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 With no sign of an Indian Summer this year, it looks as if autumn is well and truly upon us and time to prepare the home against the ravages of winter. Mr Skill has prepared a checklist below of the most common jobs that need to be done around your property at this time of year to ensure that, when the spring arrives, your home is still in good condition and you do not have to make costly repairs.
Dealing with the 4 Seasons
The October Checklist
Draught Proofing
 One of the biggest and most expensive wastes of resources this winter will be the heat that escapes through your un-draught proofed windows and doors. As well as wasting around £25.00 per year in lost heat, once you have properly insulated your doors and windows, you will be able to turn the thermostat down a degree or two and safe another £50.00 over the winter months.
You can get free quotes from handymen in London for draught proofing your doors and windows through our Tradesmen´s Directory, or tackle the job yourself with a little help from the Mr Skill Project Advice section.
Replacement Doors and Windows
 If doors and windows themselves are in a poor state of repair, it may be time to consider replacing them. Typical tell-tale signs are when doors and windows stick or squeak when you try to open or close them, and installing new doors and windows can add to the kerb appeal of your property as well as saving you money by being more energy efficient.
We have a number of highly rated local window fitters in London listed in our Tradesmen´s Directory, or you may choose to install a replacement window yourself with assistance from Mr Skill´s Project Advice pages.
Central Heating Systems
 An inefficient central heating system will cost you money throughout the next six to none months and potentially have its life span reduced if rust deposits and air-locks hinder the flow of water and induce pump failure. Flushing your central heating system is the best way of improving your central heating system´s performance, but it may only be necessary to bleed your radiators to ensure your house remains warm throughout the coming months.
It is a busy time of year for companies providing gas fitting services in London, so it is recommended that you use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of each page to get plumbers quotes from heating engineers in London.
Trees
 If you have trees in you garden, it is the right time of year to prune them back and remove any weak branches that may fall during high winds and heavy rain. As well as the safety aspect of not having great weights of wood crashing through your car windscreen or damaging you patio furniture, pruning your trees in autumn will allow more light to enter your home, potentially saving you money on lighting. Local gardeners in London would also suggest that the dead and decaying would is not just thrown away, but used to make stumperies for your garden´s wildlife.
Walls
 You should do a regular inspection of the walls surrounding your home – garden walls and the brickwork of the property itself – to check for cracks and damaged bricks which may suffer from the freeze-thaw effect over the winter. Our “Post-a-Job” facility will enable you to get quotes from bricklayers in London should you need to replace damaged bricks or repoint your brickwork. If the weather is kind in your area over the next couple of weeks, you may also want to consider re-painting the exterior of your property – but only once you have read our blog about “What the Exterior Colour of Your Home Says About You”!
Guttering and Roofs
 It is also the time of year to clean and repair guttering on roofs, garages and conservatories. Gutters can easily be blocked at any time of year by leaves, moss, feathers, dirt and other rubbish which has blown into them and the guttering runs can age prematurely when water fails to flow away. Whilst you are up the ladder, it is also a good opportunity to check for damaged or displaced roofing tiles which will allow the rain in and potentially cause a damp problem. A good selection of local roofers in London is available in our Tradesmen´s Directory should you find that you roof could benefit from a professional´s opinion.
Tags: brickwork, Central Heating, doors and windows, energy efficiency, Find a Bricklayer in London, Find a Builder in London, Find a Gardener in London, find a handyman in London, Find a Plumber in London, Find a Roofer in London, freeze-thaw, Guttering, Guttering & Drainage, Home Improvements, Home Maintenance, Insulation, Kerb Appeal, tradesman, windows
Posted in Dealing With The Four Seasons | Comments Off
 At a time when people are hoarding their money rather than spending it, there are some excellent windows of opportunity for getting good deals on improving the value and appeal of your home. As any window fitter in London will advise you, installing replacement windows need not be a necessarily expensive improvement and even one you can save money on by doing it yourself. Replacement windows come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, and when trying to decide what would look best it is often a good idea to stand out in the street and imagine how you could improve your home´s kerb appeal.
