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    DIY Lagging Hot Water Cylinder With Asbestos

    In an old copy of "Practical Mechanics" I have there is suggestion to make a sleeping bag from old sheets filled with asbestos...
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    Shower disaster

    FWIW I used the Salamander valve with my Aqualisa shower pump, as our hot water cylinder has a secondary coil heated by an Aga, and the water can easily exceed the maximum permitted by the pump (60 C I seem to recall). So, although the Salamander is expensive, you're only going to do this once...
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    Aqualisa Quartz shower pump no longer runs on boost

    You've probably done this, but I'd check that the inlet filters are clear. The schematic is probably only available from Aqualisa. Other than that, you can get processors on eBay relatively cheaply. There is also an eBay seller advertising a repair service for £48 - search eBay for aqualisa...
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    Copper pipes in screed - gas and water

    I hope the joints are soldered, or you have a disaster waiting to happen...
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    Any ideas what this hole in my floor is for...?

    The white material looks like excess cavity wall insulation. We have similar material at various points under the floor, near external walls where there is a gap in the inner leaf.
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    Suggested thickness of oak window board

    In my experience, wooden window boards in bathrooms are fine, providing they are adequately sealed and you're not actually pouring water on them... I've used both solid wood hardwood and veneered MDF without issues, using Osmo Polyx as the finish.
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    Can joists be drilled to take bathroom plastic waste pipes?

    I had this problem when I did may bathroom, over a year ago. I core drilled the wall, and slide a single pipe (no joins) from the outside, with no problems. (Someone on the inside to guide the end as you shove it through can avoid considerable frustration.) I also reinforced the joists where I'd...
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    Silcone Q

    This silicone remover is mainly citrus oils. You can therefore remove traces of it with white spirit, alcohol (meths or isopropanol) or similar. I wouldn't use vinegar.
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    How do I raise floor level?

    Looks good. Yes, I agree expanding foam would be a good choice to fill in peripheral gaps and around pipes. Steve
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    How do I raise floor level?

    Hi It's a perfectly reasonable question! Regardless, I've never had an issue with central heating pipes adversely affecting a dpm - the melting point of polyethylene of this type is at least 100 C Steve
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    Laying solid oak floor

    Hi I think you have two choices: 1. Use an adhesive underlay, such as Envoy-MULTI. This has adhesive on the top surface to glue the boards. 2. Something like Taylor Nu-Flor Concrete Barrier (an epoxy primer) and then glue with Taylor Timberline MS Plus. Have a look at this Youtube video...
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    Laying solid oak floor

    Yes, if the concrete is dusty a primer would generally be required to promote adhesion.
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    Laying solid oak floor

    Hi Providing you use a good quality adhesive, gluing alone is fine. I've used Timberline MS Plus, but there are other brands that are good. What's vital is to ensure that the concrete substrate is completely dry and free from damp, otherwise you'll need to seal it with some sort of epoxy...
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    Replacing isolation valves in loft cold water tanks

    Hi Sorry, I've not come across 25mm OD copper pipe. If it was imperial 3/4 it would be just under 22mm, and imperial 1" is just under 28mm, so it doesn't sound like that. (If it is imperial, you can get different olives to use with metric fittings.) Steve
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    Replacing isolation valves in loft cold water tanks

    Hi In my experience (granted, not as extensive as many others on this forum) gate valves are worse than useless. I've never come across one (out of dozens) that completely shuts off the water. Full bore lever valves are, on the other hand, excellent, and I tend to use them wherever there is...
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    How do I raise floor level?

    Hi Not sure if it's overkill, but it does seem to be common practice and correct theoretically. Steve
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    How do I raise floor level?

    Hi I've a slate-tiled kitchen floor with, essentially, the same construction. In my case, the insulation is 50mm polystyrene sheet The timbers do have a dpm under them, as per JobAndKnock's suggestion. I also have a vapour barrier directly underneath the ply. As for the pipes, you can insulate...
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    How do I raise floor level?

    Hi Personally, I would use the batten + insulation approach. This would avoid the considerable drying time / bonding issues of the screed method. However, I'd use 18mm WPB ply rather than chipboard as this will result in a much more resilient covering that is far more suitable for tiling than...
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    Replacing Aga with Range in cottage - extraction confusion!

    Hi If you have the room in your ceiling void, you can get in-ceiling hoods. They are very unobtrusive and work well - we have one over an Aga.
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    Polyx oil disaster

    Hi I'm not sure that varnishing would remove the patchiness, which is a common problem with oil or wax finishes on pine. However, if you want to varnish over the oil finish you'll probably need some sort of barrier coat between the oil and varnish. A couple of coats of a wax free shellac...
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