Miscellaneous DIY Projects (or bits of jobs)

[Big Kev]

If its dry and warm, no.

And you have a shed.

and the house had an exterior refurbishment not so long ago

and a new carpet in the kitchen

I reckon you'll be alright

[Stanley]

[PanBiker]

New bed and mattress is ordered and yesterday we went to Emmanuel's at Burnley to get some material for a new curtain. Sally bought more than she needed so she could make some matching cushions. We came back via Sainsbury's in Colne to go to Argos as we needed a new iron, ours turned its toes up last week! On the way to the Argos counter we noticed Sainsbury's had a double duvet cover and pillowcases in complementary colours to the curtain material so we got those along with a mattress topper and a couple of new pillows. Bed and mattress should be delivered end of this month or just into July.

[PanBiker]

Bed was delivered yesterday 3 days ahead of the estimated delivery date. Two boxes, one for the headboard and the other with the baseboard, side rails, centre support and linked slats. It's a linen upholstered wooden bed so needed building which is what I did yesterday afternoon. I have not secured half of the slats at the headboard end so that we can still get the steps in for hanging the curtain. Sally has just finished that today. Only a small window so only needs a single curtain, she has made a lining for it as well and has spare material for a matching cushion(s).

I got a text last night from the same courier company that delivered the bed. They now have the mattress and it is about to go on the van today.

[Big Kev]

That's not bad service, I'm still contemplating the hall, stairs and landing. No good rushing the job
I'm in Barlick at lunchtime so will knock on Stanley's door, hopefully he'll be in and I can set up his Firestick.

[Cathy]

Big Kev - Living thru Chemistry -

[Big Kev]

Big Kev - Living thru Chemistry -

I feel like a medical experiment with all these drugs they keep giving me

[PanBiker]

That's not bad service,

Indeed, quite impressed Kev. The mattress was delivered this lunchtime.

We got both the bed and the mattress through B&Q. Huge choice, all shipped from other suppliers but seemingly through the same courier XDPEXPRESS, cant fault them in any way. Bed and mattress were from different suppliers and different parts of the country. Excellent communication and tracking and both delivered days before the expected estimated date. Delivery was free on both as well so another bonus.

We looked at more local suppliers, two large retailers in Keighley, telephone book numbers on some of the beds and mattresses and delivery on top! This is for occasional use when the grandchildren stay over so will get used a few times a year. We opted for a foam mattress as we love the Emma mattress on our bed, we both agree one of the best things we have ever bought.

[PanBiker]

New Curtain and lining hung. Rest of bed built and the mattress unrolled and expanding on the bed. We have all the other bedding but just need a fitted sheet for the mattress. One further enhancement, anew lampshade in keeping with the new colour scheme. The set of brown drawers may get and uplift. We may paint the carcass grey and then the drawer fronts in a complimentary but different colour. I might put new knobs on the drawers as well.

[plaques]

Stanley's new bit of plumbing installation reminds me of my central heating leak which Johnathan repaired.
When the central heating was installed possibly 40 years ago they took the easy way out and ran the pipework on the face of a step in the passageway. About 15 years ago when tiling the kitchen I decided to extent the step and hid the pipework behind some tiles. I never thought that the pipes would start leaking where they went through the walls on each side. The tiles needed removing the easiest to smash them but where to get replacements. Finished up sawing down the back of them through the grouting. Lesson learnt.

Part repair by Jonathan

Leak 2.jpg

. all back together again.

.

Leak 1.jpg

[Stanley]

He's a good man isn't he.....



A question. I thought the CH circuit was copper pipe but that looks like plastic.... Is it?

[plaques]

A question. I thought the CH circuit was copper pipe but that looks like plastic.... Is it?

Jonathan said that modern copper pipe was thinner than the old stuff and in his experience was more prone to corrosion from both inside and out especially where it touched any brickwork. He recommended plastic as a replacement so plastic it was.

[Stanley]

Good enough for me as well Ken. Thirty years ago when my circuit was put in the tubing was thick walled and hopefully will see me out!

[Big Kev]

Thank goodness for Screwfix, the toilet cistern refused to fill, the fill valve had given up. 10 minutes with a spanner and a small bucket and it's sorted. Cost me all of £9.50 so I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

Screenshot_2023-09-01-18-58-44-833_com.screwfix.shoppingapp.jpg

[Stanley]

Nice one Kev. I've got an older version, a float valve, in my cupboard ready to go on. I got one years ago but didn't need it. Sods Law says that as long as it sits in the cupboard the old one will be fine.....

[Tripps]

Booked an annual service for the boiler. It must have overheard the conversation. Within 12 hours the hot water was cold.

Rang them on Monday - "we're very busy but we'll put you in the diary and call back -it may be a few days."

3.45 Today - "Can we come now - about 4 o'clock?"

4.15 - all fixed. A failed motorised valve - or part of it, if I understood correctly. "easiest job of the day, and it will cost about £20 for the part".

Well done Shelford Heating

[Stanley]

Nice one David. Funny how boilers wait to pounce just before the onset of the heating season..... Hopefully I forestalled mine!

[Big Kev]

Bought some doors from Fleabay, I only needed two of them so I have a pair of half glazed, oak coloured, pine doors that are surplus to requirements

[plaques]

I thought I would buy some thin plastic sheet to protect the lower wall paper for when the plasterer man arrives. £1 per sheet from Screwfix. Tried to order 10 sheets. Sorry nearest collection point is Skipton 14 miles away. The diesel would be far more expensive than the sheeting. Rang our local wallpaper shop in Colne, Yes I have 7 sheets in stock @ £1.35 per sheet. Thanks I'll pick them up Saturday.
My nearest Screwfix is 4 mile. Colne 2 mile.

[Stanley]

Similar story Ken with goods from shops in the town centre as opposed to abroad....... Sometimes marginally more expensive but worth that for the convenience.

[Big Kev]

Bought some doors from Fleabay, I only needed two of them so I have a pair of half glazed, oak coloured, pine doors that are surplus to requirements

Picked them up today, just need to sell these two on now

IMG_20231008_153055~2.jpg

[Stanley]

Somebody made a major mistake with their ordering!

[Big Kev]

They were sold as a job lot, the other two are all I need and they were cheap enough to warrant buying all four of them.

[Stanley]

I didn't mean you Kev, I was alluding to the original purchaser!

[Big Kev]

I didn't mean you Kev, I was alluding to the original purchaser!

They are 'used' and came out of a house that was having the doors replaced, I can't see anything wrong with these but people have different tastes. One is fitted on the front room now and I just need to glue some timber into the original hinge rebates in the frame. The other is in primer and drying in the back yard, it will replace the dining room door. The old front room and dining room doors will be fitted to the bathroom and my office which are currently hollow hardboard.

IMG_20231010_141409~2.jpg

Needed a trim and setting the hinges the opposite way around but it fits. Used the original door as a template and drew around it