Q & A Creating Play Area Will Be Uphill Struggle

Jan 27 2008 Donny Sheridan

Diy Donny

Q My back garden is on a hill and my kids can't play on it. It is also difficult to maintain. I want to build a couple of retaining walls to create a terrace. Will this be expensive and difficult?

A Get a structural engineer to advise and perhaps design a specification. Find out how thick and deep the retaining wall will need to be to hold back the earth before you get a cost. The job will be labour intensive, so it will not be cheap.

Q My tarmac drive has potholes at the entrance where the cars go over the surface. Can I fill the potholes with bagged tarmac?

A I doubt that ready-mixed bags will do the trick, especially once the cars start running over it again. You will need to have professionals with the right kit to remove the damaged tarmac and lay it properly again.

Q I was painting my walls in my living room and I managed it by doing a little bit at a time over six days. Because you always advise to prepare before painting, I put a lot of effort into this. I covered the skirting boards with masking tape to protect the woodwork. Now it's difficult getting it off. Why?

A The adhesive on the tape has hardened. If you leave the tape on too long it will not remove easily. Henkel manufacture a 14-day clean release masking tape. It is blue, which prevents UV light from hardening the adhesive. When buying masking tape, always find out its clean-peel period.

Q I want to tile over my floorboards but the tiller says I need to lay plywood. Is this necessary?

A Unibond Tiling On Wooden Floors tile adhesive should do the job. You will not need to overlay the floorboards with plywood, which will save you time. But make sure the floorboards are screwed down to minimise any movement.

Q I am looking for a good quality furniture varnish and also need some stain to cover small scratches. What are your tips?

A Contact Smith & Rodger Ltd (34 Elliot Street, Glasgow, phone 0141 248 6341). They will give you advice and recommend products to suit your needs. They will have something specific for your furniture and offer advice on how to bring it back to life.