Q The ceiling in my en-suite bathroom has some really bad damp patches, especially above the shower cubicle. I have a ventilation fan in the room which goes on when the light comes on. What can I do to cure my ceiling? Is it that the fan isn't strong enough? I've tried covering up the patches with paint but they just keep coming back.

Dana Bell Firstly, the ceiling fan is probably in the wrong place. Ideally, it should be placed over the shower cubicle where it will capture the majority of the steam. Secondly painting over the damp patches is a shortterm solution as the damp patch will show through again in time. It would be best to thoroughly clean the ceiling of any trace of dampness, let the ceiling dry out and then paint the ceiling with an eggshell finish paint. The eggshell paint does not allow the moisture to soak into the ceiling. Another option would be to clad the ceiling with Grossfillex PVC panelling. These are used in place of tiles in bathrooms and showers and look really well. I have seen many bathroom ceiling's done with these panels.

Q The roof of my south-facing, lean-to conservatory needs replacing. I have received quotes for this work using triple glazed polycarbonate or double glazed elite safety glass.

The cost difference is not a problem but the suitability of the material is. Which would look better and be more suited to a house of roughly 85 years vintage ?

D Fitzpatrick I have spent a lot of time in the conservatory business, supplying and fitting conservatories for approximately eight years. In this time I have only fitted one conservatory with a polycarbonate roof. This was due to the insistence of the customer. I prefer a glass roof as it is more pleasing to the eye, is not as noisy as polycarbonate when it rains, and is generally a more suitable material. For me, it would definitely be glass every time, there's no comparison.

Q My water storage tank in the attic always seems to be filling up with water. I have checked the levels when there are no taps etc. being used. Can you explain this?

B Walsh

If as you say there are no taps being used or the toilet is not being flushed and the tank is still filling with water, the first thing to do is to check the ball valve is working properly. Turn on the tap in the bathroom and then check the storage tank is starting to fill. Lift up the arm of the ball valve and if the water stops filling into the storage tank then the valve is ok. If, when you lift up the arm water still enters the storage tank then the valve is faulty. This might mean only replacing the worn rubber washer or depending on the age of the ball valve it might need to be replaced completely. This is a fairly simple operation. First, turn off the water supply at the mains stopcock. Flush the toilet or let the bath tap run for a few minutes to let some water out of the tank and to check that water does not fill into the tank again. Then dismantle the ball valve from the storage tank and replace with the new ball valve. Turn on the mains water again and lift up the ball valve arm to check that the water stops entering the tank.

Q I need a plumber to install a shower in the bathroom of my new house. I have names of a few plumbers but no idea if they are any good.

Is there an organisation that registers them that I could contact for an 'approved' list?

F Gallagher

As always, the way to find out if any tradesman is good as they say they are is by personal recommendations. Ask them to give you a list of people you can contact for a reference. Make sure to contact all of them and ask as many questions as they will answer. Remember, you will have to live with the consequences if they turn out to be unreliable.