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Posts Tagged ‘bricks<’
In this two part article, we first look at attending to brickwork tainted by air-borne pollution and then, everybody’s pet hate, graffiti. Part two deals with the cleaning of bricks contaminated by efflorescence.
Before attempting to remove dark pollution stains from your brickwork, make sure you have the proper safety clothing, including a hard hat, heavy duty waterproof gloves and industrial shoes (also waterproof).  Since you will be using acid, this is no job for the inexperienced DIY person – rather find a painting and decorating service in your area.
If cleaning light-coloured bricks, start by scrubbing the entire wall with a 1:20 solution of hydrochloric acid and water. Strengthen the solution to 1:10 when cleaning dark coloured bricks. Mix the acid and water in a plastic bucket or basin, and then apply to the wall with a stiff scrubbing brush.
Begin by scrubbing the wall at the top left corner (assuming you’re right-handed) and move across the wall, and then downward using overlapping circular scrubbing motions. It is advisable to treat approximately one square meter, and then pressure-hose that area before moving to the next section of brick.
When pressure cleaning, be careful not to apply too much force, as intense jets of water can disturb the bonding cement and may even damage the brick face. Make sure you are positioned correctly in terms of distance from the wall, standing at least three feet away. Use a wide-sweeping action for best cleaning affect.
If this is sounding a bit hard, rather get a painting and decorating quote, and get on with something else you would rather be doing.
When cleaning off graffiti, work a thick layer of citrus-based gel over the entire painted surface.  Now, work it into the crevices using a hard nail brush. Wipe off with a clean cloth, and then work in some more gel. Repeat the process until the graffiti disappears.
One of our regular London painters and decorators offers the following tip for removing unwanted graffiti. Cover the affected gel smeared wall with a plastic sheet taped over it. Leave this in place overnight to allow the gel to penetrate. Remember, the longer graffiti is left on the wall the more difficult it will be to remove.
A final pressure clean should be all that’s needed in the morning!
Tags: acid, algae, bricks, chalk powder, efflorescence, graffiti, lime, marks, pollution, pressure hose, protective clothing, stains, streaks, weather
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
I believe that you always get what you pay for, and in my experience that goes for paved patios too. These days some contractors are desperate for contracts, and this may cause them to quote low for second-rate work. This why Mr-Skill is so helpful when you need to find a bricklayer . Their affiliates are pre-qualified, and you have someone to speak to, in the unlikely event that things do not work out as perfectly as you hoped.
o Many paving contractors believe that it is sufficient to lay paving on compacted sand. While this may theoretically last forever, it seldom does because of concerted attacks by moles and nests of ants. Soon individual pavers begin to collapse, and if not re-laid, the entire job will unravel sooner than you think. It is much better to set pavers on compacted sand mixed with cement. When this hardens, the moles and ants will move next door. Remember this important detail when comparing bricklayer quotes for your new paving job.
o I am personally not a fan of interlocking concrete pavers, and do not recommend that you opt for them especially when you are in a hurry. This is because suppliers make them to order, and they need time to cure before being laid. Ignore this simple fact, and in a few years time, your pavers will begin to degrade. Another downside is that the pigmentation fades, and it is impossible to remove stains because they sink right through.
o For all these reasons, good Bricklayers London firms often refuse to use cement-based pavers and only work with first grade clay bricks. This is because they know that they will last, and that they will have few complaints. For perfect weed control, they often advise grouting between the bricks too.
When your paving job consists of grouted clay bricks laid on compacted sand mixed with cement, you should have a rock solid, weather proof, colourfast job that will last for decades. Is this not what you really want?
Tags: ants, break up, bricklayer quotes, bricklayers London, bricks, cement, clay, collapse, color, colour, compact, compacted, fade, find a bricklayer, grout, grouted, interlocker, interlocking, moles, patio, paver, paving, sand
Posted in Bricklaying, Gardening & Landscaping | Comments Off
Posted in Bricklaying on Sep 29
 Exquisite brickwork on the refurbished St Pancras Station “Brick is Beautiful” was a slogan used by the Brick Industry in a successful advertising campaign in the 1980s. There are many local bricklayers in London who believe that there should be another campaign with the slogan “Brick is Still Beautiful”. It is worth taking time to consider whether or not this slogan would be valid considering the very different context in which properties are built today.
