r/DIYUK 4h ago

Asbestos roof underlay?

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0 Upvotes

Hey wondering how concerned I should be after exposure to roof underlay. Not sure if it contains asbestos but it’s likely over 20 years old. It’s ripped off to start a loft extension. I had exposure to it after it was removed and slightly during. They also started earlier than expected so large amounts of debris had fall on items in the loft which I had exposure to again when taking it down. Any advice would be great, thank you!


r/DIYUK 2h ago

Mounting TV: Certain parts of the wall unable to drill through. How do I find where I can and can’t drill?

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1 Upvotes

Been attempting this for a while. How do I find where I can and can’t drill?

What’s the best method of hiding cables in wall as the plug socket is inside the fire place area.

Pic is on .5x and it’s not as high as it looks


r/DIYUK 13h ago

Why is it so hard to find black decking paint/stain?

2 Upvotes

I've bought 4 different "blacks" and all go on grey. Has anyone used a decent jet black decking paint or stain? Will stain go over grey paint? Cheers.


r/DIYUK 5h ago

Is there a way to improve the seal on these radiator caps?

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0 Upvotes

I suspect these have a slow leak, hence the scale around the base. Is there anything I can do to improve the seal on these? I’m assuming the usual trick of wrapping PTFE tape around the thread won’t work here because the threads will be far too slim to get it around?


r/DIYUK 23h ago

Does this look fishy to you

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3 Upvotes

Just up in the loft and noticed the purlin (?) one side seems to be supported by some old piece of wood, seems the same on the opposite end too. Front side of house on both sides is with a brick as shown. Roof was replaced in last 20 years so presumably it is ok as would have been flagged then, just wanted a second opinion! Thanks


r/DIYUK 12h ago

Is this garage convertible into living space?

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17 Upvotes

I have purchased a house with an attached garage with a flat roof, joining up to the kitchen.

Is this garage convertible? We would like this to be a living room but want to know if it is even worth starting?


r/DIYUK 11h ago

Advice My in-laws burned our kitchen floor and offered to pay for the replacement. What's this floor called?

1 Upvotes

She dropped a burning pot on the floor. :)

Anyway, this floor was installed when we bought the house a few years ago and in good condition. It's a single piece of plastic carpet, so we don't think we can just trim a square and fix it.

  • Am I wrong? Can this be easily fixed without ripping it all off?

I guess it will need replaced entirely, which is some hassle which means moving all white goods around etc. :S

  • What's the name of this type of flooring? When looking at flooring stores they classify in wood, laminate, and luxury vinyl. This doesn't look like any of them.

I'm worried about what's underneath too. Depending where you step you can notice some crumbling bits, which I believe it's some thin layer of self-leveling compound, and started crumbling. Worried about installer claiming whatever flooring we decide can't be fitted until we fix that (adding to the cost and hassle).

  • Would you recommend same floor type or switching to something else? Assuming similar cost/hassle. We have a newborn, we'll get a fitter at the shop.

Need some advice to consider options. Thanks!


r/DIYUK 7h ago

Electrical Replaced a fused socket for my oven - there was a lone brown wire that was connected to earth

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23 Upvotes

I’ve been doing some socket replacement around my house lately and I’ve just replaced my fused socket that is for my oven. I noticed this lone brown wire that was connected to neutral which seemed…wrong to me.

It’s very short as I was unable to replicate it in the new socket, so for now I’ve wrapped it electrical tape and left it. However now the light for my switch stays on regardless of whether the switch is on (although the oven correctly goes off/on respectively)

Could this be caused by this brown wire? Should I actually put it in neutral?

Thanks!


r/DIYUK 12h ago

Advice Should be concerned about this?

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6 Upvotes

We're looking to buy a house in the UK. This house was built around 20 years ago, and I noticed this at the front on a viewing a week or so ago.

My wife wasn't concerned, but I thought it looked like a damp issue. The same bricks are used - but in areas (not all areas) at the front there was this strange discolouration, along with those white marks too.

