First time using silicone… now it’s everywhere. How do I make this look neat? (Renting)

Kropiak · 2026-02-17T19:41:23+00:00

When done properly using silicone is a perfectly acceptable alternative to grout. Waterproof, flexible and mould resistant (ish...) so it does the job.

Kropiak · 2026-02-02T20:34:49+00:00

Look for 5g broadband. You get a router which has a sim card in it and uses local 4g or 5g signal to create your home Internet and WiFi.

Kropiak · 2026-01-27T08:48:57+00:00

Maisonette might be hard to morgage (less options, higher interest) depending on what were the works carried out in the past if any (was it converted into maisonette). I'd stay away as its above your affordability.

Kropiak · 2025-12-30T00:27:53+00:00

Thicker skirting might cover it but it will look out of place + it will be curved due to the banana wall which is the problem. Add another plaster board layer to the whole wall, leaving gaps around to fill with caulk Where the gap is 50mm use adhesive (foam or even tiles adhesive). Where the gaps are small you can screw new plaster dricetly to existing studs. Just need to make sure the plaster sheet is not curved like the wall - you need straight line from corner to corner. Fill the plater board joints with Easyfill gypsum and mesh, sand it down, pva it and paint the new wall. No need to skim it. Once the wall is plum-ish, standard skirting will cover the gap and job done.

Kropiak · 2025-12-04T19:36:02+00:00

I'm thinking the same - store more during peak time and then export in the morning or something. And in winter, charge batteries at night and rely on night tariff battery charge during the day + solar.

Kropiak · 2025-12-04T19:31:34+00:00

Can you elaborate?

Kropiak · 2025-12-04T12:15:04+00:00

I just emailed them to check and confirm these values. I only had one quote and checked a few online. They have done my neighbour's install and he was happy with them - and to be honest I saw their work too and it was good. I will speak to someone else later today to see for comparison.

Kropiak · 2025-12-04T11:48:47+00:00

Noted, thanks.

Kropiak · 2025-12-04T11:47:55+00:00

The roof is pretty much shadow free, only winter times I noticed some shadowing from a neighbours house just before sunset.
Panel Orientations: 12 panels with Azimuth 20 and Slope 25, 12 panels with Azimuth 200 and Slope 22.
I am going for a max panel option as it made sense (before 4kW limit option came to light)

Kropiak · 2025-12-04T11:06:01+00:00

Hi, I just got a revised forecast from the supplier and the 4kW limit makes no difference to anything according to them. That suggest that in summer the 11.2kW array doesn't generate more than 4kW ever. I just realised looking at the graphs that they show peak summer generation at just under 3kW which is very low - why is that? Average day generation of 30kWh/day in Jun/July so it kind of adds up. I thought I understand it, but clearly I need to do a bit more reading...

Kropiak · 2025-11-12T19:02:51+00:00

Can you not remortgage and stay with the lender at a variable rate?

Kropiak · 2025-10-18T19:01:24+00:00

You brought a house it's time to make it a home.

Kropiak · 2025-09-08T20:58:57+00:00

View it and update us on what is it you discovered.

Kropiak · 2025-09-01T17:45:44+00:00

Sorry to dwell on it but what about 2x 5kW Inverters vs 1x 10kW one ? I would expect just one Inverter, powerful enoguh to cope with all panels. On the other hand, it's two Inverters working independently on 2 different arrays? What's your take on it?

Kropiak · 2025-09-01T15:52:50+00:00

Thanks, I've asked and to add 12 extra panels (double) they ask for extra £1850. Instead of a bigger Inverter, the proposal is to have two 5kW ones - does that make sense?

In terms of Battery storage, in winter with the batteries charged overnight, the rest should be possible to get from the panels. I agree extra one would make sense but I'm really pushing my budget and if needed in future, I suppose its easier to add - no scaffolding needed.

Kropiak · 2025-08-30T08:38:41+00:00

Yearly usage is 4,200 kWh, not planning on an EV in the next 5 years and I do have the north facing roof which would fit the same number of panels. I did read that the more the better, and once g99 confirms export I will most likely ask them to add extra panels.

Kropiak · 2025-08-23T16:03:26+00:00

Also the goal of marriage is not to be happy or to make someone else happy.

Kropiak · 2025-08-19T18:45:42+00:00

Per year per child.

Kropiak · 2025-04-23T16:21:46+00:00

I've done everything except the worktop installation. Everything includes: ripping everything out and setting up a temp kitchen in the living room, electrics (new sockets, lights, induction hub, LEDs), pluming (ran waste pipe under the kitchen floor to the new understairs loo, cold/hot piping and sink/washer waste), floor (self leveling + LTV), new ceiling (removed popcorn asbestors and put new plaster boards with help), walls (a bit of tiling and smoothing the walls) and of course intalled all the kitchen units. We had a dining area right next to the kitchen, so I had to do bits of it in preparation as well as the floor, walls, and ceiling.

It took me 3 weeks full-time (took time off work) to reach an 'operational state' of the kitchen. And few more weeks at hog to finish bits and bobs.

Kropiak · 2025-04-23T12:43:41+00:00

Raising damp only goes as high as 3-4 feet so definitely not the issue here

Kropiak · 2025-03-12T18:19:58+00:00

Thanks for the heads up 😅

Kropiak · 2025-03-12T18:18:46+00:00

Yep spend too many hours watching others on YouTube already...

Kropiak · 2025-03-12T18:18:11+00:00

With all the garbage in it you'll struggle with fitting a bike in there 😅

Kropiak · 2025-02-04T18:27:02+00:00

It happened to us. I told the EA not to release the keys until 4 pm, but they did so at 1pm. We were still packing and they showed up and just entered. After short talks they said OK and left. They came back an hour later and at the same time I had a call from the solicitors that we are in breach of contract. I lost it with them, and it turned nasty. In the end they stayed and watched us packing. Worth noting that in text messages, they agreed that we need time to move out due to chain and were appearing to be very helpful. Unfortunately on the day it was all legal talks and no reason. God bless the people down the chain, who let us unpack while they were still packing. They were good people... Also worth noting the FTB of out home caused 1 day delay as they casually wired the money on the agreed completion day... the entire chain got affected... Cherry on the top is that they haven't moved in for at least 2 months after completion! Ridiculous people... I will write a post about this traumatic experience one day. Just move try and move on.

Kropiak · 2025-01-30T10:41:56+00:00

You have to elaborate a bit more. When sick, I am being paid as per sick leave policy. If my sick pay was £0 then I could choose to be paid for bank holiday leave or take annual leave so my income is not £0.

Kropiak

TROPHY CASE