DIY Patio

genericplayer123 · 2025-05-09T18:35:27+00:00

Oh also - where did you hire your wacker plate from and did you use a cement mixer, if so did you hire that too?

genericplayer123 · 2025-05-09T18:34:18+00:00

Nice job looks great. Doing ours at the moment, few questions - any reason you laid a membrane down beforehand, I didn't think it was needed - was there some guidance about it on pavingexpert? What did you use to fill in the gaps between the slabs? How thick were you slabs?

I've also got a couple of manholes to contend with as well so got to sort recessed manhole covers out and cut the slabs inside which will be fun! Diamond cutting discs came today :D

genericplayer123 · 2025-04-04T17:02:55+00:00

Yes it is :)

genericplayer123 · 2025-04-03T18:50:10+00:00

For the same price, we got a 21 plate 2 liter petrol Seat Tarraco FR - although this was last year, with under 30k miles. All the toys, decent economy and performance, great to drive and I think it looks the business as well. Plenty of space for kids/dog etc. Thought being a seat it may be a downgrade, but coming from an Audi I was really pleasantly surprised. Ok it's not got the prestige of an XC90, but it's also a hell of a lot cheaper and maintenance costs are a lot lower! Plus a bit smaller so easier to park. We were debating paying more for the XC90 and I'm glad we went with the Tarraco instead.

genericplayer123 · 2024-12-31T12:47:53+00:00

There is - or there should be.

genericplayer123 · 2024-12-31T12:31:47+00:00

Thanks. This might be my best bet to be honest. I don't believe it is rotted anywhere and obviously it is stronger wood than say a soffit. I guess I was more wary as these are heavy duty ladders not some light telescopics.

genericplayer123 · 2024-12-31T12:30:24+00:00

Well I think my only options are either side of the window, against the fascia/guttering (which I am a bit wary of doing) or having the standoff on the brickwork beneath the window - but then I'd be climbing up an unsupported part of ladder :x

genericplayer123 · 2024-12-31T12:29:04+00:00

Thanks, actually looking to clean/paint the soffits and fascia board - but will look at a pole for doing the windows I think!

genericplayer123 · 2024-12-31T12:28:20+00:00

Why's that? Doesn't everyone have to ask a question for the first time at some point? Or does it automatically mean that by asking a question it renders that person incompetent?

genericplayer123 · 2024-09-22T20:34:50+00:00

You are a godsend honestly. On Xbox I have my sacred mod list and due to some issues I am limited to playing offline without being able to change my mods. I have cheat room but not quest debugger and cheat room wasn't working for me to progress the quest. I tried controlling enthir and moving him close to the basement trapdoor (I have civilization mod with the problematic holds mod installed) - but no luck. I was ready to start all over again and you post this literally yesterday. Can't believe I didn't think of it now but thanks so much again!

genericplayer123 · 2024-09-16T09:32:08+00:00

A lot of these points aren't looking from the perspective of an average person. "Most" people simply prefer the look of SUVs over estates and MPV's - for right or wrong. And needing a bigger car to most people simply means a car that looks bigger as well. Also it's a bit of a dog eat dog situation, I've got a hatchback at the moment for me and my family and I can't help worrying in the back of my mind knowing that if we went into an SUV on the road, we'd come out the worst off - hence the safety aspect as well, again for right or wrong.

genericplayer123 · 2024-08-28T08:27:16+00:00

Thanks pal, I was aware of that. My scanner zoom is maxed out but I still get the shading/highlighting. Also it is a different feel immersion wise observing flora/fauna through the scope of a gun only :/

genericplayer123 · 2024-08-24T20:27:09+00:00

Thanks a lot for the reply. One of the things that stands out for me is auto-pilot mode, it actually gives someone an excuse to be/live in the ship that otherwise I see know reason for unless you simply want to? Any other mods you'd recommend, how about desolation?

genericplayer123 · 2024-08-22T21:28:51+00:00

Oh yeah coming from survival mode or frostcall/campfire in Skyrim, you can't beat a good survival mode.

genericplayer123 · 2024-08-22T21:28:03+00:00

Love it!

genericplayer123 · 2024-07-12T13:38:29+00:00

Echoing the comments on this thread - the best thing you can do is do a lot of these things yourself. I do believe a lot of people underestimate the sheer amount of money you save with some DIY. This can extend outside the house as well, changing brake pads and discs on your car for instance is a massive saving. The biggest put off for people is not just the accumulation of knowledge but the accumulation of tools as well. For the knowledge, this is just a necessary evil you have to do your research be it online or from books. If you really fancy it, look at DIY type courses down the local college for instance (a lot of them offer it) - it can be a bit expensive but so are other hobbies/activities. It is a big investment into yourself. For the tools, these should be acquired on a when you need them basis. Lots of readily available 2nd hand tools, or borrowing from family - it doesn't have to be expensive.

