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Posted in Electrical Work on Jun 02
A Special Announcement on Behalf of Our Partner…
Carl Bennett is not a man to give up easily. Others might have been tempted to curl up in a corner after being invalided out of their jobs following a brain tumour. Not Carl though. Because the SO19 Met Police Specialist Firearms Unit breeds  them tough.
Realising that requalifying oneself with new skills is tough for everybody too, Carl decided to take advantage of burgeoning UK demand for more technicians in the electrical and renewable energy fields. His mission to establish training facilities for these skills in the Crawley, Sussex area has met with great success and there are already two training centres in operation. Here students can obtain recognition and accreditation from City & Guilds, NICEIC and BPEC, and take a key step towards MCS accreditation too.
Now Carl, inspired by the example set by Falklands war hero Simon Weston OBE, has decided to offer one bursary per course to armed forces personnel invalided out of service or who left service voluntarily due to injury or illness.
This is the least that I can do, says Mark. These are our Forgotten Heroes. Anybody is welcome to apply. I wish I could help everybody who qualifies, but our firm is just too small.
 The first bursary will be awarded personally by Simon Weston OBE on 17 June 2011 as a gesture of his personal support. This will take place at an open day where industry leaders such as Nissan with their 100% electric car will be in support, and opportunities will be there to inspect the training centres’ impressive facilities too.
June 17th, 2011 is the TradeSkills4U Open Day. Why not sign up for this landmark event and express your support for this worthy cause right now.
All are most welcome to come and support Carl Bennett’s efforts and see what this incredible man has achieved despite his personal setback. If you are ex-armed service personnel please rest assured of an especially warm welcome when you arrive. Please do remember to introduce yourself though.
To find out more about these special opportunities call 01293-529777 or 0800-856-4448 Mondays to Fridays during business hours. Or visit http://www.tradeskills4u.co.uk/. This information is provided free of charge as Mr-Skill’s small contribution to this exciting project.
Posted in Electrical Work | No Comments »
Some power tools, including those commonly used at home do not have an earth wire. They are still safe to use though, if you let the tool do the work and follow the advice that follows. Here are the leading “do’s” and “don’ts” of power tools
Do not ever …
• force a tool to do the work
• use an under-rated power source or extension cable
• continue working when a cable overheats
• adjust a power tool without first unplugging it
• ignore strange noises from a power tool
• allow pets or children to distract you while you work
• work in an unbalanced or awkward position
• remove or disable a safety guard
Never ever (and I mean ever) …
• ignore a damaged cable
• work in the damp or rain
• work in bare feet
• stand in water with a power tool plugged in
• work without safety gear where this is required
 Always …
• keep your power tools clean
• inspect a power tool before you use it, every time
• make sure your work is securely held
• keep both hands on the power tool at all times
• make sure that you have a firm footing
• have in mind what happens if a power tool should slip
• think before you turn on a power tool
Do not ever attempt to do a job that is beyond your capabilities or the capacity of your personal power tools. Hiring power tools can be dangerous, and handymen in London seldom do. Rather ask for handyman quotes on Mr-Skill, and find a handyman to do advanced work safely for you.
Tags: adjust, cable, earth, find a handyman, force a tool, handyman quotes, handymen london, noises, power tool, powertool, safe, safe practice, safety, safety gear, safety guard, under-rated
Posted in Handyman Services, Project Advice | No Comments »
When done intelligently, and with an eye on what most other people want, redecorating can add pounds to the value of your home, and sometimes with very little effort too.  This is one reason why Halifax PLC recently found that home redecorating is the United Kingdom’s most popular home improvement pastime.
People sometimes redecorate their homes with a view to a quick sale and then regret it when they move. Others do it just because this easy task is a great one for the whole family to share. The rest have better things to do and get decorator quotes on Mr-Skill instead.
If you choose to do a job yourself make sure that it is within your capabilities and that you have enough time to do it properly. It this is not the case, or if you fear for your safety on a high ladder do as people looking for painters in London do – play it safe and appoint a decorator to paint high ceilings.
Always make sure that you use the best materials and equipment too. Going cheap inevitably shows through the job and you will regret cutting corners. This means safe ladders, decent tools, and making sure that tiles, paints and wallpaper rolls are from the same batch. This is how professional home decorators achieve perfect results, as you will see when you find a decorator here.
