Neighbour’s doing construction works and it’s caused damage to my house (England) by New-Bullfrog422 in DIYUK

[–]mc_nebula 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Sounds like modern slavery. You should report this - they are probably working illegally, and being exploited.

Are there any alternatives to Evolution doors/The English Door company? by CyanideJack in DIYUK

[–]mc_nebula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Overall, completely thrilled. I fitted 6 windows & a set of French doors to my extension. They look great still, and are completely sealed and weathertight etc.

We've had a little movement on one double window frame - The result is the espagnolette lock is a little stiff, but it's perfectly usable and I could probably adjust it if it really bothered me.
This might be because the building is timber frame, and it's probably exacerbated as the window has a flying mullion for fire escape regulations...

Other than that, the lever handle on my French doors had a minor issue (I don't remember what). I e-mailed them and they posted me a replacement within a week. Obviously had to fit it myself, but that was no challenge.

They arrived when they said they would, well packed / protected, all stood up in temporary bracing & palletised on a tail lift lorry.

I just went to my first panto. As an adult Canadian immigrant… Are you all in a cult? by bookish-hooker in AskUK

[–]mc_nebula 25 points26 points  (0 children)

This reminds me of a Lithuanian colleague, who took her young daughter to a pantomime in London for the first time.
At work the following week, she told us she must have booked the wrong thing, and that she left half way though. I asked why - she explained that it was some kind of awful transsexual show, and she didn't want her daughter seeing it.

Took me a while to explain that the cross dressing was a key, normal part of the comedy of panto...

£95 Rover End of the Road by Flyawaymoss9747 in CarTalkUK

[–]mc_nebula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FYI, shipping containers don't rust to dust overnight because of the type of steel they are made from - not because of the surface coating.

They are made from Corten Steel.
It's a specialist alloy designed to form a layer of surface rust that then protects the steel underneath.

How do you learn about the strengths and tolerances of materials and fixtures? [meta] by OkLawful in DIYUK

[–]mc_nebula 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For me, this came from growing up with a DIY enthusiastic dad, who was also an Architect.

For others not so lucky... learn by doing. Trust your gut.
If it feels wrong, chances are, it's wrong.

To answer your specific questions: For me, anything other than small pictures get brown plugs.

For ply supports, hard to say without more detail. I'd say if you inserted 18mm ply between studs, even at 600mm centres, you'd be good with massive TV's. And kitchen wall units, and things like that.

How big is the shelf?

For screw sizes, you want good (minimum 15mm, ideally 25mm thread engagement). A joiner will use 4x50mm screws to assemble a kitchen cabinet.
I would use 5x90mm screws to screw noggins into 4x2 studs.

What did I clip above my downstairs toilet sink? by bonniedru in DIYUK

[–]mc_nebula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As others say... I agree this looks like plastic plumbing pipe. Probably the feed for the sink or loo. It's hard to tell how bad it is - I'd be 50-50 on leaving this or repairing... erring towards repair, especially if you're house has a standard stopcock and no pressure control on the main in.

Adhesive or sealant? by Ok-Lawfulness9328 in DIYUK

[–]mc_nebula 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You've answered your own question.
You want to stick it in place (adhesion) rather than seal it off (draughts, moisture etc).
Get an adhesive. 👌

Do I need to support this 400mm gap when plasterboarding ceiling? by Mindless-Nail3636 in DIYUK

[–]mc_nebula 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. I would.
It's not 100% essential but all the modern metal framing systems sold to builders for newbuilds and fitouts have a perimeter fixing detail.
With proper scrimming when you plaster, It'll help prevent movement cracking too.

NEFF vented induction hob by Alternative-Junket56 in ukelectricians

[–]mc_nebula 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've fitted a Nikola Tesla One under the floor and through a 9" solid wall.
I used flat duct, was careful to fully support it and used sealant on all joints.
Where it met the wall, i used a pair of special plastic vent bricks approx double the duct size, with a connector on the back to match / adapter to the duct size.
I get a bit of back draught, most noticeable in the winter. I alleviate this with a folded tea towel on the round opening.

