DIY Supermarket

A few cracks in your wall do not mean you need to think about a completely new plastering job. It has never been easier to repair those cracks yourself before painting, even if you have never tackled this kind of job before. Fixing cracks in walls and ceilings is such a common problem that the DIY industry is constantly coming up with products and tools to make the job easier.

Plastering Made Easy

Buy a tube of a decent-quality filling product from your local DIY store; as well as this, you will need the tools to apply it smoothly and evenly, such as a plaster trowel. The first step may seem strange, but in order to give your filler a good chance of working you need to get rid of any loose pieces by widening cracks and holes slightly. Then cover the area with a generous amount of the filler, remembering that any excess will be removed when you use the plaster trowel to get a smooth finish. Once dry, apply a resin to the treated area to prevent the cracks from reopening at a later date.

If you are thinking of having one of the many garden rooms on offer installed in your garden, then there are some things you need to consider to ensure you purchase one which best suits your needs.   Garden office buildings are fast becoming a very popular commodity following the rise of self-employed people who wish to have the space to work from home. Even if you are not self-employed, but simply wish to utilise the space you have in your garden, then a garden room is a worthwhile investment which can be used in many different ways. For example, it can be used as a studio, or a playroom for the children.

One thing you need to consider is what size you want your garden home office to be. You can have any size that comfortably fits in your garden, but it is worthwhile to think carefully about what you will need the room to accommodate once it has been built.

Next, you need to consider the kind of base you want to have installed. The bases on offer are very sturdy and substantial, and mean that your garden office is well supported and can withstand different types of weather. You can also have insulation installed so that the garden room has extra protection against the outside elements.

Most garden office buildings do not require planning permission, as long as they are within a specified size; the company you purchase your garden office from will be happy do advise you on this, and on any other queries you may have.

Though water is extensively used in the bathroom, this does not mean it can be allowed to get everywhere as it can rot wood and cause mould.  Implementing tips to caulk a bath properly can prevent water slipping into crevices and the skills can be transferred to other receptacles where water use is common, such as sinks and shower cubicles. 

Timing Is Key

Remember that caulking must be allowed to dry completely in order to be effective and must be undisturbed during this period.  Accordingly, plan the caulking of the bath procedure during a period when it can be allowed to dry.

Keep the Area Clean

Clean and dry the area where the caulk is to be applied before commencing with the caulking process to ensure that the caulk can bond properly.  Using a degreasing solvent and a soft cloth will ensure that the surfaces will be cleansed of any grime not visible to the naked eye.  Moisture, dust, grime and foreign objects can prevent the caulk from being effective.   

Choose the Right Product

Many types of caulk are silicone based as this material helps to prevent the ingress of water from wherever it is applied.  However, there is also latex based caulking on the market, which may be preferable depending on the purpose for which it will be used.  In addition, some brands of caulk have antifungal properties that make it particularly beneficial for the bathroom. 

Application

A caulking gun is the most common method of applying the sealant, which will make it beneficial to test the trigger in order to get used to it.  On some newspaper or scrap cardboard, apply the caulk to practice doing so evenly and to get a feel for the pressure needed for the trigger.  To ensure a neat result, lay masking or painter’s tape along either side of the seam.

Conservatories are an expensive addition to any home, therefore great care needs to be taken when choosing and installing blinds for a conservatory. The manufacture of blinds for conservatories is more complicated than for normal windows due to the angle of the roof and the different sizes of blinds required. Conservatories require blinds that can insulate well against the heat and the cold, as well as keep out direct sunlight, while still letting sufficient light through.

Conservatory blinds are usually made out of specially fabricated material that optimises insulation.
   
Usually, conservatory blinds are fitted by specialists. It is important that reputable professionals carry out installation, as fitting the blinds means drilling holes in the conservatory structure in order to mount brackets and it is vital that the conservatory is not damaged in any way in the process.

Blinds on a conservatory roof may be out of reach and not be able to be closed manually. The blinds are designed to be opened and closed either electronically, or by a long pole or extra-long cords that hang down within reach.

The most popular blinds for conservatories are pleated blinds, followed by roman blinds.

The regular maintenance of the gutters on your home is important, and you should check them every year.  Many older homes still have metal gutters, and these tend to rust over time.  If caught early enough, rusted gutters can be saved, and will not need to be replaced.  Always make certain to use a sturdy ladder when you are checking and/or working on your gutters. 

You can remove small patches of rust with sandpaper or an emery cloth.  If there are large areas of rust, you will want to use a wire brush; you can also use a wire brush wheel attached to a drill.  Rub the rusted area until you see clean metal.  Once all the rust is gone, liberally coat the gutters with a rust-neutralising primer, and let it dry thoroughly.

If you see cracks or small holes where the gutter has rusted through, fill them with roof and gutter sealant.  Larger holes should be repaired with glass fibre filler or gutter repair tape.  Only apply these after the area surrounding the damage is free of rust and dry.

When all your repair work is dry, paint the gutters with either black bitumen paint or gloss paint suitable for exterior use.

There have been incidents where children have been injured by cords and chains attached to blinds. The cords and strings associated with blinds can cause accidents by strangulation in children. Slatted blinds can cause harm to children in the form of trapped fingers. This has created a market for the manufacture of blinds that eliminate the use of such cords and chains to lower and raise the blinds.

Other than the risk of harm to children from blinds and their parts, there is also the risk that children can cause the blinds to become damaged by tangling the cords, which can jam the rolling and tilting mechanisms. Child safe blinds are also more suitable for children’s bedrooms as they are simply and easily operated.

