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Posts Tagged ‘dust<’
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Sep 12
If you have just had a new drywall built, the finishing off is easy enough to do yourself – assuming of course you have the basic know-how. However if you are still to build your drywall, you need look no further than Mr-Skill, where you can find a plastering and drywall expert to do the job for you perfectly. A drywall is an easy and neat way of partitioning or dividing a given area, and if space permits, you could gain an extra room by planning carefully.
Finishing Your Drywall 
Once your new wall is complete, you will need to sand it to provide a smooth and perfect surface for later painting or wallpapering. Wet sanding is far preferable to dry, simply because of all the dust and mess the latter method creates. In fact, one of our regular London plastering and drywall specialists far prefers the wet method of sanding as it makes for a much cleaner and healthier environment too. Let’s see what is involved:
- The first step is to pop down to your local hardware supplier and buy a sponge specifically designed for the wet sanding process. It’s not that expensive, but it is manufactured with an abrasive edge for sanding purposes, while the flip side is a sponge for wiping sludge away.
- Once you have your sponge, you need to dampen it, but don’t saturate it in water because this will quickly soak into the plaster surface which will make life very difficult if not impossible. The aim is to moisten the sponge just enough to gather the sand and dust effectively.
Wringing the Sponge
As you work, you will notice that your sponge is gathering increasing amounts of powdery residue from the drywall, so you will need to wring it out quite regularly. The wringing process maintains a clean and clear sponge face for further wet sanding work. Don’t forget to re-moisten the sponge after wringing it!
Message form our Sponsors! 
If this is all sounding too difficult or messy you could also get a plastering and dry wall quote from one of the many members signed up with Mr-Skill. Remember to ask for that special discount too!
Clean up Time!
Whether you are doing the wet sanding yourself, or using one of Mr-Skill’s experts, be sure to clean up properly when finished. Use a facemask and rubber gloves to protect your face and hands. Hopefully, you remembered to cover furniture and electrical appliances to prevent them from becoming dirty!
Tags: basics, design, drywall, dust, find a plastering and drywall expert, furniture, gloves, hardware, london plastering and drywall specialist, manufacturer, planning, plasterer, plastering expert, plastering-and-drywall quote, process, sanding, space, specialist, sponge, surface
Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
Posted in Electrical Work on Aug 17
According to fire experts, the many fatalities resulting from fires in our homes could reduce to virtually zero, if householders just made themselves more aware of their domestic situation, and what causes fires in the first place. Mr-Skill has a passion for safety both at home and at work, and any accident prevented is good news indeed! We dedicate this article to the matter of safety, with a particular focus on the common causes of fires at home. Creating awareness is the first step towards a better understanding, and averting potential disaster.
Kitchen Fires
Invariably, these result from using faulty appliances, or from unsupervised pots and pans left alone during the cooking process. Open frying takes pole position when it comes to serious kitchen fires. The message is clear:
- Have your appliances checked by an electrician if you suspect any safety issues. You can find an electrician right here on Mr-Skill – we have several members on board and on call to assist you now.
- Never leave a pot or pan unattended on the hob, and keep a careful watch over food cooking in the oven too.
- If you fry frequently, rather buy yourself a modern sealed appliance such as an air fryer. Apart from fire safety, you can dramatically reduce the cooking odours in your home too, not to mention the calories adding to your midrift!
Central Heating Fires
Faulty equipment, malfunctions, and dust make our home heating systems the second most common cause of home fires. During the winter months, our heating systems are running 24/7, so get an electrical quote right here, and have your central heating system serviced regularly. Mr-Skill loves the timeless adage that prevention is far better than cure!
Other Common Causes
Cigarettes, candles and general electrical fires are all potential threats in our homes. Many of our regular London electricians are amazed at the sheer carelessness that all too often results in a devastating home fire. As one of them put it recently “a naked flame in an enclosed space is a recipe for disaster, particularly where children are concerned”. It all boils down to vigilance and common sense, but one last word from Mr-Skill – make sure you know all your emergency contact numbers, and teach your kids what to do if they find themselves in an emergency.
