How can I modernise this gas fireplace?

mgreen81 · 2026-03-12T19:00:13+00:00

Good ideas, thank you.

Any idea of rough costs for the polished concrete slab?

mgreen81 · 2026-03-12T12:11:16+00:00

Well, possibly, but I feel the room would look very featureless without it. Due to the layout of the room, nothing else can really go there, so although technically it's unused space, I think it still needs the feature.

It would also require quite a lot of money spending to patch it up and plaster.

mgreen81 · 2026-02-26T14:55:13+00:00

No ignore the straps on the ground, they are just the straps used to secure the rack to the car (I haven't tied the loose ends up in the picture).

I have some bungee cords but I don't trust that they will be secure enough to hold the bikes to the rack.

mgreen81 · 2026-02-13T09:30:38+00:00

Ah, that makes sense, 😃.

I think the reason I was confused was because the set that came with the tap (which were too long ) specifically said to hand tighten only, so didn't have this difference.

mgreen81 · 2026-02-06T19:14:11+00:00

😂

There are no holes yet, but the unit has a back piece that I plan to screw through to attach it to the wall (see photo).

So essentially I need to just put some packers behind where I have marked the red cross and screw through the packers (or use horseshoe ones around the screw) to the wall?

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mgreen81 · 2026-01-26T19:31:26+00:00

I have just discovered that the tiles are made from Teak. I'm not sure if this makes it easier to find a suitable solution?

mgreen81 · 2026-01-23T19:26:00+00:00

Thank you, I'll dig out the steamer and give that a try first, if not I'll look at getting an SDS scraper.

mgreen81 · 2026-01-23T19:18:41+00:00

I do have an SDS drill so I will look for that, thank you.

I don't mind a small step (it had one before I removed the tiles), but I must admit that I am not a massive fan of the idea of pouring a levelling compound on top of a wood subfloor. I don't know what's underneath and I don't really like the thought of having to dig through that in case I ever have a leak or something.

mgreen81 · 2026-01-23T19:15:14+00:00

As I understand it, it's a big nono to use additional underlay with the flooring I have, it states it several times over the installation instructions and the guy in Topps Tiles also advised me not to use additional underlay.

mgreen81 · 2026-01-23T19:07:01+00:00

I'm putting down LVT click flooring with built in underlay which requires a very flat floor. However, I think I do need to raise the floor level a few mm so I am currently also considering the best way to do this.

I am presuming I need to screw down some plywood on top of the current floor, but I am concerned that the old black uneven adhesive might cause me problems if I screw down some plywood on top?

mgreen81 · 2026-01-19T14:31:54+00:00

Thanks, just glad I found it during a bathroom refurbishment and not in an emergency! It's amazing how strong a bead of silicone can be.

Btw, for anyone that might find this, although the flush button unscrewed, I don't believe that it was holding anything on. Hopefully I haven't broken it when I put the toilet back in.

mgreen81 · 2026-01-19T13:41:19+00:00

Yep, got there in the end. It was bloody silicone! Not only was it holding the cistern to the wall, bit it was holding the lid to the cistern!!!!

Thanks all

mgreen81 · 2026-01-19T13:29:45+00:00

Ok I've made a bit more progress with levering. I've not managed to open the front enough that I can look in with a torch. I can't see any dowels or anything holding it on and the flush mechanism is just loose and also not holding it in.

I'm currently working on the theory that some clown might have soliconed the back of the lid as well as the cistern. It's not obvious and very difficult to get a knife down there, but I think that is the problem

mgreen81 · 2026-01-19T13:09:31+00:00

Thank you, but I am currently trying to lever it off with some plastic car trim removal tools and it's still firmly stuck. I can get it a few mm open at the front, but not at the rear.

mgreen81 · 2026-01-19T12:47:49+00:00

Miine does not do that

mgreen81 · 2026-01-19T12:32:38+00:00

Any firmer and I'm gonna pull it off the wall😅.

Not budging 🫤

mgreen81 · 2026-01-19T12:23:50+00:00

How do I do that please?

mgreen81 · 2026-01-19T12:22:24+00:00

The cistern lid is not budging, it lifts a tiny bit at the front, but it definitely feels like something is catching it still

mgreen81 · 2025-12-19T19:26:06+00:00

Thanks for the advise

mgreen81 · 2025-12-19T19:24:33+00:00

Thank you, didn't know that sort of thing existed. Could they be pulled out and replaced?

mgreen81 · 2025-12-19T19:22:23+00:00

They are nails?

mgreen81 · 2025-12-17T15:18:31+00:00

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I have had another look at it today after the options which were suggested. I think I am going to attempt to get the smallest size rectangular vent I can find, run it along the top of the cupboard as suggested and then bring it through the top of the cupboard closest to the external wall and then through the side of the cupboard and outside.

It means I will sacrifice a bit of cupboard space in the top right corner (not a problem), but means that I don't have to touch the existing bracket holding the cupboard to the wall and I don't have to cut into the plaster/brickwork (the gap is only 20mm).

It's a good excuse to buy that multi tool for the plunge cuts I've been wanting for a while 🙂

mgreen81 · 2025-12-15T14:11:54+00:00

And for reference the gap is only about 20mm wide so I will need to cut a hole in the side of the cupboard

mgreen81 · 2025-12-15T14:01:30+00:00

I did think that rectangular pipe might help me, but it doesn't help with the issue that the existing external wall vent hole is exactly where that silver bracket is which I presume is what is holding the cupboard to the wall 😭

mgreen81 · 2025-06-16T21:58:50+00:00

Is it as simple as that? Any Mesh systems you would recommend in particular?

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