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Posted in Handyman Services on May 07
Sometimes the bricks outside our homes take on a white powder-like appearance which does not look very nice. Technically known as “efflorescence”, it’s basically lime seeping out of the damp brick and giving it that unwanted chalky look. Of course, external bricks can also suffer staining due to airborne pollution, while everybody dreads the “artwork” of the graffiti experts.
 While lime-staining readily brushes off, the other two forms of pollution are somewhat more difficult to deal with. In this two-part article, we first explain how to remove unwanted graffiti and the effects of pollution, and then deal with lime-based staining in part two.
Removing Efflorescence Staining
Although this is a moderately easy job, you may prefer to seek professional assistance – find a handyman service right here on Mr-Skill and they will quickly resolve your brick-staining problem.
Assuming the lime powder is reasonably easy to reach using a properly secured ladder, begin by using a dry, stiff scrubbing brush. Resist the urge to wash down the brickwork after scrubbing, because wetting the wall will quickly see the staining problem return.
The next stage is to use a soft paint brush to remove the chalky deposits. You may find streaking caused by leaking downpipes or poorly positioned flashing. First repair the leak to eliminate the problem. If your water-heater tank is overflowing, it too may cause unsightly staining on the surrounding bricks. A simple adjustment to the float controlling the water level in the heater tank is probably all that is required.
Call in the Professionals
If you feel challenged by the thought of venturing up a ladder to clean your brickwork, why not get a handyman service quote instead? Then you can sit back and watch your unsightly wall being transformed to its original splendour.
Kevin, he’s one of our London handymen services, advises that efflorescence can manifest itself in brickwork long after the wall was built. It’s a combination of insufficient curing, and the elements going to work in the form of damp drawing out the remaining lime. He goes on to say that streaking on walls may be the result of something more serious by way of leaking pipes or drains. In this case, you would do well to bring in the experts rather than have a go yourself. Sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous!
Tags: cleaning, damp, efflorescence, find a handyman service, flashing, graffiti, handymen services quote, hydrochloric acid, leaks, lime, london handymen services, pipes, pollution, powder, pressure hose, protective clothing, stains, streaks, water, weather
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Posted in Handyman Services on Apr 04
Just as in any other line of business, the range of services that a Handyman offers should be competitive and reasonably priced. It is after all a fiercely contested sector of the market in virtually every corner of the UK. Competition is hot, and this sorts the good from the mediocre.
 Remember too, that Handyman Services are no longer the preserve of the male species, so wherever you see the description Handyman, read Handyperson too. Today, there are many women well up to the task of delivering excellent service while they go about fixing your problems. What should you be looking for when it comes to choosing a Handyman or Women? We’ve compiled a list of what you should consider when seeking someone competent with the prerequisite skills. Why not start right here, and find a Handyman on Mr-Skill?
Typical Range of Services
Actually, the list is virtually open-ended, but here are the more popular jobs that Handymen tackle most frequently:
- Joinery
- Electrical Work
- Painting and Decorating
- Tiling
- Flooring
- Plumbing
- Roofing
Caution: Always get a Handyman quote before appointing one.
 The Main Attributes to Look For
- Local is Good – The person you select should ideally be local or at least from around your area. Travel and transport costs can be horrendous these days and you don’t want these costs for your account. Since good news moves fast, so too does the bad version. Follow-up is far more effective in your local area, so ask around.
- How Long in the Trade – This is important, as you don’t want to end up as a guinea pig while they gain experience. However, everyone has to start somewhere so try to be reasonable.
- Guarantee – Don’t be shy to ask about the time and extent of any guarantee, otherwise it may turn out to be a verbal promise of nothing.
Other Considerations
As one of our long-standing London Handymen tells us, any good worker worth their salt should be keen to tell you about their extensive liability insurance. He goes on to recommend that you monitor how prompt they were in getting back to you with a quotation – free of course. Finally, was the service professional and were they helpful? Don’t forget to ask what forms of payment they can take – do they accept credit cards for example?
Tags: costs, credit cards, elictrical work, find a handyman, flooring, handyman quote, joinery, liability insurance, local area, london handymen, Plumbing, Roofing, services, skills, tiling, time in business
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Posted in Handyman Services on Feb 29
It’s not always a simple matter to prepare a handyman quote. Think about it from the service-person’s point of view. You ask them to quote to repair a dripping tap. How are they to know whether it’s a question of the washer, or whether the entire unit needs replacing?
 How about assembling an Ikea cupboard? Some are simple open structures while others include a complicated set of drawers. So there’s no simple answer to what either job could cost. And that’s because neither the time to do the job, nor the cost of the materials are self-evident up front.
