Questions tagged [uk]
Questions specific to DIY projects in the United Kingdom. Use with any relevant project tags (i.e. [electrical])
206
questions
0
votes
3answers
99 views
How can I make a section of skirting removable for cable access?
I have a lot of cables, junctions, etc. behind the skirting board I want to be able to access it in the future, without ripping apart the board again. I was thinking magnets, some click holders, or ...
1
vote
2answers
89 views
Can I unscrew this pipe cover behind an access panel?
I just want to double check I am not going to unscrew something and get a surprise. I want to find the water shut off for my bath, which a plumber turned off today while I was out of the house (the ...
3
votes
2answers
89 views
What is this kind of radiator bleed valve called?
I managed to shear off the middle bit of my radiator bleed valve yesterday, just by turning it with a key.
The bleed valve went into a hex nut, which is ~11mm across.
I don't absolutely have to ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Light switch wiring [UK]
In my house I have a series of single and double switches Like the one in this picture
I would like to change them to smart switches because of the light bulbs I have installed. Now when I look at ...
2
votes
3answers
129 views
Can 18/2 wire be used in the UK?
I'm in the US and creating a table lamp for a relative in England. I have a UK standard plug and had planned on using 18/2 lamp wire. I of course want the lamp to be safe. The lamp will be using a 40 ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
How best to insulate against heat loss from house to garage?
I have a utility room with an internal door leading to the garage. The utility room is warm but loses heat through the door into the garage. The garage has a roller door made of pretty thin metal with ...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Paint bubbles and comes away when overpainting with new paint - any solutions?
We've been in our newbuild (2017) a while and wanted to redecorate and change the colour in one of the rooms.
We cleaned the walls (drywall/plasterboard that still has the original builders' paint on ...
1
vote
0answers
51 views
Can I turn a ceiling light into an overhead projector mount?
I want to put a projector into one of the rooms of my new place. Is it possible to remove the pendant light, convert it into a UK mains outlet and still use the light switch to provide the power? Or ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Should I trim my bathroom door to improve air extraction?
Current situation
My bathroom looks like this:
The problem is that I face some mild humidity issues (on ceiling and tile grout), as it is difficult to extract air after having taken a shower.
Indeed, ...
0
votes
2answers
71 views
Does my smoke alarm battery need replacing?
I live in a flat in the UK. The flat is about 6 years old, and I moved in 4 years ago.
The flat has a built in smoke-detector, and over the past few days, it has started 'going off' for about 10 ...
1
vote
1answer
136 views
Can I use a 3-pin plug for double insulated appliance?
I haven't been able find a rewirable unearthed (as in 3-pin, one of which plastic) UK mains plug. (I didn't think before hand, but I suppose they're not allowed by BS1363 since you could then too ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Thermostatic Shower Mixer letting cold water into the hot system
For a while my house was plagued with sporadic bursts of no hot water from any of the taps, despite the pressurised hot water tank being full of water heated to a skin-blistering temperature.
...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Securing loose lampholder to lamp base
I have replaced the lampholder on an old lamp. The lampholder came with a double ended screw part which looks like it is intended to clamp around the top hole along with the nipple. However the hole ...
0
votes
2answers
171 views
How can I better secure my door?
The situation is this: I live in a rented flat in a building. There is a door that allows access to the building, which can be opened from the outside only with the key.
After that, there is the door ...
1
vote
0answers
72 views
Can an outside 13A socket gang be connected via a new junction box on an existing outdoor supply?
This is in the UK. We have a 240V outside electrical supply via a dedicated consumer unit:
The cable is 3 CORE BS5467 XLPE SWA ARMOURED CABLES 600/1000V
https://www.powerandcables.com/product/product-...
1
vote
3answers
165 views
How can I avoid damaging power cables in a concrete block wall?
I'm in the UK and in my garage I have a couple of sockets on the wall. I want to hang some things on the wall and I don't want to accidentally drill into the cables. How is this installation likely ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Rewire a ceiling light to a double socket
Is it legal and safe to remove a light fitting and use the three standard wires to wire up a double socket or gang plug? I want to mount a projector exactly where my light fitting is in the way.
