Home DIY

oh all the masonry fixing experts are coming out of the woodwork (masonry work) now! typically split into two opposing camps.

Delta FL or similar first

where can i buy some? hard to find ..

Home Depot, Rona, Home Hardware...

Done this much so far.

Stripping tips? I've assumed work top to bottom. The wallpaper is coming off in two layers but the plaster seems solid.

What about the pastey residue left on the walls? Decorators jizz.

Do I need to remove it now? Or can I leave it for when I'm ready to paint.

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Dimmable ultra slim lights to put in some soon to be constructed built in alcove shelves. Anyone know what I should get? I'm trying to keep the shelf thickness as thing as possible. It'll be wired to the mains.

LED strips, almost paper thin? Can't recommend one over the other, but something like this? Think it would need an adapter from the mains but should be able to be wired in...I am not an electrician.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/enlite-en-stk300-led-cuttable-striplight-warm-white-300mm-1-4w/2588V?kpid=2588V&ds_kid=92700049776538526&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoev1xsKD5gIVjMreCh2QGQGFEAQYDCACEgKfxPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Look at Ultra LEDs - it’s where I get all my LED under-cabinet lighting / commerical shop fit stuff.

Get a nice slim aluminium channel and frosted diffuser and you can route it into the shelf.

Cheers guys. I didn't know led strips even existed.

Anyone want some plywood?

I believe using sugar soap gets off that kind of junk.
Are you going to fill?

.

I need to cut half a dozen or so tiles (all right angles) to cover a few areas where things have been removed in a kitchen. Previously I've used a Bosch multitool with a tile blade for doing this but it's a bit messy and awkward to get a properly straight line.

Is there anything out there for under a tenner that will cut tiles pretty easily in a straight line. Tiles are cheapo so not worried if a few break.

Thanks. Will try that. Don't need to fill much apart from doorframe and window so then will crack on with painting.

Yeah, sugar soap & rinse, then mist coat and fill so it's smooth. Tidy up any gaps where it meets woodwork etc with either filler or caulk and you're good to go, or at least that's what I've been doing. If the plaster is hollow when you knock it, consider ripping it off and patching it up, but beware it's dusty and you'll want to be confident you'll be able to get a smooth flat finish

How do I mist coat / fill?

@aggi I have always found carbide blade tile saws pretty good. Cheap and it you take your time you can get it straight.

I borrowed the cheapest available diamond wheel cutter off a neighbour (well used) and it was brilliant. They seem to come up on fb marketplace for £10-20, or the manual snap ones are less but I don’t know how good they are.

4:1 ratio of emulsion paint to water is what I’ve read/seen

Yeah, like musa said, water down some emulsion and paint the wall - it'll show up where there are surface imperfections much better than just having bare plaster, then you can go and patch them all up with some filler - for the tiny blemishes up to about 1mm deep, fine surface filler is the stuff to look for - toupret do a good one in a tub with a blue lid. For deeper things like holes left by rawl plugs etc just use regular filler - it might sag a bit when it dries out, but you can always fill the remainder with the fine stuff.
Even if you're putting lining or wallpaper up, you'll be surprised what shows through. You want it as flat as you can get it.
Once you're done, run your hand over the wall to find any little poky-out bits and nip them off with a scraper or a sanding block.

Wormeries/wormerys

Or just buying worms to plough into my London front yard and try and increase some biodiversity. What do I need?

Used wiggly wigglers to get all the stuff we needed for our worm composter when we used one, we are country dwellers now so have the space for a proper compost bin. They give advice and sell starter kits.

Thanks, good info there

I'd also recommend the Onetime lightweight filler by Red Devil. Miles ahead of polyfilla.

lovely. thanks.

Cheers and @Dramatic_Hammer

Planning to do it in the next couple of days so probably won't have time for secondhand.

Are you talking about the hacksaw blades for carbide blade tile saws or something else?