Materials – There are two ways to deal with this. You can buy the materials yourself or you could ask your handyman to source them for you. This is not as easy as it sounds though. Many tradespeople make their money by marking up on special offers, and bypassing this can cause resentment.
On the other hand, there will always be some things that you like to choose yourself, like paint colours and bathroom fixtures. We recommend that you allow your handyman to supply the more basic materials like rendering and tile cement though. You can always negotiate if the price seems a little high.
 Labour – Many London handymen these days prefer to quote a rate per hour, which includes both themselves and their assistants. To control this, it’s always best to request an hourly estimate to do the job, on the basis that the service-person motivates the over-run before it happens.
While the above tips represent a good start towards a solid working relationship, they only really work well when you’re dealing with an honest person too. More and more people every day are finding it simpler to find a handyman on Mr-Skill. And that’s because they already come recommended.
Tags: find a handyman, handygirl, handyman, handyman quote, handyperson, london handymen, quote
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Posted in Handyman Services on Feb 20
It’s surprising how many enquiries we receive about attaching things to walls. While this is the perfect job for a Handyman, it’s quite simple to do yourself. That’s provided you have the right equipment and safety gear. Should you decide to have a go, then these are the seven main things to watch out for.
Safety Tip
 A London Handyman will always have a strong ladder, an assistant and a modern electric drill to help him do his work. If you don’t have the same, please don’t even try to do the job.
- Always use a sharp masonry drill bit that’s slightly undersized for the wall plug you’re installing. You can always make it larger afterwards, but you cannot make it smaller.
- Before you drill, consider what might lurk inside the wall. Never drill directly opposite an electric box, or in line with a water pipe. Remember to check outside the house too.
- Re-check your measurements carefully before you drill. If the item you are fitting has more than one attaching point, fit a single one initially. Then you can level it and mark the other points.
- Make sure the drill is at right angles to the wall before you press the switch. Are you wearing safety goggles? Drill bits occasionally do snap.
 Have a friend hold a vacuum cleaner extension pipe in position to suck the dust up before it covers everything.
- Drill through the plaster on the standard setting before you switch to impact. Never force an electric tool. Use it in ten second bursts and do not let it overheat.
- When you are finished, lay the drill down somewhere safe, and unplug it from the wall.
Do you think that you could do the job yourself and avoid the cost of Handyman Quotes? Many people do.
Many others prefer to Find a Handyman on Mr-Skill instead, and get on with other more important things in their lives.
Tags: accessory, assistant, attach, bit, brick, careful, check, drill, dust, electric, equipment, find a handyman, glasses, goggle, handyman quotes, impact, ladder, level, london handyman, masonry, pipe, plaster, plug, right angle, safety, shelf, switch, television, vacuum, wall
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Posted in Handyman Services on Jan 12
I’ve noticed a tendency these days for estate agents to describe run-down properties as handyman delights. Perhaps the implication is that there are a few fun-things to attend to over several leisurely weekends? Some properties I’ve viewed recently reveal that they require considerably more attention than just that.
If you’re in the same position then you’re certainly not alone. The following are jobs currently posted on Mr-Skill and  awaiting Handyman Quotes:
- Fixing Garden Panels Securely. The fences we put up around our yards are often cheap and nasty, and the poles are seldom properly concreted in. This one’s perfect for a handyman – you don’t need more advanced skills here.
- Letter Box Replacement. This one’s straightforward too and I’m sure that Mr-Skill will Find a Handyman to do it pretty soon. It seems the front flap’s snapped off. Pretty urgent I would have thought. After all we’re in the middle of winter in case you hadn’t noticed.
- Attach Bathroom Fittings. I find it remarkable that developers no longer supply even a basic toilet roll-holder and simple soap dish. How mean is that?
 They make a fortune, and the comment “we thought we’d let you choose” cuts no ice with me at all. Their show houses certainly have bathroom fittings in abundance.
- Sand Down a Wooden Floor. This is a fairly easy task when you have the right tools. In fact I know a London Handyman who makes his living that way in older houses. I wouldn’t bother with a carpenter here – an experienced handyman is quite capable of the job.
- Remove a Fallen Tree. This one seems displaced to me, and perhaps belongs better under gardening and landscaping? I doubt the average handyman has the required power saws, or a trailer to remove the cuttings for that matter either.
When you think about it, there are an amazing number of jobs a Handyman could do around the house. The problem is that some so-called handymen are downright awful. That’s where the Website Mr-Skill makes such a difference. Our handymen are rated by their customers, so you can see what you are getting before you buy.