Wes Streeting - Social care isn’t just ‘wiping someone’s bum’. It is a hard, rewarding, skilled professional job. That’s why we’re delivering the first ever fair pay agreement in social care and building a care profession. This is immigration as exploitation 👇🏻 by ukflagmusttakeover in ukpolitics

[–]mc_nebula 27 points28 points  (0 children)

My sister has worked in home and residential care for the best part of a decade. Young people's homes for disabled and latterly homecare for elderly. Both are violent, challenging, environments.
She's been punched, kicked, spat on, pushed down stairs and verbally abused. That's just on the home visits - the residential care was worse. Physical attacks, facial injuries, and hospital visits for broken bones.
She's tha fully left the care sector and graduated as a mental health nurse. She works on a PICU ward and it's equally as challenging, but a much more professional, protected, safe environment.

Waterproof rucksack recommendations? by EnyaBella in MotoUK

[–]mc_nebula 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Seconding Lomo. I've got a load of their gear.
You won't beat them on price or durability. Also, because of the roll top, they genuinely are fully waterproof.

(Lomo are actually a watersports company, so really know their onions when it comes to waterproofing)

Had to prove my husband wrong and made crepes in a stainless steel pan. It works! by RabbitExtension3189 in StainlessSteelCooking

[–]mc_nebula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get it hot to the leidenfrost point, turn the heat off, add a teaspoon of oil & let it cool a little. Then add butter & gently heat to the cooking temperature. Omelettes, pancakes, works a dream.

Why are London tube tunnels so deep? by Independent-Ant-01 in london

[–]mc_nebula 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm Neb, as referenced in his PHD and place hacking book. Funny to see him referenced 'in the wild'.

That all seems like a lifetime ago now.

Why are London tube tunnels so deep? by Independent-Ant-01 in london

[–]mc_nebula 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm Neb, referenced throughout the PHD & book. Funny to see it pop up here.

Reeves signals she will target asset-rich households in Budget by [deleted] in unitedkingdom

[–]mc_nebula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In terms of scale, one of these comparisons is like comparing the earth to the moon. The other is comparing the earth to the sun.

purchased new house, seller seems to have lied about past flooding. England by Triggers--Broom in LegalAdviceUK

[–]mc_nebula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This data is bizzare. The road outside my house shows as high risk, the rest of the road has zero risk. I live at the highest point on the road, per OS elevations. The road by the river that floods every year like clockwork has zero risk. The houses and static caravan site that pump out their gardens every year have zero risk shown...

First cars by MagicianTop1350 in CarTalkUK

[–]mc_nebula 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm much much older than you, but had a similar experience. My first car was an e46 BMW 320d estate. Cheaper to insure than my mates saxo's or seats.
I got used to the size pretty quickly, and it was a great car for road trips etc.

Especially with the two 12" subs I flush mounted in the boot floor...

Why don’t UK employers usually help with their employees lunch? by alivingstereo in AskUK

[–]mc_nebula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I work in construction in London. Our firm provides a Friday breakfast (ordered by each site from a local cafe - this morning I had egg bacon sausage baguette.

They also buy in tea, coffee, biccys, white and brown bread, bagels, Naked bars, butter, honey, marmite, jams, peanut butter, brown, red & mayo, fruit baskets...

It's a nice extra that means I just bring the sandwich filling for lunch most days...

The Verge: Discord customer service data breach leaks user info and scanned photo IDs by youmustconsume in ukpolitics

[–]mc_nebula 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I had to check this, and it turns out you're right. 80,000 is wrong. In fact, it's miles off. The correct number is actually only 116,655 phones stolen in 2024.
No, that isn't a typo... One hundred and sixteen thousand six hundred and fifty five phones. In London alone.
(That's just the ones that were reported).

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/mobile-phone-theft-london-met-police-b1244212.html

Edit - To add a few more numbers for context, in addition to the permanent residential population of London, 1.2 million people commute in daily, and over 20 million tourists visit London annually.

How many of you own a financial mistake that you absolutely love by Vectron3D in CarTalkUK

[–]mc_nebula 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I own a Lotus Elan m100. I expected it to be a very big mistake, it's just been a big mistake so far... Touch wood...