| |
Its amazing how many homes there are across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom where the beauty of their bathrooms are spoilt by a grotty run of silicone sealer around the edges of the bath. To make things worse, some cowboys even add silicone on top of silicone,  until the effect looks really dreadful.
No Bathroom Fitter in London associated with Mr-Skill (or any others located elsewhere for that matter) would dream of doing anything as unprofessional as that. If they did, we would delete them from our system with a single click of our system administrator’s mighty mouse.
Here’s how you could expect the job to be done, if you decided to Find a Bathroom Fitter Here.
o Cut away carefully behind the old silicone on both sides with a sharp Stanley knife, taking care not to scratch the surface of the bath if it’s one of those new ones that scratch so easily. Peel as much of the silicone away as you possibly can. If it is really grotty behind it, you may like to use disposable gloves to protect your skin.
o  Clean the area thoroughly with a good disinfectant soap, and dry it well with paper towel.
o Pop down to your local hardware shop and buy some proprietary silicone remover, a tube of mould resistant silicone, and a caulking gun. While you are there, study the instructions on the silicone tube, to find out how to neutralize it when its job is done, and what safety precautions to take when working with it too.
o Using the silicone remover, strip every vestige of remaining silicone around the bath, and tidy things up generally. Now’s the time to attend to any grouting that might need cleaning off and tidying up too.
o Obtain a roll of the thinnest “sellotape” that you can find, and mask off around where you want the new silicone to go. Take your time here, because this is what will make the final difference.
I’ll continue in the next blog. Meantime, anytime you need to Get Bathroom Fitters Quotes to do a complete bathroom upgrade instead, we have some really good ones listed on this website.
Tags: bath, bathroom, bathroom fitters london, bathroom fitters quotes, blade, careful, caulk, clean, cut, effect, find a bathroom fitter, glove, grout, gun, hardware, knife, mould, peel, remover, seal, sellotape, silicone, spoil, strip, surface, tidy, tube, wash
Posted in Other Craftsman Services | Comments Off
Before continuing, first make sure that the “sellotape is nicely stuck down. You can add more in tricky corners to make things easier down the line. Take up the tube of silicone, and check the instructions once again. Then obtain a supply of clean water, a cloth, several pieces of paper towel, a sheet of newspaper, and a bowl with a small amount of dish-washing liquid squirted into it.  Remembering that silicone dries quickly once applied, are you ready? Not going to get Bathroom Filler Quotes from Mr-Skill? Right. Let’s go.
o Unscrew the long nozzle from the silicone tube, cut away the topmost portion of the spout, and fit the tube into the caulking gun. Cut the tip off the long nozzle at an angle of about sixty degrees. The amount you remove dictates the thickness of the silicone stream – don’t cut off too much initially. You could always lop of a bit more afterwards if necessary. Screw the nozzle back on again.
o Gently pump the caulking gun until a steady stream of silicone flows from the nozzle. Stop pumping, let it settle and wipe the nozzle clean. Experiment with laying a bead of silicone across the newspaper remembering two things. Firstly, you push the caulking gun away from you, and secondly, the angle you cut off the nozzle must face your work. When satisfied, wipe the nozzle clean and trim it to your satisfaction.
o  My old pal the Bathroom Fitter in London reckons that siliconing baths is a matter of jumping in and I agree within him. So, without thinking too hard about it, just run a bead around the bath. Work slowly enough to create sufficient bulk though, because the material is not an easy thing to add too.
o Without wasting a single moment, lay the caulking gun down on the newspaper (it will dribble), dip your finger in the dishwasher liquid and smooth out the bead you just laid. Get this right first time, wiping your finger on the paper towel and adding more soap to it as necessary.
o Without wasting any more time either, peel the sellotape way and dump it on the newspaper as you go. This is the messy bit, so watch your clothes.
Resist the urge to fiddle with your handiwork until the following day, when you could tidy it up where necessary. Rather clean your hands with the remainder of the soap, and then make yourself a cuppa tea instead. Well done. You didn’t really need to Find a Bathroom Fitter this time, did you? And I bet you did a better job than all the cowboys put together.
Tags: angle, bathroom fitter london, bathroom fitters quotes, bead, caulk, corner, dish wash, find a bathroom fitter, flow, instructions, mess, newspaper, nozzle, paper towel, peel, pump, push, run, run a bead, screw, sellotape, silicone, smooth, soap, spout, tape, trick, water, wipe
Posted in Other Craftsman Services | Comments Off
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 Dec 31
Mr-Skill, the amazing place to find rated tradespeople of all kinds across the face of England wishes all their loyal  customers and partners the very best for the New Year 2011. During 2010 and the preceding years we have built a rare relationship that has gone from strength to strength – for our part, our New Year’s Resolution is to promise you even more exceptional service in the years that follow.
