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Posts Tagged ‘cloth<’
Posted in Electrical Work on Mar 06
Thankfully as winter starts to move on, now is a good time to check that your outside lights are in good working order. Some of the work is easy and safe enough to do yourself. Changing a bulb is a good example, as is cleaning the glass in the light fitting. If the light is not working though, you would be better off using a qualified electrician to solve the problem. Wiring and switching is too dangerous for an unqualified person to work on. Rather check with Mr Skill, find a qualified electrician, and ask them for an electrical quote.
- Make sure that the light switch is in the “off” position. Better still; isolate the light circuit on your electrical board.
- Have a stepladder handy should you need to reach up to the light fitting.
- You may have to remove a piece of glass to access the bulb.
- Wipe the interior of the light fitting with a clean rag.
- Now, remove the old bulb. Be careful, it might be hot.
- Replace the bulb with a correctly-rated new one.
- London electricians always recommend using energy-efficient bulbs. They may cost more, but they will last much longer and therefore require less maintenance.
- Refit the glass panel, having cleaned the surface first.
- Test the new bulb once you have installed it, by flicking the light switch to “on” after you re-set the distribution board.
- Never replace a bulb with a wattage-rating higher than the fitting manufacturers recommended maximum.
If, after having been through the above steps the bulb still does not light up when you switch it on, find an electrician by clicking on Mr Skill.
It’s all about horses for courses and being smart. You wouldn’t consider using a plumber to fix your own car, so be wary of trying to fix your own electrical problems!
Tags: bulb, check, circuit, cloth, cost, efficient, electrical board, electrical quote, energy, find an electrician, fitting, glass, ladder, light, london electricians, maintenance, off, on, rag, rate, screw, switch, test, wipe, wiring
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Posted in Cleaning Services on Oct 12
Outdoor garden furniture bears the brunt of weather when left outdoors throughout the year, and if neglected soon loses its showroom gloss. This is especially true in larger cities where airborne pollution can be quite severe. In fact I know of several London Cleaning Services who make a living out of dealing with the consequences.
 It is not always necessary to request a Cleaner Quote on Mr-Skill though. Regular attention along the lines below can help avoid unnecessary expense, assuming you have the time available and the will to do it.
• Wash wooden furniture that has been coated with exterior grade varnish with soapy water and then rinse it clean. If possible store it in a dry place for winter or at least wipe away accumulations of rainwater regularly. Once a year apply a proprietary cleaner followed by a protective coat.
• Machine-wash fabrics from cloth chairs and hammocks using a gentle wash cycle. Stretch the cloth back into position before completely dry, to avoid it shrinking.
• Clean aluminium, wrought iron and mild steel frames with soap and rinse. Coat metal furniture with a protective coating, or else it will definitely rust.
•  Umbrella covers need machine washing and the frame joints need lightly oiling too. As with chair seats, refit the covers before completely dry.
• Remove acrylic seat-covers and wipe them clean, using a bleach solution to remove any mildew. Let the mixture stand for 30 minutes before wiping clean again.
• Clean wicker furniture using water under pressure from a hose or pump, using soap if necessary. When dry, the application of a paste wax will restore the shine.
A lot of work perhaps for something we may not use every day, and that stands idle in the winter. Why not get a Cleaner Quote from Mr-Skill instead? Then you can put your clean outdoor furniture away for winter, and have it ready to use again in the spring. Now that makes sense.
Tags: acrylic, aluminium, attention, chair, clean, cleaner quote, cloth, coat, dry, expense, find a cleaner, frame, furniture, Garden, hammock, london cleaning service, mould, oil, outdoor, pollution, protect, regular, rinse, shrink, soap, stain, store, stretch, summer, time, umbrella, varnish, wash, water, winter, wood
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There is still a great deal to be said for dining at a solid wooden table, although these days we often seem to end up with laminated composite board instead that admittedly helps keep things more affordable. This is not to say that bargains are not waiting to be found at charity shops and auction rooms, although these have inevitably ended up becoming tatty, which is why they are there in the first place.
This does not mean to say that they cannot quite easily be restored, provided, that is, that the wear and tear is strictly  superficial, and that all the bits are there. Interested? Then never mind about getting a Painter Quote right now. Let’s first learn how the job should be done.
o Identify a suitable working environment that is free of dust and floating pollen. That means working inside somewhere assuming you are aiming at a gleaming finish.
o Work outside initially though, sanding the woodwork down with fine-grit paper until it is nice and smooth, and finishing off with steel wool until the job is as good as you can get. Every Decorator in London knows that the secret is in the preparation, so allow a full day for an average-sized dining room table, never mind the chairs.
o Wipe the table down with a damp cloth removing every single scrap of dust, finishing off with a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with mineral turpentine. Take your work inside to where you plan to finish off the job the following day.
