Bathroom Design Ideas

Modern boilers used in central heating systems tend to give minimal trouble and this is especially true when they are regularly serviced. In the event that your boiler fails to work, there are a number of things you can do yourself to address problems prior to calling for the help of a heating engineer. This is certainly true of gas-fired boilers, although with oil-fired boilers you should clean the filters several times a year and ensure that an expert carries out regular servicing.

Boilers can fail to function efficiently for a number of reasons. In a solid-fuel boiler, problems can be caused by soot in the flueways or ash clogging up the grate. In this instance, light cleaning should prevent problems from occurring. A common problem with the gas-fired boiler is the lack of a pilot light. Thermostat and ignition system problems are also common.

In the event that you experience a faulty pilot light, try adjusting the height of the flame by turning the tiny screw on the gas valve and see if that fixes the problem. A blocked nozzle could also be to blame and you could use a cocktail stick to try and clear it. The nozzle may be tricky to reach and you may need to remove the main burner assembly. If your nozzle is blocked completely, you may need to find a professional willing to replace it. If the pilot light will not light, you may need to replace the thermocouple. This will involve the unscrewing of the fixing nuts.

A large bathroom can be turned into a wonderful place for relaxation and indulgence. Designer catalogues often depict spacious bathrooms with whirlpool baths, walk-in showers and large designer sinks so it is not surprising that many feel that without a large amount of space it is impossible to create a truly beautiful bathroom. These brochures are misleading as the average British bathroom often struggles to offer even three square metres of space and this only allows for a standard bath, small sink and toilet. However, with careful planning and wise choices the homeowner can still create a bathroom to be proud of.

When designing a small bathroom, planning is crucial to make the most use of the space. Time should be taken deciding how the bathroom suite and other items are to be fitted into the available space to ensure that the layout does not mean having to compromise on style.

One of the most important decisions is whether to install a bath or a shower. For relaxation a bath is a priority, but for those who prefer an invigorating shower dispensing with the bath in favour of a larger shower or a wet room may be more attractive. However, it is important to remember that whilst on the continent it is not uncommon to find bathrooms without a bath, in the UK many people still expect to see a bath in a bathroom and not having one could create problems if the homeowner intends to sell in the near future.

A burst pipe or one that is pierced and leaking can cause a huge amount of damage to the home, if emergency repairs are not made quickly.  First turn off the water supply to the damaged pipe and drain the water from the system of which it is a component.  Hopefully this can be achieved without turning off the mains supply to the whole house.  Once the damaged pipe is isolated and drained some simple repair strategies can be employed.

Examine the nature of the damage and clear any loose metal bits from the area.  Clean the edges and surrounding pipe surfaces with wire wool in preparation for a repair.

Small holes and cracks can be filled with epoxy resin if there is some available.  Mix up a sufficient amount of the resin to create a sealing layer about 3-5mm thick over the crack or hole and be sure to spread it some distance over  the surrounding pipe surface.  Allow at least 24 hours for the resin to cure or dry before allowing water to flow through the pipe again.

If there is no resin handy, or for larger cracks or holes, a sleeve can be fashioned from a length of garden hose.  Cut a piece of hose longer than the area of damage, and slit it length wise.  Coat the inside of the hosw with epoxy resin and slip it over the damaged pipe.  Seal the ends with jubilee clips.  After 24 hiurs, fill the pipe with water and check carefully for continued leaking.  Use two clips at each end if necessary.

It should be stressed that these are both temporary fixes, and that damaged pipes should be fully replaced by new copper piping, or flexible piping.  A kit can be purchased from a DIY or plumbing supply shop.

Painting is something everyone can do, but it pays to be aware of which paint is best for your job. Gone are the days where types of paint could be counted on one hand; there is now a wide variety available depending on the surface being painted and your preferable finish.  The correct type of paint can make or break a job, so make sure you are clear which is your best bet before buying.

