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Posts Tagged ‘corner<’
As we head into the warmer months, there’s no better way to beautify your garden than by adding a splash of floral colour. Flowering plants can be grown in almost any light conditions, but some species definitely prefer the sun while others are more shade-loving.
There are of course many choices for these two opposite corners of your garden. One of our regular London landscaping experts has drawn up a list of ten each – sun and shade – for your maximum enjoyment.
Ten for the Hotspots
- Let’s start with the not-so-lonely-Petunia. Correctly clustered, these beauties can provide a riot of colours.
- Passion flowers too are said to give of their best when the sun beams down on them.
- Tagetes, or African Marigolds and their French cousin seem to reflect the sun itself as they bask in its glory.
- Lavender is a true sun-worshipper, and offers a rewarding scent too.
- The Sunflower simply has to be included along with its radiant “smile”.
- Violas almost seem to dance in the breeze when the sun shines down on them.
- Carnations – no garden should be without this stunner.
- Phlox, you can mix these up with the carnations for a splendid show.
- Though the list could go on, let’s end with the drooping Fuchsias family – the pink and purple show will really brighten up the surrounding area.
Before we move on to the shade, a wander around your nearest garden centre will always provide you with lots of inspiring ideas. You may even decide to get a gardening quote from Mr-Skill when you get home.
Ten for the Shade
- Shade plants will of course be more subtle when it comes to colour, but Foxgloves certainly provide a splash.
- For deep-shaded areas try colonies of Ferns for their cooling green effect.
- They may have smaller flowers, but Dogwoods can be very rewarding too.
- The Green Globe Hebe plant provides a calming green backdrop.
- “Bleeding Hearts” can be stunning, especially when mixed with Lilly of the Valley.
- Camellias and Asters are for border-line partial-to-full shade areas.
- Sweet Williams and Sweet Peas will adorn just about any corner you decide to use.
If this all sounds too energetic, you could find a landscaper right here on Mr-Skill, and then just sit back and wait for the riot of colour to begin. Don’t forget to have the garden chairs and table set out to enjoy the show!
Tags: colour, corner, find a gardening-and-landscaping specialist, flowers, Garden, gardening-and-landscaping quote, light, london gardening-and-landscaping expert, shade, shade-loving, splash, summer, sun, sun-loving, warmer weather
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | Comments Off
I have noticed something interesting about the Gardeners in London that I come across, and that is the super condition of their tools in general. No doubt they do a better job with them that way,  and of course they also have to replace them less frequently. I have to admit though that mine used to be a total disaster, but only before I discovered these useful tips.
You will need a bucket with a lid, enough sand to almost fill it, new or used engine / cooking oil, and a few old rags. The bucket lid is to keep out the dust and dirt, so almost anything will do.
• Make a habit of keeping the bucket in a dry corner of the garden shed or garage
• Fill the bucket with the sand except for the last four inches. This helps keep it stable while sprucing up your tools. I agree that this can make it heavy, but at least your wallet won’t be lightened by the cost of Gardening Quotes after your tools all rust away.
•  Top up the bucket with the oil, and watch it as the sand absorbs it. If you spilled some, well… that’s a further use for the old rags…
• Take each garden tool in turn and shove the working edge in and out of the sand until it is cleaned. Four or five repetitions should do the trick.
• Wipe the tools with the rags as you go along, remembering to leave a thin film of oil behind.
How’s that for something different from us? Should you need to Find a Gardener on Mr-Skill (which is easier than you think), you could leave your tools out in the garden for them to admire while working (but not to borrow, naturally). It’s a funny old world isn’t it. The cleverest ideas are often the simplest too.
Tags: absorb, better job, bucket, condition, cook, corner, cost, dirt, dry, dust, edge, engine, fill, film, find a gardener, garage, Garden, gardeners in london, gardening quotes, lid, motor, new, oil, rag, replace, sand, shed, spill, stable, tool, used, wipe
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | 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 General Building on Jul 12
If you are planning to build a perimeter wall around your property then we recommend you Find a Builder who knows the ins and outs to help you make this happen. This is because the Council will have to approve the job, and  your neighbours will definitely become involved too.
If, on the other hand, you have something simpler in mind somewhere in the garden itself, perhaps a low retaining wall or a screen to hide the compost heap, then this may well be a job that you might like to attempt yourself – provided that you are not in a hurry, and are willing to accept a slightly rustic finish for the lack of a better word.
o Mark out the wall with pegs and string and have the inevitable family discussion. After the dust has settled, dig out the foundation trench which should be 300mm wide by 300mm deep, and backfill this with 150mm of concrete. Tamp this down carefully to ensure that it levels out.
o Start laying bricks at the easiest end first by putting up a vertical plank that will act as your guideline. Make sure the bottom course is absolutely level in both directions too, as this will affect the entire job as it goes along.  Do not be in a hurry to add more bricks. Concentrate on building a perfect end, stepping up until you reach wall height.
o Repeat the process at the other end, using string and spirit level to make sure that you will top out exactly level with the corner you already built. Using string again as your guideline, gradually fill in the space between the corners until the wall is complete.
Sounds easy, does it not? Actually building even a simple wall is no easy task and things can literally go pear-shaped before your eyes. There are two ways to avoid this happening. The first is to have the courage to partly take down the wall and start again. The second way, of course, is to Get a Building Quote from Mr-Skill. You will be so glad you did!
Tags: approval, approve, brick, build, builder london, building quote, concrete, corner, council, course, dig, end, fill, find a builder, foundation, Garden, lay, level, mark, neighbour, peg, perimeter, retain, screen, simple, spirit level, string, trench, vertical, wall
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Jun 20
The easiest way to put up a wooden fence these days is to set a few poles in concrete and attach pre-fabricated panels to them. In practice, there is a bit more to it than that though. In fact, unless you really do enjoy hard work, perhaps you  should Find a Carpenter instead? These are the basic steps involved.
o Contact your local council first to check out whether there are any rules involved, or whether you could be crossing over underground services. Obtain agreement from your local neighbours too – who knows, they might even decide to make a contribution.
o Select your fence panels first. Taking account of the spacing of the poles between, determine how many of each, and how many cross braces you will need. As a general rule, you will need one more upright than the total number of pre-fabricated sections, and three times as many cross braces as you have panels. Order this material in, plus enough bags of ready-mix concrete and enough screws, nuts, bolts and nails.
o Hammer in temporary corner pegs (use anything that comes to hand) and connect these with twine. After the inevitable discussion with the neighbours, lay the poles out on the ground at the correct spacings.  Begin at the more prominent corners, so that odd-sized panels are less obvious. Dig out holes for corner poles. If your ground is heavy, perhaps you should reconsider the decision not to get Carpenter Quotes?
o Set the corner posts into the holes, making sure that they are vertical and braced by scrap timber as need be. Fill the holes with concrete around them, and leave strictly alone for the next twenty four hours. The next day, stretch twine between the corner posts to ensure straight lines, dig the balance of the holes, and set the other posts in concrete too.
o Two days later, bolt the cross braces to the posts, making sure that they are perfectly horizontal. Attach the pre-fabricated panels as you go along so that you can see some actual progress.
That’s it really, although my mate who works for Carpenters in London refuses to believe that amateurs could the job themselves. I say they probably could, presuming that they are not perfectionists, and are determined, fit, energetic and strong.
Tags: bolt, brace, carpenter london, carpentry quote, concrete, corner, council, cross brace, dig, earth, fence, fence panel, find a carpenter, ground, heavy, horizontal, law, nail, neighbour, panel, peg, prefabricate, rule, screw, service, set, spacing, twine, upright, vertical
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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
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