Home DIY

Thanks - had done that but the drips kept coming. Might be just taking time for the pressure to work through?

There will presumably be water pressure at the valve until you flush the system, no?

Thanks @rodabod @Mr_Sworld

All sorted now. System now drained, refilled and bled. New PTFE tape on the valve thread did the trick.

Long shot but is anyone imminently about to order a kitchen from DIYkitchens.com?

Slight mishap in my brain means that:

a) I have an unfitted 500mm wall unit (gloss white but ofc you can swop the door) available for half price and
b) I need to buy a 400mm wall unit and end panel but the delivery price will be £75, so if someone's about to order a whole kitchen I'd be glad to piggyback on your order, would transfer dosh immediately.

Get in touch with DIY kitchens, we had to order some extra bits of cornicing and another finishing panel and postage was much cheaper. £75 is just the initial charge, subsequent orders are less. I think it's to deter people only making small orders. Don't think the delivery guys will take the 500 back but worth an ask.

Cheers - unfortunately the kitchen was delivered in March but for a myriad of reasons I've only just been able to install it now, so they're being mean about the delivery charge :(

That sucks. Maybe see if someone around Sheffield can collect and drop to London...?

Due to the lack of fire doors in my flat it appears that I need a lot of smoke alarms to keep building control happy.

Some need to be hard wired (those on the landings mainly) but others can be battery powered which will simplify installation. They are all meant to talk to each other though so that one alarm can set others off.

In an ideal world I'd buy a load of Nest smoke alarms and go with that but the cost is prohibitive.

Any suggestions for cheap but decent smoke alarms that can be networked together and available in wired and battery powered? Cheers

How imminently? We're gearing up for a purchase but could be a few weeks... Oh, I'm in Cambridge, too.

So, I don't really have much style but know that the light fittings in my lounge are horrid. There's two of these beautiful golden 'chandeliers' lighting my lounge. Don't want to go full down light spec as I don't have the money but can someone recommend something ceiling mounted that looks nice? Struggling with inspiration. Early 30s house. Any suggestions? Style advice gratefully received!

Thanks - They've come down to £35 if it's flatpack, which I can just about stomach. Need it fairly soon as the kitchen install is stalled at the moment, so will probably just take the hit.

You don't need a 500mm wall cupboard (or 100mm trayspace) by any chance...?

Generally when you hard wire them you use a multicore cable and also wire them together. In which case you can choose from the range of different smoke alarms depending on your budget. I normally budget around £30 per smoke alarm, being a requirement they tend to carry a bit of a premium price. Fitting can be expensive if you want concealed wiring depending on access to the ceiling void.

I hard wired our alarms, heat alarm in the kitchen, smoke alarm at the top of the landing.

Ikea?

I need to source a 2m length metal pole with minimal to no flex, don't want to go down the scaffolding pole route as I'm hoping for a max diameter of about 25mm. Any ideas where I can get such a thing or what I should be looking for?

@andos can I ask what you need the pole for? I have two left over stainless steel curtain poles circa 2m long and they must be around 25mm but they're quite thin wall something like .7mm.
It's this
http://www.dunelm.com/product/mix-and-match-bay-pole-dia-28mm-1000000154?searchTerm=curtain%20pole%20bay

Cheers @TheShipwright - its to hang a shelf ladder on for a 3m high bookcase. The ladder will be leaning against the pole (hooked), which is why I want minimum flex. Something thin walled might not be ideal as the pressure of the ladder with someone on it may cause some bending.

I think you're right my stuff will most likely be too light.
There's a place Hackney Road that sells metal, it's got one of those names like, MEtal2u.
I'll google in a moment.

When I worked in steel we used to use this lot for some stuff
http://www.fhbrundle.co.uk/groups/30CHM__Circular_Hollow_Sections_CHS_Mild_Steel
They used to be in Stratford but moved so not sure where they are now.

Galvanized handrail? It's basically narrow gauge scaffolding so pretty tough.

https://www.themetalstore.co.uk/products/galvanised-tube

https://www.orbitalfasteners.co.uk/en/products/fast-clamp-steel-galvanised-handrail-tube-size-6-g25-od-33-7mm-id-25mm-x-3-2m-kee-klamp-compatible-

They do the whole range of fittings as well.

http://www.smithyironworks.co.uk/

I have two curtain poles, 2.45m and 2.05m, with no central support. No flex at all, he can provide brackets of two different depths.

All poles are made to order and are available in three diameters: 22mm, 27mm and 33mm.

The pole is made from thick walled tubing, (2.5 or 3 mm) thus giving the best possible strength to weight ratio. 22mm poles will span up to 2 metres unsupported, 27mm poles will span up 2.5 to 3 metres unsupported and the 33mm will span 3 meters unsupported. Centre brackets will be supplied free of charge for poles in excess of these lengths. For poles in excess of these lengths, which cannot use a centre bracket please phone.

Thanks so much! It is basically to recreate something like this. But for a very tall bookshelf.

I suppose the ladders load will be against the bookshelf rather than the pole. But, something with no flex and unsupported is the way to go. Will report back on progress.

That kid looks like she's fallen from said ladder.

Cheers. The issue I have is that I don't want all alarms to be hard wired, the cost and disruption would be too much, but I believe that those that are on the landings have to be hard wired for the regs so I need the two to speak to each other.

This one is £35 from tool station. Specifies that it does exactly what you want, wifi's the alarm from hardwired and the other way. Searching for linked fire alarm network might throw up some more possibilities.

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p78108?mkwid=s64pK5g57_dc&pcrid=99808204703&pkw=&pmt=&product=78108&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgIPOBRDnARIsAHA1X3QFTuIx