Tags: accident, awareness, Central Heating, children, cooking, cooking utensils, dust, electrical fault, electrical quote, emergency, emergency contacts, fatalities, faulty appliances, find an electrician, fire, frying, home fire, house fire, london electricians, malfunction, pans, pots
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Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Jul 25
Once you have installed two drywalls meeting at right angles to each other, you are going to need to finish the join where they meet at the ceiling, using flexible correctly mitred cornice lengths. Cornice (or coving) of course comes in many shapes and sizes and is even available in easy-to-use light-weight polystyrene these days. This attention to detail will not only finish off the job nicely, it covers up ugly gaps and imperfections too. 
What You’ll Need
- Sandpaper
- Jointing compound to bond the cornice
- Putty knife
- Cleaning cloth
- Suitable lengths of cornice with correct mitre angle
Although not a difficult job, we are of course assuming that your drywalls are in place and that it’s just a matter of adding the ceiling trim to hide the gaps and join-lines.
Been There, Done That!
Fred is one of our long-standing London plasterers, and he always cringes when he receives an enquiry to quote on a plastering job that’s a botch up. While Fred appreciates that there are a number of very able-bodied DIY-types around, he also knows that finishing the gaps where wall meets ceiling is a skill that takes time to master.
Finishing First
You’ll need to smooth any rough edges on the drywall sheets by sanding them finely. Then, wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove the dust and dirt. Allow the surfaces to dry thoroughly.
Time to Glue 
Read the instructions on the bonding agent carefully and then apply as required to the inward-face of the cornice. Remember to run the glue right across the corner – that’s where the two cornice lengths will interlock neatly.
Mounting the Cornice
After observing any recommended waiting time for the bonding agent to dry, mount the cornice in position and press down gently across the full length. Wipe off any surplus glue. Once the glue has dried, you can fine-sand the surface prior to painting.
Call in the Experts
Here at Mr-Skill we fully understand that not everybody is DIY-minded, and may very well need professional help with such jobs. No problem at all, because that is the name of our game. So, rather find a plasterer with minimum fuss, and the good news is that we have some eye-catching specials running right at this moment too. You could even get as much as 30% off, but hurry!
Tags: bonding compound, ceiling, clean, cornice, dirt, drywalls, dust, find a plasterer, gaps, glue, london plasterer, mitre, paint, plaster, plastering quote, rough edges, smooth, specials, wall
Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
Now that the cold weather has moved on, it’s time to be thinking of your central heating system with a view to some maintenance. Just like a car, regular maintenance on your core heating system is vital. Left to chance, you could end up facing enormous bills for entire system replacement, where routine inspections could have avoided all that.
Thermostat Check
Modern home heating systems allow you to control the degree of heat through a conveniently mounted thermostat – it’s usually located in the hallway passage.  In the warmer months you can switch off the thermostat or set it well down, so that the system never actually kicks in. Keep in mind that thermostats can develop faults, but replacing them is probably a job best left to an expert – you can find a heating technician right here on Mr-Skill.
Other Areas You Can Check
Assuming you are quite familiar with your central heating system, there are some tasks you could perform yourself. Remember though, that the skills level is moderate, indicating that we assume a minimum level of knowledge and experience here:
- Furnace Filters – These should be changed each year, especially if you have furry friends such as cats and dogs. Moreover, if you run air-conditioning in the hotter months, you can expect more dust and fluff in the atmosphere of your home. Dirty furnace filters are easily detected when the central heating struggles to push warm air about.
Interlude: Don’t forget that central heating systems cost a lot of money, so rather than fiddle with them yourself, get a heating quote right here on Mr-Skill.
- Internal and External Wall Vents – It is essential to clear obstructions from the vents to ensure efficient air flow. Inside, you should check for household dust and insects, whereas outside vents tend to clog with leaves and other debris. Don’t forget to keep your cold-air return vents clear as well.
Cautionary
Pilot Light Inspection – About the only other routine maintenance you can perform yourself, is to check the flame-quality of your central heating pilot light. With the prevalence of natural gas these days, you should see a clear blue flame. If it’s yellow or orange in appearance though, then a problem is indicated, so find a heating technician without delay.
