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Posted in General Building on Oct 15
Before you Find a Builder to complement your house with a perfect garden wall you really ought to choose the design yourself. This is because a boundary wall along a street is the ultimate statement of the owner’s taste, and hence a personal decision.  Here are some ideas to get you going. The comments are our personal feelings, not the final word on the subject!
• The first decision needed is the height of your garden wall, which has a great deal to do with why you are building it in the first place. If you require privacy the wall will be far higher than if you are defining the street line in a garden suburb. There will be council regulations that control height too.
• Your next choice is probably the materials to use. Here you are guided by several considerations. These include the style of your own house, the prevailing vernacular in the neighborhood, and the magnitude of Builder’s Quotes that you can afford. Cost is not the only consideration though. A first impression from the street can influence the value of a home enormously.
•  Where possible avoid a monotonous run of wall. There are various techniques to use. These include staggered heights, curved effects and inset sections. Experienced London Builders often recommend incorporating a herbaceous feature here and there. That’s because Mother Nature does not work in straight lines, and neither ought you to.
When you know exactly what you require it’s time to get competitive quotes. May I suggest you include Mr-Skill in this? They have a large number of Rated Builders available to work in every Postcode, and their unique bidding system ensures attractive bids.
They are also well-versed in design alternatives, and will be delighted to help you to choose the best design.
Tags: bid, boundary, Builders Quotes, cost, council, curve, decision, define, design, feature, find a builder, Garden, height, herbacious, house, inset, london builders, material, monotonous, perfect, privacy, rated, regulation, stagger, statement, street, style, taste, technique, vernacular, wall
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Posted in General Building on Jun 14
Summer is a great time to get out in the garden, light the barbeque and prune the roses. Perhaps one could also hop into the car and brave the traffic all the way down to Brighton?  But summer is also the right time to Find a Builder to catch up on the outdoor jobs while it’s not raining.
o Start with the roof and any chimneys first. Are the tiles or sheets still in good position and held tightly down? Check the flashing too, and double check for any signs of leaks by looking up at upstairs ceilings. And the gutters? Are they nice and clear too?
o Check the openings into buildings next – by this I mean the windows and the doors. Are they closing tightly and are all the locks and other fastenings working correctly too. This is not just about weatherproofing either. It’s about keeping burglars out as well.
o Go all the way around the house checking that the rainwater is still draining away nicely. Look for cracks in rendering and signs of damp rising up the walls. Go inside too,  moving furniture away from internal walls. Any signs of damp? You need to get a Building Quote before things get worse.
o A Builder in London I got chatting too the other day while waiting for a train back home remarked that gates and fences are like our teeth. By that he meant that some of us neglect them both until they start to give us trouble, at which point they cost a lot of money to repair.
I reckon that chap standing with me on a railway platform had exactly the right idea. We need to keep a hand on homes and fix the little things before they become expensive. Summer is the best time to do this while it’s still nice and warm. Unless, that is, you feel like stopping gaps while the winter rains fall down on you. I just thought I’d mention it, to keep you nice and warm and dry.
Tags: builder, builder london, Building, building quotes, burglar, ceiling, check, chimney, correct, damp, door, drain, expensive, fastening, find a builder, fix, flashing, Garden, hand, home, inside, inspect, job, leak, lock, opening, outdoor, position, rain, rainwater, render, roof, sheet, summer, tight, tile, wall, weather, work
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Posted in General Building on Apr 15
 We all get used to having boring smooth-plastered painted walls in every room, except that is in bathrooms where we often have equally monotonous tiles. Why not splash out and Find a Builder on Mr-Skill to add some texture to your house – you will have no idea how fun this is until you try.
Every second Building Job in London and other larger UK City these days seems to involve an element of special textures applied to inside walls. Unpolished ceramics imitating stone that may be more expensive are becoming increasingly popular. But there are other options too.
To my mind, the use of rough face brick still offers superb opportunities to make an evocative statement. We all have happy childhood memories of sleeping out in barns, and evenings spent in listed pubs when we grew older around genuine  fires.
