Home DIY

I have the green version of the Bosch 10.8V hammer drill and it’s absolutely excellent. Used regularly for the last four years. Made in Europe. Can drill masonry, and 22mm holes in timber joists (very handy in tight spots when doing under floor wiring).

Neighbour is having an extension. All good. Had a letter from a company stating they can arrange a party wall survey which neighbour will pay for. (properties aren't attached but within 3 metres).
Should we get this? Can't I just ask my neighbour directly to get one done?

Unless they’re digging deep foundations or something, I’d have thought it’ll be a waste of both your time and their money.

I have access to floorboards atm and the gf is asking if we can do something to soundproof the floor a bit. It is very thud thud and airborne sound travels easily too.

Do I just chuck some mineral wool between the joists and then decent underlay beneath carpets? Any ventilation issues with putting wool down?

Am also toying with idea of ripping out all the floorboards and replacing with Ply panels. Anything can put between them and joists?

Single story extension so nothing too deep I'd think

Sounds like some opportunist no-win-no-fee types trying to make a quick buck whilst costing your neighbours a lot of money.

Exactly. Was it hand delivered? Does your neighbour know anything about it?

I’m pretty sure unless there are deep excavations there’s not an issue, no party wall or party structure involved. The gov guidance notes are pretty easy to read if you are interested.

New fence is going up! Fuck me, it looks LOADS better than the old one before it.

Companies keep an eye on the planning applications on council websites and send out letters to neighbors when applications are approved. They can charge a shed load because it's very difficult to contest the fees.

If you do want a survey, which isn't necessarily a bad idea, talk to your neighbor and agree to employ a joint surveyor which will half the cost for them.

I wasn't arsed about it until the letter arrived. I like our neighbour and have no reason to think that they wont get a reputable builder in.
We might be selling our house soon though so wondered if it's worth it from that side of things.
Going halves is reasonable.

I’m fairly confident in predicting that it won’t gain you a single worthwhile thing, and almost certainly the everlasting disdain of your neighbours.

The drain in my back garden is badly blocked, housemates just washing food and hair straight down the plug hole. Is there a go to brand of drain unblocker? I've used caustic soda before which worked well on internal drains, can't seem to find it on the shelf anywhere. Thought I would see if there's a better alternative if I'm having to order something online anyway.

You may want to employ physical means.

Like your housemates

I was going to give it a good jabbing with something as well, thought a two pronged attack couldn't hurt.

Start with the physical means, you don't want to be fishing around in caustic liquid. Usually you need to determine whether it needs to be pulled or pushed fairly gently as you don't want to make a blockage worse. Generally chemical attack is a last resort and unnecessary.

employ a joint surveyor which will half the cost for them.

A joint surveyor will not be representative of either side's best interests if a party wall agreement is required.

I'd try fork with three tines.

I'll bin it then. It did seem a bit ambulance chasing. Hoping for an invite round for a drink in their new extension. Plus first dibs on all the wood in the skip.

Would OSB be a suitable material for a portable worktop? Was hoping to use exterior plywood but none of my local builders merchants seem to have it in proper 2.4m x 1.2m sheet size.

For doing what on? It's get ruined by rain or moisture, and you'll feel like you're in a vegan cafe in Hackney Wick.

Cutting sheets of mdf, assembling stuff, just general table top to work off.

My plan is to screw sheet of something down to two 2x4's and slot them in to my sawhorses. My current setup is a random piece of mdf resting on them but its not fixed and wobbly and would rather something a bit more sturdy.

I wouldn't leave it out in the rain but it would be stored in the garage which can get humid so perhaps OSB not a good choice? I could drive over to acton to get some exterior ply but its a pretty long round trip. And marine ply is very expensive.

You could use OSB-3. It's made with waterproof glue and can be upgraded from moisture class 2 to 3 by using a suitable wood preservative.
(Sorry if those terms aren't the correct ones - this is not my first language)

Sacrificial MDF top - cheap, smooth and scratch free, fine to plunge saws and drills into. Just replace it when it gets too cut up. A friend had a folding table base system that looked like the framework for a tiny marquee or something. Super sturdy and light / easy to fold up. Came in a bag, looked like those fold up garden chairs with nylon seats and cup holders in the arms.

@JesperXT ta. I don't know anything about about osb to be honest, just saw it on the shelf when I was trying to find exterior ply. Just checked and the stuff in selco is osb 3 actually. "can go on structural panels that perform even when it gets a bit wet"

@dbr should have said I'm trying to avoid mdf for weight reasons. I'll be storing it overhead on garage ceiling joists so looking to keep weight to a minimum.
You got and photos of the folding system youe mate has? The ability to fold would be useful