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Vases can make the ultimate statement in a room when beautifully bedecked with stunning flowers, all perfectly arranged to impress. There’s virtually no limit to the number of choices when it comes to selecting a container suitable for the occasion. They come in just about any material you can think of too, but clear glass and even crystal still remain popular choices.
If you are looking to create a classic or contemporary look in your home, there are numerous ways to show off a vase and its contents for the most stunning visual effect. If you are not the imaginative type, you could always find a decorator through Mr-Skill. 
Wall-Hanging Vases
These are a recent alternative to the more traditional standard vase, and hang on a wall rather than rest on a flat surface. This can create a visually stunning effect too, if positioned correctly on the interior walls of your home. You can also use them in any room. A slender wall vase can show off a single long stemmed beauty, such as orchid spray with stunning results. Alternatively, you could display a lovely primrose plant to its maximum potential, assuming it is of course spring!
Vases Wrapped in Fabric
Match your vase to the décor of the room you plan to place it in. The nice thing about fabric is that you can change it regularly to great creative effect. After covering the vase with your preferred covering, simply use double-sided tape to gain an almost seamless join.
Then, you can adorn your new creation with a lovely ribbon around the neck or base, to produce the perfect eye-catching contrast. If you find this all too difficult, you could always get a decorating quote here.
A Riotous Floral Display
Tightly pack a large clear glass vase with stunning bunches of seasonal flowers – even in the winter months you can buy beautiful, warming imports. Sweet peas can fill a room with their heavenly scent on a warm summer’s day. It still takes a lot to beat the trumpet-shaped crowns of a well arranged bunch of daffodils. Tulips too come in just about every colour of the rainbow.
Don’t forget that foliage and berries can make a magnificent display on their own – even when there are no cut flowers. This is a popular choice around Yuletide.
Pebbles and Shells
One of our regular London décor experts gets a huge kick out of attractively layering a clear glass vase with small shells and pebbles. You can even get polished stones that positively glitter in the light reflections of your home. How creative is that?
Tags: arrangements, clear glass vase, crystal vase, cut flowers, fabric, fabric vases, find a painting-and-decorating specialist, london painting-and-decorating expert, orchids, painting–and-decorating quote, pebbles, primroses, shells, tulips, vase, vases, wall vases
Posted in Painting & Decorating | No Comments »
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on May 18
Carpentry can be a very rewarding interest to follow, but you do need to have the right tools to get going. It also makes a good deal of sense to invest in your own future, by attending some carpentry courses to brush up on your skills – there are also evening classes offered for those of us working during the day.
Don’t forget to get your carpentry and joinery quotes for the timber you’ll be buying for your projects. 
What’s You’ll Need
You could spend a fortune kitting out your workshop with woodworking tools, but we suggest that you start out small with the basics. Then, as your skill level improves, you can add to your collection depending on what you intend to make. If this sounds a little challenging, why not find a carpenter and joiner right here on Mr-Skill?
Measuring
Carpentry goes back a long way, probably to the beginning of time for modern man. Fred, he’s one of our regular London carpenters and joiners here on Mr-Skill, says that the first thing he was taught as an apprentice was to measure twice and cut once! A decent tape measure is an essential item for any budding-carpenter’s tool box. Then, a one-foot steel ruler is going to prove very handy too. Don’t forget a set-square to help get those angles right, and you’ll need a flat – that’s to stop it rolling away – carpenter’s pencil for marking up your timber.
Cutting
Timber needs to be cut to size, so you will need a saw appropriate to the type of carpentry you are turning out. There’s a huge variety available and you will quickly realise which saw you should have handy. Chisels too are important in the woodworking context. They come in a variety of blade widths too. It pays to keep a utility knife in the tool kit, you know, the old Swiss Army knife!
Other Tools
Hammers come in a wide range of choices, and will prove indispensable for your tool kit. Start small and build up your hammer collection as the need arises, and your skills develop. A spirit level is also an important member of the carpenter’s tool box. Screw drivers are essential for the job, so you’ll need to build your collection of these. A hand plane is a useful asset, as you launch your new money-spinning hobby!
Tags: Carpentry, carpentry-and-joinery quote, courses, find a carpentry-and-joinery expert, hobby, London carpenter-and-joiner, measurer, pencil, plane, ruler, saw, screw drivers, set square, skill, spirit level, timber, tool kit, wood, woodworking, workshop
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Now that the cold weather has moved on, it’s time to be thinking of your central heating system with a view to some maintenance. Just like a car, regular maintenance on your core heating system is vital. Left to chance, you could end up facing enormous bills for entire system replacement, where routine inspections could have avoided all that.