You could achieve other stunning effects as well. How about a reveal around a picture window or exquisite detailing around a feature fireplace. When you review the Builder Quotes you get from Mr-Skill you will be truly astounded at what is possible, and at how relatively inexpensive this can be too.
So, pop down to your local library, surf the internet and buy designer magazines. Somewhere you will spot your dream – after that, it is just a matter of making things happen as you always do. Splash out on your imagination. Dream your interior decorators’ dream. We all have artists living inside of of us. Why not give your personal magician a whirl? You will never know what you could achieve until you let it happen. Happy decorating in 2011.
Tags: artist, barn, boring, brick, builder london, builder quote, building job london, building quotes, ceramic, dream, face, face brick, feature, feature wall, find a builder, find a tradesman, fireplace, internet, library, listed, magazine, paint, plaster, pub, reveal, rough, stone, tile, tradesman london, tradesman quote, wall
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Posted in General Building on Mar 14
 Are planning an uptick on your bathroom for 2011 – if so then you ought to bear in mind the following trends recently announced by the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
 o Quartz countertops are still in vogue and continuing to take expensive homes by storm across the globe. It seems that while granite is not yet quite passé, more lively quartz is catching up. And the reason – a far better range of colours and effects from which to choose. Bear this in mind when finalising a Bathroom Fitting Quote.
o The trend is firmly away from countertop sinks back to undermounts, most likely for entirely practical reasons and common sense. Satin-effect taps and other bathroom fittings are continuing to dominate the markets because of their soft-effect that matches modern bathroom luminescence.
o My lady friend who is influential among other Bath Fitting London Experts was almost lyrical when she discussed the move towards green colours generally. Although whites, off-whites and beige’s are still the most popular, almost 25% of orders she received so far this year are for shades of green.
So now you know the latest trends according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association you can go ahead and Find a Bathroom Fitter on Mr-Skill. I’m thinking of redoing my bathroom too – satin taps and shades of green sound virtually yummy.
Tags: bath fitter london, bath fitter quote, bath fitting london, bath fitting quote, bathroom, bathroom fitter london, bathroom fitter quote, bathroom fitting london, bathroom fitting quote, colour, countertop, find a bath fitter, find a bathroom fitter, fitting, granite, green, practical, quartz, satin, satin-effect, sink, tap, trend, undermount
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Posted in General Building on Jan 27
Loft Conversions are as popular all over the United Kingdom as they ever were. That’s because the current economic  recession has ended up with two or even three generations sharing a single home, and many of us no longer having the money to buy a larger house. While rated Building Quotes from Mr-Skill should be competitive, it’s always handy to know how to compare them.
The following are the factors driving loft prices for different designs in different towns.
o Everything is more expensive in the City, and that is why a Builder in London will charge more for the same job that one in a small town. There are many reasons for this which I shall not go into here.
o Another factor is design. Things to consider include roof styles and finishes, window types, staircase designs and whether central heating and a bathroom are required too.
o Size is a critical determinant of cost too. However cost per square foot seldom increases in a straight line, meaning  that you should make the rooms a decent size while you are at it.
Before you engage a builder and pay that hefty first deposit you must do a proper due diligence first. Is the builder registered? Have they done work like this before? And, most importantly do the neighbours agree and has the Council approved the plans?
The current state of the economy and the depressed construction market makes this an excellent time to get Builder Quotes for an affordable loft conversion. At Mr-Skill our advice remains the same – get 5 quotes and consider the 3 middle ones. That way you avoid a builder who cuts corners, and one who is not really interested in doing any more loft conversion work.
Tags: bathroom, builder london, builder quote, building job london, building quotes, city, conversion, council, deposit, design, find a builder, find a tradesman, finish, heating, home, house, loft, loo, neithbours, plan, register, roof, room, size, small town, stair, staircase, style, tradesman london, tradesman quote, window
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A New Year is a time to make resolutions to catch up on all unfinished projects like an outside barbecue for summer months, a new patio or a decent pathway down to the shed. Why wait longer when Mr-Skill provides outstanding opportunities to find a tradesman who is rated to be able to complete a competent job at a fair price.