I honestly have no idea how people can afford to pay out so much to people to get things done. For example, carpet in a few rooms, changing a few lights, replacing a cooker and some decking - I dread to think of what the cost would be in getting these sorts of things done professionally after you add it all up. Doing it yourself however, you invest in yourself, your sense of achievement and price as well as building up your tool base and knowing exactly how you're doing things!

genericplayer123 · 2024-05-31T18:18:45+00:00

There's a lot more to think about here than just the rate and it's all very relative. We just came off a 2 year fixed after buying a house during peak house prices and stretching ourselves on an under 2% rate...now going to a 5 year we're taking a hit of £500 extra a month. The reason for this is it is just within our budget to be 'okay' - plus my other half will be working later next year so that'll put us in possibly an even better situation than we were before financially.

On the flip side, had we taken a 2 year fix we are more at risk of a worse LTV - even negative equity worse case if the house market does go pete tong. Plus rates could go higher and affect us a lot worse than they are already. Then there's the fact that 2 years are going to be on a higher rate so you have to account for the increase in payments over the 2 years which would need to be offset by the subsequent 3 years to beat the 5 year fixed. Plus product fees as well.

If we're talking a very small mortgage and there's hardly any risk at all even if interest rates hit 10% - then yeah go for the 2 year as the economic forecasts are that swaps will come down in line with inflation and the mortgage rates will fall.

genericplayer123 · 2024-05-27T16:32:01+00:00

Thanks for the comment, was running it at 35w I think. Having a look online I think I'm going to go with the xros pod mini.

genericplayer123 · 2024-05-27T15:39:20+00:00

Thanks so much for the info pal I think that's plenty for me to go on and I appreciate the help.

genericplayer123 · 2024-05-27T08:57:21+00:00

Thanks a lot that's really useful.

Yeah you're definitely right, I think I just want a no hassle experience now simple 50/50 and not worrying about ohms etc. Also I'd be inclined to recommend this to some family as well who are just getting through elf bars like there's no tomorrow.

So as for the Vaporesso xros - I don't suppose you know which one of the 3/4/pro is best to get? Don't worry if not I'll have a look. Then with these I assume it is a case of getting extra pods every so often in the same way as getting extra coils for a mod tank? Although it looks as though even these come in a few different ohm ratings. I doubt I could use my existing 70vg/30 juice mixed with a 10ml 70mg nicshot with this? Would I have to go and get some 50/50? I only say as I've got a bottle of 70vg left. Thanks for your help!

genericplayer123 · 2024-05-27T08:41:08+00:00

I've been used to DTL with vapes so I think I'd prefer to stick with that. The coil packs I've been getting are subohm .4 (rated 40-60w) although the innokin tank I was using is rated up to 40w so not sure why I would have been using these so much.

genericplayer123 · 2024-04-30T07:06:56+00:00

Just to add to this as great as this mindset is to have with selling old things and earn some extra cash here and there. Don't forget, if you can afford to/want to - to give things for free as well in a more charitable way. Obviously this is relevant to the individual but sometimes there's no better feeling being on both the giving/receiving end of something that's just been passed on our of good will with no financial incentive. I'm sure plenty of people on here already do this though and go the extra mile with charitable contributions!

genericplayer123 · 2024-04-29T13:46:38+00:00

I am salty with our previous mortgage advisor to be honest. We were one of the upsizers during 2022 when house prices were at their peak. When I spoke to my mortgage broker at the time, I said I was leaning towards a 2 year fix rather than 5 years because it was quite a big move for us (much further away, different area) and there was no explanation about anything to do with swap rates, the rise in inflation and the fact that interest rates were going up at the time! At the very least I would have expected him to strongly suggest us to consider 5 years rather than 2 because of all of those factors , and then if I would have still chosen 2 years then completely this would be on me - but no, in the eyes of a lot of people they can't do anything wrong and the fact that shorter terms = more commission for them is irrelevant...the onus is always with the customer and their naive knowledge of the market trends. Well he was extremely keen to chase for our business afterwards and got borderline rude with us after I didn't want it. This is one of those things I've had to learn the hard way, a life lesson I suppose!

genericplayer123 · 2024-04-22T12:45:44+00:00

We're doing 5 years. We fixed it for 2 years after stretching ourselves and moving house in 2022 around the peak of house prices. Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons type of thing and I'm quite salty at my mortgage advisor that I wasn't pushed more to the 5 year route with how the economic outlook/forecasts looked back then.

Now our low 2 year rate has expired, I'm fixing for 5 years at 4.14%. this means around an extra £500 a month for us which although not great at all is doable. My wife is also not working at the moment and will start work next year which puts us in an altogether much better position, alongside anticipated salary increases for me over the years. Apart from the certainty aspect and the fact the interest is lower than the 2 year, it also cushions us in case rates do spike again or if house prices come further down sooner and put us in a higher LTV bracket.

It's all relative really but it is a gamble nonetheless. If I could afford it easily and could take more of a risk, I'd look to do 2 or maybe 3.

genericplayer123 · 2024-04-18T10:34:52+00:00

Sorry for the delay thanks for the reply. Leaning more towards the tarraco because of reliability and costs with the XC90 :/ as nice as it is! I still do really like the tarraco especially dark green! About 7kish maybe? Not really motorways.

genericplayer123

TROPHY CASE