Temporary repair of a roof tile
Posted by James Mace at 10:04 on 06 Aug 2008
DIY advice, temporary repair of a roof tile, diy tips and hints, diy step by step guideIt is advisable to check you roof regularly for broken tiles or slates. If you find one, it’s a good idea to make a temporary replacement to prevent a leak from happening. This is only a temporary measure however, and a replacement should be found as soon as possible. Below are four simple steps to help you make a temporary repair of a roof tile.
o Ladder with stand-off bracket
o Roof ladder
o Scissors
o Wire brush
o Flashing strip primer
o Self-adhesive flashing strip
1. Clean the area around the crack with a wire brush. Apply a coat of flashing strip primer to the crack and surrounding area.
Installing a new pane of glass
1. Knead the putty until it is soft and pliable. Take a small ball (palm sized) and squeeze a continuous band into the rebate, using your thumb to press it in place. Make sure that it is roughly 3mm thick all around the window.
2. Put some gloves on and then sit the new pane in place, gently pushing it into position. Exert pressure around the edge of the glass, not in the middle, and allow the glass to squeeze the putty until you have a 2mm bed of putty behind the glass.
3. Gently tap the glass in place using glazing panel pins at 200mm intervals with a small hammer. They should lie flat against the glass and protrude 5mm from the frame.
Taking out a broken pane of glass
Before tackling this job, spread newspaper around the floor to make clearing up afterwards easier. Also, wear a pair of sturdy shoes.
1. If the pane is smashed, remove pieces still stuck in the window by gripping and loosening them. Wear protective gloves and goggles.
2. To remove the old putty, use a chisel or glaziers hacking knife and hammer. Remember to take out any panel pins using a pair of pincers.
Call for VAT reduction on home improvement
Posted by James Mace at 09:37 on 01 Jul 2008
DIY advice, VAT reduction home improvement, rising diy costsWith the cost of DIY soaring, many homeowners would be forgiven for not attempting renovation work. There is hope though, with the European commission declaring its support for the idea of lowering VAT on home renovation work.
The current proposals suggest that the rate should be lowered from the standard 17.5 per cent to 5 per cent. The idea has been welcomed by Brian Berry, director of external affairs of the Federation of Master Builders who claimed, “We have been campaigning for a cut in VAT for building repair and maintenance work for some time so are obviously delighted by the news.”
If you are thinking about doing some home improvement, make sure to check out our advice on the top ten projects to add value to your home.
Top ten projects to add value to your home
I know that we’ve been harping on about this for months now, but it really does seem that people are looking to improve rather than move from their homes.
With house prices predicted to fall by up to 35 per cent in the next two years, home improvement is once again high on the list of priorities for the homeowner, as they attempt to sit tight and wait it out.
So what advice is out there for those looking to invest in a spot of renovation on their property? Well, the lender GE Money has come up with the top ten projects that will add value to your home. With DIY prices rising 20 per cent in the last 2 years, it's important to know how to invest wisely, so check out the table below.
Planning on a spot of DIY this weekend?
Posted by James Mace at 17:07 on 20 Jun 2008
DIY advice, DIY tools, hints and tips, fix a leaking tap, redesign your gardenWith rain and more rain forecast for this weekend, now could be the perfect time to get all of those jobs that need doing around the house out of the way.
But have you got all the right tools for the job? If you're looking for the latest hedge trimmer or a pot of primer, why not visit diytools.co.uk, where they stock everything you need for your house rennovations. In the summer sale right now are a wide range of power tools, as well specialist lighting equipment. To have a look, click on the following link.
And if you're looking for some diy advice, visit our hints and tips section where you could learn how to fix a leaky tap, remove your old guttering or even redesign your garden.
Replacing a radiator
Posted by James Mace at 09:00 on 12 Jun 2008
DIY advice, Homeowner's Advice, tradesmen news, replacing a radiatorBelow are four simple steps explaining how to replace a radiator. Before you begin however, make sure that you have the following equipment:
• 2 adjustable spanners
• radiator bleed key
• bucket
• drain tray
• large allen key
• pipe and cable detector
• hammer-action drill with masonry bit
1. After turning both valves off, use an adjustable spanner to slacken the capnut holding one of them to the radiator. You might need to use the second spanner to prevent it turning.