Thermostat Check
Modern home heating systems allow you to control the degree of heat through a conveniently mounted thermostat – it’s usually located in the hallway passage.  In the warmer months you can switch off the thermostat or set it well down, so that the system never actually kicks in. Keep in mind that thermostats can develop faults, but replacing them is probably a job best left to an expert – you can find a heating technician right here on Mr-Skill.
Other Areas You Can Check
Assuming you are quite familiar with your central heating system, there are some tasks you could perform yourself. Remember though, that the skills level is moderate, indicating that we assume a minimum level of knowledge and experience here:
- Furnace Filters – These should be changed each year, especially if you have furry friends such as cats and dogs. Moreover, if you run air-conditioning in the hotter months, you can expect more dust and fluff in the atmosphere of your home. Dirty furnace filters are easily detected when the central heating struggles to push warm air about.
Interlude: Don’t forget that central heating systems cost a lot of money, so rather than fiddle with them yourself, get a heating quote right here on Mr-Skill.
- Internal and External Wall Vents – It is essential to clear obstructions from the vents to ensure efficient air flow. Inside, you should check for household dust and insects, whereas outside vents tend to clog with leaves and other debris. Don’t forget to keep your cold-air return vents clear as well.
Cautionary
Pilot Light Inspection – About the only other routine maintenance you can perform yourself, is to check the flame-quality of your central heating pilot light. With the prevalence of natural gas these days, you should see a clear blue flame. If it’s yellow or orange in appearance though, then a problem is indicated, so find a heating technician without delay.
A Little Knowledge Can be Dangerous
One of our London heating experts laughs to himself when he gets called out to fix a problem caused by a DIY “heating expert”. He says that the old adage “penny wise and pound foolish” is so relevant to his line of business!
Tags: Central Heating, dust, find a plumbing-heating-and-gas expert, flame, furnace filters, heat, knowledge, leaves, london heating specialist, maintenance, plumbing-heating-and-gas quote, thermostat, vents, warm air
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | No Comments »
Posted in Tiling & Flooring on May 14
 If you are looking for subtle ways of brightening up your bathroom, you could find that mosaic tiles are just the job. They can add texture as they come in a variety of shapes and patterns, and there’s a veritable kaleidoscope of colours to select from too. You can even add some of your own artistic ideas to get a sensational finish, and all your friends will think you’ve had the experts in! If you’re not quite so brave, perhaps you should find a tiling and flooring expert right here on Mr-Skill.
Tips on Design
If this is a first attempt at using mosaic tiles, it may be best to start with a simple concept. Even basic designs can look really impressive with bold highlights and a mix of complimentary colours. This form of tiling can be quite fiddly too, because each tile making up the mosaic needs to be positioned and glued in place individually. It can be quite similar to fitting pieces together in a jigsaw puzzle.
Tips on Colour Selection
Give some thought to the four components of colour, which are:
- Tone
- Temperature
- Hue
- Intensity
If colour composition is not your best subject, rather get a tiling quote right here.
Tone is the degree of lightness or darkness of a colour, whereas temperature refers to the warmth or coolness factor. Hue is the parent group of colours, including red, yellow and blue, while intensity indicates the depth of a particular colour choice.
Taking it a step further, colours of different hues, but with matching tones can be complimentary. However, colours of varying intensity or temperature could end up clashing. When you select your mosaics tiles, consider them in different colour combinations before setting them in glue. Moreover, as you work, glance away from the detail from time to time, so as to keep the bigger picture in your mind. It’s very easy to get confused otherwise!
Choosing Grout for Your Mosaics
The mix that we use to seal gaps between mosaic tiles is known as grout, and we use it to keep out unwanted dirt and dust too. Grout comes in many colour options, so you need to consider carefully, because your choice of grout finish can make or break the overall impact of your job. One of our regular London tiling and flooring specialists advises that if in doubt, use grey as your grout colour. That’s because grey is perfectly neutral, being halfway between black and white!
Tags: clash, colour, colour components, complimentary, coolness, design, find a tiling-and-flooring expert, grout, highlights, hue, intensity, london tiling-and-flooring specialist, mosaic tiles, temperature, texture, tiling-and-flooring quote, tone, warmth
Posted in Tiling & Flooring | No Comments »
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on May 09
Here at Mr-Skill, we aim to promote skilled tradespeople. We also like to provide useful tips for the DIY lobby. Drywall finishing is certainly not the easiest job to get right on your own. It takes a lot of practice to get that professional look, and it is not as easy as it may seem.
It’s all about eye-to-hand coordination, and just as some folk are better at kicking a football, others simply cannot get plastering right. Drywall plastering really is an accomplished skill, and quite frankly we suggest you find a plastering and drywall specialist right here on Mr-Skill.  Leave this one to the professionals, and enjoy their handiwork.