It is really easy to get builders quotes these days if you use the facilities offered by our website. It just takes moments to register and type in what you have in mind at no cost and  no obligation to you either.
Shortly afterwards, you will start receiving enquiries from craftsmen who may have already completed a building job in London and elsewhere too and can prove their competence. Their prices will all be competitive because they will know that you are comparing prices so you will save money as well as time.
It’s that easy to get that backlog of building jobs at home right up to date with Mr-Skill. Why not list an enquiry today? If you decide not to accept an offer there is no charge, and we will welcome you back again.
Aren’t you glad that there is such an easy site like Mr Skill that you can use to get tradesmen quotes so quickly? It really does take the pain out of the process and there is the added advantage of working with recommended people too.
Tags: barbeque, builder(s) london, Builders Quotes, building job london, building quotes, competence, competent, competitive, cost, easy, enquiry, find a builder, find a tradesman, free, home, house, inquiry, no cost, offer, path, pathway, patio, price, quotation, quote, register, shed, summer, tradesman london, tradesman quotes, unfinished
Posted in General Building, Inspirations | Comments Off
 Most of us have garages, and some of us have storage sheds too. The problem is that we store so much junk in them that the car ends up outside, and the bicycles in the rain.
What about using the space between the car roof and the ceiling instead? Before you let the money that a decent racking system costs scare you away, compare this with the cost of just two months rented storage elsewhere. If this makes sense to you, read on. Do not worry if you think you are unable to do the job yourself – Mr-Skill will help you find a handyman right for the job.
Garages with pitched roofs have oodles of unused space above the car. This is because architects design them to blend in with the house even though a car is less than door height in the house. In  essence, all you have to do is install some mezzanine racking at the right height, cover it with timber, and you have a new crawlspace storeroom above the car.
You could also hang your mezzanine floor from the ceiling – the risk here is that it could come loose, or the rafters could get loaded with too much weight. That is why I agree with handymen from London that you build it up from the floor like a tree trunk. It may cost more, but it will do more work too.
You will be surprised how much extra space you can create for so relatively little money. Your garage will look tidier, and you will be able to find all your tools again. How is that for another good idea from Mr-Skill? Now its time to get cracking with handyman quotes.
Tags: build storge inside the garage, car, costs, crawlspace, find a handyman, garage, handyman quotes, handymen london, junk, mezzanine, racking, roof, roof space, shed, space, storage
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery, General Building, Handyman Services, Moving Homes & Hauliers | Comments Off
 Should you be the proud parent of young children or have elderly and infirm relatives living in your home, corner guards are a great way to protect them against injury in a fall and save your property from being damaged at the same time. Corner guards have been present in hospitals and schools for some time, but are now being designed for the home market and can be used in many different applications.Once upon a time, corner guards would have been purely practical items which you would have acquired from a handyman in London, but now they can be integrated into your interior design and available from London decorators, and even tilers working on flooring jobs in London will recommended corner guards in certain circumstances.
Corner Guards on Walls
 If you have ever had small children ride tricycles in your home, you will appreciate the value of corner guards. Corner guards can be installed on the sides of door openings or end partitions of walls to protect them from damage should your children not yet have mastered the art of steering. They are available in a number of materials (the corner guards, not the children) including clear plastic, moulded plastic, rubber, padded aluminium and stainless steel, and can be selected to compliment or contrast with your existing decor.
Corner guards can usually be purchased “off-the-shelf” from a hardware store in 90 degree or 135 degree angles, with a choice of lengths available to suit your personal circumstances. Similar materials are used in safety stair nosing, which can also be integrated with a grip on the horizontal plane to prevent slipping on carpeted or polished wooden stairs.
