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I'm not a qualified spark but..I had this Phase-neutral reversal indication for an on-board socket on my band saw in my workshop. Only after taking the motor apart did I think about using my Martindale tester. The cause was not the motor but a burned through neutral cable at the back of a power...

I've been following this discussion because I also want to install a wood burning stove. Can anyone explain why a liner is required? My chimney has had wood smoke going up it since the house was built in 1890. I was quoted £100 per m to fit a liner. A big saving if one is not actually necessary.

This may be relevant and could save you about £100. We have two computers in the house and have just installed a broadband modem on one of them. Problem is I have to borrow the modem off my son whenever I want to use the Internet. Everyone I asked about how to resolve this said I would need to...

If the plaster is a bit powdery you can improve the bond by hacking out the plaster back to sounder material, such as the brickwork. Wet sand and cement bonds by water being sucked out into the background. The water draws cement particles with it. So long as the background is absorbant and not...

All very useful guys, thanks. I think distance between nails, nail sizes and stuff like that is probably what they want. I was hoping for an example to work from but I guess I'll just have to make it up.

Buy yourself a wee bag of sand and cement and a cheap plaster's trowel. Just mix it up and slam it in the hole (wet the area first). Wait for it to stiffen (5 to 20 minutes depending on absorbancy of wall) and slice off any protubing bits with the edge of the trowel so it is flush. Do this...

The planning authorities have asked for a "nailing schedule" to suppoprt my proposals for a kitchen extension. Apart from a piece of paper saying "you bang the nails in with a hammer" I don't have a clue what they are talking about. Any suggestions?

It is unusual to get condensation on the inside of double glazing. Condensation is caused by water vapour condensing on cold surfaces. Cold surfaces occur where there is a steep thermal gradient. For example on single glazing where there is a large difference in temperature across a small...

You may want to use a steam stripper to minimise damage. But be ready for some arm ache.

You have several options, varying in expense and messiness. You could patch the existing, this is the cheapest and least messy. Make sure you chase out the cracks back to the lathes then use Bonding to fill in. The bonding splurged up above the lathes and secures the patches of intact plaster...

If you are still there Oilman.., The existing windows are very old, with poor quality glass that has sagged over the years making for a wobbly view. (Some people like this - not me!) The paint job is appalling with great splurges of paint on the glass, and the putty is falling out. So I'm in...

I've seen these. Victorian Scottish architects obviously felt people north of the border didn't require counter weights to life the windows, unlike their neighbours! We have no weights or pulleys, just brute strength! The question is how to weatherproof the dg units. I can router out sufficient...

In place of the existing ladder I am planning an alternate step ladder for going up and a fireman's pole for going down. The poles they sell as childrens playground equipment are far too narrow. I need about 4-6 inch diameter. Preferably harwood. At these sizes it seems I would need to turn it...

I've had good and bad experience with silicone sealant. The good stuff is marketed under the name EvoStick, it is sold by builders merchants (here in Aberdeen anyway) and smells like vinegar for a few days. The crap stuff, believe me it is useless, in marketed under the name of UniBond is sold...

Sorry, I wrote a long spiel about sealant, then realised you said lubricant. Seems I cannot delete this.

I planning to fit double glazing units in old sash windows. Any experience, stories, things to avoid would be welcome. The available space to make a rebate is limited, how would you secure the unit so it looks ok, doesn't fall out, doesn't clash with the upper window on openning or trap rain water?

I'm thinking of creating a "tennis wall" in the corner of the garden using the two existing stone walls and two new chain link fences. The plan is to ashphalt the surface over base hardcore. Any advise on how to prevent weeds pushing through, on overall dimensions or on the angle to render the...

Thanks for the reply. If my current plan fails I will try the polyurethene foam.

I'm fitting a new shower and suspect the joint between shower tray and wall will someday leak. I've gone to great lengths to avoid this but I would welcome any comments. I'm using formica laminated wall panels, glued to the wall. I've bedded the tray in cement mortar as per the recommendations...

I have a fitted a new consumer unit with an RCD to supply an electric shower. Trouble is it came with no wiring instructions and it looks different from your regular c.unit. It seems there are only 3 terminals to fit 4 wires (+ and - from meter, + and - to shower). Any suggestions? I don't want...