o  Apply a coat of the finishing product that you have chosen, be this varnish, polyurethane or some other more exotic choice. Always use a clear product too, so that you bring out the natural character of the wood.
o When this has dried thoroughly sand the surface down lightly again, until you have broken through the sheen. If there are any bumps caused by dust or imperfections, slice these away carefully with a sharp blade. Dust off your work thoroughly, and wipe it carefully with a lint-free cloth moistened in clean water this time.
o Repeat the process as many times as you have patience for, because every coat is guaranteed to improve the finish and enhance the sheen. If you decide to Find a Decorator to do the job for you instead, you know by now why it is so important to agree a specification of exactly what they intend to do.
I have an old ball and claw mahogany dining table that I did up myself a decade or so ago and finished off with clear polyurethane varnish. Many have admired the natural, lighter colour that comes shining through, although I should think that few would have the patience to achieve it.
Tags: admire, auction, bargain, board, charity, clear, cloth, composite, decorator in london, dining, dust, environment, find a painter, finish, gleam, grit, inside, laminate, lint, outside, painter quote, patience, pollen, polyurethane, repeat, sand, shop, smooth, solid, steel wool, steelwool, superficial, table, turpentine, varnish, wipe, wood, work
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
I don’t think we paint our ceilings nearly frequently enough. That’s because they are some distance from us and we hate cricking our necks to check them out. As a result they end up yellowing and can no longer do their job of making a room  look so much bigger, brighter and airier than when they were once so pristine white. If you agree with me, then maybe this is a good time of the year to Find a Decorator.
A ceiling that is lighter than the walls makes it seem higher and the room correspondingly larger too. Personally I don’t like home ceilings painted in colours although I do grant that there are exceptions too. Here’s how to go about the job
o Painters London Wide refuse to do a ceiling job without proper scaffolding, and for your back’s sake I recommend you hire some instead of falling off the ladder while applying sealer and masking tape. Another useful tip is to put down drop-sheets and mask off the walls and skirting boards – an hour spent this way will save hours later scraping and cleaning off when all you really want is your room back.
o Seal all the gaps between the cornice and the ceiling with white acrylic filler and your finger before you start. Remember to smooth off the job with a damp cloth as you go along.
o Cut-in the edges with a one inch pointing brush making sure that the cornice-to-wall joints are tidy when viewed from the floor. My take on this is not to paint the bottom return on the coving so as not to disturb the existing line.
 o When done you can start to roll the ceiling, working in small sections back and forth to achieve effective coverage. If you do not do this properly your patchy ceiling will need a second coat – avoid this by doing the ceiling painting job right first time.
o Do not be in a hurry to remove the masking tape – in fact it is better to do this the following day. This is because you want the skin of paint to dry first, and avoid wet paint on the masking tape messing up your walls as well.
Do not be fooled into thinking that this is an easy job although it is within the scope of the reasonably fit. Mr-Skill could be an easier way to get your ceilings painted and they could help you Get Decorator Quotes too. One final hint – If you do the job yourself, remember to wear old clothes that cover your entire body, gloves, a hat and a face mask.
Tags: acrylic, airier, bigger, brighter, ceiling, clean, cloth, clothes, cornice, cover, coving, damp, decorating job london, decorating quote, decorator london, decorator quote, drop sheet, filler, find a decorator, find a painter, hat, job, ladder, mask, mess, paint, painter london, painter quote, painting job london, painting quote, point, roll, room, scaffold, smooth, tape, white, wipe
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Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Jan 27
Cornice (or coving as it is also called) is the stuff that neatens up the gap between the ceiling and the walls. While originally put in place to stop the dust from falling through and to seal out  cold as well, these days coving is an interior decorators delight in terms of the exciting modern designs available.
Coving can work loose or come away slightly leaving an ugly shadow line for a variety of reasons. Causes include a job not done well in the first place, slight ceiling movement beneath a poorly braced roof, somebody walking clumsily in the roof space, and even a foot pushed through by mistake. The right trade to call in is a plasterer. If the job is small enough you could attempt to do it yourself. If unsure, avoid a disaster and get a plasterer quote from Mr-Skill.
The hardest past of fitting a new piece of cornice is getting the mitred corners right. This is because after you study the ceiling the temptation is to put the coving in the mitre box the wrong way round. We recommend you practice with a piece of scrap before attempting the real thing.
Attaching a piece of cornice is a whole lot easier. The material is usually light-weight and easily attached with a product like no more nails or silicone. If it keeps on falling off attach it temporarily with a few panel pins, or some pieces of strong tape.  Re-attaching a heavy piece of coving is the plastering job London tradesmen know how to do best. May we suggest you leave it to the experts?