At your Wickes end?
A recent poll showed 60 per cent of home improvers have been left feeling stressed after having workmen in their home. And as homeowners turn to improving rather than moving, this problem (and blood pressure around the UK) is set to rise. Home improvement store Wickes has just published a guide called ‘How to cope with building works’ in collaboration with a panel of tradesmen. This brilliant little guide offers expert advice on how to prepare your home, and yourself, before the work begins. The guide is available free of charge at all Wickes stores and can be downloaded at www.wickes.co.uk.
Fixing a dropped door
Tools and Material
Screwdriver, matchsticks, wood adhesive, mallet, wood chisel.
1. Firstly check to see if any of the hinge screws are loose. If so tighten them up.
2. If the screws will not tighten, you will need to plug the existing screw holes for reinsertion of the old screws.
3. With a screwdriver, remove the old screws from the hinge which will not tighten and put to one side.
4. Fold the metal hinge part back on to itself to expose the screw holes on the bare wood behind (either the door or doorframe).
5. Using a match stick, apply some wood adhesive to the end and insert it into the screw hole.
6. With a mallet, gently tap the matchstick further into the screw hole until it can go no further.
7. Repeating steps 5 & 6, insert 2 / 3 more matchsticks into the screw hole to plug it up.
8. Leave the adhesive to set for the recommended time stated on the packaging.
9. Once the adhesive has fully set, use a wood chisel to cut off the exposed ends of the matchsticks so that they are level with the surrounding wood on which the hinge sits on.
10. Fold the hinge back on to the wood and securely re-screw the old screws back into the newly plugged screw holes.
PS helpful hints and tips
How to fix a squeaky floorboard
It’s not fun to walk around your house, and be able to hear every moment due to a few central positioned squeaky floorboards. Easy to repair as long as you don’t have carpet (sorry), creaking floorboards generally occur when some of the fixing nails worked them selves loose from the joist below causing the board itself to become loose. To ease the squeak and be able to stealthily move around your home when needed, just follow the simple guide below.
Tools and Materials:
• Pincers
• Pencil
• Power drill with twist and countersink bits
• Screwdriver
• Talcum powder
• Knife
Fixing a spluttering tap
A spluttering tap may not be the worst plumbing situation to arise but it is annoying, especially when coupled with clanging pipework and spitting water. Luckily, resolving the issue is just as simply as the problem. With a few basic things you can find in the garden shed and an extra pair of hands to help, free flowing water can be a quick 10 minutes away.
Before starting:
The method outlined below is not suitable for homes that have a sealed water system. You can only use this method if your home has a header water tank, usually found in the loft.
Tools and materials
Hosepipe, 2 x tap / hosepipe attachments, another extra pair of helping hands.
Tracing an electrical fault - All circuits are dead
N.B. Before proceeding with any electrical work in your property, click here to read about the current regulations regarding electrical work completed in the home.
1. If the circuits of your home are protected by an RCD (residual current device) within the consumer unit, check to see if it has tripped. If so reset it.
2. If the RCD trips again, carry out the checks for faulty lights and appliances as described in “a presumed dead circuit”.
3. If following steps 1 – 2 do not help, check with your neighbours to see if they are experiencing the same problems.
5.1. If they are contact your electricity supplier to see if the power to your area has been cut off. If it has not you will need to notify them of the issues so they can check the main supply cable and service fuse.
4.2 If the problems are isolated to your house only call in a qualified electrician to assess the fault
Tracing an electrical fault - A presumed dead circuit
A dead circuit can often be caused by over loading the circuit with too many appliances or too many light fixtures.
N.B. Before proceeding with any electrical work in your property, click here to read about the current regulations regarding electrical work completed in the home.
1. Turn off all the lights and unplug all appliances on the affected circuit.
2. Turn off the main isolating switch at the consumer unit.
3. Repair the affected fuse/ circuit breaker in the consumer unit.
Tracing an electrical fault - A plug-in appliance doesn’t work
N.B. Before proceeding with any electrical work in your property, click here to read about the current regulations regarding electrical work completed in the home.
