|
|
Post by freddiemercurystwin on Jun 30, 2023 3:38:17 GMT
Despite what most people think, it's only an issue if you're actually going to cut it up or disturb it in some way ie create dust and even then on an industrial/long term scale, nobody ever got asbestosis by living in a house where it was present and was undisturbed.
|
|
minimatt
Junior Member
hyper mediocrity
Posts: 1,684
|
Post by minimatt on Jun 30, 2023 3:42:06 GMT
oh yeah that stuff is just everywhere - on the topic, wondering if anyone can recommend asbestos testing services in the uk, got a horrible feeling our soil pipe is made of the stuff
|
|
|
|
Post by technoish on Jun 30, 2023 6:41:29 GMT
I've used asbestos-testing.org.uk.
|
|
minimatt
Junior Member
hyper mediocrity
Posts: 1,684
|
Post by minimatt on Jun 30, 2023 7:12:43 GMT
thanks techno  |
|
robthehermit
Junior Member
Subjectively amusing
Posts: 2,462
|
Post by robthehermit on Jun 30, 2023 8:09:55 GMT
I've been doing proper things in the garden for the first time in my life. Dug out the bank at the back of the garden and demolished the steps in preparation for a sleeper wall, and reclaimed about 70 sq ft of usable space. Our garden is small and on different levels so every little helps. My neighbour thought I was mad as my only tools (purchased specially for this) were a 400g mini pickaxe, a coal shovel, 2.5lb club hammer and a brick bolster.
|
|
robthehermit
Junior Member
Subjectively amusing
Posts: 2,462
|
Post by robthehermit on Jun 30, 2023 8:49:19 GMT
This is where I started:  This was after the bank was taken out. Tools included for scale.  And this is where I am now.  Not too shabby for a couple of weeks of going out for an hour before and after work. |
|
|
|
Post by freddiemercurystwin on Jun 30, 2023 8:52:51 GMT
Great stuff, the sleeper wall to keep the fence standing presumably? Did your neighbour comment on how big your biceps are now? Now all you have to do is get rid of the earth, you could gradually sprinkle it out of your trouser legs Great Escape style. Or dig a big hole and bury it.
|
|
robthehermit
Junior Member
Subjectively amusing
Posts: 2,462
|
Post by robthehermit on Jun 30, 2023 9:02:10 GMT
Yeah, don't really want the road above collapsing into my garden. I've got someone taking it away next week at an extortionate £4 per bag, although I might have to renegotiate that as there were only 30 when I spoke to them vs the 100+ there are now. It's still comparable to a skip though and at least thi way I don't actually have to shift them. Once thats gone it's back to the pickaxe to properly level off the right half and then remove the existing grass on the left which will be about 6 inches too high at that point, then turf the whole lot.
Mrs Hermit is full of bright ideas though, so I fully expect her to turn around and tell me to bring the space the shed is on down to match the rest of it. I think she's trying to kill me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dougs on Jun 30, 2023 9:37:06 GMT
Not going to be using the back gate then?!
|
|
EMarkM
Junior Member
Well, quite...
Posts: 2,150 
|
Post by EMarkM on Jun 30, 2023 9:44:14 GMT
Not going to be using the back gate then?! Ooer, etc. |
|
|
|
Post by Dougs on Jun 30, 2023 9:45:14 GMT
|
|
mrpon
Junior Member
Posts: 3,737
|
Post by mrpon on Jun 30, 2023 9:55:16 GMT
Mrs Hermit is full of bright ideas though, so I fully expect her to turn around and tell me to bring the space the shed is on down to match the rest of it. I think she's trying to kill me. Which bag is she in? |
|
|
|
Post by Nemesis on Jun 30, 2023 10:05:54 GMT
The house behind your garden looks like a happy chipper robot.
|
|
robthehermit
Junior Member
Subjectively amusing
Posts: 2,462
|
Post by robthehermit on Jun 30, 2023 10:12:54 GMT
Not going to be using the back gate then?! I'm going to fashion some sort of steps on the left hand side from the shed level, so they don't take up anywhere near as much room. I'm currently using a paving slab balanced on some rocks. It only wobbles a little bit. |
|
|
|
Post by Zuluhero on Jun 30, 2023 11:27:07 GMT
Despite what most people think, it's only an issue if you're actually going to cut it up or disturb it in some way ie create dust and even then on an industrial/long term scale, nobody ever got asbestosis by living in a house where it was present and was undisturbed. So the reason I'm a bit funny about it is my nan died of asbestosis which caused lung cancer, and nobody knew where she would have interacted with it, including her. She never worked in any industry, but both my grandfather and my father did, and we suspect that they probably came home with it on their clothes and she just shock them out and washed them. Without knowing for sure though, any slight hint of the stuff and I'm running for the hills 😅 |
|
dogbot
Full Member
Posts: 8,738
|
Post by dogbot on Jun 30, 2023 11:53:39 GMT
I seem to remember way back in the 80s, that there were tests done when asbestos was originally deemed a problem which, iirc, showed that shutting a door too hard could cause the release of the melanoma causing particles into the air from the adjoining walls.
|
|
|
|
Post by technoish on Jun 30, 2023 18:44:25 GMT
Got an electrician out for two issues. One being the outside sockets and lights had started to trip the fuse so I had to turn off the indoor socket - which then of course worked absolutely fine, turning out to be a Hue outdoor light that was recalled since and I didn't put two and two together.
