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Am about to start painting our new bathroom, which has been freshly plastered all over (now dry). I'm starting with a mist coat, and am just wondering whether I should put the mist coat all over, even in a corner where we will be installing a shower, with tiles in that area. I've been trying...

I've just painted some wooden internal doors. Prior to painting, they were pretty tight, but now they're painted they're binding on the frame/doorstop near the hinge. How would you suggest dealing with this? I can't really plane the surface where it closes against the stop, because (a)...

So I've been looking at window locks for wooden window frames, and am starting to ask the question: what is the point? The ones I've seen appear to have a standard hex drive, so what sort of deterrent is that? Any thief worth their salt will just keep an Allen key in their pocket. Smash...

We're considering layouts for a new kitchen, and would like to know whether it's possible (and sensible even if possible) to put an integrated fridge right next to an integrated dishwasher. Not only does one cool and the other one get quite hot, but also I would imagine there might be...

Situation: (a) satellite dish already up on side wall of house, feeding one room in house with Sky+ (b) new detached annex being built with a metre or two of that side wall of house. Annex is a small two-up two-down. (c) would like to keep option open of having different Sky+ channels in...

What's the consensus for LED downlight spots (e.g. for kitchen ceiling)? One of the type of dedicated LED fittings, or standard GU10 fittings with LED lamps rather than halogens? Thanks.

Am thinking about ways of getting some coax TV cables from a new building across to an existing building. One way would be to run the cables down the exterior of the new building, which is anyway being rendered (K-Rend), so the cables would be hidden. But is it asking for trouble putting...

We've got a small new build going up, and I am wondering whether we should bother putting in the wiring for a security alarm while it's easy to do it, or whether we should just use a wireless system. I'm not even sure we will put one in, at least not straight away, but am trying to think ahead...

I'm considering a 4kW heat pump, which apparently has a startup current that might cause the DNO to have a fit. The heat pump doesn't have an integral soft start circuit, so the question is: (a) is there a simple (off the shelf) soft start circuit that can simply be placed in series with...

Feel like an eedjit, but don't want to screw things up. Basically I am trying to replace a water filter for our Samsung fridge/freezer. But I can't get the old one off! In particular, I can't remove the tubing from the filter inlet / outlet. It's one of these...

Last time I had some new plaster to paint, I started off with some plaster sealer stuff from B&Q. It was basically pretty watery stuff, seemed to do the job, but the problem was that it was pretty much clear, without colour. This meant, I reckon, that more of the subsequent colour coats (light...

We're considering layout options for our kitchen, and wonder whether it's possible / sensible to route the water pipe for a fridge freezer (water/ice dispenser) behind a gas cooker to the mains water supply? Can the water pipe be heat-insulated or lagged in some way to prevent any possible...

Hi The concealed hinge on one of our cabinets gave way recently, and I'm struggling to find a direct replacement. I am attaching some snaps to show the type. When in the closed position, the hinge is in a 180 degree configuration, i.e. fixed to the cabinet on the back of its front face...

I have a tap on an outdoor stopcock that has disintegrated through old age. It's just the white tap part I need -- the rest of the stopcock is fine. Where can I get a spare? I did spot something quite similar by Oracstar in a Countrywide shop earlier, but it came as a...

I just bled some radiators (despite a BG engineer having come around a month ago to do a full service, and ticking the box saying that he had bled the radiators -- some were still half full of air -- complete con). Now the pressure has plummeted and I need to top it back up before we get our...

Anyone recommend a supplier of swimming pool fencing? Thanks, Mike

The bulb in our external wall light has gone, for the first time since we've owned this house. Thing is, the cover is held by a couple of bolts with a triangular head profile. A bit like for the utility meter doors, only quite a bit smaller. The bolts are quite tight on; I've tried with...

The latches on several of our doors do not click in when the door closes, and some others require a bit of force to latch shut properly. So my thinking is that I must move the receiving part of the latches (on the door frame) a small distance so that the door part of the latch will click in...

I am thinking of tackling this project myself... basically just putting in a limestone surround / backpanel / hearth around an existing gas fire. What I would like to know is what mortar to use: (a) for the joints between the limestone parts (or is this necessary, do the parts just sit...

OK, I feel like a complete eedjit asking this question, but I inherited a dual flush cistern with our house, a simple type with two push buttons on top shaped together to form a circle. It's a Gala type if that helps. Question: how do I get the lid off?! The push button mechanism on top...