Whilst in the 1980s it was sufficient for brick to qualify as beautiful by offering an attractive, durable finish that mellowed with age, today people expect much more from a material for it to be considered “beautiful”. In the 1980s the building industry had little concept of sustainability, whereas today every material is expected to trumpet its sustainability credentials whilst taking a sideswipe at the claims of others.
 Inventive use of brick in London´s Docklands The Brick Industry grasped the point of sustainability in 2001 when it became one of the first industries to issue its sustainability strategy. This contained a set of Key Performance Indicators covering social progress, effective protection of the environment, prudent use of resources, and the development of economic factors. These targets and the progress towards them are reported annually. Some people choose to compress sustainability into a consideration of energy use defined as the emission of CO2. The Brick Industry measures this annually and also reports on it under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Competing materials claim that this is the Achilles heel of the Industry, but if you were to spread the CO2 emissions from the brick in a square metre of brickwork over a life of 120 years it comes out as 0.000232 tonnes of CO2 / sq metre / per annum. This carbon isn’t “locked up” to be released at the end of life. It has already been expended and the longer the building exists, the better the value.
 Longetivity - The Mary Ward House in Tavistock Square from 1898 Longevity is a valuable asset, but when it is coupled with future-proofing and easy adaptability, it is even more valuable. Studies have shown that as global warming increases lightweight structures are likely to require air-conditioning to maintain reasonable internal conditions, whilst the thermal mass inherent in heavyweight structures can be used to moderate temperature changes. Masonry structures have proved to be easily adaptable and therefore able to fulfil new functions extending the life of the building. A responsible designer will take these points into consideration when thinking about the sustainability of a proposed building and will appreciate that brick fulfils the requirements “beautifully”.
 The new can take the appearance of the old as this Docklands chimney illustrates In order to find bricklayers in London, please visit our Tradesmen´s Directory or use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of each page.
Photo Acknowledgements (Top to Bottom)
St Pancras Midland Road – Image courtesy of: Flickr user amandabhslater. Original image
London Docklands Blue Brick – Image courtesy of: Flickr user Jenniferboyer Original Image
Mary Ward House Tavistock Sq – Image Courtesy of George P Landow Victorianweb.org
Dockland Red Chimney – Image courtesy of: Flickr user DavidReber Original Image
Tags: air conditioning, Brick & Stone, Brick is Beautiful, bricklayer, bricks, brickwork, CO2 emissions, environment, Find a Bricklayer in London, global warming, masonry, Sustainability, Tradesmen´s Directory
Posted in Bricklaying | Comments Off
Posted in Handyman Services on Aug 12
 Local handymen in London are increasingly in demand according to a report carried out by the London School of Economics. Although they cite in their report that this is due to fathers wishing to balance their work and family lives, and employ a handyman in London to deal with jobs such as painting and decorating, further statistics revealed by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) may reveal another reason why male homeowners are none too enthusiastic when it comes to household chores – injury!
The statistics quote that “Injuries from tools and machinery are estimated to account for 87,000 of the 220,000 DIY enthusiasts turning up at hospital each year. Ladder and stepladder accidents send 41,000 people to hospital annually – often resulting in some of the most serious injuries and even death when people fall from high up. Splinters, grit, dust, dirt and other particles result in another 60,000 people seeking treatment in casualty.”
The most dangerous tools according to RoSPA are: 1, Knives and scalpels (21,300 accidents in the UK each year); 2, Saws (15,100); 3, Grinders (6,400); 4, Hammers (5,800); 5, Chisels (3,900); 6, Screwdrivers (3,400); 7, Power Drills (3,000); 8, Axes (2,200); 9, Planes (2,100); 10, Welding Equipment (2,000).
The Top Ten DIY materials to take care with are: 1, Wood, chipboard etc (29,400 accidents); 2, Paving/Concrete Blocks (21,200); 3, Metal bars, sheets etc (12,800); 4, Nails (15,400); 5, Bricks (8,000); 6, Paint and paint pots (3,900); 7, Glue, paste etc (3,100); 8= Screws and Floor/Wall Tiles (2,500); 10, Wallpaper (1,600).
Common DIY accidents include cuts from knives while cutting cable and carpets, slips with saws when cutting wood, paint dripping into eyes from ceilings and slabs falling onto hands and feet. Many accidents of this nature could be avoided by spending more time on planning and ensuring that safety gear – such as gloves, masks and goggles – is worn when necessary.
