Home DIY

Hello, we needed to build the doors due to size and security, with an added fire resistance. The wood was a south american wood that has a high density. Hence locks and hinges for strength and discreet.

I live in a shabby share house. It has one main toilet with some mix n match tiling. I am thinking of painting the tiles to look like a pixel mosaic, perhaps of Van Gogh.

Some googling suggests I could use oil paints. I would apply with a brush to each tile. This is fine but would cost like £40-60 in paint. Is there a cheaper option?

Should I do a spray coat of white primer first? Would likely require two cans.

Also can I please borrow an orbital sander from anyone for the prep work (if that is indeed the best idea)? Can offer beer. The tiling is slightly uneven in depth across the wall, i.e. it's not a flat surface, so is this even the best sanding approach?

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The washing machine drains into the same pipe that whisks away sink and toilet stuff. The u bendy thing doesn't make a tight seal with the exit pipe.

There are smells when washing clothes. Bad bad smells. They've got a lot worse recently.

Will a tight seal fix this?
Is it indicative of a block further down the sewer pipe?

same pipe that whisks away sink and toilet stuff

i don't think that should be the same pipe...

Well, I thought not. I'd assumed it was going into waste water along with kitchen sink, dishwasher etc

Thank you, it's a flat roofing section I need repairing - would triflex or torch on felt be more appropriate for a 1.5 x 1.5 meter section of flat roof?

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Shouldn't all of that type of water go in to the soil stack?

@moocher, check the ubend is clear of debris and full of water, then make sure the pipe attachment seal is all the way round. Is the smell in the machine or in the room?

Do you know where the leak is?

Those waterproof roof coatings work, was used on a temporary repair on a really poor roof till funding was in place. So far lasted five years and the funding isn't in place.

EDIT: Thompson roof seal, the 10 year guarantee one.

There's definitely a breeze and a smell coming up from the pipe. The u bend hook bit and machine smell OK.

There's no airtight seal, which might help, but might just push the smelly air back into the washing machine.

The water filled U bend should stop the smell.
But feeling that breeze means to me check the pipes as it that isn't right.

no, that's the problem. we're looking to replace all the flat roof section, retile the tiled areas, new soakers and felt the concrete bit in the corner. I was wondering if it's worth the additional £280 to use triflex rather than torched felt on the flat roof area. Torched felt to my untrained eye looks a bit like the budget and shit option. Is that the case, or is it the go to option for this sort of thing? thanks very much

Ah, not sure then. Looks like mastic asphalt is on there now. There is a two layer and three layer torch on felt, with the three layer having a longer expected life, but different brands give varying quality and life expectancy.. Any particular reason that EDPM or the grp resins aren't being offered as I though that would be easier/cheaper as less time and skill to cover a small area.

EDIT: Currently working on a listed building and the roof replacement we are looking at EDPM and or grp resins. But so far we are 5 years in and still fund raising.

listed building and the roof replacement we are looking at EDPM and or grp resins. But so far we are 5 years in and still fund raising.

Good luck getting that past English heritage / the local conservation officer.

I was wondering if it's worth the additional £280 to use triflex rather than torched felt on the flat roof area

It all depends on what guarantee is offered with the two systems. Torch on if installed properly is a cost effective way to do a flat roof that can be easily repaired down the line. The best roofer I know prefers torch on systems to GRP / EDPM, the latter has a longer life expectancy but this is unproven as they have not been widely available for as long as the claimed life expectancy so any claims are based on lab tests.

One thing I would say about the roof pictured is it has clearly been patched many times in the past. Take any quote you get with a pinch of salt, simply put it is impossible to know the condition of the roof structure under the tiles and felt until everything has been lifted. You may get lucky but I'd be surprised if you didn't have to do some form of repairs to the structure. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

Is your landlord on board with the scheme? I would clean it, use some fungicide, clean it again, then use a tin of oil based primer. I wouldn’t use a rattle can. I’d also do a test tile first to check for adhesion. I wouldn’t expect it to look good for long though.

Yeah even tho the roof isn't listed and we want to put solar panels up there.

I was busy (painting!). I use a lot of Little Greene but I think Benjamin Moore is probably the current best rated among the decorators who notice paint quality. I tried a tester and it was very good, I've yet to have a chance to use it on a job.

We've been happy with all of the Benjamin Moore paints we've used over the last 15-20 years, goes on nice and lasts well.

They have been expanding distribution in the UK over the last couple of years. Apparently they are huge in the US.

Is there going to be replastering and some decorating involved afterwards?

We had some lesser work done including whole new bathroom, plastering of some walls and ceilings, flooring laid, etc. The whole took like 9-10 weeks iirc (maybe 12 can't remember for sure).

We were still living in but my partner found it really stressful. I was okay and loved seeing the little baby steps each day working up towards the finished product. It was worth it. If you have got the option to move out it'll be better for your family AND the builders. It might even enable them to work faster. Although I do think that 3-4 is unrealistic. Are you drawing a contract with them?

So this is how the washing machine is plumbed in.
Blue arrow water in, grey arrow water out, green arrow BAD SMELL in
2nd pic shows the outside of the house, with the washing machine outflow joining the big grey pipe
3rd pic is the whole outside, all the big grey pipes come from toilets/bathrooms

EDIT - picture order is wrong of course

My temporary plan is to make an air tight seal around the top of the pipe in picture 1

@ElephantBreath - i may have mislead you about the ubend - "The water filled U bend should stop the smell." all i meant buy this was the upside down u shaped curve that hooks the washing machine outflow down into the pipe.

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That looks like a bodge job. That pipe is basically just a vent into the soil stack which explains the smell.
I don't think you want to seal washing machine pipes typically. A u bend will solve your problems I think

U (bend) need one of these.

Flexi waste pipe from the washing machine goes into the top of it, unsealed, as it is now, but the "P trap" stops smells coming back in.

My landlord is pretty chill!

But yes in my haste I had overlooked longevity. Will it likely start to flake off? Is it just a terrible idea?

Thanks both! :)