In the current economic climate, it is fair to say that properties are not selling or renting as well as they did a few years ago. However, most estate agents and property specialists agree that if vendors spent as much time and money on preparing their property for sale as they spend improving a property they subsequently buy, they would find that their investment would be paid several times over with a more acceptable sale price in a shorter space of time. One of the ways in which vendors can improve the appeal and value of their home to buyers is by replacing old windows with new.
There are three ways in which replacement windows can improve the appeal and value of your home.
 Potential purchasers will appreciate new replacement windows, as not only do they make a house look more valuable, but are easier to clean and have the added benefit of being more energy efficient. If you can demonstrate to a potential purchaser that your property will be easier to maintain and cheaper to heat, it gives you an edge over every other house they will view. Furthermore, once they have seen your house with its brand new windows, any future properties they view will have to live up to, or exceed, the attractive exterior of your home.
Even if you are not considering selling your property in the near future, you can enjoy the same benefits of an improved appearance, lower maintenance and more fuel efficient home that come with replacement windows. With the money you can make in the long-term by having a more appealing home and the money you can save in the short term with lower fuel bills, shouldn`t you be taking this window of opportunity?
For more information about how replacement windows can improve the appeal and value of your home, speak with any local window fitters in London listed in our Tradesmen´s Directory, or use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page to attract window fitting quotes from tradesmen in your local area.
Tags: add value to your property, Cleaning Services, energy efficiency, find a window fitter, Fuel Bills, Home Improvements, Kerb Appeal, replacement windows, window fitters london, Windows and Doors
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 If you are looking to improve the appeal and value of your home with some exterior decoration, choosing the right colour with which to paint your home is of primary importance. It is not enough to select a colour which is welcoming and attractive – it has to fit in with the neighbourhood, or else you could find yourself having gone to a whole load of trouble and expense, just to repeat the exercise with a completely different colour.
Local painters in London will have an excellent idea about what is in vogue or out of fashion at the moment, and you should heed their advice when trying to sell your home. Even if you personally crave a bubblegum pink house, consider what painting the exterior of your property in such a garish colour would do to the value of your property! Sometimes even white can stand out for the wrong reasons when your neighbourhood is painted in such a way that it reflects the colours of nature, and this getting quotes from painters in London gives you the opportunity to compare more than prices.
A good tip is to take a trip around your local area with a digital camera or your mobile phone, and compile a library of the colour schemes you both like and which seem to blend into the neighbourhood for the right reasons – whilst still looking distinctive. A lot can be read into the colours you finally choose to paint your home in, as our guide below illustrates.
What the Exterior Colour of Your Home Says about You
 White – White is the colour of purity, simplicity and – very importantly if you are trying to sell your home – naivety! The implication of painting the exterior of your property white is that you are innocent, have idealistic tendencies and are prepared to get knocked down on the asking price for your home.
Red – Red is the colour of health, strength and vitality. It represents warmth and optimism, but can also mean danger and be a totally over powering colour. If you are thinking of including a lot of red in your exterior decoration, you will need to find a purchaser who is equally strong, warm and optimistic.
 Orange – Orange is more than just a close relative of red; it is a colour which has traditionally represented luxury and flamboyancy. If you paint the outside of your home in orange tones, make sure it reflects the area in which you live – orange houses in Dagenham may not sell that well!
Yellow – Yellow is the colour of happiness, with owners painting their houses in shades of yellow considering themselves to be wise, adventurous and imaginative. Yellow-based colours reflect a shrewd personality with a head for business and a deep sense of humour. Yellow houses sell well to like minded people!
 Green – Green is the colour of harmony and balance. Green symbolises hope and peace and would possibly appeal to a female more than a male when negotiating a business transaction! Houses decorated in green usually contain modest yet patient inhabitants who will wait until their price is met before accepting an offer.
Blue – Shades of blue represent conservatism and deliberation. You will never get a quick decision from a person who has painted their house blue, and the closer to purple the shade of blue is (i.e. lavender), the more authoritive they believe themselves to be. People painting their homes turquoise are normally confused!
 Brown – Brown symbolises durability, stamina and patience. Although not very exciting, a brown painted exterior indicates reliability and responsibility – you can be sure that the interior of the home is going to be in immaculate condition. Brown house sellers are often inflexible with their asking price.
