I wonder if anybody has an idea what my problem could be. I have a Randall 3060 programmer for my central heating. In the morning it is set at Heat Off Water Twice, with the Thermostat at nil. Despite this, increasingly, the radiators come on red hot in the morning. The programmer is fairly old but it occurs that it may be a simple fault with something else. Any suggestions appreciated.

DIY Doctor can reveal that their website www.diydoctor.org.uk received over 621,000 visits in January 2010 and 530,846 of those were unique visitors. This gave a total of 1,357,846 pageviews for the month!

The top three most popular projects on the site in January were:

Domestic Hot Water systems, with 35,183 pageviews
Central Heating – Boilers, with 32,980 pageviews
Condensation, with 13,537 pageviews

with Laying Floor Tiles, Central Heating – Radiators, Fitting a Woodburner, and Choosing a Shower coming in next.

A Conventional Heating System

I have installed a 10.5 kw electric shower using 10mm twin and earth cable put it through a RDC and a double pole isolating switsh and it was working fine, now it does not. There is power going into the shower unit because the power light is on but when you actually turn the shower on the light goes out and no water is emitted even when set to cold.

The name Juliet Balcony comes from the famous scene in Romeo and Juliet, where Juliet stands looking out of her balcony talking about love. However, unlike the more traditional holiday-style balconies, Juliet balconies aren’t intended for patio sets and entertaining guests. Instead they are an extension of an interior room that is designed to add an outdoor feel to an indoor space.

A Juliet balcony is essentially a false balcony attached to the side of a house so that it surrounds French or double doors. Juliet balconies are often still made to fit the traditional model from the Shakespeare play: a short, narrow rectangle surrounded by stone balustrade that is supported by plinths and opens almost immediately into the adjoining room through glass doors. They are becoming increasingly popular, as more and more people convert existing windows to allow for increased light and ventilation. Obviously the doors have to open inwards to make the most of a feature like this. By changing windows to double doors or French doors, the balcony fixes to the external masonry to prevent anyone from falling out. Juliet balconies are more than just a safety feature however, with many homeowners installing them as nothing more than an external design feature.

The vast majority of Juliet balconies are made from iron due to its strength and sturdiness, and because it is easy to shape. Attaching a large iron feature to the side of your property can have pitfalls though – the sheer weight of iron Juliet balconies can lead them to pull away from masonry which can lead to costly repairs.  This has lead some manufacturers to look to new materials with similar strength qualities to iron but with less weight. Aluminium has been adopted as a realistic alternative however it is much less easy to shape than iron so aluminium Juliette balconies tend to be a lot more functional with less ornate design than many of the iron alternatives. 

In more recent years some manufacturers have been pushing the boundaries of Juliet balcony designs a little more, incorporating glass and other materials in modern designs. This new generation of Juliet balconies is obviously more befitting of modern architecture, with older homes and buildings preferring the more traditional iron versions.

Due to the Juliet balcony’s European influence and romantic heritage, these small exterior areas are becoming very popular very among buyers, particularly those living in cities where exterior space is at a premium. They can therefore add significant value to your property if used and displayed correctly.  By installing railing planters, balcony boxes, or hanging baskets, a Juliet balcony space can quickly become a high-rise garden. This is not only practical for city dwellers, but by adding plant life right outside a room, a relaxed, natural mood is instantly created, by brining the outside inside. You could possibly even wind vines between the balustrades, partially enclose the space with a shaded trellis for more privacy, or seal the area with glass windows to form an impromptu greenhouse.

I want to flat render an already pebbledashed wall. The wall is sound and would like to know how to prepare the wall to do this?

We are pleased to announce an extension to our partnership with www.thesitebox.com.

 Selected activities performed in free time by men and women, 2006/07, England

The Office for National Statistics have figures showing the difference between men and women when it comes to DIY. The statistics (published in 2008) show that many of the ctivities were quite equally shared between the sexes, but when it came to DIY , men were more likely to get invloved, with 46% of men compared to 26% of women.

