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Yesterday I had Solar panels fitted, including an iBoost device which is wired between the immersion switch in the airing cupboard and the immersion heater. When there is excess solar energy, the iBoost turns the immersion element on to use the energy to heat the hot water. All was fine when...

We've had our small simple extension conditionally approved by building control, but they have said they want to see SAP calculations to show compliance with L1B as we have over 25% glazing. Extension is 8 x 3 m with two roof lanterns, two sets of bifolds and a side glazed door/wall. We live...

My 70s house is part clad in uPVC shiplap. This is mounted to wooden batterns which are mounted to the breezeblock, and then internally this is plastered. I'd like to insulate behind the uPVC as the wall is facing north and north east and is very cold. Can I fix the celotex type insulation...

Apologies for the long post, but I'm unclear on how to plan and progress with a simple extension. I'm looking to build a pretty straightforward full width rear extension - single storey, 3 m deep x 8 m wide, two sets of bi-folds, roof lantern etc, very simple. We're pretty certain it can be...

My shower flow rate is terrible and regularly gets air locked. I'm thinking this is a combination of factors namely; 1. The hot water take off from the cylinder is from the vent pipe and well above the cylinder T. 2. The pipes go up into the loft via quite a few bends and are only just below the...

The kitchen mixer tap keeps getting an airlock, just on the hot water supply. I have a cold water tank in the loft with a hot water cylinder in the air cupboard upstairs. Every so often the hot tap just in the kitchen stops running. No spluttering, nothing. I disconnected the tap and no...

I'm in the process of buying a house and the surveyor has said that in the garage, there is a cast concrete beam which is holding up the front side of the house. This is resting on the external wall and a brick pillar. The pillar is built on the garage sub floor, which the surveyor has said...

I've been putting in a new bathroom and moving some pipes etc. Now everything is connected, when the toilet is flushed and the stop cock in the cistern stops the water filling it, the combi boiler fires up as if a call for hot water has been requested. It stops after about 20-30 seconds. It...

Hi, I have an old house built in 1911 with a north facing bathroom, downstairs off the kitchen. It has two external solid brick walls, with a slate roof above and so in the winter gets freezing, damp, mouldy and rather unpleasant! It has two radiators in there, but doesn't hold the heat due...

Hi, I live in a house built in 1911. I moved in just over a year ago and the previous owners had carpeted the downstairs living room and dining room with pretty hideous old carpet! I was thinking to go back to the original floor boards which look to be in relatively good condition. I've taken...

Hi all. I am renovating my kitchen in my flat. I currently have a standalone gas cooker connected to a bayonet fitting. I would like to get this bayonet removed so I can fit a built in hob and electric oven. My question is, as certified trademen, how would you like to tackle this job...

Hi, I am renovating my kitchen and changing the layout so it's more user friendly. One of the things I want to do is to move the washing machine from it's current position, next to the sink, to the other end of the room. Currently the machines waste is plumbed with a washing machine waste...

I am replacing my kitchen units this weekend. One wall is plaster board on wooden batons so no problem with fixing the cabinets to the batons. But one wall is plaster board dot and dabbed onto solid concrete I think. That wall is a partition wall to the next door neighbor - its a ground...

Hi, My gf's mum has just had a new bathroom installed. The new bathroom has a new mixer tap on the sink and mixer tap/shower head on the bath. The house is quite old (1890's) and the bathroom room is located on the first floor, in what could be considered the roof of the property. They...

Hi, I need to tile a wall which has an arched alcove set into it. Whats the best way to cut the curve of the arch on the tile? I have a diamond table saw and slow jigsaw with diamond tile cutting blade? I, thinking nibble out the cut with the table saw. Any tips and tricks? Thanks.

Hi, I want to be able to have one or two of my windows open, for ventilation, but only a small amount. I therefore want to be able to lock them so they cant be fully opened from the outside. Can anyone recommend a lock to do this? They are wooden windows and open with the hinge on the...

I woke up today to find my swift flow 80 making a grinding , screeching noise from the fan. Everything else working as normal. I can get a fan for roughly £125 or I can buy new bearings for £5! Is it an easy job to replace the bearings? - I am very mechanically minded. or would it be...

My solid wooden front door has swelled, now the weather has turned damp, and I am finding it very very difficult to open and close it. Is there anything I can do to ease the swelling, or should I just fit a bigger handle and wait for spring!? Would planing off the swollen bits on the door...

This may be a stupid question but here goes. Glow worm swift flow 80 in small one bed flat with three small and one large radiator. I changed the by pass gate valve at the weekend because it was leaking. Before I put the new valve on I made sure the "gate" was at the same setting as the...

I recently moved into a one bed flat which has quite an old (1993) Glow worm Swift flow 80 boiler. I noticed that the pressure gauge had gone down to 0.5 bar today when I came home. Since moving in in July the pressure has been at 0.7 bar and never dropped below this and I cant see any leaks...