DIY Tips

Essential Six-Monthly Property Checks

Posted by on January 30, 2012 at 10:51 am

In spring and autumn, homeowners should run through a quick checklist of property inspections to prevent household disasters from occurring. Homeowners should start at the perimeter of the house, at the front. They should check their gates for sticking and squealing and should clear, rub down and lightly oil the gate in the event that [...]

Running Cables Under a Floor

Posted by on January 19, 2012 at 7:38 am

Horizontal cable runs are generally laid in the space underneath suspended wooden floors to keep them out of sight and harm’s way.  When a cable is run parallel with floor joists, it needs to be clipped to the sides of the joists or just left alone to lie on the surface of the ceiling below, [...]

Getting Rid of Grubby Grout

Posted by on January 16, 2012 at 10:01 am

Even with regular care and cleaning, there will be times when the grout between tiles will need to be removed or repaired.  This is because grout is a porous substance that absorbs dirt over a period of time and, as tile and grout are usually used in areas that get damp and dirty such as [...]

Keeping your bathroom at its best

Posted by on January 7, 2012 at 5:51 am

As the bathroom is one of the most visited rooms in the home, there are steps that you will need to take to ensure that it is kept at its best.  Certain areas of your bathroom will often be exposed to water and will need treatment to prevent them from rotting or becoming mouldy.  A [...]

Home Insulation

Posted by on January 5, 2012 at 11:55 am

Understanding cost-effectiveness is an important consideration when thinking about insulation. Although insulation costs money to install, it can provide two important benefits. Heating bills can be reduced as there will be less heat wasted from inside the house, and less fuel will have to be used to maintain internal temperatures. The annual saving on heating [...]

DIY Tips – Laying a Carpet

Posted by on December 17, 2011 at 10:26 am

Preparing to Lay a Carpet The first thing to do is ensure the floor area is clean, dry and relatively even. Assuming you have already disposed of the original carpet, remove any remaining tacks or carpet nails; if they are too firmly attached to pull out, use a hammer to flatten them flush with the [...]

Bathroom Furniture Has Come a Long Way

Posted by on December 14, 2011 at 6:13 am

There is no longer any excuse for anybody to have a cluttered bathroom.  The variety of bathroom furniture that is currently available is enormous and no matter what your requirements may be, there will be a piece of bathroom furniture that does the job and fits the space properly. There was a time when the [...]

How to keep wood worktops looking good

Posted by on December 12, 2011 at 11:56 am

Beautiful solid wood worktops are expensive and people worry that they will be difficult to maintain. Usually these fears are unfounded and should not put you off investing in an Oak, Beech, Walnut or Mahogany worktop. Keeping the wood looking good is very easy, and any serious marks can be sanded down. You can’t say [...]

How to Seal Around a Bath

Posted by on December 6, 2011 at 10:16 am

DIY enthusiasts often struggle to achieve a decent seal between the edges of a bath, shower tray or basin and the wall. If a seal is allowed to open up, the walls and the floor can suffer from moisture damage. This means that it is essential for a bath, shower tray or basin to be [...]

Removing Tiles

Posted by on December 3, 2011 at 6:40 am

Redecoration in kitchens or bathrooms will often involve replacing or removing tiles from the walls.  It is a fairly straightforward task, but can become monotonous after a while.  Also, depending on how the tiles have been stuck to the wall, you could be in for a lengthy job to get them off.  The older method [...]