Tags: bathroom, cheap, concrete, cutting, fence, find a handyman, fitting, flap, floor, Garden, handyman, handyman quotes, holder, job, letter box, london handyman, replace, run down, sand, saw, soap, toilet roll, trailer, wood
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Posted in Handyman Services on Dec 22
Mr-Skill exists to help its UK customers find skilled and competent craftspeople working in just about every postcode. These skilled artisans pay us a modest fee for listing on our website, and to get access to enquiries. Our customers pay us nothing for the service.  And that’s the way it ought to be. That’s because customers are the people that keep the wheels of business moving.
When a customer posts an enquiry for work that’s needing doing, every related tradesperson on our lists gets to hear about it from us. When they quote directly back to customers, they know that theirs is not the only quote. What better incentive could there be to keep rates down? Moreover, we act as intermediaries in the unlikely event of a dispute arising.
Out of interest, the following jobs are currently out there waiting for Handyman Quotes:
- Clearing gutters and hanging up Christmas lights outside. Happy Noel!
- Attaching a television wall-mount and putting up a kitchen cupboard
 Drilling a hole in a concrete ceiling. This customer needs to Find a Handyman to put up a hammock.
- Putting up a roller blind and curtain rail. No further information given.
- Installing a washing machine. The customer needs hot and cold water and is on a tight budget.
- Assembling a plastic shed. That’s an unusual one we’ve not seen before!
We have all kinds of Handypeople available to do jobs like these. They range from London Handymen who sometimes have a trade but prefer variety, right through to traditional country lads who turn up on bicycles. Why not give our free service a try right now?
Tags: artisan, ceiling, christmas light, concrete, craft, curtain rail, customer, dispute, drill, find a handyman, gutter, hammock, handyman quotes, hole, job, kitchen cupboard, lad, light, london handymen, quote, rate, roller blind, shed, skill, television, trade, wall mount, washing machine, work
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I never cease to be amazed at the variety of bathroom accessories available at hardware stores across the UK these days. Every one of these has at least one fixing hole – if I got that contract I doubt I’d ever look back. Many folk are nervous about drilling through ceramic tiles though, because the consequences of cracking one can be quite expensive.
And so they try alternatives like two-sided tape and contact glue. Unfortunately these never work properly because ceramic tiles are highly glazed. Worse still, the accessories come loose, and chip even more expensive fittings when they come crashing down. If you are handy you don’t need to Find a Bathroom Fitter – you just need the right tools and your brain switched on.
• When working above a drainage point like a washbasin or a toilet, insert the plug or lower the seat. Lay down a dust-sheet to make cleaning up afterwards easier too.
HINT – Ceramic tile and masonry dust can permanently stain moist grout, so make sure your work area is dry.
• Gently tap the tile where you intend to drill the hole with something metallic that’s also light. If you hear a hollow sound there’s airspace between the glue. London Bathroom  Fitting Firms train their staff to look for another fixing point when they find this, because tiles break easily over hollows.
• Make a clear mark on the tile where the hole must go with a laundry marker. Make a cross over it with transparent tape that does not have a shiny finish. Tap the tape gently and repeatedly with a new centre punch, until you have scored the ceramic finish beneath it.
• Drill through the hole using a specialist drill bit and an electric drill set off-hammer. Once you are through the glaze you can drill into the tile and wall more quickly. Tidy up the mess, wipe things clean, and you’re good to go!
Mr-Skill is a virtual market place where customers and skilled tradespeople meet. It’s free to the general public, and bids can be up to 30% below general market rates. Click on this link – get Cheap Bathroom Fitting Quotes for your postcode right now!
Tags: accesory, accessories, bathroom, bathroom fitting quotes, bit, break, ceramic, chip, clean, crack, drain, drill, dry, dust, find a bathroom fitter, fix, gently, glaze, glue, harware, hole, london bathroom fitting, mark, masonry, punch, sheet, tap, tape, tile, tool, wall, wipe
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Posted in Handyman Services on Sep 14
What Makes a Good Handyman?
Let’s face it. There are plenty of so-called handymen and handywomen around in Britain these days, what with the recession and the rate of unemployment, and the industry is totally unregulated too. That’s  where Mr-Skill can help you Find a Handyperson you can rely on in a world so populated with strangers. Here are a few criteria we recommend when choosing one.
- Do they come recommended by anyone you know? Be careful of hiring a person directly off the street, and for obvious reasons too. When you consider hiring help that’s been rated by Mr-Skill and our customers, you are making a sensible start.
