Search results

Hello I'm looking to change our grotty old shower enclosure over the Christmas period. I've been lucky enough to never have to had to buy one before and consequently have no idea what makes a good one. What should I be looking for? I've seen thicknesses from 4mm up, self cleaning glass...

Hi I've managed to get hold of some industrial spec T5 flourescent fittings that are advertised as taking 4* 54w T5 tubes. I imagine that my garage would be visible from space with that kind of lighting power and didn't know if I can use lower wattage tubes with the higher power control...

Our new place has a 'swimming pool' that the previous owners left to ruin. It holds about 24000 litres of water which at the moment is pretty green and sludgy. There is a filter pump which is in working order. We've been running the pump continuously for a few days now and have the right...

Thanks for the reply. Our friend/surveyor thought largely the same as you. He advised removing the tiles and painting down a new DPM. The opinion was that it was 50:50 if they were asbestos based but even if they were they would be white asbestos and held within the matrix of the vinyl...

Hello On Saturday I removed some old floor tiles that had been in a downstairs bedroom under a carpet and underlay. The reason for this is that the room had been suffering from damp and many of the tiles had curled up. They were stuck down with a bitumen paint. I took recommended...

Hi I've just moved home and am having trouble plumbing my washing machine in. There is no standpipe to wedge the outlet hose into. Instead there is an extension hose like this http://www.wickes.co.uk/content/ebiz/wickes/invt/420181/Washing-Machine-Waste-Hose-Outlet_large.jpg I bought...

Hi I've just moved house and noticed that a few of the PVCu windows don't seal very well. The hinges appear to work fine and the windows open and close properly but the frame does not meet the black plastic seal. To my mind perhaps the seals have shrunk in the 6 years or so that the...

Thanks for the replies. So I need to buy a standard washing machine valve and a 15mm insert. Should I cut the speedfit pipe back 20mm or so before re making it all? Thanks

Hi I've got this service valve connected to my dishwasher hose one end and some style of 'speedfit' pipe the other. It has started to leak and is not solved with tightening the compression end of the valve. Can you use compression on these plastic pipes? Is there an insert? Does...

How should I choose a toilet? We're having a downstairs toilet added and I need to choose a toilet. Is it worth getting an expensive one? Which brands are good? Are the DIY chain own models any good? Anyone seen a good deal they can point me toward? Thanks

Hello I've made a start on some steps in my garden. They're going to be set into a bank on building blocks, faced with decking and have railings based on fence posts, which are concreted in. I have started to dig into the bank where a platform is to go, where steps turn by 90 degrees to...

Hi. We're thinking of building a car port and wanted to check what the rules are? We're hoping to cover the area behind our driveway gate, right up to the garage, 2.4m width 5m long. The driveway runs between our house and our neighbour's. He has two obscured windows on this border...

Hi I'm looking to do some decking/steps in the garden. Part of this will be a fence along the top tier of the garden. Ideally I would like to use decking newell posts, rails and spindles. However I've only seen newell posts in 1.2m lengths, which is handy for the fence but no good for...

Hi. Basically I wanted to know if my intended methods of construction are appropriate. How far down should a fence post be set for a metre high railing? That sort of thing.

That would be £600 at the cheapest to lay a small Patio. I'm in the wrong business! Whoops, thought that was just for labour. Not so bad afterall.

Hello Our garden is quite a death trap for children, the only way it could be worse is to add a pool of Alligators. In an effort to mitigate most of the risks we intend to build some decking at the bottom of our lawn that will span over a the 'trench' at the bottom...