― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 22:51 (twenty years ago) link
― David Beckhouse (David Beckhouse), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 23:07 (twenty years ago) link
You may suggest a consultation with the local exterminator.
― Millar (Millar), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 23:18 (twenty years ago) link
― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 23:23 (twenty years ago) link
― angela (angela), Wednesday, 28 May 2003 09:32 (twenty years ago) link
Ha ha! Are you accusing Teeny of being delusional?
― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 28 May 2003 09:50 (twenty years ago) link
But Teeny, you should rent Repulsion
― phil-two (phil-two), Wednesday, 28 May 2003 19:47 (twenty years ago) link
Um, I like Polanski, and I like Deneuve, but no way am I seeing this when my b/f is out of town for the summer. I want more cool stories of peoples' houses falling apart, though!
― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 28 May 2003 20:37 (twenty years ago) link
― Sommermute (Wintermute), Wednesday, 28 May 2003 21:43 (twenty years ago) link
― phil-two (phil-two), Wednesday, 28 May 2003 21:47 (twenty years ago) link
― teeny (teeny), Monday, 16 June 2003 13:41 (twenty years ago) link
― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 16 June 2003 13:46 (twenty years ago) link
― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 16 June 2003 13:53 (twenty years ago) link
I'm not sure this is the best forum for considering such things but ... anyone recommend a dehumidifer (for a UK flat with a bit of damp)?Cheers.
― djh, Monday, 30 August 2010 12:42 (thirteen years ago) link
I got a Delonghi DES14 a few months back to help dry out our basement. Amazing how much water it takes out of the space down there every day, it's also compact and quiet (a bit of fan noise, so you might not want it in a bedroom at night for example). Can't comment on longterm reliability, but been pleased with it so far. Cost about £140.
― Bill A, Monday, 30 August 2010 12:47 (thirteen years ago) link
Any idea as to what the costs are to convert a wall outlet(s) from the old non-grounded two-prong to a real three-prong one?
― Elvis Telecom, Friday, 4 July 2014 00:30 (nine years ago) link
Depends on the length of the copper from the plug to the fuse box, doesn't it?
― Stephen King's Threaderstarter (kingfish), Friday, 4 July 2014 01:07 (nine years ago) link
Call it 50 feet. Just want to know if I'm going to be dealing with relative gouge level from the electrician: $200/outlet, $500/outlet, etc.
― Elvis Telecom, Friday, 4 July 2014 01:49 (nine years ago) link
what the relative gouge level I'm going to be dealing with
Goddamn it, just even thinking of the work-level there is killing my syntax. I just need to figure out how to talk to an electrical contractor without getting ripped off.
― Elvis Telecom, Friday, 4 July 2014 02:50 (nine years ago) link
There are alot of variables that can affect cost. If your existing wiring uses armored "BX" cable - a pair of wires in a flexible metal conduit - the upgrade could be as cheap and easy as replacing the outlets, as the electrical boxes behind the outlets should already be grounded. If you have access to a cold-water pipe less than 5 feet from where it enters the structure, you can use that as a grounding point. Otherwise you're probably looking at running new wiring to the circuit breaker or fuse panel (definitely if you have an old house with knob-and-tube wiring with completely separate hot and neutral wires, which were never grounded). It will be fastest and cheapest if your electric panel isn't too far away, and if there's a basement or attic to run the wires through.
Probably best to install entire new circuit(s) with new wiring and outlets if you don't have BX cable. The per-outlet cost should drop as more outlets are installed. Just calling out an electrician will typically cost almost $100, and they'll need to break out the tools and testing equipment just to upgrade one outlet. Additional outlets should cost less; the final cost is largely dependent on how long it takes rather than number of outlets, as the materials cost is cheap.
(note: the above applies for the US; electical code and wiring schemes are different in other countries and i'm not familiar with them).
― Lee626, Friday, 4 July 2014 19:33 (nine years ago) link
At least the area where I'm first looking to replace the outlets is near the electrical panel and there's a nearby bathroom. Thanks for the info!
― Elvis Telecom, Friday, 4 July 2014 20:09 (nine years ago) link
We've just had a corrugated garage roof removed/replaced.
During the build, the builder (who had been out to see the roof) emailed to say that the roof was asbestos and that this would cost an additional £300-£400 to dispose of.
The original quote says they will "remove existing corrugated roof panels and discard". The bill isn't itemised, price-wise, and I'd assumed that this was straight-forward.
Is the "discovery" that the roof might contain asbestos a reasonable one? (Meaning the extra cost might be reasonable). Or am I having this piss taken out of me?
The roof is currently left in the garden.
I have paid around three quarters of the invoice (for the work done). Is it reasonable to withhold the remainder until the waste roof has been removed.
― djh, Saturday, 22 April 2017 15:54 (six years ago) link
Anyone?
― djh, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 20:09 (six years ago) link
It's reasonable to discover asbestos unexpectedly. But first get another quote for its removal.
― everything, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 20:53 (six years ago) link
honestly that doesn't seem like a lot for asbestos removal, but yeah I would get a 2nd quote for reference
― sleeve, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 20:55 (six years ago) link
Thanks both.
I think the thing I'm struggling with is that its a corrugated garage roof and I'd imagine that a builder would look at this and go "Hmm, this might be asbestos" and treat accordingly (rather than agree to the work and then half-way through the day think "Hmm, this might be asbestos". That is, its not something that is hidden. So, I guess, I'm left feeling like I've employed someone who can't do their job or I'm having the piss taken out of me. I'm open to the idea that I'm being a dick, though.
― djh, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 21:04 (six years ago) link
Once I worked on a school re-wire where some crooked company had faked their asbestos report and me + a partner in crime at the time had been doing everything short of snorting and having snowball fights with a load asbestos pipe-lagging in the void under the school. There is often corruption and bullshit where asbestos removal is concerned. When it is done under correct site regs it is very expensive work, involving mobile shower units, highly trained operatives - who have more than the basic "oh -thats what that shit looks like" Asbestos Awareness course behind them. Air tests and the complete sealing off of areas during removal are all time consuming and expensive.
In my experience there are plenty of hack builder types who will bullshit people about asbestos removal being costly and then just fly-tip it on some greenbelt.
This is just my tuppence worth, sorry if it is not helpful or quite depressing.
― calzino, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 21:22 (six years ago) link
That is dirt cheap for asbestos removal - I would assume he's doing it without standard abatement/disposal procedures (which are costly).
I never dealt with corrugated panels but it looks like the difference between corrugated steel and asbestos is pretty obvious.
― El Tuomasbot (milo z), Tuesday, 25 April 2017 21:24 (six years ago) link
Hereabouts, when asbestos is properly disposed of, a receipt is issued by the qualified disposal site to the contractor who removed it, a copy of which is to be given to the person who is paying for the removal. This system helps to prevent it being tipped on some greenway.
― a little too mature to be cute (Aimless), Tuesday, 25 April 2017 21:28 (six years ago) link
Probably going to pay for asbestos removal, from a recommended company.
What would be my legal standing re not paying the original builder his full quote (his quote says he will dispose of the roofing, which clearly he hasn't done)? He claims the quote only included £50 for the disposal of the roof though this isn't itemised with a price.
― djh, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 20:48 (six years ago) link
every time they find asbestos on Property Brothers it's $1500 for removal
― El Tomboto, Sunday, 30 April 2017 21:19 (six years ago) link