If you need to find a handyman in London, there is an excellent selection featured in our Tradesmen´s Directory, or if you have a specific job that needs doing around the home, please use the “Post-a-Job” facility at the top of the page.
Tags: axes, bricks, chipcoard, chisels, concrete, find a handyman in London, injuries, knives, ladders, nails, paint, paving, planes, power drills, safety recommendations, saws, screwdrivers, wallpaper, welding equipment, wood
Posted in Handyman Services | Comments Off
Whether you are thinking of moving or just improving, at this time of year our thoughts inevitably turn to sprucing up the outside of our house. First impressions definitely count and, whether it’s friends and family or potential buyers, visitors to your home will judge the outside before they even step foot in your house. If you are planning on putting your house on the market it’s worth remembering that viewers are buying into a lifestyle – you want to ensure that lifestyle looks as attractive as possible.
 Example of kerb appeal For instant kerb appeal, think about fitting a new front door. Whether wooden, PVC or glass, a new front door makes the world of difference to how the front of your house looks. If you have an existing wooden door, it may be possible just to paint your front door – an inexpensive way to make a big impact. However, unless you’re an aspiring artist it might be best to bring in a professional painter and decorator – drips of gloss or untidy edges can spoil the whole look in an instant.
Take this one step further and refurbish or paint your windows, fence and gates. The uniform look that this will achieve will far outweigh the extra financial outlay. Choosing the right colour is important – if you want to stand out from the crowd why not pick a bright colour that complements your neighbours’? This way you set your house apart but maximise on the collective look of the neighbourhood.
Pointing and tidying up your brickwork can transform the way your house looks. A good London builder will be able to do this quickly and easily. Our eyes enjoy symmetry and perfect brickwork looks a lot better than shabby, crumbling bricks and mortar. Especially if you are thinking of selling your home. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and, when you consider that it can take buyers as little as eight seconds to decide whether they want to buy a house, your property needs to look as good as possible at first glance.
If you are lucky enough to have a garden, make sure it looks as tidy as possible. A landscape gardener will be able to transform your garden into an oasis of calm and luxury, but you don’t have to blow your budget. If you can’t stretch to landscape gardening, simply planting a few flowers, re-turfing the lawn or even just giving it a trim and tidying the hedges can make a huge difference at a low cost. Our eyes are automatically drawn to the edges of a lawn so, if you don’t have the correct tools, get a gardener in to use a round edged lawn cutter to get a crisp, even finish. Planting a few bulbs and tidying borders also enhance the appearance of your garden easily, as does adding window boxes and hanging baskets. Gardeners are relatively inexpensive and you might find that it makes sense to get someone in to maintain your garden once you’ve got it looking spick and span – after all, you want to have time to enjoy it!
Hone your exterior style by tidying up paths and driveways using monoblock or, less expensively, woodchip, gravel or crazy paving. The former will give a gorgeously uniform look to the front of your house but, if price is a factor, woodchip, pebbles, gravel or crazy paving will achieve the look on a budget. Building a new wall to surround your entrance will finish off the look perfectly.
If you want to be a little more extravagant, why not consider creating a garden pond or water feature? The sound of running water is perfect for disguising traffic noise and giving your garden a tranquil feel. While this is a bigger job than simply tidying up the garden, the effect will definitely be worth it and will transform your outdoor space.
So, next time you get home after a long day at work, have a look at the front of your home and see what it says about you. After all, it’s the only bit of your home that 99% of people ever get to see. If you don’t feel it shows you in the best light, why not put together a ‘to-do’ list and get quotes from our tradesmen today?
Tags: bricks, brickwork, builder, building a pond, building a water feature, building garden wall, bushes, crazy paving, doing up house, drive, driveway, fence, front door, Garden, garden fence, garden wall, gardener, Gardening, gardens, gate, glass, gravel, hanging basket, Home Improvements, house, improve, landscape, landscape gardener, lawn, lay, London, monoblock, mortar, move, moving, mow, mowing the lawn, new, new front door, new windows, paint, painting fence, painting front door, painting windows, path, pebbles, plant, planting, planting bulbs, plants, pointing, prune, pruning, PVC, re-turf, re-turfing, re-turfing lawn, reconditioning windows, refurbish, refurbishing windows, renovate, shed, tidy, tidying, trim, turf, turfing, wall, window, window bo, windows, woodchip, wooden
Posted in Improving the appeal and value of your home | Comments Off
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