings and of course with a 10m length there would be 4 fittings including the ends. I'm not sure if this allowance is a relatively new...

Thanks mrrusty - I took a look at that site - it does seem a fair bit more expensive? I think I'd be quite happy with plastic which many neighbours have chosen. But I'd value a second opinion from anyone on a ballpark figure for the work - a couple of thousand seems a bit OTT to me? Regards.

Hi Andy - I don't really see the point of a photo, it's cast iron (half-round) gutter as I described. I'm not going up a ladder to give you a close-up!

Thanks ETAF, very interesting and quite a job - I was actually thinking simple plastic. But the more I think about it, the less I'm keen! The existing cast iron has some backfalls and a couple of leaks which are probably all fixable. And if/when I sell up I'll take Andy's advice and knock...

Thanks Andy! - but I'm the world's most reasonable guy. Like most, presumably you too, I don't like being ripped off or paying way over the odds eg £80 for a local guy to do a 15 minute boiler "service" and mainly poking a probe in the flue. If I could do 3 or 4 of those in a day I'd be very...

It's good to know that not everyone is suffering during the pandemic - my local roofing and guttering guy is booked through until December! It could also be an indication that he's good and reliable which I believe he is.

Thanks Andy, not sure if you're being constructive, pessimistic or what? I don't enjoy the luxury of fascias at the side or rear, the gutter brackets are fixed to the sides of the rafters. Nonetheless, my property was built in the 1930s and as sound as any built today. You also forgot to mention...

Thanks again, sound advice. I've got a very practical son who would help but he's extremely busy just now. I've seen guys work who know what they're doing - I'm fairly sure they'd have the old stuff down by about midday and new stuff up by the end of the day. Plastic gutter as you know comes in...

Thanks for that mikeey84. Yes, I know cast iron is heavy! - hence probably a 2-man job unless cut in short lengths? Scaffoding or a tower is obviously essential which most DIYers don't possess. Scaffolding went up next door on the side of house (for rendering) in about an hour and came down even...

Thanks for that sxturbo. I'm not sure if you do this for a living? - but I know the various fittings and brackets soon add up although the basic gutter is about £3.50/metre and I'm talking about 15 metres. It's not the most complex job but it seems guys with just moderate skills expect...