•    Anti-condensation Paint – This is designed specifically for those areas where condensation is likely to be present, such as the kitchen and bathroom.  It should prevent any major damage to paint and walls that condensation usually causes.
•    Emulsion – One of the more common types of paint, this is perfect for walls as it is quick-drying, but it may need several coats to dry in satisfactorily.
•    Enamel Paint – Enamel is used for metal and woodwork and gives a durable finish.
•    Masonry Paint – This is designed for use externally on porous surfaces and is much thicker than your standard indoor paints.
•    Solvent-based Gloss – Gloss is mainly used on wood and metal surfaces such as doors, windowsills and radiators etc.  It is generally accepted that it is better to apply two thin coats of gloss than one thick one.
•    Water-based Gloss – This type of gloss will not deliver such a glossy finish as solvent-based, but will dry very quickly, offering a quicker job time.
•    Undercoat – As the name suggests, this is best for providing the base layer over darker colours, for the topcoat to follow.

Cork flooring is a great choice for those seeking a flooring material that is resistant to both bacteria and mould.  This is an attractive feature for people with allergies or children.  Cork acts well as insulation for holding heat in and as a means to provide some measure of sound proofing. 

Cork flooring is relatively easy to maintain if you follow the recommended practices.  First and foremost, use little water to clean your cork floor.  Cork flooring can stain easily.  Sweep or vacuum any dirt from the floor first.  Cork flooring can also scratch easily, so dirt should be removed regularly to prevent any abrasive scratches. 

A damp mop, not dripping, is used to clean cork flooring after it has been swept or vacuumed.  To ensure that you are not using a wet mop, squeeze any excess water out thoroughly.  Never pour water onto the cork floor.  If there is a wet spill, clean it up immediately.  The cork floor can absorb any surplus moisture, leading to warping of the floor and even mildew growth.  There are cleaning products especially designed for cork floors that are pH balanced.  Never use ammonia, bleach or scouring products on cork flooring. 

Furniture should be fitted with felt pads on leg bottoms to prevent any scratching if the furniture is moved.  For added protection, cork flooring can be refinished with a polyurethane varnish. 

There are some easy, inexpensive and effective ways to fool the eye and make a small room appear more spacious. 

First and foremost, reduce the clutter.  Remove any objects or things you may have stacked up or cluttering the space.  Put up shelves if necessary, but ideally move these things out of sight. 

Paint the room with light, cool colours.  Darker, warmer colours can make a room feel cosy, but also smaller.  Light colours can make a room seem more open.  This doesn’t mean you have to stick with white.  Cool, light hues such as blues or greens are also effective. 

Light, whether it is artificial or natural, will open up a room and create a feeling of more space.  Remove any heavy curtains and replace them with either shades that let light in while providing privacy, or lighter drapes.  Recessed lights, track lighting and additional lamps can also provide more light. 

Don’t employ lots of patterns in your decorations or furniture.  Choose plain, simple upholstery for furniture and avoid the plaids, stripes, or prints that will only make your small room seem cluttered or claustrophobic. 

Regarding furniture, as surprising as it may seem, to increase the feeling of space in a small room choose a few large pieces of furniture rather than multiple pieces of small furniture.  Again, this helps reduce the feeling of clutter in a room. 

Employing these few simple tricks can help make that once small, claustrophobic room seem a bit more spacious and airy.

There are many types of hammers on the market for you to choose from, and each one has a different purpose.  It is a good idea to know which type of hammer is best to use for the DIY job you are undertaking.

A claw hammer is the most common type of hammer, and is used to fix nails into walls or other materials.  As the name suggests, it has a claw on the other side of the head, which aids in removing old or wonky nails from wood or other materials.

A ball peen hammer has two heads on it; one is round, while the other is flat, and they each have different uses.  A ball peen hammer is most often used for riveting, shaping soft metals, and centre punching.

