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Expert Advice
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| Welcome to Our House online's Expert Advice. We have brought together a number of independent experts* in a variety of fields, who are available to answer your individual queries on a wide range of home improvement topics. Read through previously asked questions, or submit your own. *Please note that these experts are completely independent of the Our House television show, and any segments that have been shown on the TV programme. If you are looking for information on a TV segment, search our archives. |
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Recently Asked Questions: |
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Bathroom blues |
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Our home has only one bathroom to share between 5 people (3 girls & mum & dad). It is completely original... along with cracked & missing tiles. The bathroom also houses the toilet as there is no other space in the house. The size of the bathroom is 210 x 210 with a door on one side & a casement window at the other. There is no bath. We really have no idea how we should re-design this to include a very small bath with o/head shower (perhaps), vanity & toilet. Please help!!!!
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New renovations |
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I am a single Mum and I need to do some renovations of two bedrooms and a sitting room so that I can give my two children room to themselves and have my elderly father come to live with us. I wish to do this as an owner buider as I think this is my cheapest option but I just don't know where to start. For example I rang a draftsman today and enquired about getting my plans drawn up and was informed that it would cost about $70 an hour and would take about 15-20 hours to complete. I thought this to be excessive, but not knowing anything about it I don't know. Any infomation that you could give me would be of a great help; thankyou.
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Pool plants |
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I am trying to find out suitable plants to place around an above ground swimming pool. I dont want the roots of the plants to affect the liner of the pool. I live on the coast near Sydney. I would like to use natives if possible.
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Terrace touch-ups |
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Eighteen months ago we purchased a two bedroom, 2 storey Victorian townhouse. All the hard work had been done, and the main rooms downstairs were recently renovated and in fantastic condition. Upstairs, its more difficult. 1. The previous owners converted the second bedroom into a bathroom and a smaller second bedroom. They had to run the pipes for the new bathroom under the floorboards of the bedroom, and for about a metre at one end of the room, they had to raise the floor. Have you ever met the challenge of making a 2.7m x 2.7m room a useful space, when a metre of the floor space is raised by 8cm? What should I do - just raise the entire floor? How much should this cost and is likely to be successful? Any other solutions? 2. My second question also relates to the upstairs rooms and one that may have the style-police hunting me down. Throughout our house we have polished floor boards. Upstairs, I think the floorboards must be the originals, as aside from being old and having cracks and holes between the planks, they are 16cm wide. While they look gorgeous, I would much prefer to have some luxurious carpet under my feet when I get up in the morning. What sort of damage to the floor boards would occur if I lay carpet? Any suggestions on minimising the damage? Thanks in advance.
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Plant protection |
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The front of our house faces into the afternoon HOT sun and needs landscaping to eliminate both sun and car headlights at night as we are in the middle of the curve in a cul-de-sac — we want a modern look.
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Rising damp & drainage |
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What can I do about rising damp? And water laying under house and not draining.
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Bonsai balcony |
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I live in a small apartment with a small balcony. I have been thinking of starting a Japanese style bonsai garden - what would you recommend as the best way to begin?
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Fridge seals |
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How do you correctly replace a worn fridge seal, and ensure the replacement seal / door closes correctly ?
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Perfect roses |
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What NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratio is best for fertilising roses?
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Tiling how-to |
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Please advise on the method of tiling (non-wet areas) the living area of my entire house. I'm looking for any hints & hinders for this project. I intend to use one-foot square size tiles.
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Smelly drains |
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There is a foul smell coming from the bathroom drains whenever water is going down them. (a)What do you think it would be? (b)How do I fix it? Thank you.
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DIY polished floors |
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How do we go about creating polished wood floors (the steps involved and what products do we need to use). The house currently has hardwood floors that are in good condition and covered by carpets/lino.
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Leaking roof |
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My roof is leaking which has caused damaged to the ceiling and walls. The unit is only 5 years old with 'cheap' cement tiles and there are quite a few which are broken. Should I simply have the broken tiles repaired or is it better to have the whole roof sealed. I plan to repaint once the roof is repaired and I want minimise the risk of further leaks in the future.
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Warped timber decking |
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I have some timber decking as my outdoor entertaining area, and the decking is starting to warp. I know it needs to be oiled; I am just wondering what the best way to do this is? And what is the best oil to use?