- What skill levels do they have? You’re unlikely to find a qualified tradesmen doing lower-paid work as a handyperson, so it’s impractical to expect formal qualifications. You are entitled to expect proof of related experience though – unless you are prepared to let them do their learner’s on your precious home.
- Are they organized people? The last think you need is a muddler inside your defences, so try to assess their personality when reviewing Handyman Quotes. Is their van tidy inside? Are they reasonably well dressed? Such things are often mirrors of the soul.
- Do they have an established client base? A good handyman can be as scarce as hen’s teeth. I know of London Handymen who never have to advertise. Be a little sanguine about an odd-jobber who can begin a job right immediately. Perhaps nobody else has uses for their services?
Tough talk from Mr-Skill today I guess, but straight talking for a reason. We receive letters every day from people who made the mistake of hiring a stranger off the street. Our Database of Rated Tradespeople is yours for free, and their prices are exceptionally fair. Doesn’t this make an awful lot of sense?
Tags: britain, client, dress, employment, establish, experience, fair, find a handyperson, handyman quotes, handymen, handywomen, hire, learner, london handymen, organize, price, proof, qualification, rate, recession, recommend, rely, scarce, sense, sensible, skill, stranger, tidy, van
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Posted in Handyman Services on Aug 22
Do you need to Find a Handyman in London, or in any other place whatsoever across the length and breadth of Britain? Then you need look no further than Mr-Skill, because we have a huge database of Handymen that you can access when you just click here. Of course you could also look for one yourself, although from what we know you’ll battle to find one yourself that’s  half as good, or at a better price than ours either.
Notwithstanding this, here are a few tips to get you started…
o Does the handyman in your sights have some form of technical qualification, best of all a trade of any kind? Alternatively, do they have some form of practical experience? If the answer is no on both counts, then they could be about to do their learner’s licence on your home! And don’t be afraid to ask for proof either. The ones who squeal the loudest are the ones to avoid the most.
o Take a good hard look at their business card. Is there enough information on it to track them down, assuming that the job does not turn out all that well? And while you’re at it ask them about their guarantees, and whether or not they are insured.
o  Make sure that all Handyman Quotes list materials and labour separately, and in terms of unit prices and actual hours provided for too. I’m not saying that they are not allowed to make a decent profit, just saying that an indecent profit is a bridge too far for me. And while you’re at it, make sure the information on their quote and business card is consistent. If it’s not, then find out why.
o I’ve always believed that the condition of the places where men store their things is an indication of the quality of their work. When you have a chance without being sneaky, take a look in the cab and load bay of their van.
Life is about choices, and if you need to Find a Handyman anywhere in England you could save yourself a load of trouble by doing so on Mr-Skill. We check all our tradesmen out on your behalf, and, in the event of an unlikely problem, we are as close as the other end of the telephone.
Tags: britain, business card, cab, choice, experience, find a handyman in London, good, guarantee, handyman, handyman in london, handyman quotes, handyperson, hour, information, insure, labour, load bay, material, price, problem, profit, proof, qualification, quotation, quote, save, technical, telephone, trouble, van
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Posted in Handyman Services on Jun 13
A handyman is a great ally in an emergency. This is because they are often available at immediate notice and should charge less that a qualified person.  By all means Find a Handyman and use them for replacing taps and changing fuses. Never use them for highly skilled work where a licensed person is required though, because this might lead to trouble in several ways.
o You are breaking the law if you allow a non-registered technician to alter the electrical layout in your home or lay a new drain. There are practical reasons for this, including compatibility with council services. Stick to the rules and stay out of trouble.
o You could be compromising your health and safety and that is a foolish thing to do to save a few pounds. A badly sloping drain can cause germs to accumulate that cause sickness. What’s worse reversed polarity on a switch could kill. Play it safe. Remain legal.
o  An illegal piece of work that triggers an insurable event can lead to a refusal by the insurer to compensate, and this is happening daily. Imagine how you would feel if your house burned down because of an illegal connection and they refused to pay. Penny wise, pound foolish is the motto of many Handymen in London. Better you believe this.
It is far wiser to determine whether you need a skilled and registered tradesperson to do a job of work first, before considering a Handyman Quote. Besides, at Mr-Skill our tradespeople often come in at a third below prevailing prices, which may well make up the difference.
Tags: burn, council, drain, electric, emergency, find a handyman, fuse, germ, handyman, handyman london, handyman quote, health, illegal, insurance, insure, kill, law, license, polarity, qualified, reason, refuse, register, rule, safety, service, sickness, skilled, tap, technician, trouble, wire
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