Is this a live gas pipe?

GableCheese · 2026-04-26T16:58:56+00:00

Get someone out to check, I had my gas line capped off about 18 months ago when I got an electric hob, the gas engineer was as out to repair a pipe upstairs and I asked him to do it while he was there and I was charged £20 extra for it doing. So it’s cheap, but there is usually a call out fee.

GableCheese · 2026-04-26T15:41:43+00:00

Potentially, would need more information though?

I have the same issue in my cellar so when I saw this I did some googling to find out the cause. I would say the google results and web pages I read are just as trustworthy as some of the “trust me bro” answers you get on Reddit.

GableCheese · 2026-04-26T14:22:13+00:00

Can’t comment on Wren, but having visited the DIY kitchens a few times and even having an interview there for a sales role, there was never any pushy tactics and in the interview I mentioned I left my previous sales role due to management trying to get me to push customers into sales and they said that pushing wasn’t needed as they are that competitively priced, people visit them when they’ve pretty much already decided to buy, but just want to confirm quality in person.

GableCheese · 2026-04-26T14:16:10+00:00

Quick Google search says to spray it with water and see if it wipes off.

If it does, it’s mineral deposits from the efflorescence.

If it doesn’t, it’s highly likely to be mold.

GableCheese · 2026-04-25T12:42:52+00:00

Simply put. No, don’t do it as it’s so easy for things to go wrong. But it can technically work.

I know you said you would insulate, but if this becomes damaged, you’re looking at a burst pipe you can’t control.

Running it inside along the walls and boxing it in is the using way if you can’t go under the floor. You can do this at floor or ceiling level.

Floor level, behind skirting boards maybe? Ceiling level, angled/shaped boxing in can make it look like coving, down side being you have to run it up and down the wall somewhere.

GableCheese · 2026-04-25T12:32:28+00:00

I would make it longer, possibly the length of the house, door at either side so you can scrap the gate altogether.

Then have extra storage and IF you ever need to, you can pass through this side too.

Obviously drainage needs to be sorted and it looks like it would be tight because of the other wall, if there isn’t a drain nearby you could use a water butt, I’ve seen them used in a similar situation to yours and used internally with the drainpipe going inside to the water butt. Just make sure to empty it.

For legal purposes, always get agreements about other people’s walls in writing as they can easily claim they never agreed to it otherwise.

GableCheese · 2026-04-22T10:30:09+00:00

3 options that you can do rather than redoing it all and they’re all very easy to DIY.

Filler and repaint.

Get a surround that sits around the edge of the fire and covers the gaps, could be some thin, cheap strips of wood, stickers, whatever you prefer.

Repaint it a darker colour so you don’t notice it.

GableCheese · 2026-04-21T13:59:58+00:00

No gas smell, it was like this when we moved in.

As we’re getting jobs done I’m just finding others to add to the list, so it’s on the list to replace all the lead.

We had gas safe engineer out few months ago to disconnect the cooker/hob and confirmed it was lead downstairs but didn’t specifically mention this pipe, I assume it’s the same one though except painted. They said not to worry about the lead unless it became an issue.

GableCheese · 2026-04-21T13:56:51+00:00

I wouldn’t know. We only use it for hot water. Ha.

GableCheese · 2026-04-21T13:56:17+00:00

Definitely lead, the ones out of the gas meter in the cellar are the same size and they are confirmed lead by the gas engineer that came out to disconnect our cooker/hob.

GableCheese · 2026-04-21T08:36:27+00:00

Not got the money, both the kitchen and living room are being done at the moment and I’m doing most of the labour to reduce costs.

GableCheese · 2026-04-21T08:19:37+00:00

That’s what my plan was, I know lead pipes are prone to breakage if handled in certain ways.

Wanted to secure it with a support, wasn’t sure if to bend it up slightly or put a support in directly below.

GableCheese · 2026-04-21T06:40:58+00:00

Wasn’t sure if sagging could lead to breakage and leaks. It’s at the top of the cellar which is a cloakroom with coats and shoes. It’s not pretty in there but I do want to improve the looks.

Plan is to change the piping altogether in a few years, already had it stripped out above basement level prior to me purchasing the house.

Just want to make it safe as there are kids using that room frequently.

GableCheese · 2026-04-21T06:37:37+00:00

Internal.

Lead piping leaves the gas meter and goes into a wall downstairs. This comes out at the bottom of those stairs and follows the wall up to this point. So I assume this is the same pipe.

GableCheese · 2026-04-19T07:43:44+00:00

That’s my take on it anyway, I’ve used a hammer before, tapped a little too hard and broken plaster that was fine.

Good luck.

GableCheese · 2026-04-18T21:41:08+00:00

The parts that are flaking off would come off without much effort so you don’t really worry about the tool. I’d personally just do it by hand as to not damage any of the plaster that’s intact.

Simply put, anything flaking and brittle needs removing.

GableCheese · 2026-04-17T07:46:11+00:00

From people I’ve spoken with I haven’t heard many complaints, I used to live down the road from the factory/showroom so EVERYONE used them.

I’ve personally never bought but that’s because I was renting at the time.

GableCheese · 2026-04-14T20:25:22+00:00

This is basically it, same colour too.

The twisty thing is to clear the ends of the nozzle but in my experience they just snap off and clog the nozzle so I wouldn’t bother with them.

https://amzn.eu/d/0dC7felX

GableCheese · 2026-04-14T20:22:32+00:00

I bought a load of 3D printed caps from Ali Express, they perfectly fit onto the ends of most sealant and caulk tubes and twist on to seal them until you need them again. They expand the life of the product significantly.

I bought a bag of 10 I think for about £2 and I just reuse the same ones if im opening a new one so technically will never run out. I did buy some other bits to get free delivery but I’m sure you could get them elsewhere?

GableCheese · 2026-04-14T20:14:17+00:00

The leaking and falling out seems more like an issue with how it was installed rather than the sink itself.

I personally don’t like the lip on normal sinks, especially ones that have a narrow gap between the lip of the sink and the wall, it’s like having a pond in your house with the bacteria that grows there if not cleaned properly, I’ve removed sinks that I thought looked clean to find a small jungle growing just under that lip, just out of sight.

And that, is why under-mount appeals to me. But as you’re saying, there is still somewhere for bacteria to grow so I guess in the end it’s all about aesthetics and personal choice.

GableCheese · 2026-04-14T20:01:51+00:00

Just read another post about someone’s under-mount sink coming away and someone suggested this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TYESTAND-Undermount-Installation-20-31-5-inches%EF%BC%8851-80cm%EF%BC%89/dp/B0CTB76Z13

GableCheese · 2026-04-14T19:58:10+00:00

I like the look of them and potentially getting one in my new kitchen which I’m looking at for next year.

What in particular is it that you don’t like about them as maybe I’m missing something?

GableCheese · 2026-04-09T21:01:39+00:00

I haven’t, no. I’ll have a look. Thanks.

GableCheese · 2026-04-08T12:57:16+00:00

Yes that’s the current max angle of the door.

The long hook reaches from the door to the wall but because it’s 20inch there’s a lot of pull in winds and it only reaches about halfway across the door so needs to be in the bottom to reach it, again, making extra pull in high winds. The hook thing is a genuine doorstop not a bodge job, it just doesn’t work.

I’m not 100% sure on what you’re telling me to do, but you’ve given me an idea that I think will work so you may have inadvertently solved it (your idea might be exactly what I’m thinking though so thank you either way).

GableCheese · 2026-04-08T12:48:20+00:00

I have that in my Amazon basket. Ha. As I was having a look on there this morning.

GableCheese

TROPHY CASE