If you are comfortable standing on a ladder, then sealing the gap between the coving and the wall and ceiling could be well within your capabilities. Simply draw a bead of white all-purpose acrylic sealer along the joint and smooth off with a damp cloth. You could use a moistened finger too. Chances you might not even have to paint again.
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But will you have the time to do the job? Save the hours for your favourite soccer team, watching soap operas on telly or visiting the pub. Find a plasterer instead on Mr-Skill.
Tags: acrylic sealer, attach, ceiling, cloth, cold, come away, corner, cornice, coving, decorate, dust, find a plasterer, finger, gap, ladder, loose, mitre, mitre box, no more nails, paint, panel pin, plasterer london, plasterer quote, plastering job London, plastering quote, shadow, silicone, tape, wall
Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
Modern, tougher polyurethane finishes that are resistant to heat and water have largely replaced traditional French Polishing that was popular in years gone by. It still lingers on though in many older items of furniture, that may often be precious too. Use these handy tips to cool the temperature in the household if an accident occurs. If you are not quite sure though what you are doing or perhaps the damage is severe, perhaps you should find a decorator with specialist skills instead.
 o First – establish whether the piece is actually French Polished, or not. Do this by gently rubbing an obscure spot using a soft, lint-free cloth moistened with methylated spirits. If you find a deposit on the cloth then you have confirmed your suspicion.
o Scuff Marks – Make up a solution of 5 parts methylated spirit, 2 parts linseed oil and 1 part pure turpentine. Moisten a soft, lint-free pad and work it over the damage using a “figure of eight” motion. If necessary, use undiluted methylated spirit to blend in scratch marks.
o Heat Marks – Work these away with a lint-free cloth moistened with 1 part pure turpentine and 1 part raw linseed OR camphorated oil.
o Alcohol Stains – Alcohol dissolves French Polish. You should mop it up immediately and leave the surface to dry. If you cannot recover the damage using the techniques described above, you should ask for decorator quotes at Mr-Skill (unless you want to try a French Polish substitute bought at your local hardware store). If the damaged piece of furniture is antique, then you may need the help of specialist decorators – London is the best place to find these.
Be careful when you follow this advice – do a test on a spot that is not normally visible, and use an expert if in any way you are not sure. The value of an older piece often lies in the patina of age, and you do not want to lose this.
Tags: age, alcohol, antique, camphorated oil, cloth, decorator quotes, decorators london, find a decorator, find a painter, french polish, french polished, frenchpolish, furniture, heat, linseed oil, lint free, methylted spitits, old, painter quotes, painters london, patina, polyurethane, scratch, scuff, turpentine
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery, Handyman Services, Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
A decent paintbrush can cost a lot of money and is well worthwhile looking after. Buying cheap ones on a throwaway basis is false economy, and your work will show this too. I learned these things from painters in London where I had my decorating business.
HANDYMAN’S TIPS: Begin by working smart. When you dip a dry paintbrush into paint, capillary action draws the liquid all the way up to the handle where it congeals and ruins the brush. Soak if first in water, turpentine or oil, then shake it dry before you start. Use different brushes for oil and water-based paints because these media repel each other. Wear disposable gloves so you do not have to clean yourself as well.
 o First, wipe away any excess paint from the brush with paper towel or a lint free cloth (if there is a lot of it and it has not yet begun to dry, scrape this back into the paint tin first). Squeeze the bristles gently as you work the paint towards the tip where you can remove it. Be careful not to damage or distort the bristles – you want your expensive paintbrush to wear in nicely, and last for years. Wipe the surface of the paintbrush again.
o Rinse the paintbrush in turpentine or oil, or lukewarm fresh water, depending on the type of paint you have been using – the instructions on the paint tin will tell you which is right. When done, gently squeeze the brush dry inside several sheets of newspaper. Never shake a paintbrush dry, unless you want your house or garden to change colour.
o After wiping the paintbrush again with paper towel or your lint free cloth, dab the bristles gently against a piece of mild, soft bath soap (not dish-washing liquid, which is harsh). Work up a nice lather in a small clean container. Rinse and repeat until your brush is completely clean, and free of any remaining soap.
o Re-shape the brush with your fingers, and leave it to dry at room temperature. Never rest a wet paintbrush on its head. If you do, it will dry misshapen, and you could ruin it.
Do you prefer to find a painter to do your painting work for you? A good website to get rated painter quotes is Mr-Skill.
Tags: bristle, bristles, brush, clean, cloth, decorator quotes, decorators london, different, different brush, dip, dishwashing liquid, find a decorator, find a painter, lather, liquid, newspaper, oil, paint, paintbrush, painter quotes, painters london, paper, paper towel, rinse, scrape, soap, squeeze, turpentine, water, wipe
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
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