A drywall hammer is often used for plaster boarding work, as it has a heavy rounded head on one side to hit the nails in with, and a flat head on the other side to tuck in the trimmed edges of the plasterboard.

A lump hammer, also known as a club hammer, has a heavy head which is used alongside a cold chisel or bolster for cutting bricks.  It is also popular on demolition jobs.

A pin hammer is very light and has a small head, so is ideal for more delicate work.

A mallet has a head with a large surface and is often used in carpentry work.  It is possible to purchase both rubber and wooden mallets.

The real problem when it comes to tiling internal corners is that they are often not perfectly square.  This means that tiles have to be cut away slightly to allow for the geometric defects in walls.  A convenient way of doing this is to measure the gap at the bottom and the top and use this result to angle the cut for the tiles.

Another method is to place the tile you are about to cut on top of the last whole tile in a row, and hold a third whole tile on top of this with one of its edges pressed into the corner.  Then you can use the top tile’s opposite edge to draw the line of the necessary cut.

External corner tiling is also complicated by the fact that walls are typically not perfectly square.  The problem with external corner tiling, however, is a bit trickier than with internal corners.  This is because you need to hide the unglazed edges of the cut tiles.

The way to achieve this is to cover one wall with the tiles cut to fit in the normal way.  The cut tiles which then start the other wall are then placed so that they overlap those on the first one.  The exposed cut edge is then covered with tiling grout.  The finish can be made even neater if you begin the second wall with whole edging tiles.  However, the walls have to be perfectly vertical in order to do this, which is usually not the case.

Power tools are designed to make jobs around the home faster and more efficient. There are a number of power tools to be aware of that can make things much easier when it comes to carrying out DIY tasks.

Power drills are essential parts of any DIY tool kit. Generally, there are two types available, cordless battery-powered drills and those that have to be plugged into a mains supply. Battery powered drills are useful for numerous tasks, particularly when screwing or unscrewing large numbers or screws; for example, when assembling furniture. When it comes to more heavy-duty tasks, such as drilling holes through walls, the extra power of a mains-operated drill will prove much more effective.

There are various types of electric saw available. Two of the main types are jigsaws and circular saws. Jigsaws are fitted with small, narrow blades that are used for the accurate cutting of shapes in wood, metal, or tiles, particularly when curves and detailed work are involved. Circular saws are more useful for cutting straight through timber or other materials. The large rounded saw will easily cut through the material and various types of blade are available, depending on the task at hand.

Finally, an electric sander can be turned to a number of tasks, in particular the smoothing of surfaces; for example, removing raised abrasions on a wall, prior to painting. There are a wide variety of sandpaper grades available, depending on what task is being carried out. The finish achieved will be much more even that can usually be accomplished manually, using a sheet of sandpaper.

Partial Blockage

A partial blockage means that the toilet is not completely blocked and it is still draining, only very slowly.  In order to unblock a partial blockage you will need to let the toilet drain completely.  Fill 50 – 75% of a bucket with tap water and hold this high above the water.  Next, pour the water directly into the bottom of the bowl.  The pressure should clear out the blockage.  Do not use this method if your toilet is completely blocked.

Complete Blockage

A complete blockage means the toilet isn’t draining at all.  Before using any of the methods below, remove most of the water by scooping it out with a bucket or a bowl.  You can dispose of this water in your garden or elsewhere.

Using Your Hands

Make sure that you are wearing gloves before sticking your hand down the u-bend of the toilet in order to feel the blockage.  If you can feel a solid mass in the u-bend, simply pull it out straight away.

If not, you will need to use one of the following methods.

Using a WC Plunger

Push the plunger down the bottom bowl of the toilet and start pumping the handle.  The sucking, plunging action will, hopefully, clear the blockage.

Using a Drain Auger

Feed the drain auger down the u-bend until you can feel it hit the blockage.  Turn the drain auger a couple of times in order to dislodge and break the blockage.

Finally, disinfect the toilet immediately and dispose of the used gloves.