Home DIY

The perils of DIY - all I wanted to do was swap out a fridge freezer, and take the opportunity to run another mains circuit out of the back wall.

I've bodged the cabinet out of a fashion, and pulled the cable through an existing hole (so a win there).

When I pulled the conduit away from the existing wiring, I've discovered that a) there are shonky in-line connections (crimps done badly, but at least fixable) and b) there's a massive great crack from floor to ceiling.

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If you can't get your hand in it don't worry about it!

I've run out of sugar soap, but have loads of citrus degreaser.

Can I save myself a trip to Screwfix? Or will it fuck up the paint?

(it's to prep a kitchen)

Might be an issue getting the degreaser off the surface completely. You've probably found out by now though!

I think limonene is the principal ingredient of citrus degreaser. It’s volatile so should just dry off. Obviously there might be other less volatile stuff in there, depending on the brand. I’d be interested to know how it all worked out!

Apparently mice have been eating the wiring in our new house. FML how far am I going to have to trace this wire to repair it

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Incase this helps you or anyone else that comes across this issue with wire detectors.

If your wire detector is alarming everywhere/too much place your hand on the wall within a foot of the detector. The sliding of the detector on the wall can create static and cause false alarms. I use a Bosch one and have to do this to use it.

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Bosch one

Yeah, sorry I should have added my fix:

• Watch and ring off
  
• rubber soled shoes
  
• no other contact
  
• palm flat on the wall a few inches away from detector
  
• double check by identifying known live wire routes, and maybe a metal pen
  
  

It's hardly effortless. But I'm still here.

Looking at re-tiling our kitchen. May DIY.

First question is, whether there is a reason for tiling above the cabinets, and why?

My measurements say that the current tiles and grouting would have fit in this space. But it would have been four rows of tiles high, rather than three + two cut ones. Could it be that it's best to have an odd number, or is it something else?

Cheers.

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Cause the tiles start from the floor?

I’d want to do insulation resistance test on all the circuits once you’ve replaced all the damaged cable you can see/get to. Tbh it’s not a great sign.

Going for it. So far so good… easifill maybe tomorrow evening on a smaller area before moving into the hallway and the more visible spots.

Getting a paddle mixer for the drill was a bit of a revelation - just been using a small scraper til now.

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Yes they do start from the floor next to that counter, the first/bottom tile still isn't a whole tile though.

Maybe if I counted from the floor up, you might end up with a weird sliver or small gap. So it's not impossible it's related to that.

Just a thought, I admire your endeavours, but it may be easier to get a plasterer to do that - if you have a look round locally and see if any work is being done, perhaps a helpful plasterer could pop round with a bucket of plaster and fill that for you.
As I said, just a thought.

Well done. Then bonding makes it pretty easy right?

Multifinish is quicker than Easifill for the top coat but a little bit harder to handle and you need to buy bigger quantities. Easifill works fine if you get the mix right.

Not really the spirit of the DIY thread! :)

It's a ball ache I'll give it that, there are other wires in the same run of joists that are unmolested though. Will dig out the MFT anyway.

My first challenge is floorboards nailed under a stud wall so can't cut them and keep support when refitting. Suggestions?

Lol. Fair point but I always work on the basis of Clint Eastwood - know your limits 😀😀😀
And I am still looking at bikes!!! Madness abounds

You've got me dreaming about 6 cylinder Hondas now. There's one on the bay in silver with a fairing for £9k.

Get creative with some joist material and make a support. Could even use joist hangers if you need a lot of strength.

Yeah, for sure - especially the larger areas. Definitely feel that it can sense fear when it’s on the hawk.

For smaller/shallower, I’ll stick to easifill for sure. Buying a 25kg bag of anything made me feel very grownup 😂

I know this is the wrong thread but DO NOT look at YouTube!!! Although from a DIY POV, buy it, remove engine. Get engine sorted. Buy a new frame and running gear, insert engine and you should be good. My dream goes on …

Too late! There's a great one on the 12 six cylinder motorbike models that exist. Plus of course the history of the Honda engine. That sound though :)

Ha, I remember finding this out after spending weeks thinking my entire house was one giant wire. A good day.