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All the comments make sense, but I was hoping to find out the minimum required by the regulations. My book seems to suggest that if the fan has a switch of its own, another one is not required - but the wording is slightly ambiguous. I really don't want another switch on my kitchen wall just to...

Crafty, thanks for that, but your reply highlights exactly why I'm really rather confused! If you want to work on the appliance, you start by removing the sheet metal chimney and right there you'll see the switch. There are no live parts visible, because the motor is further enclosed in a...

I'm installing a cooker hood with a sheet metal chimney to cover the ducting. I don't want another unsightly switched FCU on the wall above the worktop. The hood has its own on/off switch. What are my options. I don't understand rules about having a separate switch and it being accessible (why...

Jason, thank you!

I have new 10mm thick porcelain tiles on the wall and floor. Standard tile bits make almost no progress through the tiles. Local tile shop suggested "Bosch Karat" bits, but doesn't stock them. Can't find them on Bosch's website either. Surely this can't be this difficult! Also, how do you...

Hi, I read somewhere that it's a good idea to waterproof plaster walls before tiling a shower or bath, particularly at the bath edge where someday the caulking and grout may deteriorate and let water in. The wall in question is plastered with "bonding" which is very very absorbent of water...

Jason, you're a star!

Jasonb, Thanks a lot. You've got the answers I need! I've been searching the web pretty hard to find the "star 50" you refer to, but no one lists it on websites. The link you gave me doesn't show it either, but it does show the "pocket 40" and the "TS50". It looks like there may be at...

Thanks masona and jasnob, Let me understand... I take it you concur my screwfix tool might well not be accurate enough. Looking at the price of the Rubi tool (£130) that's clearly a different league from my £15 gizmo. On the other hand the "pocket" version is £30. Do you believe I will achieve...

Washboy, thanks for that. The pencil is obvious, but I jumped at the idea that tiles are impervious and the whiteboard marker which you just wipe off seemed like such a good idea. I have to return to the tile shop for more stuff so I'll challenge them with the task of removing the marker marks...

Really??? I'm surprised you can succeed scoring big tiles (mine are 40cm square) with that hand tool. How long does that sharp point last? I can certainly see that it would be far more accurate. And can you exert enough force with the hand pliers? My tiles are about 9mm thick and require a...

Hi, I'm trying to tile with 40cm porcelain tiles. Using a new Screwfix snap cutter but the little tungsten carbide wheel seems to have a bit of play such that it pulls as much as 3 mm to either side as you score. There's also some flex in the whole structure of the cutter. In other words, after...

Thanks, that's helpful. Sounds like I shouldn't have bought matt tiles. I was looking at a bottle of sealant and it says it's a one time application. It doesn't say anything about repeating yearly. Is that wishful thinking on the manufacturer's part?

Hi, Just tiled a bathroom floor with matt finish porcelain tiles. Used a dry wipe marker (used for whiteboards) to mark the tiles while working and now it doesn't rub off fully - I am left with a faint mark. The plumber left some iron filings on the floor and they rusted and left stains too...

Thanks, all. I've removed the chrome pipe. I've replaced the compression fittings with soldered fittings. Next time, I'll see if there's a way to route the pipes such that everything inside the wall is free of joints. And I conclude there isn't much enthusiasm out there for plastic push fits

bathjobby: thanks for comments. I agree with all you say, but there just isn't any practical way to avoid couplings of some kind inside the wall (otherwise would need to damage tiles and other things I can't easily replace). If I grudgingly accept the need for an elbow in the wall, what's the...

Hello: I installed a chrome towel rail on a breezeblock and plaster internal wall. Pipes chased and tunnelled through wall from void in floor and emerge from wall to reach the radiator valves two inches or so away (coming straight out of the floor is not an option). All pipes are copper 15mm...