A Little Knowledge Can be Dangerous
One of our London heating experts laughs to himself when he gets called out to fix a problem caused by a DIY “heating expert”. He says that the old adage “penny wise and pound foolish” is so relevant to his line of business!
Tags: Central Heating, dust, find a plumbing-heating-and-gas expert, flame, furnace filters, heat, knowledge, leaves, london heating specialist, maintenance, plumbing-heating-and-gas quote, thermostat, vents, warm air
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
Posted in Handyman Services on Feb 20
It’s surprising how many enquiries we receive about attaching things to walls. While this is the perfect job for a Handyman, it’s quite simple to do yourself. That’s provided you have the right equipment and safety gear. Should you decide to have a go, then these are the seven main things to watch out for.
Safety Tip
 A London Handyman will always have a strong ladder, an assistant and a modern electric drill to help him do his work. If you don’t have the same, please don’t even try to do the job.
- Always use a sharp masonry drill bit that’s slightly undersized for the wall plug you’re installing. You can always make it larger afterwards, but you cannot make it smaller.
- Before you drill, consider what might lurk inside the wall. Never drill directly opposite an electric box, or in line with a water pipe. Remember to check outside the house too.
- Re-check your measurements carefully before you drill. If the item you are fitting has more than one attaching point, fit a single one initially. Then you can level it and mark the other points.
- Make sure the drill is at right angles to the wall before you press the switch. Are you wearing safety goggles? Drill bits occasionally do snap.
 Have a friend hold a vacuum cleaner extension pipe in position to suck the dust up before it covers everything.
- Drill through the plaster on the standard setting before you switch to impact. Never force an electric tool. Use it in ten second bursts and do not let it overheat.
- When you are finished, lay the drill down somewhere safe, and unplug it from the wall.
Do you think that you could do the job yourself and avoid the cost of Handyman Quotes? Many people do.
Many others prefer to Find a Handyman on Mr-Skill instead, and get on with other more important things in their lives.
Tags: accessory, assistant, attach, bit, brick, careful, check, drill, dust, electric, equipment, find a handyman, glasses, goggle, handyman quotes, impact, ladder, level, london handyman, masonry, pipe, plaster, plug, right angle, safety, shelf, switch, television, vacuum, wall
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Posted in General Building on Feb 20
Before you even think about removing an interior brick wall, you first need to determine whether or not it’s load bearing. This is especially important when working with an older building. Sometimes homes were extended in the past, in a way that outside walls ended up inside houses.
 The only way to determine this is to get up in the ceiling and determine what is resting on the wall. Sometimes you’ll find rafters pressing down, and at other times planks supporting boilers. If you can’t run your finger all the way along the wall you must arrange a survey before proceeding.
While you’re up there, check for water pipes and electricity cables entering the wall through the ceiling, as these may travel a distance to reach their destination. Have an electrician isolate and terminate these (and any others that may reach a wall-switch from the floor below. You may legally disconnect a water supply pipe yourself.
Perhaps at this stage you have already decided that you need to Find a London Building Firm instead? No worries, simply click on this link to receive a Builder’s Quote. Here’s what you still need to do, to prepare in advance for the day the builder arrives.
 Remove everything from the surplus wall that you might conceivably use again
- Barricade off the immediate area with sheets of plastic
- Clear everything from inside the space, including semi-fixtures like draperies and light fittings.
- Invest in a heavy-duty drop-sheet to protect the floor.
- Resolve to be reasonable about the dust and dirt about to disturb you.
While any London Building Firm on Mr-Skill will do their best to contain the mess, the bottom line is that demolition is a dirty business. Ask yourself a simple question before you let the builders in – “Is this really necessary in the first place?” On the other hand, the results may be well worthwhile.