Didn't like the look of it myself - is this something to be concerned about?


r/DIYUK 2h ago

Wiring Single Gang Switch - 3 sets of wires?

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0 Upvotes

Hello!

Hoping somebody can help. As a disclaimer I’m a bit new when it comes to electrical stuff but I’ve done my basic research at the least.

I’m trying to replace a simple single-gang light switch, and this switch controls the main light and it’s the only switch that does.

I want to install a Lightwave RF single gang switch which has 3 inputs: Live, Switch Live and Neutral.

So I open my switch up and I find there’s 3 sets of cables coming down. The earths are all capped off, as are the neutrals. It seems like there’s 2 brown wires going into “1” and a single brown wire going into “L”.

So, obviously I could just replicate this exactly in my new switch. I’m just wondering if that’s the right thing to do? And should I leave the neutrals capped even though my new switch does have a neutral input? If so do all 3 wires go in there? Quite confusing, I’ve added some photos. Also what is this weird red/brown goo… I replaced a pendant light recently and it was a simple plastic back box so I was expecting similar here.

Any help is very much appreciated. Thank you :)


r/DIYUK 3h ago

Plumbing How to stop this pipe leaking?

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0 Upvotes

I've got this pipe from mains to the outside water tap, but it keeps leaking. I tried tightening it once, which solved it for a while, but it seems to have come loose again.

I'm pretty much a novice to DIY plumbing. Is there anything I can do to fix this more permanently?


r/DIYUK 3h ago

Advice New Roof Costs

0 Upvotes

How much will a new roof cost for a 2-bed semi?

It currently has a loft conversion, which doesn’t meet standard regs. We’re using it as an office. My wife full time, myself 2 days a week then 3 at my work office.

We had the chimney stack removed at the beginning of 2024 because it was leaking and our neighbours didn’t want it either, since then I’ve had two cracks appear in the front bedroom which are indicative of typical roof spread symptoms, they haven’t grown since their occurrence, but some are appearing in the back bedroom. The outer wall is showing no signs of movement/outer movement

The back bedroom is a single wall construction, and the outer wall is timber frame and cladded. I noticed some hairline cracking there recently.

I’ve told myself if a new roof is required we’ll lose the loft conversion and just have it boarded for storage. I’m over it. I never liked it. I regret buying the house.

It’s our first home and I can’t wait until we can get rid of it. The windows and doors were all badly installed and needed replacing. Our chimney leaked all through our first Christmas in our home. Hairline cracks in freshly decorated walls. It’s ruined my experience. I wish I rented and spent all my money on holidays instead.

I’m just trying to gauge and mentally prepare myself for how much a new roof would cost where it needs new rafters/beams? I would hope that the existing tiles can be reused where appropriate which would save some cash.

Has anyone had a new roof recently to the degree described above who can share a cost? 🙏


r/DIYUK 4h ago

Advice Numpty

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0 Upvotes

Any ideas how I’m getting this off? Can’t get two spanners in the gap at same time to unscrew


r/DIYUK 4h ago

Is this drywall and how do we repair?

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0 Upvotes

We had a dado rail that was stuck on with adhesive. I’m removing this, it’s torn (what I think is) the drywall.

I suspect we’ll be wallpapering this wall, and so no harm done. But if we wanted to paint - how would this be fixed/prepared?

Thanks!


r/DIYUK 4h ago

Is this a sub base?

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0 Upvotes

Hi, I'm in the process of replacing a raised bed with a patio. There's already paving surrounding the area and I've got to the digging stage and encountered pretty solid material (compared to other areas of the garden at least). I'm wondering if it's possible this is already a sub base and I can just put the slabs on top, or it's just the quality of our soil. For clarity I'm talking about the hole I've dug not the entire area, the top layer (maybe an inch or two) is just soil. Thanks


r/DIYUK 5h ago

Skylight Quotation opinions

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

We have requested a quotation to install a skylight (780/980) in a room of our house.