Did you know the full range of services that we connect to in every County of England? We have tradespeople of every kind to assist you all the way from Land’s End to John o’Groats. Just in case you forgot the full range of services available on Mr-Skill, here is a complete list for you to bookmark in case you need it.
o Kitchen Installations
o Electrical Work
o Carpentry and Joinery
o Window Fitting
o Plastering and Dry Walling
o General Handymen
o Moving Specialists
o Gardeners and Landscapers
o General Builders
o Bricklayers
o Roofing and Guttering Experts
o Painters and Decorators
o Locksmiths
o Cleaners and Housekeepers
How is that for a comprehensive range of all the services available from Mr-Skill? Have a great New Year from all of us, and see you in a successful 2011. Thanks very much for all your continuing loyal support, and rest assured, Mr-Skill will be here whenever you are in need what we offer.
Tags: Baths and Heating, Bricklayers, Carpentry and Joinery, Cleaners and Housekeepers, Electrical Work, Gardeners and Landscapers, General Builders, General Handymen, Kitchen Installations, Locksmiths, Moving Specialists, Painters and Decorators, Plastering and Dry Walling, Plumbing, Roofing and Guttering Experts, Tiling and Flooring, Window Fitting
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 | Comments Off
 Giving your air-conditioning unit a regular inspection does not replace a service carried out by a qualified local refrigeration engineer, but there are benefits to ensuring that your air-conditioner remains free from dust, has not developed any leaks and runs smoothly and economically.
None of the advice given below involves removing or replacing parts that would invalidate a warranty on your air-conditioning equipment, however if a leak is detected or there is a non-functioning element, use a local air-conditioning engineer to make appropriate repairs. Do not try to fix the fault yourself.
BEFORE YOU START – Disconnect the air-conditioning unit from all its power sources.
Outside
The condenser is the part of your air-conditioning equipment frequently located outside of the building. It is basically the element which releases the heat that has been removed from inside your property by condensation and evaporation. It should be checked to ensure that the condensers are clean and look in good condition and that the unit it is stored in is not obstructed and has a free passage of air.
The fan inside the condenser coil sucks air in through fins – and also pulls in dirt, leaves and other garden debris which blocks the air-flow and reduces the units´ efficiency. If you live in an area which experiences a lot of tree pollen in the spring, cleaning out the condenser is an essential job to do before using your air-condition system in the summer. If you have access to the fan motor, apply a few drops of specialist electric motor oil (all-purpose oil does not do the job) and check for any signs of wear and tear – If the fan looks at all damaged or rusted, you will need to call a local air-conditioning engineer.
The condensers may be contained in a sealed unit, in which case all you can do is check that there are no visible signs of deterioration. Whilst outside, also check that none of the coolant lines leading to the internal evaporator assembly are damaged.
Inside
Normally, many of the working parts in a modern air-conditioning unit are sealed, however you should be able to access the filters in the evaporating unit (which should be cleaned or replaced periodically) and also be able to Hoover the fins of the internal unit, and the bottom of the cabinet in which the evaporator is contained using a soft brush attachment.
The condensation exit tube should be checked to ensure it is not clogged by sludge or algae. These flexible tubes are easy to pull off and clean, and should be flushed with one part bleach to sixteen parts water. Keep an eye out for any leaking from the tube. If water is escaping from the tube it means that air can get in, and any broken areas of tubing can be fixed with duct tape, or you may want to install a new tube.
BEFORE RESTARTING YOUR AIR-CONDITIONING
If your system has been off for longer than four hours while you have been cleaning it, do not start the system straight away. Compression units require gentle handling and the system should be completely switched off when re-connecting to the power source(s) and allowed to “settle” for 24 hours (Very modern A/c systems do not require this long – check the operating instructions if in doubt).
Even when you switch the thermostat to “off”, you should always wait five minutes before switching it back on allowing the compressor to “decompress”. If you switch it back on too soon, you may stress the motor and all your good work will be wasted.
If you feel that your air-conditioning units could do with a more professional service, please use the Tradesmen´s Directory to find an air-conditioning engineer in London or you can “Post-a-Job” to get the most competitive quote from a local air-conditioning engineer in your neighbourhood.
Tags: air conditioning, air-conditioning engineer, clean filters, condensation, condenser, energy efficiency, environment, evaporation, evaporator, refrigeration engineer
Posted in General Building, Handyman Services, Other Craftsman Services | Comments Off
 The power rating of air-conditioning equipment in the UK is based on the units´ capacity for cooling a volume of a given size. This power rating is represented in the form of British Thermal Units (BTUs), and an accurate calculation is required to ensure that you purchase the right air-conditioning system to efficiently cool your home. Get the calculation wrong, and you will either have an air-conditioning system that fails to cope with the demands of a hot sunny day, or you will have spent money unnecessarily on a system which leaves the air feeling clammy due to high relative humidity. If you have a mental block with mathematics or cannot get accurate measurements for any reason, contact one of the local tradesmen in our Tradesmen´s Directory, who will be happy to come round and do the calculations with you.
