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Staircase treads are showing rust spots and customer wants a matt or satin finish, not high gloss. I'm thinking of using Hammerite satin. Can anyone think of a reason not to, or suggest a better product? Thanks!

I need to buy a load of 5" lamb's tongue skirting boards. What's the longest lengths it comes in, please?

I take it all back. Perhaps electricians appreciate aesthetics after all! http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31995555 (That said, he was dodgy and he did stick the box of priceless drawings and paintings in a corner of his garage fro 40 years).

Hi all, The ceilings in our cottage are only 2.1m high and we have wall lights in some rooms. Please could anyone tell me whether - practically or aesthetically - there is an ideal height for these things? The ones which are there now seem too high up, to me. (The shades come within about 30...

I would like to construct a flat but non-flexible board/table top about 2m x 2.3m which will make constructing interlined curtains much easier and more comfortable. (At the moment I have to spread them out and work on them on the floor, which I find uncomfortable and gives me backache). If I...

How much should I expect to pay for a new double glazed wood sash window approx 1m x 1.5m, with 8 smaller panes within each half? (We actually need 12 new windows, but have no idea how much to allow). They will be painted, so we if go for softwood rather than hardwood, would that be...

Does anyone have a view on whether wallpaper on a feature wall with a picture rail should continue above the picture rail to the ceiling, or stop at the picture rail (the section above being painted the same as the rest of the walls)? 1930s house, bedroom with normal height ceiling, picture...

Please settle an argument. Is there any reason why a wall papered with a textured wallpaper and painted (some time ago) with vinyl silk emulsion should not be refreshed by being repainted with more silk vinyl emulsion? Clearly the original sheen cannot be sanded off (as you would want to do...

I've got to choose floor tiles and colour/s to paint the walls and cabinets, in a north-facing small kitchen (8' x 12') with a cranberry coloured range cooker...

HI all, I've strayed in here from the decorator's forum in the hope of some good advice about floor tiling. Our kitchen floor is currently tiled with 30 cm x 30 cm smooth, flat ceramic tiles with 5 mm grout lines on top of asphalt (laid originally as damp proof treatment). The correct...

Does anyone know of a less destructive method than heat, of determining whether the paint on a window frame is oil or water based? The property owners do not know which it was. It was done about 3 years ago and is in very good condition - they just want to change the colour. I'm hoping it's...

Our IKEA dishwasher has started playing up - it stops mid-cycle and the on/off button starts flashing rapidly. Cannot be persuaded to re-start the cycle. Any suggestions please?

Number One : Wallpaper from B & M. £4.00 per roll. The dye in the paper comes off, not just when wet, but even when lightly brushed with a wallpaper brush. Absolute bloody rubbish. I did warn the customer, but it was for a child's bedroom and they didn't want to 'waste money'. They wasted it...

I do quite a bit of work for a hotel (stone built, main building dates from about 1800) and they've asked me if I will redecorate the dining room with exactly the same William Morris wallpaper that is on the walls already (from about 20 years ago at least). Apparently you can still get the same...

I've been asked to help clean, and then seal, an area of about 5 sq m of Victorian quarry tiles on a hall floor (black, yellow, red, etc). Haven't seen them yet, but I've been told they just look a bit grotty and grimy. I am inclined to try sugar soap and a scrubbing brush first, perhaps...

Hi all Am about to start smartening up the exterior of a house with a Gliderol garage door which is an olive green colour with old splashes of white paint from when the owners DIYed the wooden surround. The splashes won't come off and the whole door is looking tired anyway. The brochure...

I've just taken delivery of some tiles from a reputable tile retailer which are sold to me as floor tiles (which is what I need). They are 10cm x 10 cm and only 5mm thick. They look more like wall tiles to me. Is it possible that they are indeed floor tiles? Thanks to anyone who can help.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good quality product which can be applied to a sanded (new) pine floor to give a white, 'saltwashed' effect such as you get on driftwood? So it's whitish, (matt, not shiny), but you can still see the grain of the wood., Doesn't matter if it's w/b or...

Is there a reason (other than sloth) why people do not paint the top surfaces of internal doors? I have often wondered. :?

Can anyone please recommend a good sealant for the newly-rendered walls of a 1960s bungalow which I've been asked to seal, then paint with masonry paint? Thanks in advance.