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Hi, My sister has a heavily nicotine stained room, walls and celing. I've read Zinsser's booklet on covering over the surfaces but, my word, the preparation seems to be very complicated. It seems the sound surfaces have to be hot water washed, degreased with meths, and then rubbed down with...

Hi, Our old Sony DVD has gone phut. We would like a replacement, obviously, but my wife would like something simple. When I start to talk about connecting to the internet and all the benefits that would confer, she just glazes over. So is it still possible to get a basic DVD recorder, one...

Hi, I want to add a bare combi percussion drill to the Makita drill driver I already have. My existing drill is 13mm chuck, model 6337D. 14.4w, 2.6ah, NI-MH. I am very happy with it. Would any Makita 13mm combi drill fit and use the charger? Or would I have to look for a specific model? Any...

I have two lights in my hall operated by two way pull switches. I have taken off the old flush-to- ceiling lights and want to replace them with pendants lamps. The old lights just had simple live, neutral and earth connections, The loop-in roses are different and I can't figure it out. The...

I know what it is. The cold water main to the house is shared with the house next door. Most of the time this isn't a problem but when next door uses a washing machine the shower emits a much reduced flow of water which is much too hot. The reduced water flow still stays hot even if I switch...

Hi, I have a computer and router in a distant room from my new Panasonic LCD Smart TV. It seems I should be able to wirelessly receive things like BBC IPlayer from my router but there are too many walls inbetween the two machines. Is there a gizmo that will strengthen the wireless signal...

Hi, I'm going to buy my first non crt set. After much research I've decided that the following features are pretty vital: 1. a full 1080p HD tuner 2. a screen that is non-reflective (we have big windows on two walls) 3. a set that shows both HD and SD channels well The following...

Hi, My garage door is a real mess. I'm halfway through using a hot air gun to scrape it all back to the primer or bare metal - some parts have one coat of paint, others have four. When I've done scraping, I intend to use a ball of steel wool to remove any bits and properly abrade the...

Hi, I have to paint a metal garage door with the top coat of paint peeling off. I Have a small angle grinder and am confused about the best type of disc to use with it, and what grade to pick as well. Some sellers say their discs will remove paint and rust without much damage to the...

Hi, I have seen a post on here somewhere that says plasterboard is bombproof if sealed properly first. I can't find it again. I need to tile over the board. So, what do I use to seal the board? How long would I have to wait before tiling? Would normal tile adhesive be okay? To put...

Hi, I have to cut out a square of tiling which is stuck onto ordinary plasterboard. I think I should be able to use the Fein type of vibrating tool to cut through the grout and the plasterboard in one go. What 'bit' should I use in the tool> I've seen half moon and a sort of rectangle...

Hi, I have a friend with a house built in 1925 which has cavity walls. She is wary of having cavity wall insulation injected as she has seen a TV programme about the damage this can cause. I haven't see the program or heard about this. If anyone has any advice on this I'd be glad to...

Hi, My cistern flushes about 10 litres, at a guess. I don't want to replace it as it matches the rest of the suite. The operating handle is on the side. I recently I used a Duofold toilet cistern which, although its handle was on the side, gave the option of a minor or a major flush...

Hi, The house isn't new, just new to me. The place is empty at the moment and I went down an hour ago to check all is okay. I found that the upstairs lights didn't work. I looked at the consumer unit and the two RCD switches, the main switch, and all eight of the MCBs' were in the up...

Hi, The combi gas boiler is in the garage; the kitchen has a gas hob; and the living room has an independent gas fire. Please, what sensors must I have and what should I have for the safety of the tenants? The house already has two smoke detectors.

Hi, I shall have two half tins of paint left over when I've finished a painting job. I tin is McPhersons primer/undercoat and the other is Leyland fast-drying gloss. Both paints are water based. What, please, is the best way of keeping the remaining paint in the tins and preventing...

Hi, I've bought a house with a very small separate toilet. Alongside the throne is a three foot high tubular device with slots in the top. I can only assume that it is an air valve of some sort. It is about 4" diameter and very ugly and I'd like to get rid of it. Or, substitute...

Hi, I remember reading somewhere that radiator thermostatic valves require the boiler to be on continually to able to respond to the individual valves. This could cost as much as the valves save. Is this feasible? If it is, would a properly sited wall thermostat, and no trvs, do the job...

in a 3 bed house for sale.. According to a service label it was last serviced in 20/07/09 and, if have deciphered old labels properly, it may have been first serviced in 98. I couldn't see a central thermostat anywhere - but this was difficult as the house is stuffed with furniture. It...

Hi, I fell off my stepup holding the first of my two way pullcord switches in my hand. I'd loosened the screws and, of course, I now don't know where they go back. . It's a three core and earth system. The second pullcord switch has the brown cable connected to COM, the grey cable to L1...