Mavens Home Services

Dear Ms Anna To find the best solution, first you need to understand the problem. There are 3 types of damp and all 3 have a number of different ways to deal with them. Plastering over it is not one of them....Covering up a problem will not get rid of it and damp is like garden weed you need to kill it in the roots otherwise the problem will be coming back and please do keep in mind damp can be very bad for you health, even worse if the are children around. Bellow are some DIY tips on how to prevent condensation and damp in you home. 1) Check the pipes, drainage and gutters for any blockages including moss, leaves, dead birds etc. Remove the blockage and you might find that the damp problem goes away easily! 2) If the guttering is old, it might need to be replaced 3) Ensure that any cracks in the walls or window frames are fixed 4) Have a good look at the roof. Are there any loose slates? Problems with the roof are a common cause of penetrating damp problems 5) Check that all the windows in the property are opened regularly to allow a ‘change of air’ 6) Use extractor fans in the kitchen and bathrooms – rooms where there is a lot of steam 7) When using the kitchen or bathroom keep the doors shut and extractor fan on so that excessive moisture does not go into other parts of the house 8) A climate control humidifier might help 9) Ensure washing machines and dryers are adequately plumbed in according to the manufacturers instructions. Incorrect installation can lead to steam escaping If you need any more assistance, do not hesitate to contact me. Kind regards Radek

Hello Trish The must be a reason that the paving has sank., most common one is poor base preparation it the original job, this is the most important part of the job a good foundation will make the paving last and and be problem free. To understand how the base should be prepared you can go to youtube and enter ,,Prepare a Paver Base - How To - Menards" Depending on the material used for the paving and the its size there is a number of ways to finish the last screed most used are - dry sand or a dry sand and cement mix. The second important thing to remember is to make sure the paving has a slope to allow for the water to drain away from any building/s and of the patio. Any water ways or pools can resort in the base to be washed out and in the end for the paving to brake and sink or both. Keeping the above in mind to ,,Fixing a low spot - bed preparation" visit youtube for a short instruction video. Please keep in mind that fixing a section in the wrong way or on the poor base may finish with the problem repapering with time or even worse if the good base is disturbed when fixing the effected section it may spread and more work may be needed. Hope this helps Radek

Hello Helen The process will depend on what kind of sliding door you would wish to have fitted will they be exposed or pocket door or maybe bi folding. There are couple of important thing to keep in mind like the size and weight of the door as if you will have a kitchen in the extension it will have to be a fire door and these are much heavier also do not forget that a good quality rail will extend the work live of the door and need almost no attention once fitted, a good rail will have Wheels on ball race bearings , Nylon rollers or other , a pick-up stop for closing and opening. If you have any more questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Kind regards Radek

Hello Easy way is to wash it off. I would assume you would not want just a temporary solution and if the above will work will depend on how long was the mould left to grow, if you have a wallpaper on the wall , how deep has the mould grown in to the wall/plaster or if you have a leak problem?

Hello There is a number of reasons for dump problems occurring and recognising the reason for the problem is the first step to resolving it. There is not one solution for all problems as there is not one pain killer for all aches.

Hello Suing him should be an absolute last resort, it can be expensive and you’re not guaranteed to succeed, Give the tradesman a chance to fix the problem for free, majority of builders are friendly, honest, dependable blokes who want to do a good job.

Hello It will all depend on the material used do insulate the loft now if you can reuse it in the future, also the method by which the job will be done, influenced by the changes to the future loft space and of course - what fallows - is the price. As to the guidance the thickness 220mm- 270 mm applies for new homes any houses over 15 years old thats should be a minimum of 120mm on timer joists 100mm and is limited by the roof spacing and ventilation to allow breathability. Insulation can be installed either at ceiling level or below the roof itself, although the detailing in each case will need to be different. In most cases a ventilation path should be retained above the insulation to carry away any condensation which might affect roof or ceiling timbers.

Yes. But It the extend of the work will depend on the finish used, and the damage which has been coursed by the leak.