Send in your questions to Steve. . .

Q I have a thermal-related problem with my roof. My house is timber framed and five years old. I also have underfloor heating. Last summer a loud popping noise started all over my house (during the months when my heating was off). After the summer it seemed to stop. But at the end of October it started again. During the mornings and late into the night when my heating is off I don't have this problem. But in the evenings when my heating is on and a fire is lit it starts. It continues for some hours, coming and going but always a constant. It continues when my heating goes off and as the house is cooling down. I have got up in the attic but cannot see anything out of place.

Eddie Walsh

You seem to have a nasty problem and without actually experiencing the problem for myself it is very hard for me to answer. The only thing it could be is that some timbers are not as securely fastened together and when there is a difference in temperature the timber expands and contracts which in turn produces the popping noise you hear.

You say the noise keeps you awake at night in the summer when the heating is off. Well the sun produces a lot of heat in your attic during the course of the day and at night the temperature drops which probably causes the popping noise to occur.

You say that after the summer around August it seems to stop and then in October it starts again, well maybe the temperature variations in August/September are not as severe as in previous months and when you turned on your heating again in October the difference in temperatures starts off the expansion and contraction again which in turn produces the popping noise. The physical cure might be to secure the timbers more tightly in the areas you think the noise is coming from.

Q We moved into our house without getting a survey done and we've since discovered that the water pressure in the bathroom and kitchen is quite low.

The shower operates at a trickle and the taps barely flow. What can we do to solve this problem? Is it a big job?

Louise

I would suggest that you check the mains water stopcock which should be situated at the front entrance to your property; it should be covered with a round silver lid. If it is not in the footpath outside your property it maybe in the driveway or behind the front entrance wall/pier. When you "nd it, lift the lid and make sure the stopcock is fully opened. Depending on the age of the house you may need to purchase a stopcock key from your local hardware shop. They are not very expensive.

When the stopcock is fully opened, turn it back a quarter turn, this will solve the problem of the stopcock seizing. If this does not help the situation then go to the mains water valve which should be under your kitchen sink.

Again, make sure the stopcock is fully opened and then give it a quarter turn back. If this doesn't help I suggest you get onto your local water authority and get them to check the pressure into your house.

Q Can you please advise as how to tackle wall and ceiling cracks as I am about to do some decorating in my house?

Eileen Cantwell Filling a crack should be a fairly straightforward job. However, daft as it might sound, you actually need to make the crack worse before you can make it better. If the crack is a small one I would advise you to get a Stanley knife, screwdriver or similar tool and widen the crack. This gives the "ller more of a chance to take hold in the crack. When you have widened the hole, lightly dampen a paintbrush and brush the crack, this will slow down the drying out of the "ller which will in turn alleviate any crack from drying out too quickly. Push your "ller into the crack and slightly over"ll it. Once the "ller has hardened you can then sand it smooth with sandpaper or a sanding block. It would be advisable to use ready made "ller as it is mixed to the proper consistency.

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