Home DIY

Our roof leaked in the storms of two weeks ago. Small damp patch in the sloping ceiling next to the dormer on the top floor escalated into huge wet patches and water dripping into the (newly decorated) bathroom on the floor below that.

Turns out it was a split in the lead round the dormer which was dripping/running down through a void in the eaves to the floor below then spreading out in puddles between the beams above the bathroom. Managed to intercept the worst of it, by smashing the back out of the airing cupboard on the stairs with a wrecking bar to pad it with towels. Paint in baby's room and the bathroom ceiling are borked though.

Roof repair cost £625 and took a couple of hours. The clearing up inside will take longer and hopefully cost less.

New shower started leaking yesterday. And the washing machine has been quietly leaking in the utility room for months which I only discovered this weekend. Horrible mess behind there.

Kitchen tap problem now fixed with big old flat washers, and a shaped hard plastic washer. Until it all rots again... I've oiled the bejesus out of it in the mean time, and when I get a few days free, I'll wax it too.

Next up - who is / are the forum cabinet makers? We're in the market for some built-in shelving / cupboards either side of a chimney breast, and a TV shelf / cupboard unit.

everything else so nice and considered but the numbering in the glass is super lazy :(

Water hammer. Talk to me.

Also. We have wooden kitchen countertops. What's the beef?

Thought non-return valves cure water hammer.

Water + wood = swelling, ...... leaks/rot.

Water. And wood. All form and no function. Kitchens need to be about cooking, not about worrying that you're going to mess the surface up.

Right. You could just be a bit tidier?

I say wood is perfectly fine as long as it isn't right next to a sink.
I don't cut directly on the counter and just use mineral oil on my maple counters (manufacturer recommended).

Thinking about a concrete worktop. Tell me why it's an awful idea...

I know they stain and change colour, I'm down with that.

SHUT UP YOU'RE NOT MY MUM!

Serial, tho - under sunk sinks and taps in wood - it's impossible to use the kitchen and keep it dry enough to prevent seepage, staining, mould and rot.

Yeah my kitchens fucked then. Oak top. Wiv a sink in it.

Shower was installed by contractors. Was less hassle to stick a bit of silicon on it than get them back. 2 min job. Only mentioned it in the context of the also leaking roof and washing machine...

surfaces: I inherited black granite worktops which are fine although not what i would have chosen, and a black, matte finish sink which has aged terribly. Really prone to limescale staining and is seemingly impossible to clean. Stupid fucking thing.

I'll hold onto that spare bit to cut chunks out of to replace your collapsing sink then, yeah?

There is, I feel, a middleground that would have made a nice finishing detail. Drop me a message next time :)

Yeah. Be for the best.

Nobody should have to be happy with Arial Bold. I'm a graphic designer, mostly doing nice things with letters (books and other print things, signage, exhibitions, etc).

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Does anyone know what this bit from the back of a hotpoint washing machine is called and where to het a new one?

Thames water turned our water off mid wash and seems to have fucked it. I think when it came back on some sediment got in but there is no way of taking apart and cleaning.

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Powered valve on the water inlet?

http://www.capitalrepairs.co.uk/

Can probably sell you what you need from the part number.

Sounds about right. I'll check it out. I tried giving it a clean so the machine worked but not sure how long for. Many thanks

Anyone got underfloor heating?

We are currently refurbing an old farmhouse and the next decision I have to make is where to go with underfloor heating or radiators on the ground. We also have a decent sized log burner in the lounge, so heat in there isn't really an issue.

Underfloor heating costs a few k more, and from what I have been reading is better if you want an always on sort of heat, issue we have is that we both work pretty much full time and sometimes irregular hours, so thinking radiators might be better at giving instant heat?

Anyone got real world experience?

We had it installed at a flat we were renting (by the owner) and experienced both with/without.

In the bathroom it was incredible. Everywhere else it was just kind of weird and bills went up. Suppose it depends what your long term intentions are for the place - from memory the farmhouse was through family and this isn't just something to flip a la diable? If it's for keeps and you're 'put on a jumper if it's cold' (i.e. 'normal') people I would save the few grand and invest it elsewhere (including good quality smart home stuff).

In the bathroom it was incredible. Everywhere else it was just kind of weird and bills went up. Suppose it depends what your long term intentions are for the place - from memory the farmhouse was through family and this isn't just something to flip a la diable? If it's for keeps and you're 'put on a jumper if it's cold' (i.e. 'normal') people I would save the few grand and invest it elsewhere (including good quality smart home stuff).

Cheers that was my thinking, I think it would be nice under the tiles in the kitchen, but not sure of the benefit in lounge and dining room.

And well remembered it is an old family farmhouse, will have to post some more pics soon!

Wet for sure, only considering it for the ground floor. Haven't got the ceiling heights on 1st and 2nd floors.
Ground floor plan is as attached.

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