Home DIY

Yep,
if you love brick dust in every orifice and room.

Less facetiously:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pattress-Wall-Socket-Template-Electric/dp/B01E1LFU1M
and a mains drill with dust extraction worls well.
If you are (ever) West
I have a plastic template you could borrow.

not good for your lungs.

This. I've known a couple of guys over the years who have developed silicosis and seeing what happened to them scares the shit out of me. A well fitted dust mask is a must when doing this type of work.

The only way I'd do anything like this with an abrasive blade is with a proper wall chaser and dust extraction system but I'm guessing that over a grand for a decent wall chaser and an extra Monkey for an M class dust extractor is a bit spendy for some DIY.

Going to get a quote from Quincy's guy.

Quite fancy a go on the sky vac, looks like an amazing piece of kit! Got stuck in a YouTube spiral....

What’s new?

Energy efficiency (which didn't really exist then), massively reduced noise, clever tech to use less water, drums driven by brushless motors and magnets (quiter, more reliable, more efficient).

Some of the newest ones can work out exactly the right amount of detergent and water to use, as well as the correct temperature, based on your washing load.

For us, the game changer was a wash cycle so quiet and vibration less we didn't really believe it was on at all when we first got it.

Virtually no sound even during a spin cycle.

Edit: for our model 49db and 70db (spin) at 1m

What wizardry is this? Ie what washing machine?

Even the bottom of the range (sub £300) Indesit is only 72dB and 54dB.

https://www.johnlewis.com/indesit-biwmil71252uk-built-in-slim-depth-washing-machine-7kg-load-a-energy-rating-white/p3873078

The difference between 49db and 54db is roughly double the energy in the sound. 3db is a 100% increase in sound energy, that equates to about 25% louder subjectively. So not a small difference.

Compared to the top loaders available at the time our machine (Oko Lavamat 538) was a miracle. Uses from 75-100 litres per wash, 1-2.2 KWh depending on temps. It heats it's own water too which was a big difference (and generally still is around here) so yeah, efficiency certainly did exist at the time. It's not super loud but it's also in the basement so not an issue for us.
I guess the other thing is ecological impacts of manufacturing, transport and end of life stuff for new appliances. I have no stats to back this up, but I suspect that owning and maintaining a 1964 Pontiac Parisienne (and driving it responsibly) would be way more ecofriendly than buying a new, more efficient car every 10 years or so.

Sure, but it's still quiet was my point. The way it was written above makes it sound (no pun intended) like a quiet washing machine is something exclusive. Almost anything you can buy now will be A++ or A+++ energy rated and be nice and quiet, even right at the cheap end of the price range.

I think you can mix 2, maybe 3, types of wood in a room. More than that and it becomes pretty messy. I include furniture in this

Possibly they've improved. Most of the places I'm working in have Miele, we have a 20 year old one. The new Miele seem to need more maintenance but it's possible they are just overloaded more often. The Miele engineers are not recommending changing to a new one at the moment, that's based on the number of problems they are seeing caused by the lower energy use engineering.

I'd like to replace the ceiling light fitting (single pendant) in my kitchen with one of these pictured, so I can put a light above the table and another above the sink without going up in the loft and installing two new ceiling roses etc. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for a multi pendant light fitting?

1 Attachment

They are usually prewired so it'll be the same wiring layout as a normal pendant.

All the ones I've found (that aren't mad expensive) come with the ceiling fixture and cables as separate parts, so they need wiring.

I do have access to a proper extractor etc as my brother is tradesman type but I am still thinking it's overkill. I'm definitely thinking more drill and chisel now. Seems the more sensible approach for some DIY.

I think we'll just get pine skirting boards to match the floorboards really. The furniture can then be something else. Keep the palette small as always seems to be best.
Cheers.

I much prefer whole bricks to be honest.

Thanks for the offer :)

Uses from 75-100 litres per wash, 1-2.2 KWh depending on temps

From memory our Samsung uses about 45l per washload, not sure about power.

Edit: 0.59kwh

OK. Here is the standard UK wiring diagram for a pendant. With three lamps you will have three lives and neutrals going into connection 1 and 8.

Be absolutely sure what cables you need for live 3 to 5 and neutral 6 to 7.

They might be red and black or brown and blue. Some might be red/brown or black/blue with sleeving in opposite colours. Or not sleeved at all.

If you have any confusion get a qualified sparks to do it.

1 Attachment

Because of a leak in the bathroom of the flat upstairs, my next door neighbour's (small) bedroom's plasterboard ceiling needs fixing - there's a big hole in it now. The water came in around a light fitting, so the moulding around that needs tp be replaced as well. He's been given a quote of £1250 for fixing the board, skimming and re-painting. Does this seem reasonable?

Shouldn't it be an insurance job?

It is, but he’s having to get the quotes in and if it’s not reasonable they may refuse and he’ll lose time.