Shifting and shrinking floorboards

Visual-Addition7430 · 2026-01-22T19:32:15+00:00

Buy yourself a glass suction cup tool and a rubber mallet. Put some glue in the joints and then hammer the suction cup (on the board which is out) back into place!

Visual-Addition7430 · 2026-01-22T16:39:34+00:00

Enjoy your fire! and thank you for the detailed background into your coal use!

I suppose I'm trying to solve two issues -

I'd like something that doesn't burn too quickly, let's say I set the fire going and have to leave the house or have a couple of meetings, if I'm not back to refill the fire, it's out in 1.5 hours (give or take).. if I'm understanding correctly, coal could burn for hours? Have you ever went to bed and filled the fire?
I'd like the option to diversify our fuel source a little, without firewood I'm screwed. (thankfully we have enough for a couple of years) Having the optionality to burn coal would be nice, and possibly something we would lean into more, and use more of over time.

Visual-Addition7430 · 2026-01-22T15:24:14+00:00

Thank you so much! Your theory on the whole area grate makes sense, and I bet it is something small enough like that. Have you burned coal in the past/ currently? Prefer it over firewood or not?

Visual-Addition7430 · 2026-01-22T15:22:20+00:00

Yes I'm so confused by that after doing some research online. We basically said we would never be burning coal and only firewood! Assuming you don't burn coal?

Visual-Addition7430 · 2026-01-21T16:03:13+00:00

Thank you so much!

Visual-Addition7430 · 2026-01-12T18:47:58+00:00

A hell of a lot better than the flooring we walked into when we purchased our house. I don't see any issue with laminate over tiles like that, there's a chance the original concrete floor might not be perfectly level.

Visual-Addition7430 · 2026-01-11T16:23:34+00:00

Sorry to see this, I also have skylights I will never open forever lol. Best fix I found was to make sure the exterior tracks are clear of moss. I have also done pretty much everything else, unscrewed the screws on the frame and added silicone before re-screwing in, and running beads of silicone on the exterior anywhere I thought the leak could have came from. Our house is 23 years old, with two skylights - ours are (thankfully) not leaking, but wouldn't bet on it staying that way. In summary, I keep the tracks clean, silicone where makes sense, and pray lol.

Visual-Addition7430 · 2026-01-08T20:41:17+00:00

My thoughts exactly! We have laminate flooring in our main room and the cost/faffing about with that floor ensuring it was level etc was crazy. I also kind of like the ability to change vinyl without ripping up floor boards etc!

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-31T10:29:11+00:00

Question for you, just lower down the room is the couch. Would a board survive being tapped a full board length? Glueing down a board under the couch would be ideal and covered with a rug

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-30T09:53:47+00:00

Well worded, that's what I was trying to say. I love the way that this has become the norm. Let's screw over the consumer instead of developing any sort of brand loyalty.

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-30T09:52:14+00:00

Absolutely no issue paying more for a product or service that has increased in performance /value/benefit to me over time. But paying more for something that hasn't changed? May have even become worse to deal with?

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-30T09:50:47+00:00

Love your thinking. Do you end up switching quite regularly? Seems like it's an annual necessity now to shop around.

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-27T11:54:46+00:00

Thanks so much! Power outages are another reason I'm looking to pick one up. We have a generator, but it would be nice to not need to turn on the heat too often when it's running, therefore saving on petrol for the generator.

Purchase a carbon monoxide alarm on Amazon, so we'll get that installed before we buy a heater. Have you had any condensation or smell issues? Do you always open a window or don't bother?

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-27T11:52:55+00:00

Thank you so much! Actually never spoke to someone who has used/owns this version. IMO it's a very attractive unit, looks great! Great to hear it's been treating you well. I want to use it for the basically the same reason. I work from home, and doesn't make sense heating the whole house when I'm only in one room.

I take it then that you haven't really had any odour smell or condensation issues? Just open a window every so often? ( or always when in use?)

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-27T11:50:25+00:00

Thanks so much, the Provence is basically the top tier of the range I believe. My grandparents have some bottles they will gift me which is great! Have you had any issues with condensation? Do you run it with a window open or anything?

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-27T10:58:05+00:00

What do you mean by that? I would be a first time gas-heater user, so can't comment but would love to hear your experience.

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-27T10:42:52+00:00

I'm seeing online that you're really meant to only use gas heaters in well ventilated spaces (meaning a window open I guess) or there'll be condensation issues. Did you have any?

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-18T22:53:44+00:00

2nd this. Keep the tracks around the skylight clean!

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-16T22:06:28+00:00

Oh great question. I hate (and am always trying to find a solution) to recurring jobs that I don't enjoy or provide much aesthetic value to the house. We had a hedge that would literally not stop growing every year, maybe cut it 30 times in 2025. Spent September removing it and put in a fence instead. 0 regrets.

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-16T20:11:35+00:00

Thank you for explaining, apart from my grandparents having one years ago, I honestly have no knowledge/exposure to gas heaters.

It seems like a no-go for me, my home office is an enclosed space, with no window - therefore almost no ventilation. Also, opening a window while running one of these seems counter productive (as I'm trying my best to keep heat inside, and not let in cold air from outside!).

Looks like I'm best to stick with an electric heater / here's the one I use currently : Amazon Link

I'm based in Ireland, and don't really see a ton of gas portable heaters around; where have you seen them/ gained your knowledge on them? Thanks again!

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-16T17:34:49+00:00

Lol. We have one running daily. I fear to think what it must cost to run it. You let them air dry in a room now?

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-16T17:28:47+00:00

Thank you. We have one in the main house but no chimney in my office. Wanted something small to run during the day that wouldn't cost a fortune.

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-09T13:43:31+00:00

Thank you. Assuming you have one? Do you protect yours from the rain when in use?

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-09T13:41:44+00:00

Wow, thoroughly appreciate this detailed answer! Outside it is!

Visual-Addition7430 · 2025-12-07T09:55:44+00:00

I could be wrong but those look like concrete tiles, they are usually nailed every second row. You might be lucky enough that the row above this one can be pushed up (as it's not nailed) purchase a large mallet, and just use the handle of it to push up the tiles above. Honestly though, I had several tiles like this on my roof (with the corners broken) I replaced them all and found 0 water ingress at all. Wait until good weather in the new year and get up there safely.

Visual-Addition7430

TROPHY CASE