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Verandah extension |
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I have a 1960's red brick house and was looking at extending the verandah at the front to extend all the way along the front. My problem is that the house faces north west and as such gets the evening sun.Should the roof over the verandah be a bullnose in order to give the best sun protection,or would this look out of place on this type of house. The other option is a skillion roof with a higher pitch. HELP!!!!
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Pergola planning |
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I am building a Pergola attached to the side of the house. The base of the pergola area is already concrete and I will be setting stirrups into the cement for the poles. How do I get the lines and the levels square?
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Sticky floors |
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Having recently put down a quickstyle laminated 'wood' floor over the cement in one room (according to directions) my DIY partner has wiped the PVA glue all over the wood. I understand the wood is not supposed to get too wet AND that PVA glue is water soluble. How do I get the dull smear marks from all over the floor without damaging the floor itself? I have mopped (sponge) using Ajax for floors but still have the (less sticky than before) smear marks. Help!!!
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Native plantings |
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We have just built a new house. Part of the conditions on the building permit is the requirement for a large area of indigenous natives to be planted. The area has about four large yellow box trees and is covered with non native grasses at the moment. What is the best way to plant the indigenous natives? Should we kill off all the grass first then mulch around the tubelings, or just plant them amongst the grass?
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Cracked tiles |
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Our pale ceramic floor tiles have cracked, and are no longer manufactured. Is it possible to fill in or paint the cracks to disguise them?
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Plants under a conifer |
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I have a huge conifer which has a shade span of approximately 3 metres from the trunk, and I would like to know what I can grow under this tree. It drops needle-like leaves.
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Colour schemes |
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We have just purchased our first home and the colour scheme in the bathrooms are a terracotta and green. My husband and I both hate green looking carpet and terracotta colours don't appeal to us. The walls of the house are cream and the kitchen has grey cream tiles and a granite benchtop of peachy pink and grey. We would like to lay a bluey grey colour carpet and a tile that has a bluey grey and terracotta colour in it. Will it look OK or what do you suggest.
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Heritage colours |
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I'm trying to get some ideas on internal paint colours. I don't particularly want to go the cream/beige path, but want something rich that can also add light. I've been thinking also of having a skylight put into the lounge room as it is quite dark; any ideas of where I could look for skylights for this kind of house? It has a bedroom upstairs and ornate ceilings. Also, I can't find any good ideas for curtains/blinds or whatever for bay windows. It has a verandah outside so probably want a light curtain also for privacy but oh it is so very, very difficult! Cripes, came in with one problem; hope you can help. Better finish now or I will start on the bedrooms and kitchen next!
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Damaged iron roof |
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We have a galvanised iron roof which has developed rust holes downroof and adjacent to wood heater flues (apparently due to the effect of creosote formation following the burning of sappy wood and slow burning of the fires). Do we have to replace the damaged corrugated iron sheets, or is there a paint or coating which could be applied to cover the pitted and rusty channels? Thewater collected from the roof is used for drinking, cooking, bathing etc.
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Fast-growing flowering shrubs |
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I would like to plant a fast growing flowering shrub. Can you give me some plants to choose from?
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Investing in small town property |
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I am looking to buy an old house worth approx $90,000, and spending around $80,000-$100,000 on refurbishments. I am hoping this small town will be a boom town like Lorne or Torquay or one of the other coastal areas. Do you think that this is worthwhile investment?
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Leaking bathroom |
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My bathroom is leaking - eventually I will have to remove the tiles and reapply the waterproof membrane, but in the meantime, is there anything I can apply to the surface of the tiles to stop the leaking and the damage getting any worse?
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Bleach on carpet |
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I have a light blue carpet on which I have spilt bleach. There is a small white mark. Would you know if it can be repaired and how?
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Regrouting outdoor tiles |
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I have some outdoor slate tiles and the grout seems to be flaking off. I would like to clean the area and would appreciate any advice as to the best products to clean, regrout (if necessary) and seal the area. The area is exposed to sun and rain.
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Pump for garden pond |
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I have a large outside pond with plants and fish, and I would like to have a moving water so require a pump. The electrical outlet is a long way from the pond, though, so will I need to have another electrical outlet or are you aware of solar driven pumps? I am looking to spend around $250.
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