Grosey

Thank you, it’s from Stairbox - I’ve made a few comments about them in various different stair threads on here, can’t remember the specific posts but a search for “Stairbox” should bring them up. Im very happy with them and I’ll post more photos when the second flight are up, hopefully tomorrow. Looking forward to getting the handrails and glass in place also.

Thanks all for the advice, first coat done tonight. A bit honey-like and very wet looking currently... but then it is still wet! I love how it’s brought out the grain though, will give a light sand and another coat tomorrow night.

Not sure if this is any assistance but I’ve attached a few photos of my retaining wall. May help you visualise things as you enter discussions with SE’s and architects etc.

When most people moan about speed it’s rarely down to their connection, if you drill in to your router settings you can sometimes find your sync speed - this is what your are connected to the exchange / DSLAMs at. Generally this speed is ok for most (those with long lines are a different issue). When people go on speedtest.net etc and don’t see the speed they are expecting to get they are actually testing Throughput. This test is incorporating many other factors aside from your connection speed. It’s not difficult nowadays to have 20+ devices connected to a router via Wi-fi and a few wired, the routers that are given away for free simply don’t have he processing power to cope with all this. Hence slowdowns, drop outs, need for reboots etc. All this while your connection speed will have stayed the same. At the the very least if you get a decent router you can rule that out as an issue if you are trying to improve your speeds. I should make make it clear that changing a router will NOT improve your sync speed, it will simply assist you in getting the most out of incoming speed that you do have.

@Ferdinand If you can get Virgin it’s likely to be the fastest service available in your area, any Openreach based service won’t be able to compete on speed (not very likely anyway). I’d look to switch your Virgin package to a Broadband and Phone only package and then buy yourself a decent Freesat box - it’ll be a 1 time cost of a couple hundred I expect but then it’s free TV for life. See my my note above about replacing the router however.

The single biggest improvement anyone can make to their internet service is to chuck the router that is provided by the ISP in the bin and buy your own one. Itll be like night and day. However if you are with Virgin you must use theirs for the connection, you just switch it to Modem Mode and then use your own router. For BT/Sky/Talk Talk etc based services you can use any VDSL modem/router.

Also interested in this.

@ragg987 is this the guide you were referring to? http://www.peakoak.co.uk/guides/best-oak-floor-finishes-the-definitive-test/

Osmo it is then. Is everyone referring to this exact one or differing Osmo products? This is one states no need to sand before first coat, just a light sanding between coats? Do we agree? https://www.screwfix.com/p/osmo-polyx-hardwax-oil-clear-satin-matt-750ml/1099p

Things are moving thick and fast at my place at the moment which is exciting. First staircase from Stairbox was dry fitted today and will be completed tomorrow. So I’m keen to get it treated and protected ASAP. Its a combination of solid oak and engineered oak. I believe a hardwax oil is the best thing to use? Screwfix do a “Liberon” Hard wax oil in Matt or Satin or Osmo Polyx Clear Satin Matt Or something else? Want a good level of protection to protect from dog feet! Also any advice on the Matt or Satin look for Oak?

@Chalks Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear your news but if it was my post showing up in a google search that allowed you to find this forum (and the fantastic resources and support that are available here) then at least something positive has come out of this. Its a a shame your intoto branch has completely closed its doors, very different to what I am seeing with my branch. I was told the Exeter and Bristol franchises were the 2 most successful, so I guess it depends on how the individual businesses were performing with regard to how capable they are of riding this turbulent time out. Its probably not right that I give too many more details regarding my specific situation and store given that this post is clearly being located from outside of the forum now. Having said that I will say close up my initial story by saying that Exeter have been fantastic, have sourced me an alternative kitchen I am happy with which will be delivered in a couple of weeks, along with some significant good will gestures which we really do appreciate. Not meaning to rub salt to Chalks situation, just finishing what I started with the post. More than happy for this post to become about everyone helping Chalks or anyone else struggling with the ALNO situation now.

Treated myself to the Neff integrated bean to cup in the kitchen, should be arriving in a few weeks. Massive expense, completely unnecessary but don’t care, I wanted it and decided I’d grafted enough of my own free labour to justify a treat - and now I can’t wait for my new toy to arrive ??? Keep the coffee bean recommendations coming - need something absolutely top drawer for its maiden voyage!

I can confirm stairbox do deliver in their own Mercedes Sprinter vans. Single man delivery though and mine was a bit of a jobsworth so I’d make sure you’d got a couple of mates on ha d for delivery day.

Unfortunately I can’t see the wife agreeing to any form of plume management! Its not too bad during the day, the night vision makes it much worse. I’ll see how it works out over time but it’s more likely to become a security camera move than anything else. Photo shows it running now in daytime -

Haha well I’ve left it running overnight to commission the underfloor and heat the slab, I am actually finding it useful to pop on to the cameras and check it’s still running as I don’t live at the property, every cloud... haha

My boiler flue has essentially created a smoke machine completely engulfing my security camera, which is 10x worse in night vision

What a goon, CCTV was installed 6 months ago, Boiler was installed today... Dont feel sorry for me, it’s made me laugh quite hard and my Facebook friends laugh even harder!

A “wet plumber” trade requires no trade associations. My Mrs knows the manager at our local store saying she would set us up as plumbfix as we were self Building. Just go in and ask for a plumbfix account and don’t make much of it. For me the seperate section meaning lack of lack of queues is worth it alone, Good biscuit selection too! Or see if they’ll let you sign up as a “Dry Plumber”

What sort of blade?

Hmmmmm so my weekend set aside to do 65m2 May be a little optimistic? I'm guessing everyone whose commented is going to favour glue down over floating?

What sort of M2 are people fitting in an hour? I’m reading between the lines here that this may well be a much slower more painful job than I am perhaps anticipating?

Oh really? I have 260mm wide boards so figured troweling on would be the best approach to cover a large surface area quickly.

@joe90 i’ll PM you.

Sikabond AT80 doesn’t seem to have the same prep requirements, similar costs if coverage claims are to be believed, and is a very well known brand which I’ve seen many here recommended. So is currently in the lead. @PeterW I’ll check out your link also.

Yeah I read that but wasnt particularly sure what it was saying, seems like it written in gibberish English to me?!