Home & Garden - 3 November 2007

I am new to the home improvement game. My loft has joists that are 100mm high, with 100mm blanket insulation between them. I would like to add chipboard flooring so that the loft can be used for storage.

However, I have read that lofts are supposed to have 270mm thick insulation (i.e. theoretically I should add 170mm blanket insulation at right angles to the joists and the current insulation). If I do this though, I won't be able to nail boards down as there will be nothing to secure them too.

If I keep the insulation as is and add the boards, will I cause problems for myself when I come to sell (i.e. will it become law to have a certain depth of insulation)? Can someone who understands this stuff please help? Thanks.

2007-11-03 13:25:56 · 6 answers · asked by stu 2 in Do It Yourself (DIY)

Okay well i guess this could be considered as a surprise while my house was under construction......
This so called fire place is a total disaster and can seem to find a solution to cover it up?
Anyone have any suggestions, ideas, for this living room which I want it to have a contemporary feel to it.
Thanks.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i105/monstaswife/Casa0019.jpg

2007-11-03 13:04:31 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Decorating & Remodeling

I have one in my new house and I have no idea how it works or if I have to pay monthly to use it?

2007-11-03 12:58:59 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Home & Garden

Just like the leftover food etc is being composted, why not the leaves as well?

2007-11-03 12:56:52 · 3 answers · asked by mondia c 1 in Other - Home & Garden

Our toilet bowl fills up with water when it's flushed and takes half an hour to go back down...., and being Sunday here in NZ, can't get a plumber till tomorrow. Is there a way to unblock it?

2007-11-03 12:46:49 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs

An electricity meter makes a very loud humming noise at night. It is positioned within the communal area in a small block of flats and there seems to be some sort of timer attached to the meter. Any ideas why it is making such a loud noise and what the timer is for; and what can be done?

2007-11-03 12:25:34 · 4 answers · asked by Amoeba 2 in Other - Home & Garden

do they hibernate?

2007-11-03 12:11:40 · 15 answers · asked by sharon p 2 in Other - Home & Garden

2007-11-03 12:02:44 · 2 answers · asked by Evoke 6 in Other - Home & Garden

My husband and I just built a large five bedroom/four bathroom house on the outskirts of Boston. This is our first house together after living in a condominium-complex in downtown Boston. I am just clueless with what to do for colors of rooms, appliances, furniture, etc! Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Also, I am pregnant with a baby due in early April, so any tips for a nursery? Thanks!

2007-11-03 11:54:21 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Decorating & Remodeling

i hate the color of my room. it's bright orange.i really want to re-do it, but don't know what color i should paint it. i thought about doing:
Dark Brown
Grey
Grass Green
or a Navy Blue.

what color do u think i should do?

2007-11-03 11:46:46 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Decorating & Remodeling

2007-11-03 11:39:32 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs

Each one has a 20 on the top, does this mean the total breaker is 40 amps? or 20? and how does it work when it trips? Do both trip? Also do the colors of the switches on the breaker mean anything? Like some are blue and others red, thanks in advance!

2007-11-03 11:24:09 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs

Like the 100 pack of mini full voltage outdoor lights, if I were to connect the end of a string to the beginning of a new string would I have to waterproof that connection? Also the connect where the light string plugs into an extension cord? Thanks in advance

2007-11-03 11:21:53 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs

2007-11-03 11:10:28 · 22 answers · asked by Learning is fun! 4 in Decorating & Remodeling

What is the best power cleaner to remove mold/mildew stains from the bath tub and sink? I've tried Lysol, BAM, mr. clean..

2007-11-03 11:09:01 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cleaning & Laundry

do I use hot or cold water?

2007-11-03 11:05:50 · 2 answers · asked by Katie 1 in Cleaning & Laundry

Everyone's talking about replacing their incandescent bulbs with compact flourescents. Wouldn't it make sense to WAIT until your old bulbs die before throwing them in the landfill? All the ads and inserts in your electric bill should read, "When your old bulbs die, replace them with CFL's," NOT "Replace your bulbs with CFL's."

