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I'm a self employed handyman, painter/decorator. I've recently been told by the National Trust that to continue being considered for even odd jobs I've got to be registered with Construction Line. Has anyone any experience of the process & costs please? Bern

What is the most effective method to neutralise the alkaline once wood has been stripped/dipped? I've been told Vinegar (Apple Cider or Malt) or Sugarsoap. I'm going to be painting a chair that has been sent to be stripped as well as one I've stripped using Screwfix's own brand paint & varnish...

We have a 1960's ex council house here in Bedfordshire. The inside of the external walls are made from compacted straw sheets. The straw is about 4" thick faced with cardboard and a very thin plaster. I want to put up some general purpose shelves and hope someone can advise me on which of the...

A while ago I got help from the site when choosing a multi tool. I bought an Erbauer from Screwfix which has done all the cutting and sanding I have required of it for the past 4 months without problems. I'm back asking for help to choose a reasonably priced Orbital Sander please. The initial...

Along one side of a new patio I've been asked to fix horizontal wooden lathes which will weather to a grey colour over time. This is to compliment a very light almost white area. Painting/staining is not an option. I think the wood I need is Cedar but I'm not sure? If I'm right what type of...

I have been looking at these battery powered tools for a while and it seems that they are now very reliable. Battery power will obviously remove the need for extension cables which to me is a definite bonus. I am thinking of getting an 18V combi drill and a multi cutter for two specific...

Has anyone come across a problem when using this paint on top of Wickes skim plaster which has been applied on top of their ready mixed bonding agent? I have used this combination twice after removing textured wallpaper and artex from ceilings in our 1960's ex council house and I get random...

I have tried to correct this on a second ceiling so have reposted this under a different heading. See Crown Trade Covermatt pin holes.

I want to put a mirrored splashback on the tiled wall above the hob in the kitchen. The space is 60cm wide x 80cm tall. I have had two prices from a local glass merchant. Cost for mirror splash back in 6mm mirror par supply only £64.20 Alternative price in 6mm toughened back painted...

I need to strip off textured wallpaper and artex then skim and paint the walls up the single flight of stairs in our 1960s ex council house. As I have to fit this in around paid work I wont be able to hire a decorators scaffold. Can anyone recommend a good basic set which is easy to erect...

I would like to try the Bedec paint on an internal UPVC window frame but I can't find out if it will cover the general purpose silicone sealant that I have used to fill small gaps where various sections meet. The reason I ask is because Sandtex tell me their UPVC Primer won't work with...

A couple of weeks ago a plumber and his mate removed a downstairs toilet for us. In it's place they plumbed in a washing machine which sits above the soil pipe. To keep the job simple they made a plinth above the soil pipe which is secured onto batons of 4x2. The 4x2 is screwed into three...

On our landing we have a couple of internal doors with small panes of frosted glass above them. Using a glass scraper I have managed to get back to the wooden beading but the edges still look pretty rough. Can anyone tell me how I get a neat painted edge please? I would normally use...

I have seen the Farrow and Ball Tallow (for walls) and Farrows Cream (skirting, window frame and door). From their description it looks like both are "Estate" Emulsions. I would normally go for a vinyl matt for the walls and a vinyl silk for skirting and doors, etc. Can anyone tell me if...

I recently bought a Mayfair Rumba Monobloc Kitchen Tap. In the end it has a coarse plastic "sieve" insert consisting of 16 segments which makes the water come out like a very thick shower spray. I've had a look at other taps which allow a single stream of water through and these seem to have...

A plumber and his mate have plumbed in a washing machine for us. They have wall mounted a single 3 pin socket and connected it to an existing 13A switched fused unit pack. The washing machine power on light does not work. When connected to one of the other 3 pin sockets in a different...

I've read a number of posts relating to insulating a conservatory roof but haven't seen any that mention an idea I have. First off I have to say that I appreciate the best way to insulate the roof would be to get it tiled/roofed properly but I don't have the money for that. I have been...

With this cold weather here I thought I would have a go at insulating the shed door. My idea is to staple a layer of insulating foil on the inside then screw a sheet of foamed PVC over the top. The foil will stick out slightly around the edges to act as a draught excluder as well as add some...

In our new house we want to replace a "Fragranite (?)" sink and drainer unit that has a right hand bowl. I think it is Fragranite, it looks like plastic granite. The existing unit is LW 980mm x 510mm measuring on the external faces from outside edge to outside edge. (The hole in the work...

The seal on the fridge door has been torn. I have found a replacement door at Hotpoint Spares as the gasket/seal is integral to the door. Having taken off the small round screw caps and the top facia strip I still can't work out how to take the fridge door off. It seems the freezer has...