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Hi all, I'm just a DIYer but reasonably savvy hopefully. I've tried to install a thumb-turn deadbolt for the first time, on my bathroom door, and am having a problem. I've drilled the 25mm hole (75mm deep) into the thickness of the door, drilled the 16mm hole through the width of the door, the...

Thanks Swwils. I assume that microwave sensors won't be reflected off the steam. Is it possible to buy a separate small microwave sensor that I could swap for the existing PIR?

Hi all, I have a boiler flue exiting my house wall. Hot gases from the flue are continually setting off the security light PIR which was recently installed by a (clearly somewhat dopey) electrician. See photos attached. I have considered moving the light (or the PIR), but the gases would...

Hi all, I had an original cast-iron manhole cover over my foul drain chamber, in my garage. This cover broke (cast iron is brittle...) and I want to replace it. The original cast-iron frame seems to be in reasonable condition, and well fixed into the rebate round the top of the chamber, so I'd...

Thanks yes I saw the HSE guidance, which suggests that minor works on AIB for < 1 hour are legal without a licence. I think the idea of the ply is a good one, I will go for that and see if I can buy a small section of 18mm ply, without needing to get a massive 2.4m board!

Er... Did you not recommend that in your first post??

Thanks Tigercubrider, so you mean a piece of ply thick enough to take a screw without going into the ceiling? That's a good idea. Obviously it would mean a little 'projection' of the light fitting into the room, but if painted white it would probably look OK. Have you ever done this before? How...

Thanks guys. Removing an entire ceiling of AIB, when it's actually the internal side of the flat roof of the extension, would cost thousands. I was just trying to see if there's a safe way of doing a couple of small holes without spending huge money. Drilling through foam (I heard elsewhere...

Hi all, I have a crazy situation in a 1960s above-garage extension in a house I've recently bought. It seems that the lighting circuit was wired without an earth (not uncommon back then I understand), but at the same time the lighting fitments are metal-framed! Obviously not meeting safety...

WNI thanks, yes good point about AIB I hadn't thought of that! I might need to send a sliver off for asbestos testing :-(

Hi all, I have a 1960s bedroom extension above a very cold garage below, in my 1930s semi. Looks like the people who put the bedroom extension in didn't bother insulating the floor... so it's freezing in winter and no doubt massively leaking heat! The bedroom has stripped and polished...

Hi, I've just bought a house which has a 1960s bedroom extension above the original 1930s garage. The ceiling panels are standard 9.5mm-thick plasterboard, but there is no fireproofing, which is now required - naturally I want to protect the bedroom above as best as possible. I'm considering...

Datarebal, see attached photo of some of the newly-installed slates. Woody, that's good advice of course, but depends on me having the technical knowledge of lead codes, flashing installation techniques, and slate roofing, to be able to spec the job beforehand, or to challenge them afterwards...

Thanks guys. Woody, good point that the 'total' protection from two layers of lead will be a lot higher! But if the new top layer is 'code 3', will that not mean that it's more likely to crack and deteriorate sooner? I've now got *another* problem with the same job! Several slate tiles were...

What do I need to do? Thanks for your continuing help - much appreciated.

Why not? It's an actual measuring device, I checked that it's accurate before putting it on the lead sheet.

Thanks all. Section lengths are variable, two are at 1.6m and the others well below 1.5m. Laps are about 50mm. I didn't see the tape colour on the rolls unfortunately. I have a micrometer gauge which I have used on them (I can access the flashing out of the windows), the readings are variable...

Thanks. Sigh... perhaps it's the old lead layer underneath which has made it a bit uneven when hammering it down... It might not look quite as nice, but no one can see it really - are there any technical problems with a surface slightly 'dented' in places? Once it's been put on, how would I be...

Thanks woody. What do you mean by a hiding exactly?

Here is a photo - new lead, but they didn't take the old lead off, it's still under there... does it matter, as long as the new lead is securely fixed? (which it appears to be, to my untrained eye). Is it normal to have the lead strips left without any sealant between the sections? Or do they...