Home Help: 19 July
Q Stuffed animals are very fashionable at the moment. My son wants our old stag heads but they are in a bad state. Where can I take them to be repaired?
GS Kent
A Send a photo to Get Stuffed in Islington, North London. It will assess them and give you an estimated price, if repair is possible.
Get Stuffed: 020-7226 1364, www.thegetstuffed.co.uk
Q For some years now, there has been a lot of damp on the downstairs interior end walls of my Victorian brick cottage. I’ve had internal remedial work done, but the damp returns. I’m told it’s from the ground, as a result of the way the house was built. Someone said there might be an old well under the garden. Do you think this could be a source of the problem?
KC, via email
A Damp coming through the floor could be caused by a well underneath or nearby. When houses were connected to the mainswater supply, the original water sources were left unchanged. Houses with well-ventilated cellars allow damp to escape. A house with no cellar, no damp course and with flooring laid directly on to the earth will be damp. If you can hear running water, the damp could be caused by an underground leaking pipe. Rainbow International, which advises insurance companies on such problems, will inspect, quote and provide dehumidifiers if necessary.
Rainbow International: 01623-422488, www.rainbow-int.co.uk
Q At our local Topps branch every tile has a shiny glaze. I would like a more matt finish for our barn conversion. Where should I look?
SL, via email
A The Fired Earth Fenland range has a matt finish and comes in English landscape colours. The tiles measure 15x7.5cm and cost £2.92 each.
Fired Earth: 01295- 814396, www.firedearth.com
Send your queries to the usual Bedford Street address or email Hugh St Clair at hughstclair@googlemail.com
GS Kent
A Send a photo to Get Stuffed in Islington, North London. It will assess them and give you an estimated price, if repair is possible.
Get Stuffed: 020-7226 1364, www.thegetstuffed.co.uk
Q For some years now, there has been a lot of damp on the downstairs interior end walls of my Victorian brick cottage. I’ve had internal remedial work done, but the damp returns. I’m told it’s from the ground, as a result of the way the house was built. Someone said there might be an old well under the garden. Do you think this could be a source of the problem?
KC, via email
A Damp coming through the floor could be caused by a well underneath or nearby. When houses were connected to the mainswater supply, the original water sources were left unchanged. Houses with well-ventilated cellars allow damp to escape. A house with no cellar, no damp course and with flooring laid directly on to the earth will be damp. If you can hear running water, the damp could be caused by an underground leaking pipe. Rainbow International, which advises insurance companies on such problems, will inspect, quote and provide dehumidifiers if necessary.
Rainbow International: 01623-422488, www.rainbow-int.co.uk
Q At our local Topps branch every tile has a shiny glaze. I would like a more matt finish for our barn conversion. Where should I look?
SL, via email
A The Fired Earth Fenland range has a matt finish and comes in English landscape colours. The tiles measure 15x7.5cm and cost £2.92 each.
Fired Earth: 01295- 814396, www.firedearth.com
Send your queries to the usual Bedford Street address or email Hugh St Clair at hughstclair@googlemail.com