Home DIY

Thanks, that's a good idea, also we might need it for other rooms in the future. I will call a couple of timber yards in the area and shamelessly ask them if they do it for a couple of quid. The side that needs cutting is only about 25cm long.

Is that size saw too small to cut my shelves, they are 100x 29x3 (cm)?

Probably, actually. You may be better off with a circular saw with a straight edge to guide it. Or a track saw. But it may be too narrow to use a track saw without clamping the track in someway.

Are the sides of your alcoves perfectly straight and square? No scribing required?

It's just two cuts you want to make and you don't want to fork out for a powertool, I'm sure you could get an acceptable result with , a handsaw and some patience.

Otherwise as was suggested, a circular saw and rafter square would make quick work of it.

yes, they are pretty straight and the little gap there is can be caulked.

Where abouts in North West London? If you can get to Denham easily with the boards and measurements I can cut it down for you.

That's too kind, thanks so much! I am in NW10, it's a half an hour drive, so definitely doable. Let me see if I can find something locally, but if not, I might take up on the offer. Will pm you.

A roofing square does the job there.

I like roofing squares.

Think you just need a parking permit for a skip. Best check the council website though.

Thank you - it turns out a lot of skip companies will apply to the council if you give them enough notice.

Around me (Haringey) you need to pay for suspension of parking restrictions. Think it's £150 or so.

I found out about roofing squares too late in my life.

Cork on a bedroom wall (external), bookcase on same wall. Is this a bad idea?

Anyone have any experience sourcing/speccing SIPS panels?

Sourcing them isn't too hard. Would expect them to be specced by a structural engineer.

Bookcase over the top of the cork? I think cork is a pretty breathable material so I don't see why that would have a negative impact...

Painting inside of log cabin: Zinsser perma white the best option?

Zactly. I wanted to check my thinking.

Sorry I should have been a bit more clear. When I mention speccing I mean getting them made to order, rather than OTP sizes. They'll be for a bougie garden studio so nothing extravagant - just window/door apertures in the correct places rather than me having to cut them.

It's usually specialised application. Quite useful where there is existing mould like small shower rooms. It's got a slightly odd finish and it's really sticky to paint with.

More details would help but a 'normal' approach to painting woodwork would be primer followed by 2 or 3 top coats of acrylic eggshell. It might suit you to use a couple of coats of Zinnser All Coat though, that's a great paint.

If you have bare wood you will need something that can resist any staining, Zinsser Cover Stain does that. I'm looking for a reliable primer that seals redwood and is moisture vapour permeable but have yet to find one I'd recommend.

If you are thinking that the wall was lined with cork to stop condensation issues then you might be onto something.

I've very rarely seen mould caused by bookcases but I don't doubt it exists in some places.

SIPS is a prefabricated construction method therefore you don't cut them yourself. All openings are specified and made in the factory.

The wall in the back room gets cold, the kids sleep there.
The plan was to cork the brick wall and then the other end of the bed (plasterboard internal cupboard wall thing) would get a bookcase. Then the plan/desire was to put pictures up on the brick wall. I hate drilling to put pictures up. So, pictures in frames with nails/pins on the plasterboard, book case on the other. Didn't want mouldy books. Thought cork would solve two problems at once.

They can be cut on site. Most people seem to use a recip saw but I imagine that kicks out a load of small bits of foam so less than ideal.
Anyway I guess my real question is - does anyone have any recommendations for SIPs suppliers?

What’re the advantages/applications of SIPs ?