When doing a redecorating job at home, always make sure that you protect your face and skin from the nasty chemicals that many paints and glues contain. Wear goggles and a facemask to protect your eyes and lungs, and a good pair of gloves to avoid getting blisters. When you do a job successfully around the house with the right materials, tools and equipment, you will have discovered why so many United Kingdom homeowners enjoy doing the same
Tags: decorate, decorating, decorator quotes, decorators london, enjoy, facemask, family, find a decorator, find a painter, goggles, Home Improvement, job, ladder, materials, paint, painter quotes, painters london, quick sale, redecorate, redecorating, safety, share, tools, wallpaper
Posted in Painting & Decorating | No Comments »
Posted in Bricklaying, Carpentry & Joinery, Cleaning Services, Disposals & Waste Removal, Electrical Work, Gardening & Landscaping, General Building, Handyman Services, Kitchen Fitting, Locksmith, Moving Homes & Hauliers, Other Craftsman Services, Painting & Decorating, Planning & Consulting, Plastering & Drywall, Plumbing, Heating & Gas, Roofing, Gutters & Drainage, Tiling & Flooring, Window & Door Fitting on Oct 16
 The insurance company Aviva recently conducted a survey amongst their clients which dispelled the myth that “White Van Man” was no more than an urban thug.
Tradesmen in London are the smartest, sexiest and most successful drivers on the road their research showed, with over 70% having an interest in politics and current affairs.
Smart Tradesmen in London
Over half of the white van drivers surveyed said that they regularly read books, compared to one-in-ten sports car owners.
Sexy Tradesmen in London
Most of the white van drivers questioned responded that they like to keep themselves in shape and pursued some form of outdoor leisure activity.
Successful Tradesmen in London
Half of all van drivers were the boss of their own business, as compared to 83% of sports car drivers who work for someone else.
Nigel Bartram, motoring expert at Aviva, who carried out the survey, said: “It’s great to prove what we already knew – van drivers are switched on and enterprising! Gone are the days of the traditional white van man stereotype. What our research shows is that van drivers are entrepreneurial and responsible. This is why we have tailored direct motor insurance to cater for the 21st century van driver.”
With half of van drivers opting to fix household appliances when they break rather than ask for help, they are also the handiest to have at home. After a hard day’s work, a tradesman in London is more likely to catch a news bulletin or documentary than anything else on the box and, out of all drivers questioned, is the least likely to watch reality TV.
Sofeminine.co.uk added a female perspective to the results of the survey with the comment that “A white van driver may not be so likely to have a degree, but he has a big package” – So much for stereotypes!
For a deeper look into the psyche of a white van driver tradesman in London, visit the Social Issue Research Centre web site, who produced a quite eye-opening and humorous insight into this social phenomenon, and concluded that in order to change their image, tradesmen in London should paint their vans a different colour!
Tags: Find a Tradesman in London, insurance, Research, Social Issues, Survey, Tradesmen´s Directory, transit van, Van Driver
Posted in Bricklaying, Carpentry & Joinery, Cleaning Services, Disposals & Waste Removal, Electrical Work, Gardening & Landscaping, General Building, Handyman Services, Kitchen Fitting, Locksmith, Moving Homes & Hauliers, Other Craftsman Services, Painting & Decorating, Planning & Consulting, Plastering & Drywall, Plumbing, Heating & Gas, Roofing, Gutters & Drainage, Tiling & Flooring, Window & Door Fitting | No Comments »
 Nearly half a million pounds of lottery funding has been allocated to support Age Concern´s “Men in Sheds” scheme, a program aimed at supporting men over the age of 55 who have been affected by life-changing events – such as bereavement and redundancy – and providing an opportunity to socialise and learn practical skills from each other in a supportive environment.
A pilot scheme, launched earlier this year in Cheshire, was based on the Australian model “Mensheds”, which has received worldwide acclaim for its innovation and the value to over-55´s of integrating back into the community after a major trauma in their lives.
John Standing from the scheme has said that men over the age of 55 are welcome to work on projects at the charities warehouse. “They make things and share resources and skills to help each other. It is also a great way for them to access other services which may be useful to them”.
Alex Major of Age Concern Cheshire highlighted the need for more projects involving older men: ‘There are a lot of projects for older people, but they mainly appeal to women and men can feel left out.’ The pilot project had 20 members who helped the charity in the area with jobs such as repairing furniture and minor DIY tasks. Ken Clemens, also of Age Concern Cheshire, said: ‘The atmosphere in the shed is very informal with men coming together to do activities such as wood working, producing items that are sold to help support the work of the shed – or just to socialise and share time with other men.’
Initially, the scheme in Greenwich is the only one planned for the immediate future in the London area, but Age Concern are monitoring the success of “Men in Sheds” and hoping it can be spread nationwide in the near future.
