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We have always had a few surface cracks in the cast concrete sill of a large bay window. Previously I have applied a surface fill of a flexible filler and painted which has lasted a few years. Recently the filler has parted from the edges of the concrete and heavy rain finds its way to the...

I have a worn stone step from the front door which I will replace one day, but for now I would like to repair it. There are 2 problems 1. Over the years the top of the step has worn in the middle and after a severe downpour, rain finds its way under the door, so I would like to level the top...

I'm about to fit a new sink and to give me a less cluttered cupboard, I'm thinking of not fitting a trap directly under the sink, but running the waste pipe down the wall at the back of the sink unit, through the floor and into a cellar where I can fit and service a running trap and then connect...

I have just had new kitchen units delivered 2 of which are identical tall (full height) base units one for a built in double oven, the other for a full height (1772mm high) larder fridge. Also extra decor panels for each. The oven will go straight into the housing, but the fridge will require...

I am starting to fit new kitchen units and trying to decide if I should fasten them to the wall and screw them together. My daughter has recently had a new kitchen professionally fitted so I had a look at hers for ideas. They don't appear to be fastened to the wall (unless they have hidden...

Is sealing new plaster still done with a watery solution of wallpaper paste or have the techniques changed over the years? The plasterer recommended a watered down PVA mix if I am to paper the new walls or a mist coat if I am going to paint directly on to the new plaster. I think that I would...

I am at the planning stage for a new kitchen and looking for ideas from my daughters recently refurbished kitchen. I noticed in her kitchen that the electricians have fitted grid switches which feed fused connection units behind the appliences. My questions are: Are grid switches now a legal...

As a temporary measure, I would like to paint my kitchen unit doors with the very high gloss that you see on some new kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Does anyone know what the process is as the coating looks very thick and smooth. Some other alternatives I am considering are: powder coating (if...

I have just fitted a new fan to my Baxi Solo 3 70PF. That now works OK, but the burner (and indicator light) switch on and off at about 3 second intervals. Could this be a faulty pressure switch? I have fitted a new pair of sensor tubes which don't have any kinks in them. Any other...

I am about to replace the old 6' high x 30 meter long feather edge board fence that I errected just over 20 years ago with a similar one. I made the original fence from 6" wide x 1" (at the thick end) feather boards, but I can't seem to get that size anywhere now (not even from the place...

I have seperate boilers for heating & water, which I prefer in times of trouble, & the central heating boiler was replaced a few years ago. The hot water boiler is a Main Medway Automatic and is at least 22 years old. It has been trouble free up till now. Recently I have noticed drips of...

I am having trouble getting the boiler / pump to remain on long enough to deliver hot water to all of the radiators. The pump switches off when the boiler switches off (I might be wrong, but I thought that the pump remained on for a while after boiler switched off to continue circulating the...

In a new bathroom installation, I am fitting a bath mixer & a thermostatic shower. According to the instructions, both of these work best with a reasonably balanced hot & cold pressure, (which might account for the temperature problems encountered with the old Aqualisa shower) I have 7...

I am building a raised plinth to sit a shower tray on. The instructions say to use Marine ply as the top board. I can only find Exterior ply in places like B&Q. Is that the same? Is 1/2" thick enough or should I go to 3/4"

I am about to fit a new quadrant shower base. It is a very heavy aluminium type (not plastic). The leaflet that came with the base says to bed on a weak mortar mix. Others are telling me that it should be placed on a 1" thick piece of ply. What do the experts do? Are they only held in...

I am refitting a bathroom. One short internal wall has previously been studded to make a cavity for pipes & a concealed shower valve. It's then been boarded with ply and tiled. I have removed the tiles, & am now going to remove the ply to modify the pipe work. Is it OK to replace the ply...

Is it OK to fit 40mm and 43mm waste pipe to 1.5" compression fittings? Both sizes go into the fitting, but will both sizes seal OK.

I am refitting my bathroom and using a single lever mixer tap for the wash basin. A bath / shower mixer, and a seperate aqualisa shower. The hot water is from a mulit point boiler. I am told that the hot & cold to all of the taps & showers should be of equal pressure. My cold water...

I am refitting a bathroom & the new position of the toilet means that the 4" waste pipe that goes through the wall & joins the soil pipe is too close to the soil pipe to get a 'T' connector in. The side of the outlet tube will touch the side of the soil pipe (if you follow what I mean) 4"...

I am replacing a bathroom suite and using the opportunity to fit isolation valves to various pipe work, and find a confusing choice of valves. Can someone please tell me the difference between them and what they are best suited for. I have seen: Stopcocks Ball valves Check valves...