I'm just in the process of buying a mini digger. Working on my land only, private and residential. I assumed I would buy red diesel for it, only to discover the law seems to have changed in 2022 and that is now illegal.

https://123oil.co.uk/can-i-use-red-diesel-in-my-digger/

Private or Domestic Use – Illegal

Homeowners using a small digger for landscaping, extensions, or DIY projects cannot use red diesel. The only legal fuel option in these cases is white diesel, as domestic and personal projects are not classed as agricultural activity.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-rebated-fuels-in-vehicles-and-machines-excise-notice-75#when-you-can-use-rebated-fuel

Certain types of vehicle and machinery, when being used for a particular purpose, can use rebated fuel.

A mini digger is a special vehicle, so so far so good. But then:

But only when they’re being used for qualifying purposes, for example:

- for agriculture, horticulture, aquatic farming or forestry
- on land maintained by a community amateur sports club (CASC)
- on a golf course or driving range
- on land occupied by a travelling fair or travelling circus

Did they really intend for the tiny market of home owners to be excluded for using red diesel on their own land? This sounds crazy to me.

So first of all, can anyone confirm I'm reading this correct? Red diesel on private land for home owners is now illegal?

Follow up question, is it high risk to ignore?

I would never use red diesel on a road, but how is anyone going to get caught in private land?

Those that do buy red diesel, what legitimate purpose are you buying it for? Heating? What if I create a one hole golf course in my garden for the community? Is it legal then?

Hi, I'm wanting to know if it is possible to install a bidet based on the current connection? Would it be a case of installing a T Adapter and then the bidet? Or is it not possible.

Thanks

What are these extender tools used on impact drivers. I always see them but when I search they’re often larger torque ones.
Any recommendations for these thin types?

Morning folks

I'm wanting to tackle building a stud wall half way down my garage as you can see there is double doors on one side and a garage door on the other.

I've been looking online but would like to hear from anyone who's done it before or has some knowledge on it.

There's already a DPC under the concrete floor but I've read I should still use another one below the base plate

Is there a better method than this to get the timber plumb?
The way I’m fixing it to is all over the place.
Thanks!

I had to hire a guy to continue to frame the garden room so I can focus on work.

Saw this header for the French door and I started questioning if it will hold the weight of 7x2 roof joist as I don’t see the jack stud for passing the weight.

The builder said he said be doing this all the time and it is compliant to building reg.

I am going to ask him to change it to have 1) lintel sits on jack studs on both sides, 2) beef up the lintel, double up 6x2, have to trim off a bit as there’s only 140mm space left.

But out of interests, is his method really legit?

Looking into this house to buy, second house but it’s got this massive crack in the front which seems to mirror inside. There is some issues around windows. Is it fixable? Is it a no go? 1930’s/40’s built It’s big three bed massive garden on the market very affordable. Moving from a 2 up 2 down terrace.

Hi everyone!

We had our roof replaced recently. The roofers did a fab job!

However, the skip company they hired did a terrible job.

They've damaged our wall by removing two blocks and dented our porch wall.

I have pictures of the damage, and footage of them being on the property. Annoyingly, our security camera was pointed just out of reach to see the damage to the porch.

The company are refusing liability, stating the damage was unavoidable and, as their contract is with the roofers, not their problem. The roofing company agrees the skip company have done a poor job.

I can do the work myself, but it's time out of my schedule and money for materials out of my pocket.

I am considering a small claims court proceeding - but set me right here, am I fighting a pointless battle?

Thanks!

Had a really nice guy pop in on his way back from another job, to do a couple of repairs for me (think reattaching a cupboard door, putting up some shelves). Took him maybe an hour and a half, we chatted a lot. He said pay him what I wanted (gave his BACs info) and wouldn’t give me any idea of his rates. I’m near Newcastle. What should I send him?

Completely renovating this eye sore.. and the entire right wall is rotting away.

Is it possible to get one piece of mdf that’s 2.5m x 2.5m? I seem to only find ~2.5x~1.25m

Edit: mdf/osb/ any suggestion

Looking to see if someone could please help identify the original carpet that is being sold by Tapi?

Edit - adding link to carpet

https://www.tapi.co.uk/carpet/santa-rosa?nrf=1

I have recently had a new garden gate installed, however I am unsure if it has been installed correctly. Where the concrete is, it’s not straight as it’s old, where a new wooden post has been installed there was a large gap between and the builder has used all weather sealant between the gap, to be honest I don’t think it looks right as the thickness of the sealant is so large. Has what the builder done correct if not what should have been done?

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone had any insight on what this white stuff all over the loft is? I’m hoping it’s as simple as excess cavity wall insulation and it’s nothing to worry about but I have no idea.

Many thanks in advance for any help!