2007-11-03 10:46:12 · 7 answers · asked by Fireant3 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

My dad has joined his local leek club and is growing show leeks. For xmas I would like to buy him a few bits and pieces he needs/would like but I know very little about it and the staff in garden centres down south don't seem to know much about this northern pasttime either. I know he buys specific plant food but I'm not sure where to find it and there is apparantly a gauge you use to measure the leeks but I don't know what it is called. If anyone out there also grows competition leeks and can suggest anything I can buy (neccessary or silly) to put together a little kit I would appreciate it.

2007-11-03 10:44:48 · 2 answers · asked by ballantyne_s 2 in Garden & Landscape

though it has been thorougly cleaned. Any ideas?

2007-11-03 10:36:41 · 2 answers · asked by robin s 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

2007-11-03 10:23:50 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Home & Garden

2007-11-03 10:20:21 · 3 answers · asked by Felicia T 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

I want to grow my own vegetables for my family. The problem is i live in a townhome with no yard. I know using large containers is best. Last year i grew tomato's and strawberries. I would really like to branch out and try carrots, peas, onions, potato's, garlic?, and lettuce types. Are there any other vegetables or fruits that are suited for containers? Books or websites that will offer pictures and step by step instructions. I also dont have alot of money (3kids in our family) so suggestions on containers that dont cost alot.

thanks

2007-11-03 10:20:08 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Garden & Landscape

My washer will not fill up with water,it starts to and then stops.
Also my toilet seems like it does not have enough water pressure to flush.The sinks and shower are all running good.
How can I fix the washer problem?

2007-11-03 09:58:26 · 8 answers · asked by shadowmonkeyblue 3 in Maintenance & Repairs

Hurry, i just finished with the primer!

2007-11-03 09:53:35 · 29 answers · asked by brian stanger 2 in Decorating & Remodeling

I bought a 3-4" tomato plant about 2 months ago. It was in one of those pots that are madde of peat so I left it on. I planted it in a planter box that is south facing (it gets at least 5-6 hours of sun). The planter gets regular watering from the sprinklers. The problem is that the plant has grown very tall (about a 1 foot stalk) but that is all that is happening. Is this a nutrition thing, a sun thing or something else? If I need to fertilize what should I use (tomato spikes?)

2007-11-03 09:47:11 · 3 answers · asked by matrickz2002 2 in Garden & Landscape

If you are sewing something together how do you make sure the start and end of the thread are fixed?

thanks.

2007-11-03 09:41:31 · 5 answers · asked by ? 3 in Decorating & Remodeling

She was swinging on the door and it ripped the the door off the hinges and now the holes are all wallered out, is there anyway I can fix this w/o having to replace the door. I have tried bigger screws but it only works for awhile. Any ideas?

2007-11-03 09:41:06 · 14 answers · asked by Gin 2 in Do It Yourself (DIY)

I have a new house (a little over a year old) and the master bath toilet concerns me.
When someone sits on the toilet there is the sound of water dripping behind the wall (where the pipes are). At first I was the only one who could hear it. Now it is louder and others can hear it too. I had the builder get someone to check it -- they said it was water from the trap. No leaks, nothing is loose. Should I call in my own plumber or am I worrying unnecessarily? Thanks for any advice.

2007-11-03 09:08:30 · 6 answers · asked by Donna 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

hopefully someone can answer this!!! i lost electricity in three rooms in my house today. i checked all the circuts everything seems fine. the wierd thing is when i turn my dryer on the electric works but when i shut my dryer off it dont work again. WHATS GOING ON? the dryer is wired in its own 220 circut, so i dont see how it would have anything to do with this problem? PLEASE HELP

2007-11-03 08:46:48 · 8 answers · asked by eric c 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

2007-11-03 08:40:59 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs