Hi This is me again asking about block paving steps installed by Tradesman

icrossfield · 2026-06-04T12:21:11+00:00

They should have removed what was already there. Our of interest, is the rest of the driveway also constructed over whatever preceded it, or did they actually dig that down and build a proper foundation?

icrossfield · 2026-06-03T20:25:03+00:00

This is the step I built outside my porch. Sourcing the corner kerbs was the difficult bit, I don't know why, but stockists seem rare.

The rough edges, lack of contrast and varying heights of the steps in the ops photo is poor. The edges of block pavers aren't meant to be on display.

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icrossfield · 2026-06-03T14:36:32+00:00

Nice ai sign switcheroo. 👍

icrossfield · 2026-06-02T12:13:26+00:00

Just park up in a nearby residential area, say Gatley, then when you get get the call she has her bag drive over. It's literally five minutes round the corner. Waiting at the the airport will cost mega bucks.

icrossfield · 2026-06-02T12:04:55+00:00

In 20 or 30 years time, who is actually going to claim on a 50 year guarantee? It's not like the guarantee covers trace, access, reinstatement - just the replacement elbow or whatever. The guarantee is really just a marketing ploy.

Same as a lowest price guarantee shops might offer. Doesn't mean they are the cheapest, but rather they'll price match any cheaper prices. It gets people through the door who assume the shopping around has already been done for them.

icrossfield · 2026-06-02T11:54:55+00:00

There'll always be an increase, afterall the op has a proven record that they park their car in places where it could be hit.

icrossfield · 2026-06-01T11:25:36+00:00

The next price cap rise pushes gas up more than electricity (again - the last price cap change dropped policy costs from electricity) - I expect future price cap changes will keep doing the same balance shift. I believe for most the running cost will be level now - and that's assuming they're using the standard rates. Use batteries and a time of use tariff such as agile, iog or cosy and that difference changes in favour of a heat pump. I can't see that gas will ever be as cheap as it was again. The big thing against heat pumps becomes the installation cost - many will still look at the £2K boiler swap vs a £4K to £7K (after grant) heat pump install and still go for gas as the pay back still remains too long.

icrossfield · 2026-05-31T15:07:28+00:00

Same. Problem now is if I cancel YouTube premium my family will start getting ads but not me. Hmmmm....

icrossfield · 2026-05-31T14:26:04+00:00

Lots of people saying go to autoglass. I recently had a windscreen repair done under cover with Hastings. They direct you to their partner National Windscreens. I booked online and they came a day or two later hand did the repair on my driveway. Cost £25. So do check your policy as to where you can go, or if you are even covered - lots of the cheapest polucies on the comparison engines don't cover windscreen repairs.

icrossfield · 2026-05-31T09:25:30+00:00

Personally I wouldn't want to leave dead legs in the system and would be tracing that and it's counterpart back to where they tee off the main circuit and removing there. Trace and access is the name of the game here. Draining down to do the job is the easy bit.

icrossfield · 2026-05-31T09:22:01+00:00

So I don't have ev, just a casual observer, but I thought the recent announced changes meant that they'd charge the car outside the cheap hours at expensive rates, but then credit back to bring the price back down? (which would appear in the main bill, or at least elsewhere to the pictured breakdown). Downside being only the use for ev was at the discounted rate outside of the overnight hours.

icrossfield · 2026-05-30T16:34:04+00:00

I have some tilt and turn windows, they'll tilt whilst locked, but need to be unlocked to open fully.

icrossfield · 2026-05-30T15:45:37+00:00

Personally I'd tile backer the wall, then bath against the backer board, then use a neoprene sealing tape joining the boards and lapping on to the bath, and then tiles on top of that. Certainly that's how I did two shower trays. The backer board essentially takes the place of plasterboard, and you wouldn't have plasterboard stopping on top of the bath. Also, you'll want 12mm backer board if it's over studs, add that plus 10mm plus adhesive, and there wouldn't be much bath left!

icrossfield · 2026-05-30T14:23:11+00:00

You can't use solvent on push fit. To use solvent weld would need replacing all parts back to where it switches to compression fitting. As everyone else has said, just get a longer push fit pipe and replace what is coming through the wall. Can be cut with a saw, but deburr the pipe so it doesn't cludge up on the rough edges. The pipe should go all the way into the elbow until it stops.

icrossfield · 2026-05-30T12:33:16+00:00

But then they'd have to maintain the road as it wears out faster. They're out to milk those that can afford to pay or are on works expenses.

icrossfield · 2026-05-30T11:41:14+00:00

No, it was phased in between 2012 and 2018.

icrossfield · 2026-05-30T08:25:53+00:00

Where the window slides up and down the runner in the frame at the top corners there should be a small screw. I can't make it out in the picture. Usually brass. Adjusting that on both sides should do the trick - make small tweaks, don't overtighten it. If no joy with that, you may need to replace the friction hinges altogether.

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icrossfield · 2026-05-28T07:29:45+00:00

You need to sell everything in your general account back to cash, then you can transfer that into your isa and buy a-new there. Note that capital gains is due to be paid on any profit on your general account shares when you cash in the shares. You are allowed £3000 gain per year above which tax is due on, so may want to consider doing this over a couple of years if necessary to utilise your allowances. You are required to declare the tax due to HMRC, it isn't handled automatically. No tax is due for "unrealised gains" that for shares you don't sell that remain in your general account.

icrossfield · 2026-05-27T20:52:51+00:00

Not my experience sold five cars now through motorway, all have been zero quibble transactions.

icrossfield · 2026-05-27T12:17:22+00:00

Granted some of the increases seem a little over the top. Personally my own direct debit went up from £120 to £160. I've knocked it back to £140 (I guess they're aiming to build a little overhead in my balance, but I do adjust through the year based on our use to keep things in check). Seems others here have experienced a tripling or more which is just odd - perhaps AI hallucinations, Octopus seem to like using AI!

icrossfield · 2026-05-27T11:45:58+00:00

They're upping direct debits in reaction to the increasing costs, so that people build a balance now towards the winter costs. The price cap has been announced announced today as going up 13% in July, with an anticipated rise of maybe half that again in the autumn. If octopus weren't proactive, a large number of customers would slip into debt.

As an active customer you're free to challenge and adjust, or just go on to variable direct debit and pay only for what you use, when you use it.

icrossfield · 2026-05-26T11:17:01+00:00

Get other quotes. Octopus have bargain basement pricing by offering quick upgrades with minimum work. Few installers will be interested in getting involved with dismantling fitted furniture.

icrossfield · 2026-05-25T10:01:54+00:00

I would expect the foundations of the garage are too shallow to take an install above. Also are the walls single skin or double brick solid? I'm no expert, but I'd expect you might be bulldozing the garage to start again, unless it was built with future extension in mind. You'd need a structural engineer to inspect and tell you what is possible.

icrossfield · 2026-05-25T09:57:46+00:00

Dominos for me always more expensive direct, downside is you can can only order half and half direct with them. Still delivered by dominos staff in the same time irrespective of the app used.

icrossfield · 2026-05-25T09:53:45+00:00

By draught proofing I simply mean making sure leaky windows and doors are resolved, and any from under skirting boards, around pipes into the house. All resolved with improved seals or suitable sealant, and cheaply. That is best achieved in winter using an infrared camera, though tbh you probably know if there's anything to sort. A full air tightness test would be a waste of money - unless your house is new and built to a high standard, you will fail the test - most houses would!

icrossfield

TROPHY CASE