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We have a 40 square metre patio of riven concrete 600x600 slabs which we intend to completely replace in about two years time. For now though, just want to tart up the existing stuff. Have raked out old mortar from joints (20mm wide 30mm deep) and jet cleaned/swept whole area. I think the slabs...

What would be a typical/reasonable period for guaranteeing roofer's workmanship on a new warm roof? [As distinct from any manufacturers' guarantees for any of the materials used]. If it matters, in our case it would be to an existing flat roof extension about 6x4 metres, with one long side...

Daughter moving into older house. On landing is a disconnected old floor-standing storage heater which she wants to get rid of. Cable looks like white rubber with a cotton-type liner inside it. Outer badge says Berry Magicoal. Rating plate under the removable lower grill says: Made In...

Have read the FAQ's, but am a bit puzzled by the pressure readings on our Vaillant ThermoCompact boiler since its annual service by BGas last week. Boiler had been working fine all year. When I checked the pressure dial a day or so later with the CH going, the needle was pointing to...

My daughter's semi had a new Vaillant Ecotec boiler fitted with 10 new rads about 18 months ago. She tells me that after initial installation, there was a steady leak below downstairs floorboards on pipework to rads. Each day pressure dropped to zero until topped up with taps on underside of...

Neighbours have just built a rear ground floor extension which adjoins our own similar extension. (Traditional semi-det). Theirs extends out a couple of feet more than ours, but there doesn't appear to be any sort of mortar or sealant where their new brickwork butts up against ours at the...

We have had a kitchen/diner extension done leaving us with a dining area with part wooden and part concrete floor. The existing T&G floor boards (1960s) covers about 1.3mx3m. The new concrete area is about 3 times bigger. We want to have it all covered in sheet vinyl (not tiles). The flooring...

We are having several rooms plaster skimmed (walls and ceilings). There will be the odd repair patches where plastering is deeper than skim coat. House is empty. CH rads are off ready for plastering then decoration, so no heating at moment. We can't be there all the time to dry it out...

We are having a small ground floor pitched roof extension built at rear of house. Drawings show the top line of new roof tiles running immediately underneath the cill of a replacement uPVC bedroom window (which is on order), with lead flashing above the tiles to run along the cill line (to be...

I read a post here from 2007 asking about the longest concrete posts available for a rear fence in a 4 foot drop ["Long concrete fence posts"]. Thermo & JohnD replied. You advised that some suppliers had 10 foot lengths. We have exactly same problem and want to use concrete gravel boards...

New pvc windows installed causing some damage to the smooth white masonry painted external rendering. Fitters have patched it up with same mix they used to repoint odd gaps in mortar around other windows. The patched render looks pretty rough compared to the original (painted) areas. Is the...

We are looking to have a small groundfloor-only extension built at rear of our semi to enlarge kitchen and dining area - which will then be open plan. The existing kitchen is solid floor; the dining bit is suspended T&G floorboards. We simply visualised the kitchen would be extended out as a...

We've had quotes for new double glazed uPVC windows to replace old metal windows in recently purchased 1960s semi. Before purchase, our surveyor advised getting plastic replacement windows with adequate "structural capability", as the metal frames can take some load. There is a soldier course of...

My daughter is going to look at a 1960s "scope for renovation" semi on an estate of similar houses. The adjoining semi has had a new roof (or at least new roof tiles all over), so I guess 'her' roof may possibly need some work too. The roofs sit over those concrete Finlock gutters at front...

The three under-cabinet lights in the kitchen of my daughter's 2001-built flat are not working. They are each about 35cm x 6.5cm and have a single small clear bulb behind round frosted glass. On the back is a label which says IP20 Linkable Cabinet Light 1x20watt. It looks like the sort hanging...

Recently had a new basin & pedestal installed. Is the pedestal intended to be just cosmetic, or offer some support to basin as well? The pedestal is loosely in position and can be moved easily within the recess at the underside of basin and at at floor level. It is not sealed or seated by...

We are having one of those 18watt illuminated mirrors (Zone 2 rated it says) fitted over a bathroom handbasin. It has a pull cord about 5/6cm at centre of bottom edge. What is regulation safety clearance between bottom of mirror/lightbox and top of basin, please? (Mrs fiveminutejob says she...

I have to make a matching fill-in fence panel about 28in wide x 6ft using standard overlap materials from local supplier - but they will not provide nails. So within the capped frame there will be 23 slats pinned to one central backing strut. What sort & what size of nails should I get to do...

This should be easy, I hope! Ideal Standard Studio close couple toilet with dual flush. I'm having a prob getting the cistern lid off. Outer chrome ring around the twin flush buttons will lift up about half an inch or so, and twist slightly either way, but no further. I don't want to force it...

18 months ago, my daughter moved to a block of flats built about 4 years ago. HW and CH is via an Electroheat Amptec C900 electric boiler (fitted as standard, I believe). Hers is in a hallway cupboard linked to an Oso hotwater cylinder. Cylinder is about 4/5 feet tall with a red (expansion?)...