Black – People who paint the exterior of their properties in black are dignified without being ostentatious. Expect the interior of a property to be minimalistic and possibly a better bet for homebuyers would be to aim for a house painted in grey – which at least shows a degree of compromise.
Before you dash out to find a painter in London who is prepared to paint your house in green and yellow stripes, consider not only how that would look in the area in which you live, but also who your potential market is. If you live in a predominantly conservative area, a blue front door will be more appealing than a red one to a potential buyer, but in a well-to-do area, black doors and window frames may have more appeal to those who like their privacy.
It may not be what the exterior colour of your home says about you that is so important, but what it means to the person who is buying it!
Lead Image courtesy of: Flickr user Team Dalog. Original image
Tags: colour, decor, exterior, find a decorator, find a painter in london, Home Improvements, Kerb Appeal, painter quotes, Painting, Painting & Decorating, painting front door, sell your property
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 If you have never previously used an Aga range cooker – well, you have never cooked! For the versatility and convenience of roasting, baking and grilling all at the same time, Aga range cookers are an incredibly attractive and valuable addition to any kitchen. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford an Aga range cooker and that is why many of the leading electrical warehouses have now introduced alternative range cookers amongst their kitchen hardware products.
 Although kitchen range cookers take up more space (60cm – 150cm) than a conventional cooker, the look and appeal it gives to your kitchen makes it stand out from any other. Available in a selection of colours and sizes, range cookers can be added to any kitchen for little more than what a conventional cooker costs to buy and are easy to install. As a way of improving the value and appeal of your home, kitchen range cookers should be included whenever planning a new kitchen or making improvements to an existing one.
 To find a kitchen fitter in London who could advise you on the best range cooker for your kitchen could not be easier. Mr-Skill.co.uk has an excellent Tradesmen´s Directory from which you can select the kitchen fitter in London most local to you, or take a look at our “Inspirations” article about the different range cooker options available to you and how they would appear in your kitchen. A kitchen range cooker can make all the difference to the value and appeal of your home and will more than pay for itself should you ever wish to sell.
Tags: cooker range, find a kitchen fitter, Home Improvements, kitchen fitter quotes, kitchen fitters london, Kitchen Fitting, plan a new kitchen, Tradesmen´s Directory
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 Local interior designers in London will tell you that nothing creates more of an impression inside and outside your home than recessed lighting. No matter in which room – or rooms – the lighting effects are implemented, directional spotlights highlighting key areas of your living environment and providing additional light for working areas in the kitchen or in a study will improve the value and appeal of your home. Replacing existing lighting appliances with recessed lighting units can accentuate decorative elements of your home as well as removing cumbersome wall and ceiling fittings, creating the appearance of more space in your property.
 However, installing recessed lighting yourself is not a job to be undertaken lightly. Most recessed lighting units come with instructions as to their safe installation, however consideration has to be given both to building regulations Part P (relating to electrical installations) and Part B (relating to fire hazard) especially when installing recessed lighting in the bathroom, kitchen or any ceiling or wall that prevents the rapid spread of fire.
Therefore it is a job which you should seek professional guidance. As you will see from the images both on this page and our “Inspirations” feature, there are many uses that can be found for recessed lighting and, when the lights  are fitted and working perfectly, the final effect is amazing. However, using the skills of a local electrician in London – particularly when getting your installation passed Building Control – will ensure that your lights are flush, safe and approved.
Money saving CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) can also be used in recessed lighting, although unsuitable to be put into sealed recessed fittings. It is advisable to check that the unit into which you are putting your CFL has sufficient ventilation or an open face to limit the build up of heat and extend the life of the lamp. CFLs should not be put into any light fittings that are going to be  frequently switched on and then off in a short space of time.
Larger installations, such as suspended ceilings, can be done with the help of a London builder featured in our Tradesmen´s Directory and recessed uplighting in your garden will provide additional security for your home*, and illuminate your path safely up the driveway, whilst being a talking point for all your guests as they arrive. (* Please note: Recessed lighting units should not be integrated with a security motion sensor unless specifically approved by the light manufacturer – also sealed units are recommended for external use to prevent the function of the lamp being affected by moisture).
If you can see the benefit in using recessed lighting to improve the value and appearance of your home, why not “Post-a-Job” on our web site. It is quick and easy and will encourage competitive quotes from tradespeople in London direct into your email inbox.