27
votes
8answers
10k views
Why do British houses have "indoors" windows in some rooms?
Example:
I've seen this many times. Apparently, it's a thing that in the UK, they have rooms with windows that lead to other indoors areas, located high near the ceiling.
What is the purpose and ...
1
vote
2answers
54 views
Merge wires to fit into spotlight
I'm changing a ceiling bulb into a spotlight and ran into a problem. I have 3 neutral wires, but my spotlight only has 2 holes. I tried putting the wires in together, but there's not enough space to ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
Contractor work caused a water leak in the house - UK
I’m renovating a kitchen, together with small hallway and a cloak room toilet. I hired a company to do all the work although I now realise I don’t have a formal contract with them, only with their ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Installing Aqualisa MD 110 BSM - rubber gaskets above or below the bath?
I'm about to install Aqualisa MD 110 BSM bath/shower mixer. The installation instructions can be found on Aqualisa website here and the specific step I'm querying is at the bottom of page 25.
The ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
15mm to 3/4" BSP flexible tap connector
I am about to set up a new bath mixer tap, which has standard 3/4" thread connectors. My water supply is a standard 15mm pipe with isolation valves fitted. I was planning to get compression 15mm ...
0
votes
1answer
183 views
Should I trim a door to fit a 1930s doorframe or reset the frame?
What you're looking here is a 90 year old door frame. A previous owner threw the original door out, encased the old frame in laminated chipboard and put in a sliding door. I've bought a brand new ...
0
votes
0answers
94 views
Type of UK House Construction
not sure if this is the correct forum for this, so please let me know if it's not 🙂
Is anyone able to recognise the construction type of this house? I know it's concrete construction and likely built ...
0
votes
1answer
61 views
Is my gas supply likely to travel through the floor or ceiling? [UK]
Our gas supply enters the property at the front and can be seen entering the wall cavity. The boiler is currently in the kitchen at the back of the property. To reach the kitchen is the gas pipe ...
0
votes
1answer
103 views
Potential Cause for these Bay Window Cracks in Victorian House in London
Two diagonal \ and / cracks at lower part of bay window.
Can not tell if they are visible from inside as there is wall paper.
None of the neighbours seems to have any cracks.
Crack width seems at most ...
0
votes
2answers
92 views
Should newly added house steps feature insulation?
I’m building steps from my house to the garden, where previously there was decking.
I’ve already poured concrete for the steps base, leaving underneath a layer of MOT sub base which I compacted.
Plan ...
1
vote
3answers
88 views
How should I connect wiring for this ceiling light?
Firstly, for context, I should say that this is British wiring and in a fairly new home. I have a ceiling light that I have to replace. Annoyingly I couldn't get a clear view of the wiring in the ...
1
vote
3answers
435 views
2 way switch operates opposite to my preference
I have two sets of 2 way switches in my new home but I prefer the lights to be off when both ends are in the "off" (as compared to regular switches) position. Conveniently there is one ...
2
votes
2answers
105 views
Help identifying a plastic pipe at the base of the house
Last year I removed a patio because all of its deck was rotten, underneath I found a pipe - pictured.
Now I want to lay a concrete base for brick steps because the drop from the door was way to high. ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
Should I fill this gap between floor boards and wall?
Currently fitting some new skirting board, I have the opportunity to fill some gaps that exist between the original floorboards and the brick wall. (1930s build). I'm considering squirting some ...
1
vote
0answers
111 views
How do I add an external power socket to a lighting circuit?
I'm installing some ELV garden lights and would be grateful for some advice on connecting up.
I'd like to control them from a spare light switch (the 2nd switch controls the exterior wall lights) just ...
2
votes
3answers
128 views
What are the safety concerns in running low voltage wire to LEDs behind a wall?
I've been using some fairly cheap 22AWG wire for running between flexible LED strips and their transformers. Some 24V some 12V, but all well below the amperage rating for this gauge.