Corner Guards on Furniture
 Any sharp angle on furniture presents potential hazard to people tripping or falling, and corner guards can be used to prevent cuts or worse when kids bang their heads on tables or the corners of shelving units. They are also quite handy features to prevent adults getting a nasty bruise on the leg when walking into a corner, as sometimes happens. Fire surrounds are another area of the home which can be protected by corner guards, and although you cannot cushion your entire living environment, you can make your home as safe a place to live in as possible  by making use of corner guards at each opportunity.
Corner guards, stair nosing and table or fireplace protectors are not expensive to buy and reasonably simple to install. However, if you are in any doubt that you are able to fix them correctly, it is better to use to services of a tradesman in London to have these safety features secured firmly to ensure they perform as they were intended. A selection of local handymen in London is available through Mr Skill’s Tradesmen’s Directory, or you can alert local tradesmen in your area to your requirements by using the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page.
Tags: carpet, children, corner units, Decorating & Interior Design, doors and windows, find a handyman in London, fireplaces, furniture, nosing, safety, safety guard, safety recommendations, Shelving, stairs, tables, Tradesmen´s Directory
Posted in General Building, Handyman Services, Painting & Decorating, Tiling & Flooring, Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
 Recessed lighting is an inexpensive and contemporary way to improve the value and appearance of your home. Any room in the house can benefit from recessed lighting, with the removal of existing bulky light fittings and wires creating a cleaner, more spacious appearance. Whether you are redecorating an entire area of your house or simply require an additional light source in one specific location, consider recessed lighting as a more attractive and modern alternative.
Recessed Lighting in the Hallway
Most new homes now include some recessed lighting in hallways, entrance areas, or porches. Units are installed into the ceiling with only a ring and bulb visible to the eye. It’s a simple, uncluttered look that can be used in nearly any room of a new home, as well as in some areas of an older home.
 Recessed Lighting in the Lounge
Lounges are a great place to install recessed lighting. The lights can be used with a variety of effects – directional spotlights, floodlights, coloured or discrete lighting can all be used to create the ideal room in which to work, rest and play whilst at the same time highlighting any attractive features of the room.
 Recessed Lighting in the Kitchen
The kitchen offers a very versatile location for the introduction of recessed lighting. Not just for the ceiling, recessed lighting can be installed under existing cupboards to shine down on working surfaces where you may be studying a cookery book or combining ingredients for a sumptuous meal.
 Recessed Lighting in the Dining Room
What better way to create an ambient or romantic mood for dinner than with spot lit recessed lighting. With the application of a dimmer switch on your dining room lighting circuit, you are able to create any mood you wish. Recessed lighting will surely create a talking point over dinner!
 Recessed Lighting in the Bathroom
Recessed lighting in the bathroom adds a touch of class to your ablutions. As with the kitchen, you will need Building Control permission before changing an electric circuit in the bathroom, and you will have to use special sealed units to guard against condensation.
 Recessed Lighting in the Bedroom
Recessed lighting in the bedroom can create an awesome effect – especially when integrated with existing lighting applications or uplighted coving. Combining recessed lighting with any existing lighting effects is okay provided that you do not exceed the recommend load on the electrical circuit.
 Recessed Lighting in the Garden
Low voltage recessed lighting in garden decking or installed into steps provide additional safety when trying to navigate your garden in the dark and extra security for your property. It is also an attractive addition to a garden and can be used in many imaginative situations to great effect.
 Recessed Lighting in the Drive
A further attractive security measure is having recessed lighting brighten your drive. A more convenient way of lightening up the path to your property, recessed lighting in the drive can be integrated with a gate or garage opening mechanism to come on and go off just when you need it.
 Installing recessed lighting can be quite an advanced job and better if done by a qualified tradesman. In certain rooms (bathroom and kitchen) you will need Building Control permission before commencing any work and, as with most electrical installations, Part P approval from a London electrician to ensure you work conforms to the building regulations. Despite the hard work, cost and red tape involved in installing recessed lighting in your property, the effort is definitely worthwhile and provides the opportunity to let your house shine out.