Tags: Building Control, Building Regulations Part B, Building Regulations Part P, compact fluorescent light bulb, Decorating & Interior Design, Electrical Work, Find a Builder in London, Find an Electrician in London, find an interior designer in London, highlights, Home Improvements, interior decoration, London builder, Motion Sensors, recessed lighting, spotlights, ventilation
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 Dryer times of the year present an ideal opportunity to get some of the more labour intensive, exterior jobs done around the home. One such job is cleaning your gutters.
Gutters can easily be blocked at any time of year by leaves, moss, feathers, dirt and other rubbish which has blown into them. A London roofer would also point out that seriously neglected gutters may have weeds growing in them, trapping a high volume of debris and blocking rainwater from accessing the downpipe. This then overflows onto the walls and windows of your home. Excessive leaking or overflowing from your gutters will cause damp on the outside of your house and mould on the inside when the rainwater is absorbed by the bricks.
Cleaning your gutters regularly will enable rainwater to flow away quickly and easily, and will prevent these expensive and unsightly problems from occurring. When your gutters have been cleaned out, you may want to consider covering your gutters with a fine wire or plastic mesh. Specially produced gutter guards and covers are also available from London roofing service companies, and these precautions will prevent quite so much debris landing in your gutter and reduce the need for cleaning in the future.
Dirty gutters may not be the only reason that rainwater drips from your guttering. Leaks and cracks in the guttering sections (“runs”) and misaligned joints may also be allowing water into your home or splashing down on the entrance to your front door. Cast iron guttering can look attractive, but also rusts after a period of time, and loose brackets attaching the guttering to the wall of your property will affect the angle (“pitch”) of the guttering runs, and either not allow the rainwater to drain away, or – if too steep an angle – create a splash-over scenario in heavy rain, when the fast travelling rainwater meets the end caps. You should repair and replace as necessary, using the services of a local roofer in London if the work is too demanding for you.
While you are cleaning your gutters, it is also a good time to cast a watchful eye over the condition of your roof to ensure that there are not any loose or damaged tiles, and also to check that your brickwork is in good order for the winter ahead and does not required repointing. If you notice that your roof is damaged or the grout between the bricks needs replacing, use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page to receive tradesmen´s quotes from local roofers in London and local builders in London.
Cleaning and repairing your gutters is a job that those with a head for heights might wish to take on themselves. Alternatively, there is an excellent selection of tradesmen in London featured in our Tradesmen´s Directory who would be happy to offer you a tradesman’s quote for getting your gutters cleaned quickly and efficiently.
Tags: brickwork, dampness, drainpipe, Find a Builder in London, Find a Roofer in London, Guttering, Guttering & Drainage, gutters, mould, repointing, sagging gutters, tradesman
Posted in Dealing With The Four Seasons | Comments Off
 Now that the summer months are here, it is an ideal opportunity to find a handyman in London and get him or her to give you a hand with some of those odd jobs that never seem to get done until it is too late. One such job is draught proofing your windows and doors, and this is an excellent time of year to do get this job done because it does not matter if you have to open your doors and windows to apply the draught proofing materials throughout August. It might be a different story come November!
Not only will getting your windows and doors draught proofed by local handymen in London make your home or flat more comfortable, but you will save money as well. The Energy Savings Trust estimates that you could save £25.00 (a pony) per year by keeping warm air in and cold air out. Furthermore, as draught proofing has made your home more comfortable, you will possibly turn down the thermostat on your central heating a degree or two – saving a further £55.00 per year.
Although draught proofing is a job that you can tackle yourself, a professional handyman in London will know what materials to use and where to use them. Even though it may cost a little money for their services, the savings you make over the next few years will more than compensate for the price of the initial installation. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may also qualify for a grant or offer towards the cost of draught proofing your home, and landlords can use part of their energy saving tax allowance for draught proofing their properties.
If you would like to find out more about how your local handymen in London can help you get rid of those draughts and save a pony each year, please use our “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page to request a handyman’s quote from the local tradesmen featured in our Tradesmen´s Directory.
