Home DIY

A. Plaster or paper.

B. Maybe needs photos. The electrics should not really be writes externally in conduit. For non-mains cables (like telephone, speaker, etc.) it's not too difficult to hide it depending on if you have carpet, certain types of skirting, etc.

If there are not currently any leaks them personally I wouldn't bother. Surveys never ever come back with a clean bill of health.

If he/she removes all the moss (who gives a fuck about that, it'll grow back anyway) and fixes the small pointing jobs, then I'd expect 1/2 - 1 day's work, so £200 - £300.

If you want evidence of the issues (and latterly the repair) then ask for photographs to be taken.

Do they sell to the general public?

You could also try Architectural Fittings in Muswell Hill. Probably worth phoning ahead tho.

I used these guys for brass door knobs and pull handles when I was doing my kitchen. Really happy with finish/feel. Might be worth getting in touch.

Thanks everyone. Might just bite the bullet and go for proper quality. Going to sting at £20 a pop though.....

These guys are Canadian, no idea about shipping costs.
http://www.leevalley.com/en/Home.aspx

I think starting with the assumption that a tradesman is going to scam you might mean that things are never going to end quite the way that you want them to.

Thanks guys. That might be the probelm actually as my floors are concrete in that hallway so not much space to run cables.

Flat. Ground floor

Happy to give more info - just wasn't sure what you were after.

It's a purpose built 1920s block, east London, art deco style. Walls are masonry, floors are partial suspended timber construction but in the particular area I'm looking at, concrete. The wiring for the three flats above me goes up through my fuse box / wiring. All the wiring for phone line, intercom, electricity and gas goes through separate routing or pipes. The front door and frame has been busted off its hinges by person or persons unknown and filled by expanding foam and bits of wood banged into the concrete. Lots of black mould everywhere which I'll need to clean. But ultimately, I'm just trying to have an idea in mind on how it could actually look nice - I'm just trying to neaten it all up.

So our washer dryer is on the blink and has started tripping the mainboard fuse, opened her up and ran a cycle, looks like the motor was sparking under load and then tripping the fuse, there is carbon filings present, I'm wondering if just changing the carbon brushes would do it or should I just swap over the motor?

http://www.dowsingandreynolds.com

Think they might have what you're looking for...

For the Pro- DIY'er and Trades on here, B&Q has got a nice deal on a rolling storages system at the moment.

Magnusson tool boxes, apparently made by the same factory that makes the DeWalt stuff but a lot cheaper. There is a buy 3 items for £92 deal on the website (£116 normally and more expensive at Screwfix). Picked mine up this morning and they are really heavy duty.

Heh.

I spent the weekend reorganising the van, this was part of the plan and now means I don't have six separate boxes/bags to move inside at the end of the day.

Good shout on electrics via adjoining wooden floored room - can't believe I'd not considered that before, seems so obvious now you've said it. I think our block is very much like those Barons Court estates so v relevant advice.

I'm comfortable that I've tackled the cause of the mould, which was lack of air circulation. We've now got stripped back floors, unblocked airbricks, and an extractor fan in the bathroom. And I've got a door / frame incoming. But those walls man. What did they used to build them out of, adamantium?!

Cool. I'm pretty decent at papering so once I clean the walls and get my new door installed I might give this a bash.

Worth knowing about electrics not being wired in conduit. I only thought it'd be a good idea as our old school was wired like that and I always liked the look. Will look into carpet / skirting hiding. Thanks dude.

Cheers. In the end we didn't use him.

He went back on the prepaid £50 and generally made a load of random excuses and BS about different things.

Yep, took the motor off and removed the brushes, looked knackered, one side particularly bad, could see the wire core so guessing that was what causing the problem

Yup, better than £130 for a new motor, carbon brushes are already on their way :)

Like you, we were a bit surprised at the £2k bill for brass hardware (recessed handles, sash stops and fasteners etc) when we refurbished 12 big windows in our previous flat. Does seem there's not much middle-ground in that game, though: crap (cheap) or good (expensive).

Yep. @Tenderloin seems to have found a possible solution a page back, hopefully the quality will be good enough.

I've bought a few bits from them and all been good quality. Hopefully those handles work out :)

I've ordered a sample so we'll see if it gets past the quality control (my wife).

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Vitsoe 16cm shelves.