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I need to build an wall in the garden to replace an existing, single skin brick wall. It retains the garden upto a height of approx 0.6 metres. Was planning to use concrete blocks - is there any reason to not use light weight blocks as opposed to dense concrete blocks? The finished...

I'm looking for ideas for repaving my driveway? Its fairly short, just over a car length, leading up to the garage and slopes a quite a bit towards the pavement. At present, we have chips odwn, which are spreading onto the pavement given the lack of any lid/edge where the driveway meets...

I am considering replacing my current, electronic timer for the central heating system (combi boiler) with a new timer - for the sole purpose that the existing is looking grubby/door missing, so want to replace it with a new, fresh looking one. Is there anything I should look out for? Is it...

I seem to have a couple of the upstairs radiators that are cold in one corner but normal heat otherwise - have bled them but no air comes out. Does this mean the system needs balanced? Ifso, how do I go about doing this? thanks

Does anyone know a stockist? This is commonly used in new built developments - consists of preformed pipe boxing, white lamanite type material, comes in a couple of sizes. I had seen it in a local timber mechant but they no longer stock it!

We have a white, chalky stain on our dining rooms wall, which is traditional lathe and plaster, with painted lining paper (emulsion paint). Although I have painted over it, this stain has reappeared. Its an external wall, but not in the slightist bit damp. Any ideas? The ironing board is...

Looking to fit some wooden blinds but can't believe the price for made to measure. I have found some in that well known swedish shed that that are just to wide and would need approx 10mm cut off each end. Has anyone attempted this? Was thinking of using a mitre saw but worried about...

I am planning to replace our current fireplace with a new hearth and back plate in granite or marble and install a livingflame gas fire. Currently, its a tiled hearth and back plate which will need to be removed and we want to keep the existing wooden mantle. There is a gas supply. Apart...

I'm looking for tips on hanging patterned wallpaper? Quite handy at hanging lining paper but never attempted patterned paper? The pattern is quite large but does repeat obviously. Cheers

Planning to build a couple of garden walls which will be retaining. Was planning to build them out ot dense concrete blocks but is this overkill, would I get away with a lighter (and cheaper) block? Was planning to build only a single skin of blocks, but laid on the large face, so that...

I want to install a light in a display cabinet but the closest source of power is a double socket on the wall nearby. Is it possible to take a spur off this socket to power a switched light within the cabinet? Obviously, the easiest route would be to have a plugged light but I don't want...

I am planning to build the boy a timber fort/playhouse - figure I can do just as good a job as they kits the big sheds sell Main questions is that I was planning to use half joints (not sure if this is quite the right wording) to make the main joins and then bolt at the join to make it...

Am planning to tile our newly refitted bathroom floor but everything has already been fitted. Whilst tiling upto/partially underneath the bath and shower cubicle is okay, I don't fancy having to lift the pedestal wash hand basis and the WC. Any problems if I just tile up to the base of...

I am planning to re lay my garden path with natural stone slabs (path is currently concrete). What is the best base to put these on? Have seen on tv when they have used a wet mortor mix and also a dry mix of sand and cement?! Its the front garden so it will have a reasonable level of use...

I need to replace a broken tread on my stair. I can get to the underneath, so fixing shouldn't be a problem but was planning to use 18mm mdf rather than solid wood. Anyone any ideas if this would cause problems? Stair will be carpeted so it doesn't matter what it looks like. Cheers

I am planning to lay some solid oak flooring over my traditional suspended timber (floorboards) floor. Was planning to lay down some underlay/insulation sheet to stop any drafts coming through from the void under the house. Should I lay the new floor as a floating floor or does it need to...

Planning to build a small garden wall, not really retaining, more for a change in levels. Was planning to building it out of concrete blocks and then render, probably be only 2 1/2 high. What sort of footings do I need? The soil will be fairly compact that the wall will be built off, but...

Has anyone had a similar problem with ants? We have found a few ants in one of the kitchen cupboards - no open food, its all in sealed jars. not sure where they are coming from but any ideas on how to get rid of them? obviously, don't want to spray an insecticide in the kitchen!

We have a combi bolier feeding a number of radiators but the pressure seems to drop every few days and need to be topped up! I presume that this isn't the norm? One of the radiators is fitted with no thermostatic valves, as a safety increase the bolier malfuctions? and this also seems to...

I am planning to retile a small vestibule however its currently tiled with quarry tiles. Any ideas on the best way to remove these so that I limit the amount of work in leveling the surface before retiling? If I can, I would like to avoid to have to resurface the stone before tiling again...