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Posts Tagged ‘drip<’
In its simplest form a tiled roof is a dead-simple thing. You just need to make sure the ridge is intact, and the barge boards are in position. Problems can set in when architects add valleys, hips and chimneys. The situation’s even more complex when there’s a party wall involved. The intelligent homeowner will find a roofer to assess the situation every year.
Generally speaking this assessment process includes:
- Ridges – The ridge tiles cemented on top of the peak and side ridges work loose as the roof timbers settle under the weight. They perform the essential dual role of securing runs of tiles and waterproofing primary roof joints. Every London roofer knows there’s only one way to fix the problem properly, and that’s to lift off and re-cement the entire run.
- Valleys – These are sealed off to avoid problems for the life-cycle of a roof, and should remain trouble-free although the tiles along them may move out of alignment and require re-positioning. When up on a roof it’s always a good idea to apply a fresh coat of waterproofing to the lining.
- Chimney – If you have the slightest doubt that the flashing’s come away it’s essential to get a roofing quote and have it replaced right away. That’s because rainwater builds up against the upper side of the chimney, and if it finds a way through it will drip through the ceiling.
- Tiles – While these should last a lifetime too, they are brittle
 and snap easily underfoot (another excellent reason why not to trust your roof to an amateur). Ask your roofer to cast an eye around when they’re up there and advise you accordingly with a recommendation
Although Barge Boards should be firmly attached to roof timbers, they have been known to work loose during windstorms, and can endanger life and limb should they come crashing down. This is why Mr-Skill recommends an annual roof inspection, so you can sleep peacefully underneath and have absolutely no concerns. And that’s exactly what should happen when you find a tradesperson through us.
Tags: annual, barge, brittle, ceiling, cement, chimney, complex, drip, fascia, find a roofer, flashing, hip, inspect, joint, leak, line, london roofer, party wall, peak, ridge, roof, roofing quote, side, snap, tile, valley, waterproof
Posted in Roofing, Gutters & Drainage | Comments Off
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
Posted in General Building on Aug 01
In times past flat garage roofs were often covered with a layer of waterproofed felt that was protected in turn by a layer of gravel. The general idea was that these roofs would last for years, provided that they were not interfered with. Over-and-above the obvious hazards of small children  enjoying squishing on sharp stones, nothing lasts forever, leaks develop and drip onto whatever you use your garage for, and its time to Find a Builder fairly urgently, to effect repairs.
We have all kinds of rated general builders listed on Mr-Skill. You can Find Recommended London Builders here, as well as trusted building firms in the Home Counties, and as far afield as Wales and Scotland too. When you do, these are the procedures that they should follow after you accept their Building Quote, give or take the peculiarities of your particular flat roof.
o On a clear day with no sign of rain the next day either, clear the gravel off the roof. Sweep the area clean, and blow all the dust away with one of those clever gadgets gardeners use instead of rakes these days.
o Inspect the roof felting very carefully for any signs of damage. Don’t be shy to prod and probe as  dentists like to do – if there is a problem it must be found. Mark a circle around any dodgy points with bright paint.
o Obtain some asphalt plastic cement, and work this well into all the dodgy points you noted. Take your time here, as this could make or break the job. And do wear rubber gloves too. This stuff sticks to skin like you know what. As you go along, work pieces of roof patching fabric into the cement, remembering to cover it fully and to “feather” the edges.
When the patches are nice and dry inspect them carefully, adding a generous dollop of asphalt plastic cement if in any doubt at all. When you are completely satisfied that this cement is dry too, you can gently sweep the old gravel back over the roof again. Or spoil your roof with some brand new gravel, so you can enjoy looking down on your garage roof again from upstairs even more.
Tags: asphalt, asphalt plastic cement, blow, child, clear, damage, dodgy, drip, dust, feather, felting, find a builder, find recommended london builders, flat, garage, general builder quotes, glove, gravel, inspect, interfere, leak, mark, peculiarities, probe, procedure, prod, remove, repair, roof, roof patch, sweep, waterproof
Posted in General Building | Comments Off
There’s nothing quite as irritating as a leaking gutter, is there? It’s not just the dripping sound at night that keeps you sleeping light. It’s also the fact that gutters are generally so inaccessible too. The answer, of course, is to make sure the  roofer gets the job right in the first place.