Tags: bathroom, bedroom, compact fluorescent light bulb, Dining Room, driveway, Electrical Work, Find an Electrician in London, floodlight, garden lighting, hallway, Home Improvements, kitchen, lounge, low voltage lighting, perimeter security, porch, recessed lighting, spotlight
Posted in Electrical Work, General Building, Handyman Services, Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
 Outdoor lighting is an effective means of highlighting the most attractive areas of your garden – and shading some of those which are less desirable. It is perfect for adding extra security to your garden, creating a karmic environment or for outside entertaining, and is certain to attract positive attention plus improve the appeal and value of your home.
 Adding lighting effects need not be expensive. A modest lighting scheme may set you back less than a hundred pounds and can be done with the help of a local landscaper in London – although it may be more cost efficient to get some handyman quotes as well before you start. For more elaborate schemes you may need the assistance of a builder in London to help with the reconstruction of any patio areas, and you will definitely require the services of a London electrician  as introducing any lighting scheme in your garden will need permission from Building Control before you start and Part P Approval once the work is completed. If it already seems like it is too much trouble – it´s not. The additional security and value that you will achieve by brightening up your garden is extremely worthwhile.
 You need not have an incredibly large garden either. Small gardens can still be brought to life in the hours of darkness with selective lighting, although you should be careful – no matter what size of garden you have – not to cause undo light pollution and upset all your neighbours! Your choice of lights and lighting fixtures is going to be determined by what you want to achieve with your lighting and how much budget you have. It is well worth speaking with a few exterior design professionals and getting quotes from landscapers in London when you are in the concept stage of your garden lighting. There will be some things which are impractical to do, or your local electricians in London will advise you will not pass planning. Furthermore, consider where your power source is coming from. You may not want an electrical cable running across your lawn, and could benefit from the installation of solar lighting.
There are also many different lighting techniques that you may want to consider:-
Uplighting – This is a subtle way to light up gazebos, pergolas, large tree branches and the sides of buildings. Fixtures are normally fixed at low level or on the ground to create this effect.
Downlighting – Lighting fixtures situated above head level shine light down from trees, walls and roofs. This is a handy technique for illuminating large areas.
Spotlighting – Using spotlights to pick out individual features can be enchanting and create the impression of a deceptively large garden.
Crosslighting – This is where lights are placed on either side of an object (such as a tree or statue) to reveal more detail and create a more subtle shadow effect.
Silhouetting – An exceptionally effective form of lighting where the source of the light is positioned behind a large object to spray light out from behind.
Shadowing – where recessed lighting is placed in front of an object to cast dramatic shadows – often larger than the object itself!
Moonlighting – A romantic moonlight effect created by downlighting a subtle low-voltage light through the branches of trees.
Spread Lighting – This technique illuminates large flat areas, such as lawns and terraces, by creating a circular spread of light.
Water Lighting – If you have a water source, such as a pond or pool in your garden, you can integrate your existing water lighting with the improvements you are making to the rest of the garden. Although underwater lighting can be more expensive, the effects you can get are astonishing.
 You may also want to consider lighting up paths, steps and decking. This can be done in a number of ways, with the most popular being “walk-over” lights being built into the step. Disguising light sources under steps and handrails gives a more subtle light and makes a dark area of your garden safer to navigate.
 Do not forget to think about colours as well! Green filters are a popular choice, and white lights bring out the best in water features. You may want to select a colour scheme which matches the summer plants throughout your garden or integrate a mixture of lighting ideas to compliment specific areas of your garden. Whichever you choose, the local tradesmen in London featured in our Tradesmen´s Directory will be keen to help with any inspiration you need to brighten up your garden with outdoor lighting.
Tags: add value to your property, Building Control, Electrical Work, Electricians in London, Find a Builder in London, find a handyman in London, Find a Landscape Gardener in London, garden lighting, Gardening & Landscaping, General Builders, Handyman Services, light pollution, lighting, low voltage lighting, Part P Approval, perimeter security, security
Posted in Electrical Work, Gardening & Landscaping, General Building, Handyman Services | Comments Off
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