Tags: Central Heating, doors and windows, draught proofing, energy efficiency, Energy Saving Trust, find a handyman in London, Grants, Handyman Services, Home Improvements, Home Maintenance, Insulation, odd job, ventilation, windows
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 “Don´t Stay in the Dark” is one of the key phrases being used by the Energy Saving Trust to advise people of the money that can be saved through changing existing standard incandescent light bulbs to more fuel efficient energy saving bulbs. Up to 90% of the power consumed by “old fashioned” incandescent light bulbs generates heat, rather than light, and the new compact fluorescent light bulbs use a fraction of the electricity to generate the same amount of light – meaning lower electricity bills and a cooler home in the summer.
 For more than a decade, local electricians in London have been offering the option of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to homeowners changing their electrical lighting installations for something a little more modern. However due to the unattractive design of the initial range of CFL light bulbs, the time it used to take for them to reach full brightness and the addition cost of a CFL light bulb, their recommendations have been met with resistance by those conscious of the awkward shape these bulbs had, the safety issues surrounding a lack of instant light and the expense.
 As the government phases out incandescent light bulbs as part of its drive to reduce CO2 emissions*, more modern CFL light bulbs are becoming available through your local electrician in a range of styles with instant lighting, and coming down in price as well. In the recent “Pepsi Light Bulb Challenge” held at the Bluewater Shopping Centre, over half of the people who took part in the event could not tell the difference between the old-fashioned incandescent light bulb and a modern CF replacement.
* If every household in the UK replaced just three 60-watt bulbs with light efficient equivalents, the pollution savings would be like taking 3.5 million cars off the road.
How much can you save?
 By changing your existing light bulbs to more energy efficient replacement, not only are you helping the environment, you can save money too. Your local tradesman will be able to advise you on the exact amounts, but depending on the strength of the wattage and the length of time that your light is usually turned on, you will save (in electricity bills alone) between £3.00 and £6.00 per year per bulb. Furthermore, as each CFL light bulb lasts ten times as long as the old incandescent bulb, you could be saving a further £20.00 over the lifetime of the bulb.
 Many modern light fittings are now designed to incorporate CFL light bulbs and the latest bulbs can now be operated with a dimmer switch (which was not previously available) and are available for halogen lights in areas where a stronger light source is required. If you are planning a new electrical installation in your home and would like further information about the environmental and financial benefits of “making the switch”, you are welcome to use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of this page to ask your question, or use the Tradesmen´s Directory to contact a local electrician in London who will be happy to talk you through the changes in modern electrical lighting.
It costs nothing to ask, so “Don´t Stay in the Dark”!
Tags: CFL bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulb, dimmer switch, energy efficiency, energy saving, Energy Saving Trust, environment, incandescent light bulbs, light bulbs, save money
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 Vampires have never had a good press and deservedly so. Vampires in your home suck the life out of the environment and at least a tenner each month out of your pocket – and you may need the services of the highly rated London tradesmen from our tradesmen´s directory to get rid of them.
What we are talking about are gadgets which consume “Vampire Power” – a term first used in the States to refer to the energy used by domestic appliances left on standby overnight. The wasted power consumed by appliances such as TVs, computer equipment and mobile phone chargers in the UK not only costs you money, but indirectly causes the release of millions of tones of CO2 emissions into the environment.
How to Slay Vampires
It sounds easy to say that all that you have to do is to turn off all your electrical appliances each night, but how many of us do that? The reason that these gadgets have a standby facility is for convenience to the consumer and not only is it inconvenient to remove the plug each night, it is a pain to plug them all back in when you next want to use them. However, if you place your hand on a mobile phone charger that has been left all night, you will feel the heat coming from it – heat which has been generated by electricity way after your mobile phone has finished charging. This is electricity that you are paying for and not using. Not only is this a waste of money, but causes needless energy to be generated by power plants which are a major contributor to high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, pollution and global warning.
 Your local tradesman can suggest a number of effective devices that remove the element of inconvenience and help you save money by using less power in your home. These include power strips that enable you to turn off multiple devices with just the flick of a switch – you can even have a switch fitted by a local tradesman adjacent to your light switch so that you disconnect the power as you turn off the lights in the evening. Not only does this mean that you are not inconvenienced by switching off all the gadgets in your home, it also reduces the risk of fire breaking out.
