Owning your own home

It's very nice. You get given a key to the garden itself and there's also a key for a tunnel that leads from the garden under the road to the beach. We lived a few buildings down on the seafront and our friends still live in this terrace (next to NC but I believe they moved to the states).

Cylinders, either euro, oval, Scandinavian or yale rim, are all easy to replace. Or a door that doesn't need external access, just superglue the key hole and shove a pin in it.

Lever sets with a new key are available for the decent mortise locks, rather than replacing the whole lock.

Same for us, and it's a weird feeling. I can't help but feel slightly guilty and grubby to be benefiting from these cunts

We get the keys on Monday, so will work out what’s required and see if we can diy it. Thanks

4k suggested as price for fixing/replacing a 4x3m flat roof.

Are they having a laugh?

Yes, that does sound cheap, clowns!

I've just been brutally informed of the real price and it's nearer 20k,

New flat roof required, probably entirely untouched in 50 years

Get a pitch on it.

Put a donk on it.

£20k? What are they doing, cladding it in gold?

Guess a load of structural stuff has Blown?

I don't know...

I have no points of reference!

It's mid terrace, is that feasible?

Part of our bathroom wall is actually a cupboard which projects into the landing. What kind of tradesperson do I need if I want this ripped out and replaced with an actual (plasterboard) wall? I feel like it's something I could do myself (don't think it's a load-bearing cupboard) but not very well.

Rear extension? Probably not without planning, and probably not even then.

Depends what is fucked but getting ours taken back to the rafters and redone was ~£8k in 2021. Around the same size, 5 x 4m and at height.

Flat roofs are comparatively simple - basically a load of boarding on joists with a water proof coating on top and sealing around the edges - basic lead work.

They might have quoted for a whizzy new coating like EDPM or sheet metal or a ‘warm roof’ for better insulation?

They gave the cheap quote , the fancy coating was more.

Wife has got a second opinion at half price... First guys can get in the sea

If I can build a stud wall anyone can.

I've just had a catastrophic (4x usual) water bill...

I can see the meter turning when there's nothing in the house that should be using water - no taps, heating off.

I've checked that the leak (if there is one) is definitely after the stopcock by turning it off and seeing the meter stop turning.

I think I can hear water flowing through pipes near the boiler - is it plausible that the boiler would be drinking water even without the heating on? It's not been serviced for a few years to be honest.

Is the flow fill up tap to the boiler open? What's the pressure on it? If it were taking in water that would have to be going somewhere, ie out of a pipe or radiator. 4x means a lot of water, you should be seeing that somehwere.

If it was you'd think there would be some other symptoms. Where would the water be going? The heating loop is closed, unless you had an open pressure valve and the inlet open, you wouldn't be able to heat radiators and there would be an overflow running constantly.

4x means a lot of water, you should be seeing that somewhere.

Right? There no sign of it anywhere in the house. I thought it might be a leaking hose on an open outdoor tap but that's reaching.

The flow fill up is closed (that's the one you use to top it up?), the pressure in the middle of the required range. It does need a service (the icon is flashing). I can hear water moving in the pipes, but not sure where it's going.

I'm going to have to get a chap in I guess - just wondering if it's even possible for a boiler to flow water in the whole time

It is possible, if the fill tap is open but either it would be leaking or pissing out of somewhere under pressure.

Sorry, shit situation. Covered for this on insurance?

Covered for this on insurance

Hadn't thought of checking to be honest, might be worth a call. But there's no damage anywhere! ... I've googled and found people who are 'leak detectors', will give one a call on Monday.

We had trace/locate as part of our home insurance. They turned water off, drained the system and then filled it with a detectable gas and went around with a wand and picked it up fairly accurately. Happy to pass on details if needed but don't think we did more than just Google. Ended up needing a fair whack of kitchen out/make good work, so might be worth looking at insurance too.

Is it a combi? Guess it will have an overflow. Checked that there's nothing coming out of that?