Drywall plastering is a messy job at the best of times. Dan – he’s a regular London plasterer and drywall expert – is going to offer a couple of really valuable tips for those brave enough to tackle this job themselves right here. Over to Dan then!
“Drywall plastering is literally a touchy / feely process,” says Dan, “and this skill takes time to acquire. Rather like driving, you need to practice under genuine road conditions. So too with drywall finishing – you have to develop a feel for certain tools, as well as know how to mix a perfect compound for joint covering.
“It all starts with the correct hanging job in the first place, says Dan. ”Your drywall has to be dead-flush against the wall and ceiling joints. Each screw hole should be countersunk to the precise depth, so as not to tear the drywall paper. You should also use sufficient fasteners there.
“As a guide, I insist on a screw every sixteen inches along the walls, and each twelve inches along ceilings.  I allow a quarter-inch gap on corner and other joints, although I try to aim for a flush seam where possible”.
Moving on to the compound, Dan says that “most folk mix in a bucket or basin and end up with plaster that’s too stiff for use. You need to add sufficient water to make the mix the same consistency as creamy sponge cake icing. And it has to be lump-free for obvious reasons too. Don’t be tempted to over-whip the mix, as you will introduce too much air. This will show as tiny air bubbles in the application. Try to mix it gently and thoroughly”.
That’s as far as Dan is prepared to go with his secret-sharing. He feels passionate about his work and would far rather see you getting a plastering and drywall quote and a professional job.
Tags: ceiling, compound, counter-sink, fasteners, find a plastering-and-drywall specialist, hanging, joints, london plasterer-and-drywall expert, mix, plaster, plastering-and-drywall quote, screws, seams, walls, washers
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In this two part article, we first look at attending to brickwork tainted by air-borne pollution and then, everybody’s pet hate, graffiti. Part two deals with the cleaning of bricks contaminated by efflorescence.
Before attempting to remove dark pollution stains from your brickwork, make sure you have the proper safety clothing, including a hard hat, heavy duty waterproof gloves and industrial shoes (also waterproof).  Since you will be using acid, this is no job for the inexperienced DIY person – rather find a painting and decorating service in your area.
If cleaning light-coloured bricks, start by scrubbing the entire wall with a 1:20 solution of hydrochloric acid and water. Strengthen the solution to 1:10 when cleaning dark coloured bricks. Mix the acid and water in a plastic bucket or basin, and then apply to the wall with a stiff scrubbing brush.
Begin by scrubbing the wall at the top left corner (assuming you’re right-handed) and move across the wall, and then downward using overlapping circular scrubbing motions. It is advisable to treat approximately one square meter, and then pressure-hose that area before moving to the next section of brick.
When pressure cleaning, be careful not to apply too much force, as intense jets of water can disturb the bonding cement and may even damage the brick face. Make sure you are positioned correctly in terms of distance from the wall, standing at least three feet away. Use a wide-sweeping action for best cleaning affect.
If this is sounding a bit hard, rather get a painting and decorating quote, and get on with something else you would rather be doing.
When cleaning off graffiti, work a thick layer of citrus-based gel over the entire painted surface.  Now, work it into the crevices using a hard nail brush. Wipe off with a clean cloth, and then work in some more gel. Repeat the process until the graffiti disappears.
One of our regular London painters and decorators offers the following tip for removing unwanted graffiti. Cover the affected gel smeared wall with a plastic sheet taped over it. Leave this in place overnight to allow the gel to penetrate. Remember, the longer graffiti is left on the wall the more difficult it will be to remove.
A final pressure clean should be all that’s needed in the morning!
Tags: acid, algae, bricks, chalk powder, efflorescence, graffiti, lime, marks, pollution, pressure hose, protective clothing, stains, streaks, weather
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Posted in Handyman Services on May 07
Sometimes the bricks outside our homes take on a white powder-like appearance which does not look very nice. Technically known as “efflorescence”, it’s basically lime seeping out of the damp brick and giving it that unwanted chalky look. Of course, external bricks can also suffer staining due to airborne pollution, while everybody dreads the “artwork” of the graffiti experts.
 While lime-staining readily brushes off, the other two forms of pollution are somewhat more difficult to deal with. In this two-part article, we first explain how to remove unwanted graffiti and the effects of pollution, and then deal with lime-based staining in part two.
Removing Efflorescence Staining
Although this is a moderately easy job, you may prefer to seek professional assistance – find a handyman service right here on Mr-Skill and they will quickly resolve your brick-staining problem.
Assuming the lime powder is reasonably easy to reach using a properly secured ladder, begin by using a dry, stiff scrubbing brush. Resist the urge to wash down the brickwork after scrubbing, because wetting the wall will quickly see the staining problem return.