The other being that half of the loft floor lights etc had stopped working. Not everything on that fuse, just a few things. Electrician proceeds for 90 minutes to look for the source, opening up all the switches, lights that might be the problem. We are about to give up and suggests I call the previous owner who did the loft renovation to see what they say, when I note maybe the cables go up through this cupboard and open the door to show him - where I proceed to find a random switch that was turned off. What a waste!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by freddiemercurystwin on Jul 9, 2023 9:38:32 GMT
Been finishing of a few little minor projects this last week, a good tidy up the garage today in anticipation of starting my Billy bookcase hack tomorrow as I have the week off to devote to it. I know I won't finish as other stuff will inevitably get in the way but will hopefully break the back of it.
|
|
mrpon
Junior Member
Posts: 3,737
|
Post by mrpon on Jul 10, 2023 9:02:59 GMT
Got a dreaded roof leak. Damp patch appeared in one of the upstairs room. Naturally made it's way down to the lower rooms, fortunately managed to unscrew the plasterboard (not plastered yet) and manufactured a divert contraption to catch the drips.
Awaiting my builder visit. Weather forecast looks ominous.
My house might be falling down.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dougs on Jul 10, 2023 11:03:37 GMT
Presumably the roof is one part of the house that you didn't tackle!
|
|
mrpon
Junior Member
Posts: 3,737
|
Post by mrpon on Jul 10, 2023 11:16:21 GMT
Been up in the loft, nothing immediately obvious. Annoyingly I can hear the drip. I'll let the builders sort the roof. We don't want a Rod Hull moment.
|
|
|
|
Post by henroben on Jul 10, 2023 11:26:50 GMT
Been up in the loft, nothing immediately obvious. Annoyingly I can hear the drip. I'll let the builders sort the roof. We don't want a Rod Hull moment. I'm presuming it's been raining recently? Because if not and you've got an old gravity fed CH system you'll have an expansion tank etc. up the loft - so could potentially be the overflow. Had a friend of the family many years ago move into their new house to discover that the heating engineer didn't bother running the hose out of the house, just left it lying on the floor! Big surprise for everyone when it needed to overflow... ;-) |
|
mrpon
Junior Member
Posts: 3,737
|
Post by mrpon on Jul 10, 2023 11:31:24 GMT
Oh yeah, it's rain. Build in progress, albeit the roof has been on for a year or so! Fortunately not fully decorated/furnished so more than happy to catch these snags at this stage!
|
|
|
|
Post by Dougs on Jul 10, 2023 12:56:32 GMT
Ah, I thought it was all done!
|
|
mrpon
Junior Member
Posts: 3,737
|
Post by mrpon on Jul 10, 2023 13:53:54 GMT
|
|
robthehermit
Junior Member
Subjectively amusing
Posts: 2,462
|
Post by robthehermit on Jul 13, 2023 14:49:26 GMT
Current state of affairs mostly dugs out the right hand side of the garden and have managed to uncover the water main in the process, so I now need to dig a two foot deep trench and rebury it. 125 bags containing 5 tons have been taken with another 100 waiting for collection.
I've been offered some logs previously used in the marina so will never rot - they are soaked in creosote. It does mean the retaining wall will cost £50 and not £500. I haven't seen them yet, so I don't know if they're going to stink or seep or whatever, but after years in the water you'd think they'd be done with all that. Assuming they're not, anyone got any experience of sealing and/or painting over proper creosote - or would I be better off putting my hand in my pocket?
|
|
|
|
Post by freddiemercurystwin on Jul 13, 2023 18:01:45 GMT
Why do you think that timber soaked in creosote that's previously been used in the sea won't rot? I'm no expert just curious, all timber rots eventually, that I do know.
|
|
|
|
Post by freddiemercurystwin on Jul 13, 2023 18:04:13 GMT
Been finishing of a few little minor projects this last week, a good tidy up the garage today in anticipation of starting my Billy bookcase hack tomorrow as I have the week off to devote to it. I know I won't finish as other stuff will inevitably get in the way but will hopefully break the back of it. Hmm, progress has been slower than I hoped for this week, shite has got in the way as per usual. At least things seem to be on track.
/sigh
|
|
|
|
Post by jeepers on Jul 13, 2023 18:11:08 GMT
Current state of affairs mostly dugs out the right hand side of the garden and have managed to uncover the water main in the process, so I now need to dig a two foot deep trench and rebury it. 125 bags containing 5 tons have been taken with another 100 waiting for collection. I've been offered some logs previously used in the marina so will never rot - they are soaked in creosote. It does mean the retaining wall will cost £50 and not £500. I haven't seen them yet, so I don't know if they're going to stink or seep or whatever, but after years in the water you'd think they'd be done with all that. Assuming they're not, anyone got any experience of sealing and/or painting over proper creosote - or would I be better off putting my hand in my pocket? If it’s proper creosote you’ll not be able to seal it or paint it. It’ll ooze every year for the next couple of decades. And if you have kids, pets or want to grow veg in your beds I’d suggest not using them. Creosote is amazing in preventing rot but it’ll make your balls fall off. Source: BiL is a farmer |
|
|
|
Post by Zuluhero on Jul 13, 2023 19:19:42 GMT
Been finishing of a few little minor projects this last week, a good tidy up the garage today in anticipation of starting my Billy bookcase hack tomorrow as I have the week off to devote to it. I know I won't finish as other stuff will inevitably get in the way but will hopefully break the back of it. Hmm, progress has been slower than I hoped for this week, shite has got in the way as per usual. At least things seem to be on track.
/sigh
What hack are you doing? Im always reusing bits of IKEA furniture for stuff 😅 |
|
