Home DIY

How wide is the balcony?

I've got one of these;

http://www.asgardsss.co.uk/bike-cycle-storage/bike-storage-x4

and they do a range of other sizes. I'd recommend one, assuming you can get it to fit on the balcony.

Balcony is 2.49 x 1.5.
I think those Asgard things are ace, but I can't see it being a popular choice.

Damo, this may help--considers various options. Perhaps one is available in or around your building. I wouldn't advise keeping bikes on a balcony.

Yeah, if you do keep them on the balcony they need to be secured, playswellwithotters had a couple of bikes stolen from his balcony, much higher than the third floor!

I think one of those bike shed things is likely to be your only real choice.

Does anyone have the glorified length of pipe which they call a tumble dryer belt fitting tool that I could borrow?

Here's a thrilling example

Sorted. Nothing a Thomson seat post and a bit of Vaseline couldn't fix!

euph?

I would like to borrow an SDS hammer drill from someone (capable of drilling with a 16mm diameter masonry bit). It's for putting an anchor into a concrete slab in my backyard, under the bike shed.

Does anyone have one? Is this actually what I need or have I got myself confused?

Should I be asking in another thread?

Ta all.

I have one, you are welcome to borrow both drill and bit- you'll need to come and get it and be aware that it is heavy.

Dammit to the rescue!

Thanks, I'll PM you.

I need someone to build a small brick wall- can anyone recommend someone in SE London?

Do it yourself. Building a wall is not that hard.

Building a wall that won't fall, however...

I've done everything else in the house myself, and would normally do this- but the reason I am using brick is that it's going to be left unrendered, and go round the wood burning stove.

So- I wanted to ensure that the courses were bang on horizontal.

If, however, this is easy, then I'll do it myself.

Just work slowly and use a level and line

You've done this yourself?

If so, and it's as straightforward as you say then I'll crack on.

I think that I will need to tie it into a concrete pillar that will be next to it- the original builders didn't do this, but it seems a bit daft not to.

Or am I being a blouse and internal non-load bearing brick walls don't need to be tied into a contiguous structural wall?

not knowing the dimensions or shape, you have to be aware that if the wrong mortar is used, plus no ties, then the wall could bow in as the heat sucks the moisture out of the joints unevenly

That was my concern.

The wall is going to be short - 6' wide and 7'6" tall, tucked in underneath and beside the beams that form the structural skeleton of the building.

My grandad was a bricklayer. He used to tell me it was easy, the tricky bit was doing it quickly.

After he'd died, my dad and I put the foundations in for a new garage and it's still standing, 30 years later. As Dov says, if you get the levels right it's relatively straightforward. But if, as it sounds, the wall is going to be visible then I'd get a proper bricklayer in.

It's going to be the only bit of exposed brickwork in the flat, albeit it will be behind the woodburner.

We used to have a fireplace that was centrally placed in the wall- that was bricked up years ago.

There is a concrete apron visible where there used to be a hearth.

What I want to do is to put the stove directly underneath our chimney, which means siting the stove "in" the wall- which is wide enough to have the chimney in it.

Any recommendations for a corded drill, have a cordless one for little jobs, but the walls of the flat are concrete blocks to need something more powerful.

many thanks

bit of exposed brickwork in the flat

Personally I would opt for getting the brickwork done by someone else. The slightest mis-alignment of the courses would bug me something awful. I'd also spend a long time thinking about what bricks to use, since there are some pretty ugly ones out there.

Those are interesting, but as a product of the "truth to materials" period I won't be able to use them.

Any recommendations for a corded drill, have a cordless one for little jobs, but the walls of the flat are concrete blocks to need something more powerful.

many thanks

I have the Bosch PSB 600 which is over 10yrs old. Still going strong now. I think they've upped the power from 600 to 650W now and it also now has a keyless chuck. They're about £50.

Good for most things around the house but I have a Makita 2kg for bigger jobs .