To calculate the number of BTUs your air-conditioning units needs to have, you need to work out the heat load that your air-conditioning has to cool. Make each of the following calculations individually and then combine them to get a sub-total.
Room Volume – Measure the length, width and height (in feet) of each room to be air-conditioned and multiply them together – eg. 13´3” x 10`6” x 9´0” (13.25 x 10.5x 9) – and then multiply the answer by 6.
Occupants – We give off heat too. So, for everybody who regularly uses the room, add 400.
You should end up with a sub-total from those two calculations of between 4000 (for small rooms) and 12000 (for large lounge/diners). Thereafter add 15% if the room is a South-facing living room, deduct 10% if you have cavity wall insulation and double glazing, and add a further 20% if the living room has patio doors or French windows which are not double glazed.
Other factors you may have to consider include if you room has a considerable amount of high voltage lighting (although it would be recommended to switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) or electrical equipment. If you are considering installing an air-conditioning unit in a kitchen, you should seek professional advice from one of our highly rated tradesmen, as a large number of variable factors will have to be included depending on the number of kitchen appliances and their respective energy efficiency.
Once you know which air-conditioning system to go out and buy, use the “Post-a-Job” facility to find a local tradesman who will install it for you at the best possible price.
Tags: air conditioning, British Thermal Units, compact fluorescent light bulb, doors and window, double glazing, installation, kitchen appliances, measurements, patio doors, wall insulation
Posted in General Building, Handyman Services, Other Craftsman Services | Comments Off
 Maybe a little ambitious for the artistic amateur! Image courtesy of Electrolux "War on White" There are a number of circumstances when you may want to paint your fridge. Possibly you have just decorated your kitchen and there is no budget left for buying matching appliances. Maybe you fancy a change of style (see our “Inspirations” feature for what can be done to a fridge to brighten it up) or you just want to cover up a few scratches or bumps which are giving away your refrigerators´ age. Irrespective of your motive, preparation for the job is the same and you need to be sure that you are using the correct type of paint – preferably an oil based enamel paint –and it might be advisable to seek the advice of a London interior designer or a local decorator in London in our Tradesmen´s Directory before you commence.
Although this job is better done outside, it may be impractical to carry a fully-laden fridge into the garden, so make sure that the area that you are working in is well ventilated (especially if using spray paint) and place covers down on the floor in case of any spillages. It is also an idea to wear a sleeveless top or T-shirt to prevent loose clothing brushing against wet paintwork.
The first step is to clean the outside of the refrigerator with a strong household cleaner, rinse and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Then, using very fine sandpaper, you need to sand the exterior surface of the refrigerator which is going to be painted. Continue sanding until the shine from the original surface is gone as this will give the new paint a better surface to stick to. Using masking tape, cover door handles, hinges, the manufacturer’s logo and any other areas you do not wish painted. Areas that are too intricate to mask can be covered with Vaseline which is easy to rub off when you have finished.
You can either use a spray paint gun or roller to apply the paint on your refrigerator. A roller is more practical if you are doing this job inside, but be careful of leaving paint bubbles on the surface of the door. For small chips and blemishes, you may just want to use a paintbrush, and people painting designs on their fridge doors often find that a pre-cut stencil makes the work easier than doing it freehand. If you are going for the all-over designer fridge look, paint the background colour first, allow to dry and then apply the foreground design. Tip: It is better to work from the middle out when applying a foreground design, as the centre will normally be the focus and if you muck it up, you can go back and start again.
Once you have finished and allowed the paint to dry, carefully remove the masking tape and, hey presto, you effectively have a new fridge!
Although most kitchen appliances can painted this way, those which provide intense heat are not considered safe to paint with regular enamel paint. These require a specialist heat-resistant paint, and if you have any questions about this, or would like further advice about unique and stylish decoration of your kitchen, please use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page to have specialist local designer contact you and offer advice.
Tags: enamel paint, Home Improvements, interior decoration, kitchen appliances, masking, paint roller, Painting, refrigeration, refrigerator, sanding, spray paint
Posted in Other Craftsman Services, Painting & Decorating | 1 Comment »
|
Subscribe to our RSS Feed
equipped this way these days by London Bathroom Fitters.
While some Bathroom Fitting Firms may suggest saving a few pounds by fitting heating pads at strategic places, we do not recommend this. Firstly, the unheated areas in the floor will draw the heat away, and secondly, when tiles are cemented down it may not be possible to uplift them to add more heating pads, without ruining what is already there. 