The next stage is to use a soft paint brush to remove the chalky deposits. You may find streaking caused by leaking downpipes or poorly positioned flashing. First repair the leak to eliminate the problem. If your water-heater tank is overflowing, it too may cause unsightly staining on the surrounding bricks. A simple adjustment to the float controlling the water level in the heater tank is probably all that is required.
Call in the Professionals
If you feel challenged by the thought of venturing up a ladder to clean your brickwork, why not get a handyman service quote instead? Then you can sit back and watch your unsightly wall being transformed to its original splendour.
Kevin, he’s one of our London handymen services, advises that efflorescence can manifest itself in brickwork long after the wall was built. It’s a combination of insufficient curing, and the elements going to work in the form of damp drawing out the remaining lime. He goes on to say that streaking on walls may be the result of something more serious by way of leaking pipes or drains. In this case, you would do well to bring in the experts rather than have a go yourself. Sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous!
Tags: cleaning, damp, efflorescence, find a handyman service, flashing, graffiti, handymen services quote, hydrochloric acid, leaks, lime, london handymen services, pipes, pollution, powder, pressure hose, protective clothing, stains, streaks, water, weather
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Probably the best kept secret to any good painting job lies in the word “preparation”. If you want your painting handiwork to look as good – if not better – than the professional look, you need to be well organised and prepare effectively. If you are not too sure about proceeding with the job yourself, you can find a decorator right here on Mr-Skill. Then, just sit back and let the experts do in one day, what may take you far longer.
Begin with the protection factor – preferably remove the furniture from the room you are redecorating. If this is not possible, then cover everything with old sheets to prevent paint spills and keep out the dust. Don’t forget the carpets, and remove pictures too. If this is starting to sound too hard, perhaps you should consider a decorating quote? 
Attend to any cracks or holes in the surfaces you are about to paint and sand them down when dry. Now, mix a mild solution of sugar soap in warm water, and use this for removing marks, oil, grease and general dirt. Mask off anything necessary, including straight edges where ceilings and walls meet, so that you can concentrate on the task at hand, namely painting!
We’re assuming you have all the materials you require for the job, such as:
- The appropriate quality paint, brushes, rollers and trays
- Interior plaster-filler
- Suitable ladder
- Cleaning cloths
- Covers (for the furniture and carpets)
Always begin at the top with the ceiling, since paint does drip from your brush, and rollers do tend to flick paint everywhere too. Use rollers for ceilings and walls, and brushes for the detail work in corners, on skirting boards and around cornices. Rollers are designed to spread paint effectively, so avoid saturating them when you refill.
Depending on the colour you select, you may need to apply two coats of paint to get the desired finish. Remember to let the paint dry properly between applications.
One of our London decorators says that the biggest test of a job well done is the clean up after you have finished. He’s assuming of course that you have completed the job as expertly as he would!
Tags: brush, ceilings, cleaning, cloths, cornice, covers, find a painter and decorator, home painting, interior decorating, ladder, london decorator, masking, materials, paint, painter and decorator quote, Painting, professional painter, roller, skirting, tray, walls
Posted in Painting & Decorating | No Comments »
Posted in Electrical Work on May 02
Sometimes, the electricity supply to our homes is irregular, and this could cause a dip or a surge in the supply to an appliance. Fortunately, the design of our domestic plugs includes built-in protection in the form of a fuse-breaker. This clever gadget protects the appliance while it’s operating – a heavy power surge will result in a blown fuse, thus preventing damage and possibly even fire. 
Replacing the fuse is not a difficult task provided you have a basic knowledge of, and a healthy respect for electricity! To do this job yourself, you will need the correct-sized screw driver, pliers and of course, the replacement fuse. Check that the new fuse is suitably matched – amperage rating – to the old fuse. If this is all sounding a bit intimidating, why not find an electrician right here on Mr-Skill.
Start with safety first – isolate the circuit breaker on the mains board for the wall plugs that you plan to work on. Now you can safely remove the plug from the socket and take off its cover using your screw driver. Some plug covers are a clip-tight fit, and will need to be carefully prised open.
Look for the small glass tube inside the plug and remove the blown fuse from its cradle using the pliers. Blown ones will have a burnt or smudged appearance. Insert the new fuse into the cradle, checking to see that it is of the correct rating.
Recommendation: if your plugs are very old, you should consider getting an electrical quote to upgrade them all.
Clip or screw the plug cover firmly back in position. You are now ready to test the new fuse, so place the plug in the socket and switch on the circuit breaker on the mains board. Now switch on the appliance to check that everything is working as it should.
One of our London electricians recommends that you don’t take unnecessary risks with potentially faulty plugs. If after changing the fuse, the plug still does not work seek professional assistance instead.
Tags: circuit breaker, electrical fire, electrical quote, electricity, find an electrician, fuse, london electrician, mains board, pliers, plug, power, power surge, safety, screw driver, socket
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