Child safe blinds are roller blinds that have no cords or poles and whose winding mechanism is on a return spring. The blind is pulled down by a tab and when it is released stays where it is. In order to raise the blind, the blind is pulled down slightly and then springs back up of its own accord.

Child safe blinds come in an array of bright designs that go well in a child’s bedroom, and they can be lined with blackout material preventing light entering the room and ensuring improved sleeping conditions.

Child safe blinds are also appropriate for places such as hospitals and nursery schools.

Child safe blinds are suitable for older people whose hands may not be so dextrous and who would find cords fiddly and cumbersome.

If we want to reduce home energy costs, insulation is the key ingredient. Increasingly, we are making energy choices with environmental concerns in mind too. If you are insulating your home and want to try a natural, sustainable and effective method, why not try sheep wool insulation?

Sheep wool is an eco-friendly insulation material with a smaller carbon footprint than many of its more well-known rivals. Sheep wool insulation is easy to install and does not require the usual protective measures of goggles, gloves and mask, often required when handling mineral fibre insulation products.

As a material, wool breathes and this valuable feature helps reduce humidity and condensation. Coming straight off a sheep’s back it has the unique ability of being able to absorb and desorb moisture whilst remaining totally thermally efficient.

As well as being an environmentally friendly option, sheep wool insulation is resistant to fire and vermin. It is a non-toxic material that resists mould growth and is an effective acoustic insulator as well.

Whether you are insulating floors, walls or loft, sheep wool insulation offers a viable environmentally friendly alternative to the usual tried and tested materials. Sheep wool insulation is sold in large, easy to handle rolls. It is pleasant to use and cut down to the size you want using a craft knife, scissors or even an electric carving knife.

Once its useful life is over, sheep wool insulation continues to be environmentally friendly as it can be composted or incinerated for energy use when you need to dispose of it.

The mortar between brickwork can deteriorate over the years and need replacing. Re-filling these joints with mortar is known as re-pointing. Small areas of pointing on exterior walls can be taken on as a DIY project. It can sometimes be tricky achieving an accurate mortar colour-match on larger expanses, and so bigger projects are sometimes better left to the professionals.

That said, a small area of re-pointing on an exterior garden wall, for example, is a pretty straightforward exercise.

Check the weather before you start pointing, if it is raining put it off until another day. Rain and pointing do not mix.

Start by raking out the mortar between the bricks using a mortar rake. A depth of approximately 15cms should be enough. Use a cold chisel to chip out any stubborn bits. Remember to wear protective goggles and a mask to guard from dust and flying pieces of mortar. Heavy-duty gloves are advisable to protect your hands.

Next, dampen the joints by spraying them with water. This helps the new mortar to bond with the old.

Read the instructions on the mortar packet and mix up accordingly. Do not allow the mix to get too sloppy as this risks staining the surrounding bricks and ruining the finish.

Once you are happy with your mortar mix, use a jointing tool to carefully work it into the gaps between the bricks, creating a smooth recess. Fill the ‘beds’ (vertical joints) first, then follow up with the ‘perks’, (horizontal joints).

Leave the mortar to harden for a while, then any excess should be scraped away. Before it is totally dry, using a soft brush gently sweep away any bits of loose mortar remaining, taking care not to dislodge any of the fresh mortar you have just applied in the joints.

For a professional finish to your newly tiled floor you should carefully grout over the tiles you have laid.  Thoroughly mix floor tile mix with water, ensuring that there are no lumps.  Alternatively, you could use a grout that has already been mixed.  This article gives you a brief guide on how to grout your newly tiled floor.

Before you begin grouting you must make sure that your adhesive is completely set.  If you have laid glazed tiles then you can simply pour the grout over them and then spread the grout using a rubber-edge grout spreader.  However, with a natural stone surface, or if the tiles are absorbent, you should use a chemical sealant before and after grouting.  With stone tiles you should mix the grout very dry and press it into the joints of the tiles.  Keep the tiles themselves as grout free as possible.

Your grout will begin to set.  When it does, you should press it smoothly into all of the joints using a grout finisher.  This will make the joints water resistant and is therefore very important.  Now clean away the excess grout with a damp sponge. 

The grout should then be left to harden for approximately one hour.  You can then wipe it with a damp cloth and wipe the tiles with a dry cloth.  The edge of the floor should then be sealed with a flexible sealant.  For best results you should leave the floor for about 48 hours.

Gutters need to be free of debris to allow water to drain efficiently. Gutters that are left to clog up with leaves and other matter can create knock-on problems with water overflowing and saturating masonry. In worst-case scenarios over a prolonged period, this can compromise the structural integrity of a building.

If you make it a habit to regularly clear out your gutters, you could save yourself more serious work later on.

Safety first: if you are using a ladder to access the gutter, ensure it is on a level surface and propped up against something solid and secure. Ideally, you should have somebody standing below holding the ladder steady.

Wearing heavy-duty gloves, clear out the gutters. Scoop debris out with a narrow garden trowel, or a plastic milk carton with the bottom cut out works well. Attach a bucket to your ladder with a butcher’s hook. This can be used to hold the debris from the gutter and means that your hands are kept free. To avoid over-stretching, always move the ladder along the gutter as you progress.

When cleaning out gutters it is a good time to check them for cracks that require sealing or loose brackets that may be causing gutters to sag and drain less efficiently.

Finally, to prevent downpipes from clogging with leaves and other debris, consider fixing a protective mesh guard over them. This collects debris, allowing you to easily remove it by hand before it even descends into the downpipe, where it is much harder to clear.