Ideal Homes Show 2010

BRITAIN’S  most loved consumer event; The Ideal Home Show, is to be officially revamped to its former glory in time for the next show, running from the 20^th March – 5^th April 2010 at London’s Earls Court.  

The famous, trend-setting show that made home-making a national passion, will be returning for its 102^nd year, with a completely new and revamped format; offering a 17-day long event, packed full of the latest trends, technological advancements, and design innovations; the show embraces social attitudes of 21^st Century living. 

 The new-look Ideal Home Show will explore the world of home interiors and style with a fresh, new inspiring and entertaining show format that combines EIGHT shows in one, offering; Ideal Home Improvements, Ideal Village, Ideal Food, Ideal Gardens, Ideal Shopping, Ideal Woman, Ideal Gadgets, Ideal Interiors, as well as expert advice on everything from DIY to fine dining, gadgets and pampering, with a host of celebrity guests across the 17 days; there’s something for the whole family, all rolled into one.

The 2010 event takes place across 17 days, at Earls Court from 20th March – 5th April 2010.

Tickets can be either booked online or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0844 415 4144. Group bookings can be made by calling the Groups Hotline on 0844 412 4650, or for further information about the show and to purchase tickets online visit the website www.idealhomeshow.co.uk

Ticket Information:

                                                     On Door               In Advance

Weekday Adult                                          £15                         £10

Weekend Adult                                          £17                         £12

Weekday Concession (Over 65’s)                 £14                         £9

Weekend Concession (Over 65’s)                 £16                         £11

Children under 16                                            Free (ticket is required)

Opening times:

Opening Day – 20^th March                                          10am – 6pm

Weekdays & Weekends                                               10am – 6pm

Thursday – late night                                                  10am – 9pm

Final Monday – 5^th April (Bank Holiday)                         10am – 6pm

Late Night Thursday Open until 9pm                           £5 after 5pm      n/a

The Ideal Home Show has established itself as part of the social calendar of events and regularly attracts over 250,000 visitors every year.

Follow the Ideal Home Show on Twitter http://twitter.com/ideal_home_show

Having bought my first house last year with an ancient back-boiler in the lounge, I am over the moon to hear about the new boiler scrappage scheme which has now been officially announced.

According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, upto 125,000 households in England with working ‘G-rated’ boilers are eligible to apply for a £400 voucher off the price off a new ‘A-rated’ boiler or renewable heating system.

I’ve checked the details and there doesn’t seem to be a catch!
Firstly, you need to find out if your boiler is ‘G-rated’ – a quick test for gas boilers is to see if it has a permanent pilot light – if it has, it is highly likely to be G-rated. Also, if it is over fifteen years old and gas fired then it is likely to be G-rated. If it is oil fired and over twenty five years old, it is also likely to be eligible. If you are still unsure and know the boiler make and model, you can check the Government Boiler Efficiency Database on the Energy Saving Trust website.

Once you are sure the boiler is G-rated, you need to arrange for your nominated installer to visit, provide you with a quote and then register an interest in the scheme by emailing or phoning the Energy Saving Trust.

You will need to supply them with your full name, address, make and name of boiler to be scrapped, the company name and contact details of the installer carrying out the work, the type of replacement boiler, and confirmation that you have received a quote.

Vouchers are being issued from the 18th January, and you will receive your voucher about ten days after application. The vouchers are valid for 12 weeks. Once you have received your voucher, you can proceed with the installation. You have to pay for the new boiler and installation upfront, then claim back the £400 by sending the voucher and invoice to the EST. Payment is then issued to you within 25 working days of receipt of this.

Doesn’t sound too complicated, and the potential savings of an average household’s energy bill could be between £200 and £235 a year. Great news!

For more detailed information take a look at the Energy Saving Trust website

Following on from the ‘Make DIY your New Year’s Resolution’ post, how about learning a new DIY skill?  There are lots of courses available now in all area of the country.

It could be a basic home maintenance course to help at home, or a more comprehensive course in Plastering, Tiling, Decorating or Bricklaying. There are courses offering  a potential change of career with certified courses in Electrics or Plumbing. There are courses available specifically run for women and even courses you can attend with your teenage children!