The wire says it'...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Wiring in false chimney breast
I am installing a wood burner with a false chimney breast around a double skinned flue. The chimney breast will be metal stud (or do you only call it a stud if it's wood?) with fire board as per regs ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Consolidating two electricity meters?
Today, we got the keys to our new house. I was taking meter readings, when I spotted a note directing me to a second meter. This is located at the other end of the house, in it's own cupboard, with it'...
13
votes
7answers
2k views
Outdoor burst pipe best practice for the winter
We had an outdoor tap (faucet) fitted in the summer last year here in Edinburgh UK. The temperature here often dips to just below freezing over the winter. Outside, at least. The plumber suggested we ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
How long does paving slab sealing last?
Context: House in Edinburgh (Scotland) with standard UK 60cm x 60cm paving slabs (like these).
if I get a company in to clean and seal those, how long should I expect that to last?
The sales people ...
1
vote
1answer
145 views
Socket for UK bathroom
I want to add a USB socket to the bathroom but when I was checking it said that I could only add a shaver-supply unit.
Since I was adding these to use with my shavers/toothbrush and they are low ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
burying 3 core cable in metal conduit
what is the BS7671 code for running 3core flexible cable in metal conduit that is buried underground. because the environment that i am in is sand. i know in the US they run PVC conduit when running a ...
0
votes
1answer
92 views
How to fill in bonding at the bottom of a wall before skimming?
I'm skimming some old plaster walls and in the process found that the original bonding stops too far up the wall for the new (shorter) skirting board. Also it's coming away a little so I've gone back ...
2
votes
0answers
70 views
What's the term for a rotatable plumbing pipe "union" in the UK?
I've been searching for a specific plumbing fitting for UK BSPP threaded pipes / devices but I don't know what to call it. I'm not looking for a specific product recommendation, just the terminology.
...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
How easy is it to cut down a timber external door frame for use in a small door?
I have a small, weird side door with a rotten frame that needs replacing. The rough openening is around 680 x 1830mm. The wall is brick. The door opens into a garage with a concrete floor.
I was ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
How to reduce the size of a door opening to fit smaller door?
I have a 1930s internal door frame which measures 810x2020mm. The door is missing so I'm looking to match it to other doors in the house which are 800x2010.
The closest commonly available door sizes ...
3
votes
2answers
212 views
How should I prepare a wooden mould for casting plaster of paris?
I'm referring to a flat sided mould, not intricate detail. It is the reverse (wall) side of a piece of coving.
I'm using "Formula" Fine Casting Plaster. The wood is planed softwood scraps I ...
2
votes
2answers
128 views
Do I need to add a fuse for a lamp circuit off a ring main?
In my flat I have a spur from the ring main to two double plug sockets either side of the bed. There is a 13amp fused spur switch between the ring main and the spur. I want to extend the spur to go ...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
How can I reduce temperature of a hot water tap without adjusting the boiler?
I'm probably asking for trouble with this question, but here goes....
I had tenants complaining of a luke warm shower and discovered that their boiler hot water temperature was set to about 50º.
The ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
How to fix leak from flat roof under lead flashing
I live in a terraced house, built 1935, with a relatively new roof. As the picture shows, there is a bay with a gabled roof over beside another bay with flat felt roof. I have water damage to the part ...
0
votes
2answers
118 views
Adding sockets to a ring circuit in the UK
I have recently moved into a house that has had very little work done on it since it was built in the early 60's. There are a total of 3 plug sockets downstairs and 4 upstairs. This may have been ...
3
votes
3answers
127 views
What is this coving profile?
This coving is all around my house, but some needs repair and I can't match it.
It's a "C" profile with a lip at the bottom. I thought perhaps the lip was a separate picture rail or ...
3
votes
0answers
94 views
Replacing my Honeywell thermostat with a Nest heatlink in the UK
Can someone help with this.
Trying to pick the C wire and the NO wire from here.
Please note I am in the UK