Tags: barricade, boiler, brick, builder’s quote, ceiling, demolish, dirt, disconnect, dropsheet, dust, electrician, electricity, find a builder, inside, interior, internal, isolate, load, load bearing, london building, masonry, mess, pipe, plank, plastic, rafter, remove, rest, sheet, solid, Survey, switch, truss, wall, water, waterpipe
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Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Feb 01
Damp is an on-going problem in many homes in Britain, and that’s not just in the older ones either. Water, especially when forced by wind can find its way inside an outside wall through the tiniest of cracks. After the leak is fixed, it’s time to Find a Plasterer to fix the evidence that alerted us to the damp in the first place.
The Problem
The water has leached the cement away leaving weakened plaster that will eventually come off. The only solution is to hack it out and replace it. You have a choice, though. You could Ask Mr-Skill to Arrange a Plaster Quote, or you could have a go at it yourself.
 Repair Stage One
You have to get rid of the damaged plaster at least a foot above any visible damage or residual salts. If the damp was low down, then you must in any case remove the plaster to three feet above floor level. Brush away every grain of loose material. Complete the job with a vacuum cleaner – you may wish to do this when the wife is out shopping.
Repair Stage Two
This is a tip a London Plasterer taught me years ago. Put on a pair of disposable latex gloves. Make a slurry of cement powder and water with a cup of bonding liquid added – the final consistency should be like runny porridge. Brush this firmly over the space where the old plaster came out. This will allow the new plaster to adhere properly. Wash your hands and tools immediately. Allow the slurry to dry for a day.
Repair Stage Three
Make up a stiff plaster mix of 3-Parts sand to 1-Part cement. Apply this with a wide paint scraper or steel float across the entire surface roughly, and leave it alone for two hours to set. Apply a fresh mix of plaster that stands just proud of the surface. Work this off with a straight edge later the same day.  Leave the job to cure for a week.
Repair Stage Four
Apply a moist mix of Polyfilla over the entire surface. When it’s totally dry and the surface has gone a little powdery, finish the job off with an a sanding block or orbital sander, using medium-grit paper. After that, you are ready to decorate!
That’s all very well in theory, but do you really have the time to spend on this? If not, that’s where Mr-Skill comes in. We provide a matching service between customers and tradespeople. Unlike some others, we don’t add a penny to the cost of jobs.
Tags: adhere, bond, brush, cement, clean, consistency, crack, cure, damage, damp, dry, dust, exterior, find a plasterer, float, get rid of, glove, grit, hack, london plasterer, mix, orbital, outside, paint scraper, plaster, plaster quote, polyfilla, powder, remove, replace, salt, sand, scraper, set, slurry, stick, straight edge, tip, wall, water
Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
Posted in Tiling & Flooring on Dec 26
Floor tiles are often set for life, if for no reason other than that taking them up again is such a noisy, dusty business. Here are some things you need to consider carefully before you Find a Tiler on Mr-Skill. We call them rules because they can dictate how you feel about the finished job.
 Rule No.1 Colour
A lighter-coloured floor tile makes a room look spacious while it also shows the dirt and dust. Darker colours add warmth, and hide the dirt. Go for neutral colours to show accessories off best.
Rule No.2 Texture
Wet tiles are slippery and that’s almost a rule in itself. There’s only one way to make a tile suitable for outside use in wet conditions, and that’s to add a gritty finish to the surface. Best to buy yours already done, because the paint-on solutions wear away.
Rule No.3 Size and Shape
A London Tiler worth his money will always determine your overall goals before recommending tiles. Large ones create a sense of spaciousness, while smaller ones may look busy over larger areas.  Rectangular tiles make a room seem wider when laid across the width. Lay them in the length though, and you’ll get the opposite effect
Rule No. 4 Thickness
When you obtain a Floor Tiling Quote it’s a good idea to specify the thickness of the tile. This is because this makes them heavier and more difficult to cut. As a general rule, a medium thickness floor tile is adequate for domestic use, unless you are planning something different.
The 5th Rule is perhaps the most important principle of all, and that’s Choosing the Right Tiler. And that’s where Mr-Skill comes in. We’ve searched high and low for the finest tradesmen across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, and we’ll not charge a single penny to introduce you to them.