1. For a plug-in light appliance try changing the light bulb first. If this doesn’t work proceed to step 2.
2. For all other plug in appliances and lights which have had the bulb changed, try plugging it into another socket. If this works then the original socket may be faulty and need replacing. Use a socket tester in the questioned socket to see if there is a wiring fault within. If so replace the damaged socket.
Tracing an electrical fault
Sometimes in the home you will come across electrical appliances or lights which aren’t working due to an electrical fault, through finding exactly where this fault has occurred can be a bit of a challenge. As with all things there are a number of reasons why a fault can occurring so to shed some light on the problem (mind the pun) follow the below links to try and trace the electrical fault, and then deal with the problem.
Click here if a plug-in appliance doesn’t work.
How to change a fuse in a consumer unit with wire fuses
N.B. Before proceeding with any electrical work in your property, click here to read about the current regulations regarding electrical work completed in the home.
Tools and Materials:
A torch, screwdriver, wire cutters, correct amperage fuse wire.
How to change a fuse in a consumer unit with cartridge fuses
N.B. Before proceeding with any electrical work in your property, click here to read about the current regulations regarding electrical work completed in the home.
Tools and Materials:
A torch, fuse tester, screwdriver, correct fuse rating cartridge.
How to reset a fuse in a consumer unit with MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers)
N.B. Before proceeding with any electrical work in your property, click here to read about the current regulations regarding electrical work completed in the home.
Tools and Materials:
A torch
Resetting a circuit in a consumer unit
A consumer unit may need resetting due to a power surge through one of the property’s circuits.
N.B. Before proceeding with any electrical work in your property, click here to read about the current regulations regarding electrical work completed in the home.
Before trying to reset this circuit, check to see if any of the appliances on the circuit are causing it to trip. Unplug all appliances and check to see if they work on a circuit which still has power. This will avoid changing the appropriate fuse or resetting the MCB in the consumer unit for it to trip again due to a faulty appliance on the circuit. See “tracing an electrical fault” for more information about investigating faulty appliances.
A guide to fuse ratings in the home
Handy for all home owners, below is a brief guide to fuse ratings, their amperages and typical uses.
N.B. Before proceeding with any electrical work in your property, click here to read about the current regulations regarding electrical work completed in the home.
What is a fuse?
A fuse protects a circuit from the damage of excessive current overload which can generate overheating within the circuit and lead to the start of a fire. Know as current protection devices, fuses contain a metal wire which melts when there is too much current flow. This separation of the wire breaks the circuit connection, thus protecting the rest of the circuit. The wire in a fuse can either be exposed in the fuse carrier or contained within a cartridge in the fuse carrier as commonly seen in plugs.
Due to the varying demands placed on circuits in properties, it is essential that each circuit has the correct fuse rating for its usage. A fuse with a higher rating than necessary runs the risk of overloading the circuit with potential damaging and fatal consequences.
What is a Continuity tester?
A simple battery powered tool, a continuity tester is used to check whether a circuit is continuous.
N. B. You should always use a continuity tester on a DEAD circuit i.e. with the power switched off.
To use a continuity tester, test the questioned circuit through the neutral cable cores (click to read more about cable cores colours) by touching the individual probes of the tester to each core simultaneously. If the continuity tester gives off a continuity reading then the circuit is complete. If not, the circuit is not continuous or may be part of a radial circuit or a spur (see below). If you know that the circuit you are testing is continuous and it does not give off a continuity reading then that circuit will require further investigation by a qualified electrician.
What is a Socket tester?
A socket tester is a handy device for quickly checking the connections of a socket. It has three pins which plug into the socket and three neon lights on the face of the tester. These neon lights light up in different combinations to indicate whether or not there is a fault in the connections of the socket and if so where it is situated.
Need a socket tester? Try these useful DIY supply sites below:
Insulating a loft with blanket insulation (fibreglass/mineral)
Did you know up to 25% of heat in an un-insulate house is lost through the roof? By laying down insulation in the loft you could save as much as 20% off your energy bills, and it’s really easy to do. So just follow the simple steps below and look forward to a having a cosy warm home for this and many other winter seasons to come.