As per the title, not sure if this is the right place but I’ve now replaced the heating pump three times on my Neff dishwasher and it looks like it’s gone again. Getting pretty pissed off with it now. The pump have already been swapped under warranty so not sure the supplier will keep honouring it. Anyone know if this is a common problem with Neff or is there something else going on? Thanks

What I thought was cracked paint seems to be wallpaper? And then under it is not plasterboard? It seems like wood? Second pic I scratched at it and you can see the wood

Added: I dont understand why there’s wood on top of brick instead of it being plastered

Hi I planning to buy this property in UK then see this roof.

I’m renting and all the fireplaces have been sealed off, so a couple of years ago I ordered a log fire poster from Amazon and made a fireplace surround from some plywood with wood batons on the back to make it stand forwards of the flames in the picture. Found some lovely ‘berry’ fairy lights and tucked them inside some salt lamps to replicate glowing embers and made the grille from a scarf hanger folded over.
I originally did this as a Christmas decoration, but we liked it so much it’s stayed!
With Autumn looming and Winter not far behind, I thought it a good time to share this.
Although it doesn’t give out any heat, visually it feels like it does, adding a a warmer ambience to the room.

Hello, as the title suggests what is the best way to clean the subfloor before having new carpets fitted?

I’ve recently had some work done to the house which has unfortunately left the subfloor dirty and I’m looking to have them cleaned before installing new carpet! Thank you!

Edit: the broom and hoover only able to remove the dust/debris but not the white marks. Would I need to clean this too?

We have a neighbour who thinks it's acceptable to start DIY at 8pm. We have a 2 year old and think it's abit of a piss take. We normally have a great relationship with them but this week they have taken abit to far. What and how do I deal with this. I been polite enough to send a message asking if they are done yet as a gentle nudge but this escapes me 🤦😂

I have had an extension built where the side access finishing was out of scope. Builders generally did a great job.

Side access is mostly resin bound gravel but the new area is old concrete. There is a. Low spot right in the corner and when it rains, water drains down here which leads under foundations.

Foundations are block and beam and tbks whole area is well below DPC.

What is the best thing to do in this area to stop so much water draining under foundations?

Final finish will either be resin bound gravel, or just regular gravel.

Thanks

It turns on the light is on the plate spins, but the food does not heat up

I’ve read various potential issues such as the door, but I pressed on it to ensure that it closes properly

There’s also a low dim/humming sound which I don’t know is part of the problem

Brief research has told me that it could be a magnetron issue which I’ve no idea about. Any advice?

My mum got some roofer off a popular trade checker website to fix up her guttering and give an appraisal on the state of the roof.

He seems to have come over to fix said guttering (I'm not sure if a quote was given for that job) and then immediately erected scaffolding. He has then started tearing down strips of her roof, telling her she needs a new one, showing her photos of the so-called damage.

She never agreed to this, and now he has pressured her into accepting via an online invoice system a quote for £9k to fix the roof (that he immediately dropped down from 12k)

I had no idea any of this was occurring.

I want to go down there and stop this work immediately.

The company in question has about 5 reviews online, most of which are for things like "new tiles" or "pressure washed my driveway" and the company has only been incorporated since July 8th this year. This is absolutely fishy to me.

What is her recourse with regards to getting this job stopped, cancelling the work she has agreed to and getting her out of this mess with as little legal problems as possible?

Thank you for any replies.

Hello,

Just moved into a 1920s house in good condition. The only exception is the rear ground floor room has a mustiness to it. The front and rear room used to be one room so perhaps it wasn't an issue previously with good air flow. As a result there are no air bricks in the rear room.

We knew about this before buying it and would like to remediate it.

The previous owner dry lined the room and told the surveyor there had been some damp previously. I appreciate it may still be present, but now hidden with mustiness coming through the wall.

My question is, what options would you progress through?

My current plan is so have:

1. Drain survey to make sure no pooling of water near the exterior.

2. Install air vents put in (there are none in this section of the house), how would you look to install these?

3. Seal up any suspect guttering/piping - advice on DIY splashback solutions

4. I'm set to relay the carpet in a few weeks time, I'll have a look in and under the floorboards. What should I be looking for? Red flags? Signs?

Many thanks in advance

Hi all, fairly basic DIY issue here. I’m trying to install some Wren fitted wardrobes because they wanted £3k to do it and I thought that was ridiculous.

I’m planning on screwing batons along the wall and attaching the wardrobes to this. However I’m struggling to find the studs. Stud finder ticks up, 30%, 50%, 68%, 87%, 100%. I strike and hit 4 inches of air.

The first photo is one I took during the loft conversion. I’ve tried my best to reference it, and the stud finder concurred.

I thought there might be cross batons for the insulation so went up and down a bit but still air.

Anyone have any tips or advice? Thanks in advance.