DIY Supermarket

As more individuals opt to replace their traditional shower and bath unit with a shower enclosure, the demand for do-it-yourself replacements is growing.  Unless you purchase a new modern home with a shower cubicle already installed, you might be one of the many looking to make the switch yourself.

Before commencing a large home improvement task like this, you should be aware of the materials and labour required to complete the job.  If any part of the shower enclosure installation seems too daunting, consult a professional for guidance and assistance. More detailed instructions are available from specialty home improvement stores or do-it-yourself plumbing sites.

To complete a shower cubicle installation, you will need to gather these supplies: a PVC shower pan liner, lumber, screws, a backboard, cement and a trowel, drain assembly, tile thinset, tiles for the walls and floor, concrete, grout, sponges, and caulking adhesive.

The basic steps for installing a shower enclosure are very straightforward.  Before you begin, measure and plan for the components of the shower.  Plan exactly where each piece will be, from the valve to the shower tray to the drainage system.  With a clear layout in mind, walking through the steps from waterproofing to draining to tiling the shower cubicle will be much easier.  Be extra cautious with your measurements and always measure twice before doing anything.

With the right tools and a basic understanding of carpentry or do-it-yourself experience, installing a shower cubicle is an easy task.

Many people view bathroom taps as a purely functional item, so they may well be surprised to learn just how varied the range of taps actually is in today’s world. Bathroom taps now come in a myriad of colourful and inventive designs and styles. Some taps are designed to allow the water to be released in an attractive waterfall like manner, whilst other styles include art deco, vintage and even Victorian. There are even taps which have tiny fairy lights around their edges!

The kind of tap style a consumer would choose to go for would of course generally depend on the existing style of the bathroom in which the taps will be in use. A Victorian style tap would fit in well with a deliberately old fashioned looking bathroom, for example, but somewhat out of place in a more modern bathroom or one with an art deco style. Of course, some bathrooms could be deliberately varied in appearance and style, depending on the artistic preferences of the consumer in question. The kind of tap which give the waterfall effect as detailed earlier are often associated with bathroom designs that aim to give an Asian or Zen style theme, or even simply a “back to nature” effect – bathrooms with décor such as bamboo or wooden chairs and cabinets, and a stone bathtub and/or sink, would compliment that ‘waterfall’ affect very nicely.

If you are designing a bathroom and were resigned to a traditional ‘boring’ look for your bathroom taps, take another look at the choices available. You will be very pleasantly surprised.

Painting and decorating may seem a simple business, ranking far lower than plastering, but to get optimal results you need to know some essential tricks of the trade. It may not be rocket science, and you don’t need the knowledge of architects and advanced craftsmen in the building trade, but it is an essential feature of everything from simple DIY to full-scale property development. If it’s done badly, everything gets dragged down with it. Done well, it’s a major visual component of a dramatic property facelift.

Woodwork in particular needs special attention. Wash down dirty old paintwork with soapy water and fill in cracks and holes with wood filler. Knots should be coated with knotting compound to stop discolouring resin from seeping out. Critically, take meticulous care in getting rid of flaking paint – use a filler knife, or preferably an electric sander to blitz it, or it’ll curl up and form nasty edges beneath the new paint. Seal bare wood with wood primer – it won’t delay things too much because today’s products dry very quickly.

If your topcoat requires an undercoat, now is the time to apply it – and let it dry. Next, get to work with the topcoat itself. This can be extraordinarily satisfying: use only the top third of the brush and apply with smooth, light, upward strokes. Spread the paint horizontally, and finish the brushwork off by applying the paint along the grain of the wood. Work methodically, one panel at a time, say, on a door – and don’t be tempted to take a tea break before an area is completed, because it’ll leave a line!

A remodelling project can be a wallet drainer. So how do you recoup the costs of labour, material and accessories when planning a bathroom makeover? Turn it green. Green building is becoming more and more important to a great number of people, which in turn has created an economical and logical choice for consumers.

Going green means installing bathroom fixtures and accessories that cut energy and water usage by a considerable percent.

To save on water costs, install low-flow showerheads, toilets and faucet aerators. Aerators combine a mixture of air and water, which is indiscernible to most people washing up and brushing their teeth, yet it saves a considerable amount of water and money. If you have a house full of males, consider the installation of a urinal for further water-saving measures.

Bathroom flooring now comes in a natural linoleum blend of cork, chalk, oils and resin that is naturally water resistant. Those who prefer a wood floor can opt for bamboo, which is a rapidly renewable source yet easy on the bank account.

Money and the environment both win when bathroom furniture is bought locally and made of either renewable materials or a rapid renewal source. Strategically placed windows to utilize sunlight cuts down on energy costs, as do multi-layered curtains to help retain heat in the winter and block the sun during the summer months.

Use LED or CFL lighting. Both are longer lasting and use less energy than incandescent bulbs.

These tips not only will save the environment, but will also loosen the monetary stranglehold on your wallet.

Rejuvenating interior design on a DIY basis can transform a familiar, old or worn out space into somewhere worth living in, or selling. Property development is a thriving industry, with an array of furniture, wall or ceiling fittings, and other decorative objects available to any interior designer.

In cases where the interior design project is relatively substantial, it may be worthwhile to consult a professional architect. Altering spaces across several different rooms, from bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms and hallways, for example, runs the risk of not adhering to a clearly thought out grand plan. On a practical level, an architect can also advise on any essential walls that should not be taken out or weakened.

Interior design is a potentially limitless field, with the options for decorative pieces and specific combinations of features, such as painted walls with wallpapered ceilings, driven by individual choice, as well as budgets. The aesthetics of the whole house should be considered, so that nothing is likely to clash in terms of colour, type of material used, or visible cost.

Aspects to think about before setting out on the interior design project include drafting a decorating plan, as well as choosing the right materials to use depending on the room, such as glass and steel, rather than soft furnishings in bathrooms, arranging accessories and ensuring the right mix between functionality and aesthetics.

Laying underfloor heating, although not in itself part of interior design, can help in freeing up internal space that would otherwise be used by heaters.