DONNY’S TOP TIP

It’s important not to allow garden soil to block the vents that keep the space under your ground floor dry. This also applies if adding new paving – just excavate first.

Q

There are splashes on the outside window of my conservatory caused by fencing paint. I have tried to remove them but they are baked on. Any ideas?

Linda Whitt, via email

A

You need to buy a glass scraper. The paint won’t leave a stain on the glass – just use a solvent in combination with the scraper.

Q

We had cavity wall insulation installed in our bungalow about 25 years ago. It started breaking up, so was refilled under guarantee around seven years ago. We are now experiencing a mildew smell from cabinets in our north-facing kitchen when we use our heater. There are no air bricks at the front of the property. Jacqueline Bryant, via email

You should have air bricks just above the damp-proof course – check the ground outside hasn’t risen over the years and blocked them. You need cold surfaces for condensation to form so fitting a radiator on the north-facing wall might help solve this.

A