Green-fingered husband is talking cobbles

Jul 20 2008 Donny Sheridan

Q My husband is building raised beds to grow vegetables and wants cobblestone walls. But new cobbles are very expensive. Where can we get used ones?

A Architectural salvage yards are your starter. If they don't have them, they usually know someone who has. They may not be much cheaper than new ones as they are much sought-after.

Q The laminate is coming loose at the corners of my oak dining table How can I fix it?

A Use Unibond No More Nails Express wood adhesive. You can buy it in a 120g plastic bottle with nozzle. Squeeze glue between the laminate and the wood and clamp them together. Wipe off excess glue and remove the clamps after five minutes. Excess glue at the cracked edge will dry in clear.

Q My daughter had an extension built but it left her kitchen very dark with no window or external door to let in light. What should she do?

A You need a sunlight tunnel, which fits on to the roof and channels natural light through a reflective tube into the room. You need to be able to fit it directly from roof to ceiling. Check out www.fakro.co.uk or call 01283 554755.

Q I am going to paint my uPVC down pipes. I've been told not to use standard gloss paint, so what type should I use?

A Use International drainpipe and gutter paint for uPVC. Even if the plastic pipes are in a bad state this will bring them back to life. International paint is not runny so it won't drip much, which is good news for paving slabs.

Q Where can I get a bag of fast-set plaster?

A Fast-set is a filler for walls and is usually used to fill joints between plasterboard and also blemishes or dents in a wall before painting. Most large DIY stores stock it and will advise on which type you need for the job your are planning. Or try Easy-Fill, which I think is better than Fast-set.