Updating central heating

QWe need to update the oil heating system in a 1960s five-bed bungalow. The pipes (gun barrel) are beneath cement floors and there has been evidence of leaks. How can we update the system with the least disruption?

By email

As you won't need the gun barrel pipes, cut them off at ground level and cement over. Surface mount new copper pipes onto the skirting boards and join them up to the existing boiler. Hold in place with a brass clip. You could also box the pipes in behind the skirting. It might be a good idea to replace the old boiler with a condensing one which runs at approximately 94% efficiency. I would also recommend fitting an Oxyvent tank; it can lower annual fuel bills by a minimum of 30% and up to 50% on an underfloor heating system (contact Tim Cremin 087-246 1746). Alternatively you could install a skirting heating system; it's a radiator that looks like skirting board (above). This product is available from Dryzone (www.dryzone.ie; Andrea Splendori 086-616 9156).

Keeping your bricks clean

QLast year I built a home with a brick base, brick sill and brick chimneys.
A green coating has appeared on some of my sill brick and I am worried the bricks' aesthetic quality may deteriorate.

Ciaran Meenagh

Sometimes bricks look better with ageing and weathering, but if the green coating is really unsightly you could try cleaning the bricks with brick acid and then applying a concrete sealer which will seal the bricks so as not to allow dirt or weathering to become ingrained onto the surface.

The sealer will make it easier to clean the bricks and should be available at your local hardware store.

Building a new house

QWe sold our house last August and have been searching for a new home. Our preference is to build a house on a few acres in the country. We know the style, layout and size of house we want to build. Would it be a good idea to engage the services of an architect now to draw up the plans for the house before we find the site?

Lisa Kavanagh

I would suggest that you engage an architect to put your initial ideas onto a proper scaled drawing. If and when you do find a site you can make any alterations to the plans to fit the site. A cheap and useful DIY kit for planning a house build is available from www.modelrooms.ie. The one I think that would best suit your needs is the 3D Architects Model kit, €1,400 (left). It's a concept model set with magnetic furniture pieces and figures that you can position in rooms to give you a sense of scale.

Steve Guerin is MD of www.tradesmen ireland.com, Ireland's leading online tradesmen and contractors directory.

Each week we select questions for our panel of experts to answer: interior designer, architect, builder, finance advisor, solicitor, estate agent and overseas advisor. To post a question email asktheexperts@tribune.ie.
Questions may be edited for reasons of space