Every London Roofer knows that the trick is to get the gutter sloping correctly when installing it. There are various rules of thumb here, but my favourite test is to see whether a dry tennis ball will roll slowly down from the topmost point until it pops out where the downpipe is normally attached.
The next most common fault is downsizing of components. This can result in too much water pouring down into a single gutter, or an insufficiency of downpipes. Unfortunately there is no tap to turn off in the sky, and so the only solution is a modification, or at worse a complete redesign.
 Damaged components can also cause a gutter to begin to leak. The main cause of this is someone using them as steadying points for a ladder, although I have also seen a few gutters smashed by exceptional hail in my time. When this happens, you had better hope spares are still available – if not, then you may need to get Roofer Quotes to replace the entire installation, or put up with a mismatched appearance.
The most common problem though is gutters and downpipes stopped up with leaves. This is an irritating problem at the best of times, and can be costly to resolve, especially where the building is double- or even multi-storey. The solution is to get rid of all overhanging trees. I doubt though that you could get Find a Roofer to do this even on Mr-Skill, although I’m sure you could Find a Gardener here to sort things out for you.
Tags: ball, block, component, damage, downpipe, downsize, drip, find a roofer, gutter, hail, instal, insufficiency, job, lack, ladder, leak, leaves, london roofer, modification, redesign, replace, roofer, roofing quote, rule, sleep, slope, smash, spare, stop, test, tree, water
Posted in Roofing, Gutters & Drainage, Uncategorized | Comments Off
Posted in Handyman Services on Apr 18
Every weekend is an opportunity for a handy person to find tools and sort out all the irritating things that spouse has  been complaining about lately. It can be more efficient to do similar jobs on the trot instead of searching endlessly for things. If your partner runs of patience and you run out of time too, then there is no need to stress. That is because Mr-Skill is on standby to help you Find a Handyman.
o Dripping taps are a great source of irritation and can wake the family up at night. Why not lay in a stock of washers, dig out the spanners and tackle the whole lot as a project. You will be popular too, because everybody will appreciate the change.
o Now that the worst of winter is over, it is time to oil squeaky hinges and sticky locks. These days, oilcans have turned into aerosol cans that end up  spraying in the wrong direction. I for one agree with a Handyman in London I met the other day who still swears by his can of light machine oil.
o Why not fix all the rattling windows and doors too. If yours are wooden then they could warp. If uPVC, the rubbers could be worn or cracked. Door and window seals are not expensive, and in no time at all your home could be airtight and snug again.
How does that feel for a productive Saturday? No more dripping taps and no more squeaky hinges and sticking locks. With the house all snug again, my guess is that it is time to be rewarded with a traditional Sunday lunch at home. No cheating though. We would hardly be suggesting you get Handyman Quotes from Mr-Skill while spouse is out with Mother.
Tags: aerosol, door, drip, find a handyman, handyman london, handyman quote, hinge, irritate, job, lock, machine, oil, reward, seal, snug, spanner, spouse, tap, time, tool, warm, warp, washer, weekend, window, winter
Posted in Handyman Services | Comments Off
The last thing you really want in life is to have your kitchen sink drain burst just as you and your in-laws are washing up after Sunday lunch. Don’t wait until the inevitable happens – at the first sign of seepage get a Plumbing Quote from Mr-Skill. If you are handy here is how the job is done.
 o You will need the right drain replacement kit, a short piece of pvc pipe (to connect to the bottom of the drain trap), pvc glue, pipe cleaner, plumbers tape, an adjustable wrench of the right size, a medium-sized pipe wrench, a bucket, a connector sleeve (to attach the drain pipe to the existing pipe), a hacksaw, light grade sandpaper and lots of patience.
If you don’t have all this and don’t appreciate the thought of fitting yourself in under the kitchen sink either, don’t stress – Mr-Skill can help you Find a Plumber at no extra cost at all.
o Assemble the drain replacement kit according the instructions – remember to fit all the washers the right way round and apply plumbers tape where indicated. When done this should exactly match the existing part in terms of connection points etc. If not a perfect match abort the job and get the right part before proceeding further.
 o Put the bucket under the drain you wish to remove (it is full of dishwashing water) and cut through the pipe below the trap. Then you can unscrew the drain from where it attached to the underside of the sink and remove it, hopefully without messing dishwashing water everywhere.
o Smooth the cut edge of the pipe under the sink using the sandpaper and a twisting motion. Clean this up nicely afterwards, and the threaded bit under the sink too.
o Attach the assembled replacement drain to the underside of the sink remembering to use a generous amount of plumbers tape. Attach the connector sleeve to the stub of pipe with pvc glue and measure the gap between this and trap above. Cut a piece of pvc pipe to the right length, install this and you are ready to test your job when you are sure the glue is dry.