 You might even want to consider having timing devices fitted by your local tradesman to your electrical sockets so that you do not even have to worry about remembering to disconnect your power supply, and for the very technically advanced, you can even ask a local tradesman to install a program on your computer that controls the timings for all the electrical appliances in your home. For those that have Internet access via your mobile phone, all you have to do is press one key on your mobile to turn off all your power wasting appliances and put those vampires to bed!
How much difference does it make?
In turns of saving the environment, individually very little. But here are some statistics that an energy-conscious local tradesman would be able to confirm:-
- One computer left on all day results in the emission of 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year. It takes up to 500 trees to absorb that amount of extra carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
- A video recorder left on standby uses 80% of the electricity consumed when it is actually playing.
- If everyone in the UK turned off their TV overnight it would save more than £66 million in electricity bills each year.
- Incredibly, stereos and radios left with the little red light on, account for over 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Based on the computer scenario above, that amount of carbon released into the atmosphere requires over 2.35 million trees to soak it up – more than are planned in London in the next fifteen years.
For more details about the volume of carbon we pump into the atmosphere, there is a news item on the BBC you may find of interest, you can visit the Energy Saving Trust web site or speak to one of the local tradesmen familiar with energy saving issues and are featured in our tradesmen´s directory.
How Much Will I Save?
 It is difficult to put a definitive figure on your potential savings because so many homes use different appliances and of these, some will be older and less energy efficient. However, a report prepared by the University of Strathclyde calculated that the energy wasted through appliances left on standby in an average home amounted to 525Kw per year. At current electricity prices in London, that amounts to £99.75 per year for the average household. If you have children, it is likely to be much higher.
 Plus there are other considerations to take into account. We have already mentioned the heat that is generated from a mobile phone charger when it has been in use. All of your electrical appliances are a source of heat, and by switching them off when not in use you will also save money on the cost of cooling your home during the summer months. Furthermore, if using a power strip with a surge detector, you will eliminate the possibility of damage to your appliances when they are switched on through a spike in voltage.
 It is always financially worth speaking with a local tradesman about energy saving devices. Some electrical changes in the home required Part P Approval by a qualified engineer – particularly in the bathroom and kitchen – and the highly rated tradesmen featured in our tradesmen´s directory are always happy to pay a visit to your home to advise you on the most efficient way to rid your house of the vampires, help the environment and save you money – with not a clove of garlic in sight!
Tags: carbon dioxide, computers, domestic appliances, electricity prices, Energy Saving Trust, environment, global warming, mobile phones, Part P Approval, power strip, save money, standby, Surge Protector, televisions, times, Tradesmen´s Directory
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If doors and windows themselves are in a poor state of repair, it may be time to consider replacing them. Typical tell-tale signs are when doors and windows stick or squeak when you try to open or close them, and installing new doors and windows can add to the kerb appeal of your property as well as saving you money by being more energy efficient.
An inefficient central heating system will cost you money throughout the next six to none months and potentially have its life span reduced if rust deposits and air-locks hinder the flow of water and induce pump failure. Flushing your central heating system is the best way of improving your central heating system´s performance, but it may only be necessary to bleed your radiators to ensure your house remains warm throughout the coming months.
You should do a regular inspection of the walls surrounding your home – garden walls and the brickwork of the property itself – to check for cracks and damaged bricks which may suffer from the freeze-thaw effect over the winter. Our “Post-a-Job” facility will enable you to get quotes from bricklayers in London should you need to replace damaged bricks or repoint your brickwork. If the weather is kind in your area over the next couple of weeks, you may also want to consider re-painting the exterior of your property – but only once you have read our blog about “What the Exterior Colour of Your Home Says About You”!
It is also the time of year to clean and repair guttering on roofs, garages and conservatories. Gutters can easily be blocked at any time of year by leaves, moss, feathers, dirt and other rubbish which has blown into them and the guttering runs can age prematurely when water fails to flow away. Whilst you are up the ladder, it is also a good opportunity to check for damaged or displaced roofing tiles which will allow the rain in and potentially cause a damp problem. A good selection of local roofers in London is available in our Tradesmen´s Directory should you find that you roof could benefit from a professional´s opinion.
