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Posts Tagged ‘close<’
Apart from the annoying noise a constantly dripping tape makes, just knowing that you are wasting water is incentive enough to fix the problem. The longer you leave it, the worse the problem becomes because each time you close the offending tap that bit tighter, you are actually stressing the washer further. To some, even changing a tap washer is not something they feel comfortable with. If that describes you then it’s time to find a plumber here on Mr-Skill. 
Replacing the Washer
Provided you follow a few simple checks, replacing washers is one of the easier jobs around the home. First, make sure you have the correct size replacement – taps come in standard sizes so having a handy pack of assorted washers makes good sense. You will also need some screwdrivers and a wrench. Here’s what you do:
- Isolate the water supply to the dripping tap, and then open the tap to drain it.
- Carefully prise off the plastic cover on the tap handle. Now use the correct screwdriver to loosen the screw at the tap head.
- Remove the tap head using a wrench, having covered the chrome parts with protective masking tape.
- This should reveal the damaged or worn washer, which you must remove and renew with a similar product.
- Refit the tap head and holding screw, not forgetting the plastic tap cover.
- Time to switch on the water supply.
- Fully open the tap you’ve just worked on and quickly close it again. Repeat a couple of times so as to let the new washer bed in correctly.
- Check for leaks, but there should be no further dripping.
Advisory: If your tap shows any sign of leaks it could indicate that you have old plumbing needing replacing. Mr-Skill has a number of member plumbers who would be happy to provide you with a plumbing quote.
Last Word
Sidney has been a plumber for ever, and changing a tap washer is something he could do in his sleep with both hands tied behind his back. Sid, one of our regular London plumbers, says it isn’t that easy if you encounter older plumbing with stubborn taps that don’t seem to want to let you change the washer that they’re covering. One false move and you could damage the bath or basin, not to mention the surrounding tiles. Where on earth will you find that replacement tile to match the one you’ve just chipped or cracked? Mission impossible springs to mind!
Tags: assorted washers, basin, bath, close, drip, dripping tap, find a plumber, isolate mains, leaking tap, leaks, london plumber, masking tape, open, plumbing quote, screw drivers, standard size, tap washer, tile, water, wrench
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
Sometimes old age, rust and wear take their toll on our door locks, requiring us to replace them before they become too troublesome. Internal door locks differ from outside ones that are normally equipped with secure locks that are difficult to “pick”. Inside doors make use of a mortise, positioned in the door hollow, which docks into a latch plate mounted in the doorframe. This allows you to lock your door from either side as you desire.
Mr-Skill recommends that you remove the old mortise and take it to your local hardware store as a sample. After that, the similar replacement lock is quick and easy to fit, avoiding the need to make modifications to the existing door.
Having made your purchase, here are the steps involved in fitting your new lock. This job should take no longer than 30 minutes. However, if you want peace of mind you may prefer to find a window and door fitter right here on Mr-Skill.
What You’ll Need
- Internal door lock assembly, including keys
- Chisel for minor adjustments
- Screwdriver correctly sized for the screw heads
- Hammer
Fitting Guidelines
- Position the new mortise into the hole in the door that held the old mechanism. Test for smooth and flush fitting into the latch plate. If necessary, tighten up screws holding the latch plate in the door frame (they can become loose with constant opening and closing of the door).
- If everything lines up correctly and the closing action is good, secure the mortise in position using wood screws on the closing edge of the door.
- Re-fit the handles on either side, carefully securing them with wood screws.
- Test that the key locks smoothly from either side of the door.
 If you are getting a window and door fitting quote, make sure that the service provider knows to replace like-for-like door locks to save you money.
One of our ever-present London window and door fitters offers the following tip.
“Once you have fitted your new internal door lock, be sure to place one of the two keys in a safe place. Also note the unique number inscribed on it, in case you ever need a replacement. In fact, you should consider keeping a register of all your key numbers!”
Tags: action, close, dock, door frame, find a window and door fitter, fit, handle, key, latch, lock, london window and door fitter, mortise, open, position, replacement, screw, smooth, wear, window and door fitting quote
Posted in Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
Whether you Find a Decorator on Mr-Skill or do the job yourself, you inevitably end up with left-over pots of paint. Those with just a few scrapings in them are best thrown away. Those still at least a quarter full could be worth preserving for touch-up jobs.