When I last had a Plumbing Job in London like this done they charged out two hours for labour. Friends tell me that sounds a little steep but then everything costs a bit more in the City, does it not.
Tags: assemble, attach, bucket, burst, cut, drain, drip, find a plumber, glue, leak, pipe, plumber london, plumber quote, plumber tape, plumbing job london, plumbing quote, PVC, replacement kit, sandpaper, saw, screw, seep, sink, sleeve, test, washer, wrench
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | 1 Comment »
With New Year upon us, an opportunity arises the review the important things above us in our houses that keep the rainwater where it belongs – outside. This is because we often overlook the things not immediately within eyeball range, especially when we have grown used to them being there.
This is why there are houses all over England with dirty damaged gutters and roofs in need of fixing. Unfortunately  insurance seldom covers neglect – avoid a future disaster and find a roofer on Mr-Skill for an assessment soon. These are the things they are most likely to comment on:
o Ridges, Hips and Valleys are where an expanse of roof terminates in a ridge or gully. These points are usually well sealed, although the joints can crack and open as the roof settles over time. When these fail, expect a flood and a high repair bill too.
o Parapet Walls are popular for cosmetically enhancing flat roofs but can be a disaster when used in conjunction with a sloping roof because of the force of water rushing down. Regular maintenance is needed here.
o Fascia Boards are more than just cosmetic devices because they protect exposed roof timber ends from the elements. Replace a fascia immediately if it comes loose.
o Roofing Materials are typically made up of sheets or tiles. When overlapped correctly they seal well and will last for decades if left alone. Unfortunately a careless person with a heavy foot can cause  damage, leaving a perfect opportunity for water to intrude. Colleagues at Roofers London Associated recommend discussing the risks before allowing a contractor onto your roof.
o Flat Roofs bring with them plenty of opportunities for leaks, although they do work well if properly sealed and left alone. If ever a roof-type required regular maintenance, then this is it.
o Gutters and Downpipes are not quite as critical, although damage can occur to the foundations of your house if water is not property lead away.
If you are concerned about the state of your roof, we recommend that you find a roofer to provide you with roofer quotes. Make sure that you agree an inspection charge up front though, because a professional roof inspection job can take hours to complete.
Tags: bill, cosmetically, crack, damage, drip, facia, fascia, find a roofer, flat roof, flood, gully, gutter, hip, intrusion, joint, leak, loose, parapet, repair, ridge, roof, roofer quotes, roofers London, seal, sheet, tile, timber end, water
Posted in Roofing, Gutters & Drainage | Comments Off
There is nothing quite as irritating as water dripping while you are trying to catch 40 winks. Avoid an expensive call-out fee and do the 10 minute job yourself. Just make sure you have at least two new washers before you start, and avoid using cheap ones that will not last. Consider special soft ones, if a member of the family does not have strong hands. Taps may look different – most of them work the same way.
 o Turn off the water supply at the main supply point, or close to the tap if a tradesman fitted a shut-off as plumbers in London often do.
o Run the tap until the flow of water stops. Leaving it fully open, unscrew the tap head and lift the top away. Protect the fitting by covering it with masking tape to prevent scratching.
o There is no need to find a plumber to finish off such an easy job. On most taps, the washer fits loosely and all that you have to do is to replace it. If on the other hand the washer attaches to a plunger, replace the sub-assembly.
o When done, re-assemble the tap in the reverse order. Turn the mains back on, and test the tap several times. There should not be any leaks. If there are leaks, then you may have a damaged tap seat, and you might have to call for plumber quotes from Mr-Skill.
Changing a tap washer is easy and you really do not have to find a plumber if all goes well.
Tags: assemply, cold water, drip, dripping tap, find a plumber, hot water, isolation, new washer, Plumber Quotes, plumbers london, remove, run, seat, shut-off, tap, tap seat, tap washer, test, valve, washer, water, water drip, water dripping
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
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