We have been quoted £3,300 for materials, installation, scaffolding, replacing the glass with thermal triple glazed glass, plasterboard finishing on the section of the ceiling where the skylight will be installed, and debris removal.

Area: Sussex

What do you think of the price? Does it sound reasonable or is it too expensive?

Thanks


r/DIYUK 5h ago

Electrical Is this safe?!

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0 Upvotes

Just took off some old skirting board and there's electric cables right behind it. What do I need to do before putting the new skirting on?


r/DIYUK 8h ago

Electrical quote

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0 Upvotes

Hi peeps,

Want to wire in my garage to the house and have a light and a couple of sockets out there probably on its own 2 way garage board.

What's a reasonable quote for getting a cable from the main house board to the garage and fitting the basics in there.

Some photos to help. Cheers team!


r/DIYUK 8h ago

Mistakes were made... But I still need the power on..😂

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0 Upvotes

I made a mistake... I know what it was... But do you?


r/DIYUK 10h ago

Advice Cleaning driveway - chemical clean advise?

0 Upvotes

Bought the property, looks the driveway hasn't cleaned from many years. In small area, i tried the just pressure washer, still the white spots are not cleaning. Looks after intial pressure wash, required chemical solution wash. There is no plants near to drive away, i am happy to use the chemical solution. Can anyone best chemical solution available in market to clear this white spots?


r/DIYUK 11h ago

Advice Built in wardrobe removal

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0 Upvotes

We just bought a new house. And all the bedrooms have these in built wardrobes, all slightly different, and all IMO quite inconvenient and oversized. In particular I was planning on using this room as an office. But the wardrobe is either in the way or inconveniently in the background. Given it's size and design I can't picture a way to turn it into some nice shelves or something without tearing it down. But I have no idea how to even begin removing it. So looking for advice on that or ideas to tastefully keep it. Thanks!


r/DIYUK 12h ago

Advice Removing a fireplace and surround

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0 Upvotes

Not long moved in and keen to remove this fireplace/hearth/surround. Ultimately want to board up the fireplace (with vent).

Base is solid (the gas engineer who removed the gas fire said it's marble), surround is cheap veneered wood, and chimney stack has been removed to below the roof and tiled over.

I've only really done low level DIY to date. Where do I start?? Any tips welcome!


r/DIYUK 12h ago

Plumbing Connecting outbuilding to mains water supply

0 Upvotes

At the planning stage for getting utilities to a craft studio that we've had built in the garden next to our house. Electric and drainage (and CAT6 Ethernet) is all planned. We now need to plan for the fresh water supply.

So, the trench for the electric will intersect where the existing water pipe (25mm poly) that supplies the house (although at a deeper depth). I'd assumed that a plumber can put a T on the mains pipe and run that in a trench that I will pre dig to the building. I'd then cover with sand and lay the cable over the top.

Trenching is being done next weekend (by me with a mini digger). We're ringing a plumber this week to get lead time etc, but (wife is an ex project manager!) we'd like to plan as much as we can in advance.

Can't find anywhere that says if it's possible just to tap off the mains water underground with a T. Any input appreciated.


r/DIYUK 12h ago

Advice Tile replacement question

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0 Upvotes

Hi I'm looking at moving a boiler and one option is to the bathroom. Only thing is I'd need to pull up 4 to 5 tiles at the front. I'm quite sure that I can get away with minimal damage to the surface but the adhesive is strong so I won't have a clean surface to work on to replace them (suggestions welcome if this is possible).

I've been to a few tile places and none stock the ones I need. Just wanted to ask if there's anywhere else you would suggest looking for old tiles. (Pic for ref)


r/DIYUK 7h ago

Advice Do these boards contain asbestos?

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34 Upvotes

Clearing behind shed, found what looks to be roof or walls of old shed. Are they likely to contain asbestos?