Old Records Create Load Of Bother

Dec 14 2008 Donny Sheridan

Diy Donny In Association With Jewson

Q My wife wants me to move my huge record collection up to the attic but I fear it will be too heavy to store up there. Our house is only a few years old.

A Modern houses are not designed to take large loads and vinyl records do weigh a lot. If you have them on shelves this will cause point loads, which could spell problems. I'd advise you try to spread the load or find somewhere else to store your collection - but not the garage because it is more than likely to be damp.

Q We paid a builder £900 to fill the cavity wall and replace bricks in our porch but the rain is still coming in. What can we do?

A Finding the source of the water penetration can involve a bit of trial and error. If you have hanging baskets attached to the outside wall you may have created a hole. If the fixing has rusted it can expand allowing water to penetrate.

Q I'm fed up with the ceramic tiles on my kitchen floor. Can I just cover them with something else?

A You can overlay the tiles with almost any floor covering as long as the underlay or plywood can be fixed to the tiles and the tiles are in good condition. Carpet or vinyl would be the easiest solution.

Q We had a leak fixed on the roof in the summer and had to strip the damaged wallpaper off the chimney breast wall but the area has still not dried out. We have tried using a small fan heater but the wall still feels damp. Please help as we want to get the redecorating done in time for Christmas.

A As long as the leak has been fixed the wall will eventually dry out. The problem was probably due to failed lead flashings around the chimney. A quality dehumidifier from a tool hire shop will help speed up the drying process but don't be tempted to paper the wall while it is still damp.