Tags: accessory, choose, cut, dark, deep, dirt, domestic, dust, find a tiler, finish, floor, grit, heavier, length, light, london tiler, medium, neutral, quote, rectangular, rule, select, shape, size, slip, slippery, spacious, texture, thick, tile, tiling quote, warm, wet, wide, width
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Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Dec 05
After a builder installs a window, or a window fitter replaces one, there’s usually a gap between the window and the wall on either side. Experienced London Plasterers know how to close this in with rendering. In this article though, we focus on a more modern  technique that uses strips of plasterboard instead
This job is nominally within the target range of anybody who is good with their hands. It does require a fair degree of patience though, and those with delicate chests might prefer to avoid doing it on account of dust. Should you decide to go ahead yourself, then these are the essential steps:
- Cut sufficient strips of plasterboard to complete the job. lf the gap is deep, consider using several layers of board as opposed to balancing a single one on large blobs of glue, and being able to finish off the job immediately. When discussing Plastering Quotes you receive on Mr-Skill with bidders, find out how they propose to the job too.
- Apply proprietary dry-wall adhesive to the brickwork on one side of the window. Push a
 plasterboard strip into place using a square edge and spirit level to keep it true.
- Add further layers of strips using the same proprietary dry-wall adhesive, until you have built up to the desired level and flush with the window frame.
- Repeat the process on the other side. Now you can add the angle beading where your work interfaces with the wall, tidy up generally and redecorate.
Of course the third method would be to Find a Plasterer on Mr-Skill, and get on with something else that you’d prefer to do instead. We select contractors with extra-special care, to make sure that each and every trades person we introduce is the best.
To benefit from their expertise and brilliantly lower prices, all you need to do is to Post Your Job for free!
Tags: adhesive, angle, angle beading, bead, brickwork, builder, decorate, dust, find a plasterer, finish, flush, gap, glue, layer, level, london plasterers, new, patience, plaster board, plasterboard, plastering quote, process, push, repeat, replace, square, strip, tidy, wall, window, window fitter
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Nov 08
Bedroom fitters seem to find it necessary to install cupboards from the wall to ceiling. While this makes sense in terms of managing the dust on top, customers often end up with storage space that looks more like the inside of a church steeple. The solution? Add a space below for storing shoes, or above for keeping what almost inevitably turns out to be junk.
 I personally don’t have much time for using the plastic shelf blocks that seem all the rage these days. That’s because they involve point contact and it’s difficult to get them aligned perfectly. Moreover, in these times of chipboard everything, an overloaded shelf can easily come crashing down.
The following is what Professional London Carpenters still prefer to do:
• Remove the cupboard doors for ease of access and to avoid straining hinges. Measure the internal depth of the cupboard from front to back at both left and right. While you’re at it, measure the cupboard internally from left to right too. Enter the information on a drawing, because in all the years of providing Carpentry Quotes I have seldom come across a cupboard that’s perfectly square.
• Ask the hardware store to cut a shelf to size and to cut battens to support it on the left and right too. Make sure they also supply half-a-dozen screws of the appropriate length.
•  Pre-drill the battens in the middle and towards either end. Fix the first one in the middle only and set it horizontal with a spirit level. Draw a pencil line along the bottom edge and fit the other two screws accordingly.
• Measure from the top or bottom of the cupboard to determine where the second batten should go. Screw it into place, again just using the middle hole. Test fit the shelf in place. It should be level and fit snugly so you can complete the installation and replace the doors. If not, you may need to make adjustments.
You could also save yourself a heap of trouble and get Highly Competitive Carpentry Quotes on Mr-Skill instead. We have carpenters at every UK postcode. They’re on standby to fit that shelf for you, and much more.
Tags: battem, bedroom, block, bottom, carpentry quotes, chipboard, complete, cupboard, cut, door, drill, dust, find a carpenter, fit, hinge, horizontal, length, london carpenters, measure, plastic, remove, replace, screw, shelf, shoe, size, snug, spirit level, square, storage, strain, support, test, top, vertical, weight
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery | Comments Off
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