Home DIY

The control gear for the 36W fluorescent tube (~3,300lm?) in the kitchen was starting to show signs of impending death so I replaced it with a 4,400 lumen LED batten light and every time I switch it on it feels like the opening to Terminator 2.
It's great.

Meanwhile, over in the idiot corner...

I'm trying to drill through concrete (concrete ceiling), so I bought an absurdly expensive drill bit that says it's designed for concrete (but it is not suitable for aggregate).

Well, by a process of elimination I guess I'm trying to drill through aggregate because I was only able to make three 2cm holes before the bit was chipped to shit and not making any headway.

I'm just trying to fit a new light fixture to the ceiling. Any tips?

Just stuck it on. Light fixtures are light and do get knocked so easy to use an adhesive in this scenario.

We just had our first mandatory electrical survey (in Switzerland, every 10 years, or within 5 years when the house is sold). In general not as bad as I was expecting looking at the level of DIY done by the previous owner, however there was one very suspect thing which we'll have to get an electrician to look at. Apparently the boiler, washing machine and dryer are all on the same breaker, and the boiler is 3-phase... Looking forward to having that work carried out! We also need to replace the outlets in the bathrooms to ones with an integrated breaker, but I'm confident enough to do that work myself and just get it signed off by the electrician.

virign are coming to install internet at our house tomorrow. Is there any issue with them putting the cable through the wall - or is it better to go in though the window frame?

Through the wall. I’m having Virgin installed today.

Well, I’m not sure why but Screwfix have now stock in so their email wasn’t correct. But, happy days - new drill day!!

1 Attachment

I got the same. Saw they were in stock so returned the Toolstation set and popped next door. Impact driver is quite a step up from trying to drive screws with a drill.

Don’t let them put it through the frame.

Also make sure they aren’t putting it through the wall in a place that’s easy for them but shit for you.

I’d like to remove/cover up this cat flap in a pvc door which came with the house as it leaks a lot of heat. What the best way to approach this?

1 Attachment

Assuming it is a standard UPVC door, you can buy a new panel, they aren't that expensive and relatively easy to fit.

It's an ugly box inside, ask them to make an extension so you can hide the box in a cupboard or the like.

No personal experience with this stuff myself but may be useful for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6lZXjRR-1k

Yup, this is what I was thinking, but was thinking I'd avoid the adhesive part, as it could get in the way of application.
I could just leave it on of course, 1-4mm tape seems ideal.

@Airhead recommended me a product that was strips of white foam in various sizes for this exact purpose. Can't seem to find them via google at the mo, but I suspect they're exactly what you're after.

Got a set of these coming for indoor use, not shed/similar:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Tier-Shelf-Shelving-Unit-Heavy-Duty-Racking-Boltless-Industrial-Shelves-Garage/254841416625?hash=item3b55bb6bb1:g:BPgAAOSwwnFgCrEm

Thinking clear Danish oil is going to be the best option on the chip board shelves right? Any issues like soaking up too much, expanding, or going funny at the edges if I use Danish oil on chipboard/particle board?

Cheers.

Some good old clear varnish might be better. Make the shelves smoother too.

That MDF will look like crap relatively soon so it won’t matter. At that point you can replace with proper Baltic Birch.

Which edge profile did you go for ?

Double pencil. If you have kids it's nice to have the bottom edge done too. So they don't have a sharp edge to grab.

Mm, not a current concern but likely to become one.

Would you mind posting a photo?

Template went well, fat double sink needs a little bit of extra support as well as the glue but easily done.

Here you go

1 Attachment

Plaster question: what's going on here?!

We had chimney knocked out in December, they patched up and skimmed the wall. There's a large section which has dried way darker. I'm guessing this was the soot soaking through from the brick while the plaster was drying?

It's not the best job and might need to be re-done anyway, but recently I've noticed some weird textures. The darker bits have been there since the plaster dried, but the white stuff seems new, or it's getting more noticeable. Can't imagine it's mould (at least I hope it isn't). Could it be salts? Any idea what the dark bits are caused by would also be appreciated.

Looks like mould to me. Surely it’s dark because it’s damp?

It's completely dry to touch. Been like that for ~2 months now. Had dehumidifier running pretty regularly since it's been done and the patch hasn't reduced in size after initial drying out period.

Edit: This is what it was like when chimney breast was removed, hence thinking soot has soaked through plaster