Jude1234

Rather a silly question but we are putting up our Christmas decorations on our new house and wondered how we could attach our wreath to our front door. Previously we have hung it on a metal rod that hooked over the top but the new door is too thick for this. AS this is a temporaray fixture do not want anything that will mark the door. Any ideas

It was this one: 60cm Fully Integrated Dishwasher Model:Hotpoint HIO3T1239EUK ID:HIO3T1239EUK-1-735605 P/N: 5054645537334 39dB

We have light switches next to our beds, great so that you don't have to get out of bed to turn lights on or off. We have inset sockets in our island rather than the pull up ones, much tidier, one socket and 2 usbs Spent more money on a really quiet dishwasher in our open plan kitchen/diner/lounge it is so quiet great when you have company Also love our stair lights, really add the wow factor for very little money

Hi Moira, I am also in the East Midlands area and virtually finished my build, if you need any trades recommending let me know. We had a firm of electricians so they may have capacity to help you out rather than a small company. Also a plumbing company that also does renewable s who might be able to help. Just pm me if you want any details

Thanks for the advice, maybe I am being too hasty but it did seem an excessive amount for something that is only to be used occasionally. Will leave it a few more weeks to see how it goes. We are just getting the flue installed on our WBS so will probably give that a go at the weekend to see if it can warm everything up a bit.

We have UFH all through the ground floor. After some teething problems it is easily maintaining a pleasant temperature of 21C. We don't have any heating upstairs as we were told that due to triple glazing and the amount of insulation we wouldn't need it. We just have 3 towel rails in the ensuites/bathroom. But it is distinctly chilly upstairs in the bedrooms. We did include, just in case, the wiring to add electric wall heaters in the bedrooms but the quote for them plus fitting was a total of £1500. So just wondering if we are doing something wrong downstairs that means the heat isn't going upstairs. Do we need to set the thermostat higher? The UFH is powered by ASHP and we have MVHR. Any tips so that we can avoid paying £1500 would be gratefully received!

me too please @Ian

We got a quote from GSI for buildings and contents insurance for a non-completed build and it was £1500. That sounded horrific to us, is that the 'going' rate?

Thanks to @Ferdinand for sharing his A frame specially for painting skirting boards. Is a great idea for painting quickly especially for those that aren't great painters (eg me)

THats a good idea. Near us there is a really good butchers that also cooks their sausages so sausage baps all round!

That was very thoughtful

So we are planning to move in next weekend. The house won't be finished but it will be liveable. Whilst there is no love lost between us and the main contractor there have been some contractors (electrician, plumbers etc) that have been great and I would like to give them a thank you gift. Any ideas? I don't know them very well as I don't live onsite so I can't get anything personalised. The default is some beer but wondered if anyone had any other ideas?

I have some of the Osmo oil for my oak Doors and staircase so I could use for the window boards. Thanks for the idea.

Yes they are already fitted. Will go with varnish. Any recommendations?

We have powder coated composite windows from Rational with clear varnish on the timber internally. The window sills (or boards as they may be called) are just normal timber not oak. Just wondering if I should gloss these to match the skirting/architrave or apply a clear varnish to be like the frames. What have other people done? I have always had white pvc frames and then white gloss window cills so struggling to picture which would look best.

I feel for you @Christine Walker and @Hecateh, sending you virtual hugs. As my main contractor disappeared onto bigger and better things I have been arranging most of the trades. I got the whole house painted as the main contractor said I should but now it is gradually getting trashed as other trades ruin it. AS my sparky was off sick for a week his second fix didn't get done before the painters so he has cut holes in the painted holes and patched up where he got it wrong. Also I have only just got my staircase fitted which apparently is a 1st fix job (no-one told me) and again the plaster/paintwork is trashed. We are still moving in on 3 Nov but it will in no way be finished liked we hoped it would be.

Don't tempt me they look lovely, but trying to save money?

I did think of that idea but it would be difficult to cut out the hole for the waste.

We have decided to delay laying of the floor rather than invalidating the guarantee and paying £600 for the DPM. Hopefully when the UFH is on and also the MVHR it will dry out. Currently value is 5.8% using a Tramex

It is the downstairs toilet so hopefully won't get that wet.

Just following up on this issue. We have had the UFH on for over a week. Then it was off for over 48hrs and the moisture levels are still high. The bamboo flooring is meant to be laid on Monday so the fitter has suggested painting a damp proof membrane on prior to fitting. I have 2 concerns 1. Cost with materials and labour it will add on £400. 2. Could there be an underlying problem that is preventing the floor from drying out. I would appreciate any advice on whether this is likely or not. Whilst not ideal to not have flooring laid prior to moving in I would prefer it to having to rip it all up if there is a problem later on. Just to add the builder did confirm that the laitance was scraped off soon after the screed was laid.

I will check if we have Multipanel left. That would be a good idea. Thanks everyone.

Thanks for the advice, just found this on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mistral-solid-surface-worktop-offcut/173554122450?hash=item2868a1bed2:g:4pUAAOSwN6Ba8zuH:rk:3:pf:0 which would work, and not too far away either

It is just laminate like the rest of the unit but it is purple in colour. In my defence everything else in the house is neutral, just wanted a bit of colour!

So my plumber is in the middle of 2nd fix. I ordered a Roca vanity unit for the downstairs cloak but didn't get the matching sink as I wanted a sit on bowl. In my ignorance I didn't realise that the top was precut and the hole is too big for the sit on bowl. My plumber has suggested that I get a piece of quartz to go on top, which I thought wouldn't be too much as it would probably be an offcut. But with the cost of machining etc it will be £200?. Looks like I will have to go with laminate unless anyone has any other ideas ?