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1) I bought a sealed plastic pack of replacement tap washers from a DIY shed which where labelled 19mm. But when I measured them they were 25mm in diameter. Was this simply a packaging mistake or what? 2) I've replaced the washer in an old-fashioned tap in my 1930s house. The old washer was...

I need to make a groove in the concrete floor slab of a 1960s house. At least 1/8 th inch deep and 1/4 inch wide, and about 600mm long. It does not have to be exact or neat. What would be the best/quickest/easiest way of doing it please? I've tried hammering with a cold chisel, but that...

I have two night storage radiators (NSR) already, and I want to get two more in different rooms. Do they require their own seperate dedicated circuit, or do they just run from the normal circuit with a non-removable plug? How much should they cost - I have been quoted £550 to fit one NSR...

I need to fix a stiff earth wire to another block wall prior to the wall being plastered. The house is 1960s. What is the best way to do this please? I imagine that run of the mill cable clips are not substantial enough to hammer into building blocks, and I don't know if its sensible to...

I have an empty house, and the weathers becoming frosty. I've turned the water off at the stopcock under the sink and opened all the taps. I'm wondering if I should try draining the radiators or not. About a year ago the old boiler was replaced by a condensing boiler. The immersion tank was...

Are there any online videos that do a good job of teaching you how to paint? I've read painting and decorating books years ago, but its not the same as seeing how to do it. Thanks

I'd never heard of Owatrol oil until someone mentioned it here. Should it be used with non-drip paints? If its so wonderful, why is it not already added to paints as standard? Thanks

I have a lot of skirting board to paint. The problem I anticipate is keeping a nice straight line at the junction of the board and the emulsion. Is just a steady hand the only way to do this, or is there some better way? The other lesser problem is keeping paint off the fitted carpet...

Where can I find a list of painting terms like "feathering" "lay off" "cut in", and what they mean? Thanks

I've never used a roller for gloss before. In a High Street DIY place they had three different mini-rollers: 1) foam - I've read these are not very good and leave bubbles 2) towel-like fabric, said to be for emulsion 3) towel-like fabric, different colour to 2), said to be for...

I have an old open copper water pipe sticking out of a plastered block wall at right angles, in other words perpendicularly to the wall. The pipe is rigid and does not move. I would like to cut it below the surface so that the hole can be plastered to make it disapear. What would be the...

Is it better to use an asymetrical olive, rather than a symetrical one, or dosnt it matter? When using an asymetrical olive with an end cap, should the more tapered side of the olive be next to the pipe side or the cap side? Thanks

I want to get the right size fitting for a copper water pipe. The house was built in the 80s I think. The pipe used to be connected to an immersion tank, so it is I think wider than pipes attached to taps. Internet surfing suggests that pipes can vary in size by 1/8th of an inch if imperial...

How are architraves usually fixed in place? Looking at my door, I see about half an inch of wood next to the door, and the rest of the width is plaster. How should I fix it? I have two metre-long lengths of skirting board, joining at right angles, to fix to a plaster surface. How should I do...

I had my old central heating system converted to a combi. Where the immersion heater used to be, are some open pipes I'm going to saw off. There is also another pipe which ends in a valve. Opening the valve produces water under pressure. I would like to cap this pipe further back, under the...

Whenever I try to paint a door I get dribbles of paint on the surface. If I use less paint on the brush then the paint does not cover all the surface. I think I spread the paint out evenly, but as it dries it forms runs. What is the secret of painting doors or other vertical flat sufaces...

Would it be best to put in laminate or a carpet in the living room of a house I'm letting to tenants please? I thought that laminate would last much longer than carpet, but I'm not sure if that is true or not. It is more expensive than carpet, but carpet may get soiled or worn or damaged more...

What is the best way to remove paint from brickwork please? I mean ordinary red bricks. The paint could be gloss or emulsion. I mean small amounts due to splashing, dripping, or graphitti. Thanks

I'm considering removing a carpet and putting down laminate instead. The underlying floor is concrete slab. 1) Is it a good idea to leave the carpet underlay in place and lay the laminate over it? 2) Am I right in thinking I should I remove the carpet grippers? 3) I've never installed...

Any constructive suggestions about trying to get or make a match please? The size of tile is not important, as I have to cut it to shape anyway due to being next to a plug socket. I've got a white tile, but the existing tiles are a very very pale shade of grey. They are nearly white, but not...