If you are a retired handyman in South London and would like to learn more about the scheme, details are expected to be posted soon on the News pages of the Age Concern web site, or you can call Age Concern Greenwich on 08452 707 507
Tags: Age Concern, AgeUK, DIY, find a handyman in London, Handyman Services, Lottery funding, Sheds, Tradesmen´s Directory
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping, General Building, Handyman Services, Painting & Decorating | No Comments »
Posted in Bricklaying, Carpentry & Joinery, Cleaning Services, Disposals & Waste Removal, Electrical Work, Gardening & Landscaping, General Building, Handyman Services, Kitchen Fitting, Locksmith, Moving Homes & Hauliers, News, Other Craftsman Services, Painting & Decorating, Planning & Consulting, Plastering & Drywall, Plumbing, Heating & Gas, Roofing, Gutters & Drainage, Tiling & Flooring, Window & Door Fitting on Oct 16
 The cost of DIY bodge-ups according to the Clydesdale Bank Research from the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks has revealed that bodged DIY jobs in the home cost homeowners £235 million to put right last year.
The recent survey was conducted amongst two thousand of the banks´ customers and showed that over a quarter had experienced a DIY disaster within the past twelve months.
With one in ten respondents having to pay up to £500 to get their mistakes fixed, a spokesman for the Clydesdale Bank commented that while DIY may be a great way to save money, it is important to have the correct tools and right set of skills to avoid a job around the home becoming a very expensive exercise.
The bank estimates that nearly 5 million people across the country ended up paying for DIY mistakes after they attempted to do DIY jobs such as decorating, plumbing or gardening. Instead of wishing you had never started a job that is ultimately going to cost you a lot of money, why not consult Mr Skill´s Tradesmen’s Directory and benefit from the financial advantages of using a London tradesman.
Tags: decorating, DIY, Find a Tradesman in London, fix, Home Improvements, Home Maintenance, Mr Skill, Plumbing, tools, Tradesmen´s Directory
Posted in Bricklaying, Carpentry & Joinery, Cleaning Services, Disposals & Waste Removal, Electrical Work, Gardening & Landscaping, General Building, Handyman Services, Kitchen Fitting, Locksmith, Moving Homes & Hauliers, News, Other Craftsman Services, Painting & Decorating, Planning & Consulting, Plastering & Drywall, Plumbing, Heating & Gas, Roofing, Gutters & Drainage, Tiling & Flooring, Window & Door Fitting | No Comments »
Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Oct 12
 Local kitchen fitters in London will be delighted to learn that one of the UK’s largest home-finding websites – Rightmove – has just released the results of a survey which discovered that a third of all spending on home improvements last year was spent on the kitchen. Whereas spending on other areas of the home was fairly equally proportioned – with the bathroom, living room, bedroom and garden each being allocated around a sixth of the home improvement budget – it is thought that the popularity of having friends over to eat at home, rather than going out, has fuelled the change in spending habits.
Matt James from Rightmove said that home-owners are having to budget very carefully when it comes to changing their home and are increasingly focusing on the parts of the house where they perceive they will gain the most pleasure and return on their investment. Inasmuch as a complete kitchen renovation can be an expensive item, you can get quoted from kitchen fitters in London for any job – large or small – through our Tradesmen´s Directory.
Although we agree with Mr James´ assessment of the current economic situation, the increase in spending on kitchens can also be attributed to cookery based TV programs such as “Masterchef” and “Come Dine With Me” as previously programs such as “Ground Force” and “Changing Rooms” are acknowledged to have influenced home improvement spending on gardening and interior design. Now people are more accustomed to the concept of entertaining their friends in their own homes and installing a new kitchen is part of that experience.
If you are considering redecorating or installing a new kitchen you may like to review some of the “Inspirations” posted in our blog, and if you would like to get a series of kitchen fitter quotes to find the most economic kitchen worktops in London, please use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page or find a kitchen fitter in London through our extensive Tradesmen´s Directory.
Tags: add value to your property, find a kitchen fitter, Gardening, Home Improvement, home inspirations, Interior Design, kitchen fitter quotes, Kitchen Fitting, Kitchen Worktops, plan a new kitchen, save money, Tradesmen´s Directory
Posted in Kitchen Fitting | No Comments »
Quite frequently, an older house may have a basement lying dormant. If the owner knows that it exists at all, then they often just fill it up with junk. Other basements are completely forgotten places, even though it would cost £100’s to build equivalent new space.
 o The single most important point is access. If you cannot get to the basement from the house itself, the chances are that you will not use it properly, and may waste your money. A spiral staircase is a popular space-saving solution. If mobility is an issue, consider a conventional staircase with wheelchair-assist, or a mini-lift.
o Damp is another very important consideration. If you are in doubt, find a tradesman at Mr-Skill and ask for their estimation.
o Get rid off all the junk, and clean the basement out completely. Then paint everything white, including the floors and ceiling. Suddenly everything looks brighter and larger too, and you can begin to plan. At this stage, I recommend you consult a designer to get ideas.
 o What shall you use the extra space for? A family room, a study or a pub? The possibilities are endless. Now draw up your plans, and have them approved by the local council before proceeding. Tradesmen in London will refuse to do a thing without this, because otherwise they know that they will be chasing moving targets. When you are ready to begin, do not take chances. Find a tradesman recommended by Mr Skill.
