Graz
Landlord.
As I'm sure many of us partake in odd DIY activities over the weekend (or even in the week) thought it might be amusing to have a thread of what went well for you, what you've achieved, what went bad and so on 
The Weekend's DIY Thread
- Thread starter Graz
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I am banned from doing DIY I have made a mess of so many things in the past SWMBO would rather pay someone to do it.
Graz
Landlord.
So I'll set the ball rolling...
I've been longing to get some electric to my shed at the other end of our garden for some time now, just to caveat I did study Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Uni so sort of know what I'm doing before anyone starts quoting Part P at me and so on
Anyway, had got all the bits in, roll of SWA cable and so on. Got back from Parkrun on Saturday morning keen to get on. First stage, drill hole from inside house to outside house so I can hook in the shed spur. Only got one long drill bit which would go all the way through the brick and block cavity wall probably not wide enough but whatever, drill hole through no probs. Neighbour turns up for a social brew with the missus, thought it would be a bit rude to carry on drilling so down tools and join for tea break. Over an hour later back to it....
Predictably internal to external cable too big for hole, no probs I'll just widen it from each side, easy on the internal side, but the access is limited on the other side due to a raised sleeper bed being in the way. My battery powered hammer drill will just fit but all the bigger drill bits are long so no go. Resign myself to the fact I need a wider long drill bit. Decide to fit the external waterproof junction box instead, two screws in as they happen to align with the brick mortar, now again due to the access and using the battery drill try start drilling the other two holes into the brick. Even starting with a small masonry bit it just doesn't make an indent into the rock hard bricks our extension is made of.
Starting to get a little annoyed now. Threaded the SWA cable behind the shrubbery along the brick garden wall I'll eventually clip it to, decided to call it a day as a mate said he was going to the pub to watch footy at 5pm
Had thought I'd continue Sunday but #1 son was suffering with a bit too much energy so we rode our bikes to the jump track on the other side of town. Her indoors had invited said neighbour around for a BBQ Sunday afternoon / evening so had to make a start on that when we got back.
So all I really managed to achieve was uncoiling an SWA cable. Will purchase bigger drill bit this week and some No More Nails to stick the junction box to the wall
I've been longing to get some electric to my shed at the other end of our garden for some time now, just to caveat I did study Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Uni so sort of know what I'm doing before anyone starts quoting Part P at me and so on
Anyway, had got all the bits in, roll of SWA cable and so on. Got back from Parkrun on Saturday morning keen to get on. First stage, drill hole from inside house to outside house so I can hook in the shed spur. Only got one long drill bit which would go all the way through the brick and block cavity wall probably not wide enough but whatever, drill hole through no probs. Neighbour turns up for a social brew with the missus, thought it would be a bit rude to carry on drilling so down tools and join for tea break. Over an hour later back to it....
Predictably internal to external cable too big for hole, no probs I'll just widen it from each side, easy on the internal side, but the access is limited on the other side due to a raised sleeper bed being in the way. My battery powered hammer drill will just fit but all the bigger drill bits are long so no go. Resign myself to the fact I need a wider long drill bit. Decide to fit the external waterproof junction box instead, two screws in as they happen to align with the brick mortar, now again due to the access and using the battery drill try start drilling the other two holes into the brick. Even starting with a small masonry bit it just doesn't make an indent into the rock hard bricks our extension is made of.
Starting to get a little annoyed now. Threaded the SWA cable behind the shrubbery along the brick garden wall I'll eventually clip it to, decided to call it a day as a mate said he was going to the pub to watch footy at 5pm
Had thought I'd continue Sunday but #1 son was suffering with a bit too much energy so we rode our bikes to the jump track on the other side of town. Her indoors had invited said neighbour around for a BBQ Sunday afternoon / evening so had to make a start on that when we got back.
So all I really managed to achieve was uncoiling an SWA cable. Will purchase bigger drill bit this week and some No More Nails to stick the junction box to the wall
Managed to finish off my decking project over the weekend which now allows me to move forward with the relocation of the brew area to the other end of my shed. Exciting times! 
Changed gate to my allotment. We were given a steel gate so just needed to buy the plate and pins to hang it....on a post that was too short! So...moved slab off ground,drilled extra screw holes on plate...then fit clips to pins to stop it being lifted and all sorts of other bits nailed on to make taking it off a right nuisance.
Change purge valve on son's car,thread elsewhere...its still running so hopefully it's sorted.
Change purge valve on son's car,thread elsewhere...its still running so hopefully it's sorted.
The new gate.
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I partake in a bit of DIY. This is my garden bar and what it started off like.
Last couple of weeks project has been to make a wildlife pond in the garden
I leave over a 15*15ft patch of what once was a ramshackle collection of crap plants around one side of a flowering raspberry tree to be a nature reserve. Simply dig it over each year and scatter random packets of wild flower seeds I inevitably pick up. I decided it would be nice to have a 'little' natural pond on one edge to encourage more mini beasts and more variety.
Kinda got out of hand and what was intended to be at most 3*3' and maybe 12" deep ended up 6*4' and 24" deep
That is a LOT of soil, 2 builders bags full to be precise! Luckily a neighbour wanted it, so dragging it round the corner was only a minor inconvenience.
Cheapest pond liner I could find was used, with under liner padding courtesy of a bunch of carpet offcuts I still had from doing my office. Trimmed the pond edge with some spare bricks that happen to match the retaining wall.
Solar powered air bubbler and water fountain was installed to try and keep the water moving so it doesn't go too stagnant and £60 of pond plants. Job jobbed
2 weeks in and the wild flowers are starting to grow, the pond plants appear to be doing well and the water has done it's nitrogen cycle and gone from clear, to soupy and back to clear again!
Bring on the mini beasts
I leave over a 15*15ft patch of what once was a ramshackle collection of crap plants around one side of a flowering raspberry tree to be a nature reserve. Simply dig it over each year and scatter random packets of wild flower seeds I inevitably pick up. I decided it would be nice to have a 'little' natural pond on one edge to encourage more mini beasts and more variety.
Kinda got out of hand and what was intended to be at most 3*3' and maybe 12" deep ended up 6*4' and 24" deep
That is a LOT of soil, 2 builders bags full to be precise! Luckily a neighbour wanted it, so dragging it round the corner was only a minor inconvenience.
Cheapest pond liner I could find was used, with under liner padding courtesy of a bunch of carpet offcuts I still had from doing my office. Trimmed the pond edge with some spare bricks that happen to match the retaining wall.
Solar powered air bubbler and water fountain was installed to try and keep the water moving so it doesn't go too stagnant and £60 of pond plants. Job jobbed
2 weeks in and the wild flowers are starting to grow, the pond plants appear to be doing well and the water has done it's nitrogen cycle and gone from clear, to soupy and back to clear again!
Bring on the mini beasts
Attachments
A pond is a fascinating thing! Mine is only about 4x4ft and maybe 2ft at its deep end . It's been in about 25 years and while there's a pump and filter I haven't run it for years..in fact I'll probably take it out this summer.
The pond attracts loads of creatures my favourite being frogs which just seem to turn up! Earlier in the spring at breeding time I counted at least 20. Then like magic they disappear or hide but they still croak a lot and you hear the "plop" as they jump in. A good rainstorm brings them out in droves where they hop all over the garden looking for food.
The pond attracts loads of creatures my favourite being frogs which just seem to turn up! Earlier in the spring at breeding time I counted at least 20. Then like magic they disappear or hide but they still croak a lot and you hear the "plop" as they jump in. A good rainstorm brings them out in droves where they hop all over the garden looking for food.
That's exactly what I am hoping for, as the froggy blighters like a good slug or two - which will help the more sculptured areas of the garden
Last couple of weeks project has been to make a wildlife pond in the garden
I leave over a 15*15ft patch of what once was a ramshackle collection of crap plants around one side of a flowering raspberry tree to be a nature reserve. Simply dig it over each year and scatter random packets of wild flower seeds I inevitably pick up. I decided it would be nice to have a 'little' natural pond on one edge to encourage more mini beasts and more variety.
Kinda got out of hand and what was intended to be at most 3*3' and maybe 12" deep ended up 6*4' and 24" deep
That is a LOT of soil, 2 builders bags full to be precise! Luckily a neighbour wanted it, so dragging it round the corner was only a minor inconvenience.
Cheapest pond liner I could find was used, with under liner padding courtesy of a bunch of carpet offcuts I still had from doing my office. Trimmed the pond edge with some spare bricks that happen to match the retaining wall.
Solar powered air bubbler and water fountain was installed to try and keep the water moving so it doesn't go too stagnant and £60 of pond plants. Job jobbed
2 weeks in and the wild flowers are starting to grow, the pond plants appear to be doing well and the water has done it's nitrogen cycle and gone from clear, to soupy and back to clear again!
Bring on the mini beasts
Well done mate. Looks brilliant. The plants should quickly establish and that’ll be teaming with wildlife in next to no time