 Reseal Quickly – Air is the enemy of paint because paint’s supposed to dry in its presence. Clean both lid and tin carefully where they come together. Insert a sheet of film or tinfoil. Close firmly to achieve an airtight seal without causing any distortion.
Label the Tin – Begin to clean your brush by painting a colour-patch on the tin in a way that does not cover up any important information. Use a laundry marker to note the dates when bought and used, and the colour code if the paint was specially mixed.
Store Away Sensibly – I know a London Painter who insists in storing paint tins upside down so that the paint remains above the film and not beneath it. I’ve followed his advice and found it works quite well. In any case, store the tin away from extreme heat and cold.
 Using Old Paint – Paint has a limited shelf-life and many manufacturers suggest that it should be used within a year of being purchased. Don’t be tempted to bring down the cost of a Decorating Quote by using paint that’s gone beyond its usefulness. In any case, make sure it’s strained through a fine mesh sieve or piece of muslin, and into a clean container and well stirred.
Storing paint is really only really useful when you have a plan to use it shortly. This could be when you are half-way through an upgrade, and just want to brighten up a wall. In other instances it may just be an excuse to accumulate more clutter.
Be brave. Know the difference. Why not give your old paint tins a fresh view on life instead.
Tags: air, airtight, clean, close, code, cold, colour, container, date, decorating quote, distort, film, find a decorator, foil, heat, label, left over, leftover, london painter, mark, muslin, paint, patch, pot, reseal, sample, scrap, shelf life, shelflife, sieve, store, strain, tin
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
Preparing the exterior walls of a house or bungalow for painting is an onerous task that few private homeowners attempt. Does that sound too much for you too? No worries. We can help you Find a Painter who’s been rated by other customers already.
When he or she arrives they complete the preparation of the outside as summarised below. That’s assuming they don’t find anything exceptional, that they did not anticipate when preparing their Detailed Painting Quote. If they do, they’ll negotiate in good faith.
 Cast an eye over the structure to make sure there are no cracks that might admit water and cause damp. They’re likely to report any structural concerns they may detect too, although that’s not the job you’re paying them for.
Clear out and close-up any gaps with rendering. They’ll work elsewhere on the building for the next few days while the fresh plaster dries.
Remove all flaking or damaged paint using a combination of hand-scrapers, sanders, power washing and chemicals. Attend to any mould or fungus.
Discuss the best paints to use and the colours that you like and are practical too. When that’s done they can begin apply the paint.
I was chatting to my old friend a retired London Decorator who has a thought on anything and everything. I just can’t understand, he said, why so many folk try to paint outside in winter, when it makes so much more sense to do the inside then.
Mr-Skill provides a FREE service to UK customers requiring the services of a Painter / Decorator, or for that matter any other Skilled Person. They pay to list with us after we have checked them out. That’s the only money that ever changes hands as far as we are concerned. We make not a penny more from it, no kidding, so all this is FREE to you with our compliments. Isn’t it nice to know that you can still get good service like this today?
Tags: bungalow, chemical, clear, close, colour, cracks, damaged, damp, decorate, decorator, exterior, find a painter, flaking, fungus, house, london decorator, mould, paint, painter, painting quote, plaster, prepare, redecorate, remove, render, sander, seal, structure, wall, wash, water
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
More UK residents are adding the WOW-Factor to their homes every year, by replacing unsightly French Doors with Bi-Folding Doors in PVCu,  Timber or Aluminium. That’s because not only do they open all the way in glorious summer. They’re also among the snuggest fits available in winter too. And this gives you the best of both worlds when you need them.
While most people prefer to Find a Door Fitter on Mr-Skill to fit Bi-Folds to existing openings, the brave could possibly install these by themselves. If contemplating this yourself, please do offset the risks of inadvertent damage against the savings on the labour. The following are criteria you may like to consider when specifying Door Fitting Quotes instead
- Standard Sizes – If your opening is slightly oversized, consider lining it with appropriate material to take up the gap, and pre-empt requiring an expensive special order
 Slim Sightlines – How much clear vision will the frame sacrifice? You need to get as close to unobstructed as possible, albeit within constraints
- Thresholds – Do you require low-maintenance flush-fitted thresholds, or those recessed for outdoor weatherproofing?