Remember to advise your insurer of the change and have your policy updated. After that, you can move your furniture in, and enjoy your bigger home.
Tags: access, approve, basement, clean, council, damp, design, designer, dormant, empty, family room, find a tradesman, insurer, junk, lift, paint, plans, policy, pub, spiral staircase, study, tradesman quotes, tradesmen london, wasted, wheelchair-assist
Posted in General Building, General Building, Handyman Services, Handyman Services, Inspirations, Painting & Decorating, Plastering & Drywall | No Comments »
 The Chief Executive of Travis Perkins – the parent company for Wickes – has commented that the spending cuts announced by the government could actually be a good thing for the DIY retail section. Speaking after announcing a group growth of 7%, Geoff Cooper said that at a time home owners are feeling uncertain about the impact the spending cuts will have on them, home owners will be looking to improve the appeal and value of their home through DIY projects and by using local tradesmen for more home improvements.
Wickes currently has 190 stores throughout the UK – with 34 located in the London area – and Mr Cooper put the company´s growth to their range of products being competitively priced to attract business from London tradesmen amongst others.
His optimistic comments were backed up by the latest “Money Mood Survey” from Legal & General which found that 60% of those questioned were actively saving for the future during the last month. One of the biggest categories that people were saving for was home improvements, with the survey showing that the fear of job losses and difficult economic times are forcing people to reconsider how they spend their money.
If you are one of the many people re-assessing how to make the most of your home, we suggest that you use our “Post-a-Job” facility to get tradesman quotes on the jobs you would like to give priority to, or contact a local tradesman in London through our Tradesmen´s Directory.
Tags: DIY, Find a Tradesman in London, Handyman Services, Home Maintenance, save money, spending cuts, tradesmen quotes, Tradesmen´s Directory, travis perkins, wickes
Posted in Electrical Work, General Building, Handyman Services, Kitchen Fitting | No Comments »
 A neat, well tended lawn is a great pleasure to every keen gardener as well too.
There is increasing awareness of the damage that we cause to the environment when we pump chemicals into the soil and spray poisons in the air. A gardener should not be surprised when their lawn ceases to flourish after they have destroyed all of Mother Nature’s healing systems. Stop using anything with the label “keep away from children and from pets”, and create a perfectly organic lawn that is sustainable too. If you have the time to do this yourself then you will not need to find a gardener – if you are too busy, then keep your eye on the ball and get gardener quotes from Mr-Skill.
o First, analyze your soil by sending several samples taken at different places to a laboratory for analysis Soil low in calcium needs a gypsum top-dressing, while it will require a chemical called langbeinite if it needs a magnesium boost.
o Once you know what is required, mow your grass to a height of approximately two inches tall. Get rid of all the weeds and dead growth, and aerate it too. Now your lawn is ready to absorb its special treatment.
o Apply the treatment recommended by the lab, followed by a half-inch thick layer of compost. Gardeners working in London insist on using natural organic compost, that is free of chemicals that can linger. They sometimes also spray on a tea-like infusion of compost from time to time. Your lawn will benefit from the application of an organic fertilizer too, such as contains natural ingredients including seaweed for potassium, bone meal for phosphorous, and feather meal for nitrogen as well.
o As your grass sprouts afresh and thickens out, you will note a greener hue, and less weeds as well, as it strangles them. You can encourage bald spots to close quicker by seeding them with an appropriate turf.
Keep your increasingly handsome lawn lightly watered and well mowed. You will soon be wondering why you did not garden like this before.
 A neat, well tended lawn is indeed a great pleasure to every keen gardener and their friends too.
Tags: aerate, analyze, bonemeal, calcium, children, compost, environment, find a gardener, find a landscaper, gardener, gardener quotes, gardeners london, gypsum, laboratory, landscaper quotes, landscapers london, mow, mowed, organic, organic gardening, organic lawn, pets, phosphorus., poison, potassium, seed, soil, sustainable, top-dress, water, weeds
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | No Comments »
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