Preparation:
• Firstly you will need to measure the area of your loft in square metres to calculate how much insulation is required.
• In the UK the recommended thickness of insulation is between 150mm and 270mm and can be achieved by double layering insulation rolls of lesser thickness. The choice on the thickness of insulation depends on your usage of the loft space i.e. storage requires boards to be laid over the joists. Consequently in this situation the insulation thickness can not be higher than the joists.
• Check the width between the joists so that the insulation material you purchase fits snugly between the joists.
• Clear the area and lay down some boards to provide a platform to work from. These boards should rest across the floor joists. Be carefully not to stand between the joists unless you want quick access to the room below - the area between is the ceiling to the room underneath and is not designed to support weight
• Ensure adequate lighting is available in the loft – a torch in the mouth will not be enough so run an extension lead into the loft and hang a suitable light from a beam.
• Repair any cracks or holes in the ceiling below to prevent the escape of warm air.
• Insulate the water tank and/or surrounding pipe work to help prevent any water freezing in colder weather.
• Wear protective clothing, gloves and mask as the insulation material can often irate the skin, eyes and throat on contact.
Not knowing how is costing Brits £26* billion a year!
It seems some of the simplest household tasks are costing Brits up to £26* billion a year according to a recent survey compiled by Yahoo! Answers. Conducted amongst 1,000 men and women in the UK, not being able to iron a shirt, unblock a sink or change a car tyre are a few of the main factors prompting Brits to hire in help. The actual figure was over half but more reassuringly, and perfect for a little shameless self promotion, 2/3 of these people would turn to the internet to learn more before trying their hand at something new.
So if you need a little advice on caring for leather, unblocking a sink, fixing a pipe, space saving solutions …………… (the list goes on), take a peek at our hints and tips section. There you will find easy to follow guides on all of the above and more to help you start a new DIY venture, and hopefully save you a few pounds along the way.
Fixing a squeaky floorboard
It’s not fun to walk around your house and be able to hear every moment due to a few central positioned squeaky floorboards. Easy to repair as long as you don’t have carpet (sorry), creaking floorboards generally occur when some of the fixing nails worked them selves loose from the joist below causing the board itself to become loose. To ease the squeak and be able to stealthily move around your home when needed, just follow the simple guide below and hopefully those late night nags will just slip under the radar from now on.
Tools and Materials:
• Pincers
• Pencil
• Power drill with twist and countersink bits
• Screwdriver
• Talcum powder
• Knife
Show time
If you are working up to a self-build or renovation project for the New Year, get along to the National Self Build & Renovation Show (18-21 October 07). There is a packed programme lined up with seminars, product demonstrations, presentations and practical skills workshops from some of the industry's leading experts and professionals - a wealth of hints and advice to ensure your home improvements go without hitch. Tickets to the event are £8 per adult, and under 16's go free. And there is a two for one offer for readers. Book via the website at Mykindofhome.co.uk/show by quoting ESSBR241 or present a copy of this page at the door. National Self Build & Renovation Centre, off Junction 16 of the M4
Replacing a damaged socket face plate
Before you even reach for those trusty wire cutters, make sure you understand the rules on the installation and maintenance of electrics in your home according to the Building Regulations for England and Wales. To find out more about these regulations, click here to read my blog; to change or not to change? What electrical work can I do in my home?
Replacing a socket
A damaged socket may need replacing due to:
• A blown circuit has broken the socket face plate.
• The socket has become overheated and scorched either by being overloaded by a plug in appliance or by a loose connection in the plug. If the case is the former you must also deal with the problem in the appliance before plugging it back in.
Cable core colours
Something handy for all home owners, here’s a quick summary of what cable colours you can find in your home:
The IEE published Amendments No2. to BS 7671:2001 (the IEE Wiring Regulations) on the 31st March 2004 specifying new cable core colours for all new fixed wiring in electrical installations in the UK. These colours are referred to as ‘harmonised’ colours as they are closely related to the electrical practices performed in mainland Europe.
Below are the cable core colours:
Two – core – and – earth cable: