Send in your questions to Steve. . .

Q I want to give my bathroom a new look 'on the cheap' and was thinking of painting over the tiles.

What paint do I need to buy to do this?

The job itself can be a bit messy but it's not particularly dif"cult.

Wash the walls using sugar soap to remove any grease, dirt or limescale, then wipe clean to remove any residue. Make sure you let the tiles dry thoroughly before using any primer or paint.

Apply a primer product called ESP (available in all good paint suppliers). It costs approximately 25 for a litre which will cover approximately 18sq m. Once applied, you can paint over the tiles using your tile paint. Paint carefully and evenly and try to avoid any drips as they will show up on the tiles. When you have painted the tiles and they are dry, use a grout pen to restore the grout lines. Use a ruler to help you keep the line straight.

Q I recently bought a second-hand house. I knew when I bought it that I'd need to replace the roof. I've since discovered that there's no felting under the tiles. How much will it cost to get the whole house re-roofed? I live in a twobed end-of-terrace in Dublin? Can you recommend a roofer?

You might not need to replace the roof at all. You could always use spray foam insulation to the underside of the tiles. This will hold the tiles in position more "rmly and also give you the addition of very good insulation. Did you get a surveyor's report stating that the roof would need to be replaced? If not, it might be worth your while to do so before going down the replacement route. Prices for re-roo"ng vary considerably.

When you are getting a quote, make sure your roofer details everything he is going to do, for instance, is he replacing the actual rafters or is he just "tting felt and battens to the original rafters? When he has the roof stripped you might "nd that he comes back to you to advise you that some of the rafters are rotten. This is no fault of his as he would not have been able to know this before stripping the roof. Make sure the quote is very detailed and you are clear about the work he is going to undertake for the price quoted before you enter into any contract.

Why not click on www. tradesmenireland. com and 'POST A JOB'. We will then notify all the roofers in your area so they can call to arrange a quote. As always, make sure the roofer has all the relevant insurance in place before work commences as you may end up liable if there are any accidents on the job as technically you are the employer.

Q A few years ago we replaced all the windows in our house with double-glazing, but I've never been happy with the job. In the master bedroom there's always condensation in the inside of the window in the morning. Also, I've noticed damp . . . blue mould-like stains . . . all down one wall along the window. Is the damp because the window isn't properly sealed or could this be something else?

Sometimes a small amount of condensation can appear around the edges of the glass in the morning if there is insuf"cient heating in the room but if it is a signi"cant amount then you should seek an explanation from the company which installed the windows. With regard to the blue mould stains, was the mould there before you had the windows "tted? Is the mould beside the window frame? The best way forward is to contact the company that installed your windows and see how they respond to your query. If you do not receive a satisfactory explanation you can always seek advice from the Irish Windows Association or the Master Glaziers Association, which is under the umbrella of the Construction Industry Federation. Visit www. cif. ie.

WRITE TO US If you have a building/renovation-related query that you'd like Steve to help you with, email:

doorstepdoctor@tribune. ie Steve Guerin is managing director of www. tradesmenireland. com, the one-stop website that will help you find a tradesman, a site for sale, a property to rent or buy and all the plant hire and machinery you need to complete your house build or renovation