- Locking – What level of security is wise? Locks are not all that expensive. Think ahead here – it could be time for an upgrade
The secret to a successfully trouble-free Bi-Fold Door installation – as any London Window Fitter knows – is a completely square and plumb installation. We cannot over-emphasise the need for this. If in any doubt at all of your ability to achieve this, why not rather seek Expert Advice instead? We’ll introduce you to a skilled and rated tradesperson, absolutely free to you.
Tags: aluminium, bi-fold, bi-folding, bifold, bifolding, clear, close, damage, door, door fitting quote, find a door filler, flush, gap, line, lining, lock, london window fitter, open, opening, outdoor, over-size, oversize, plumb, pvcu, saving, security, snug, square, threshold, timber, uPVC, vision, wide, window, wood
Posted in Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
Posted in Locksmith on Sep 05
We all tend to take locks for granted until the day they seize up, and then it’s all hands on deck to Find a Locksmith. While everything does eventually wear out or become otherwise out-dated, you can avoid being obliged to  replace your locks for quite some considerable time by following these useful tips.
• Non-use is a lock’s worst enemy because it can seize up completely when seldom operated. The only way to avoid this is to use the lock every month, and to take action as soon as this becomes necessary.
• Examine the keys themselves from time to time. Look for signs of obvious damage like bent shafts and worn blades, and obtain a replacement set of keys if in any doubt. A key should also be kept clean too – the last thing you want is to introduce dirt into a lock “deliberately”.
• If you feel resistance when turning a key in a lock with the door closed, do this again but this time with the door open. If it operates smoothly, then the alignment with the door-frame may have shifted. You may  need to Get Locksmith Quotes on Mr-Skill for Free to have the door hinges re-aligned.
• If the resistance is similar no matter whether the door is open or closed, then you have identified a sticking lock which could eventually jam up completely. Locksmiths in London where ironmongery can be old, will always try graphite powder first as a service. If this does not work, then it is time to replace the entire lock.
Maintaining a lock in good working order really is quite a simple matter, when you take precautions as you should with anything else that contains moving parts. Fail to do so, and you could face expensive locksmithing bills, even on Mr-Skill where rates are generally well discounted. And also face the inconvenience of being locked-out too.
Tags: action, align, bend, bent, blade, clean, close, dirt, discount, door, examine, expensive, find a locksmith, frame, graphite, hinge, jam, key, lock, locksmith in london, locksmith quotes, maintain, moving, open, operate, part, replace, resistance, seize, shaft, shift, smooth, stick, turn, use, wear, worn
Posted in Locksmith | Comments Off
Posted in Handyman Services on Sep 27
Modern built-in cupboards use hinges that seem so complicated that novices are almost scared to adjust them, and end up paying others to re-align their doors when this may be unnecessary. If you are confident then you may not need to find a handyman to do the job. The procedure is actually very simple when you know how.
 o There are three ways to adjust the illustrated hinge and align a set of doors. These are (a) move it from side to side, (b) adjust it up and down, and (c) adjust the set-out depth so that it closes evenly
o Begin with adjusting all the doors in a cupboard run so that they align with the bottoms of the cupboards. You do this by loosening off the screws that secure the hinges to the cupboard frames and moving them up or down to the correct positions in the slots. Sometimes holes in chipboard go oversized – a useful hint I learned from a pair of handymen from London is to press in a few matches, trim them, open a small hole and re-bed the screw. It works a treat every time.
o You can now re-set the doors vertically so that the gaps between them are similar, and allow you to press one match through each gap. In ideal terms, these should be as wide as the spaces outside the extreme right and left hand doors as well, although this may not be practical. You achieve this by turning the side-to-side adjusting screw either in or out.
o When you inspect your work, you may find that some doors do not rest evenly against the horizontal cupboard frames, or knock loudly when you close them. Perfect the job using the depth-adjustment screw. If you like, you can attach pre-glued nylon button pads to make the doors close completely silently.
This is an easy job in principle. However, in practice adjusting a tall clothes cupboard door is a two-man job. If you struggle, rather avoid causing damage and call for handyman quotes. You will get good ones at Mr-Skill.
Tags: adjust, align, cabinetry, chip, chipboard, close, closes, cupboard, door, find a handyman, fitting, handyman quotes, handymen london, hole, in and out, nylon pads, oversize, oversized, screw, set, side by side, turn, up and down
Posted in Handyman Services | Comments Off
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