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Posts Tagged ‘fill<’
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Nov 24
While parents may still find them handy for tracking teenagers in and out at night, the truth is that a squeaking floor is an irritating thing that is literally crying out for your attention. Before you look for cost-effective Carpenters Quotes on Mr-Skill, you may like to try out these handy ideas first.
 Floor boards creak for one of three reasons, and these are some of the things you can do to fix them – possibly by yourself – once you have walked the floor and found the source:
1. They are incorrectly fitted and rubbing up against each other. Pour a little talcum powder into the crack and work it in by pressing up and down with your foot. If this works, repeat the treatment regularly.
2. The nails holding them down have worked loose. If at all possible, remove the nails completely and replace them with wood screws. If not, you may have to fit new screws separately, hammer the old nails in as best you can, and fill the nail heads with filler. Start with two screws, each towards the outer edge of the board, remembering to countersink them. Only add a middle one if necessary.
3.  The floor support is inadequate. This is a major job and you need to Find a Carpenter on Mr-Skill to do the job for you. They will remove a section of floor boards, add additional supporting battens and re-lay the floor. If done correctly by a professional there is no reason why the job will not work. Done incorrectly by a cowboy though, and it could cost you the floor.
There are Experts in London Carpentry on Mr-Skill, and specialist carpenters working in almost every other United Kingdom postcode too. When you Hire a Skilful Tradesman here, you not only get one with all the correct papers. You also get to save pounds off normal market rates.
Tags: add, batten, board, carpenters quotes, countersink, creak, fill, filler, find a carpenter, floor, floorboard, hammer, incorrect, lay, london carpentry, loose, nail, paper, powder, professional, rate, reason, relay, remove, replace, rub, save, screw, section, specialist, squeak, talcum, work
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery | 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
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 Plastering & Drywall on Jun 10
 Plastering upside down is definitely an art and there are more than a few of us who have retreated beaten with ceiling plaster stuck to us like dough. The job becomes even more complicated when the ceiling has complicated detailing, and that is definitely a case where you need to Find a Plasterer if you want to remain sane.
If you still want to try your hand at this then the trick is to understand that plaster has to be exactly the right consistency, and that nothing sticks naturally the wrong way round. If you fiddle with it after you have managed to get it to stick, the chances are good that it will come loose again and frustrate you to the point of getting Plasterer Quotes. in other words, it its working, don’t try to fix it.
 The key is to establish a basic surface over as much of the area as possible, and then to leave things be, while the material semi-dries. After that you can fill in any gaps, and tidy up any difficult corners. When you have done that, and scratched the surface carefully, you are ready to attempt the second coat.
The second coat should go easier because the existing surface and the new plaster over it are more compatible. Aim to add an even layer that conceals everything beneath it. After it has dried to the right consistency you can gradually work off the surface with a straight edge until you have got it right.
Personally I do not think that this is a job for an amateur to attempt. If you do manage to get it right though, then your next step could be to become a Plasterer in London – that is assuming that you are a glutton for pain.
Tags: adhere, amateur, art, ceiling, consistency, corners, detailing, even, fiddle, fill, find a plasterer, gaps, level, loose, plaster, plasterer london, plastering, plastering quote(s), smooth, stick, surface
Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Apr 05
Plain ceilings are very boring these days. Developers Find  Plasterers to pep-up their shrinking houses with decorative cornices and roundels to conceal their small size. As a result, these have become fashionable and many people with older houses would like to follow suit. You can even apply one to an artex ceiling if you are skilful. The especially nice thing about a job like this is that modern ceiling roundels are so relatively cheap.
o The trick to attaching a ceiling rose (as roundels are sometimes called) is to affix them to a smooth surface. Hence, if you have an artex ceiling you will need to first level up with fibrous plaster where the roundel is going to go. This does not have to cover the entire area – an even 80% spread is sufficient. This job is not easy though, and you may like to Find a Plasterer on Mr-Skill to do it for you.
o Remove any existing light fitting and insulate the wires carefully. If you are in any doubt, Mr-Skill can recommend an Electrician to do this safely for you.
o  Apply a generous supply of no-more-nails or similar on the reverse of the roundel, slip it over the electric wires, and press it to the ceiling with a twisting motion. It should adhere nicely, in which case leave it alone for 24-hours. If not, hold it in place with masking tape twisted around the electric wires, and taped to the ceiling too.
o The next day seal around the roundel with a flexible white acrylic filler. If applicable, reinstall the light fitting after first turning off the mains.
I have seen the most wonderful finishing touches applied to roses by Plasterers in London. There are literally no ceilings to the possibilities, especially when matched to an appropriate light fitting. Just imagine how an neat idea like this could enhance your lifestyle, and add value to your house.
Tags: acrylic, artex, ceiling, cornice, electric fitting, fibrous plaster, fill, filler, find a plasterer, finish, glue, insulate, masking tape, plasterer london, plasterer quote, plastering job London, plastering quote, remove, rose, roundel, seal, skim, smooth, touch
Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Feb 21
Are you being driven crazy by creaking floor upstairs that squeaks and groans especially at night when someone gets up  to attend a call of nature? It is entirely possible to achieve a solution when you Find a Carpenter rated by Mr-Skill. This is not a job for amateurs though, because wood is not forgiving and there is no undo-button on a saw.
Floors creak when wood rubs together. The commonest cause of this is having too little support under the planks, or weakened joists. As the wood ages and the floor beds in or perhaps begins to rot this gets worse, not better. Here are some of the things that you could have done for you by experts found on Mr-Skill.
o Sistering involves attaching extra bracing on either side of a weakened joist. The bracing must be balanced in terms of weight and strength and be firmly glued and screwed, or better bolted on.
o Carpenters in London often also recommend  Stiffening by adding timber to the bottom of the joist. While this is not much use after damage has occurred, it is an excellent preventative measure.
o Epoxy-Based Wood Aggregate is the preferred method of repairing rot or termite damage once wood has been treated. Use it to repair a damaged joist and you may not need to replace, sister or stiffen it either.
Replacement is the only option where a joist is completely rotten or broken through. This is definitely a time to Get Carpenter Quotes from one who is knowledgeable because there are standards that must be met. Mr-Skill recommends that you enquire how the floor will be supported while the replacement work is done, and that you hand over not one penny until satisfied by the answer..
Tags: brace, bracing, carpenter quote, carpenters london, creak, epoxy, fill, find a carpenter, find a joiner, floor, groan, joiner london, joiner quote, joist, plank, prop, replace, rot, rub, saw, sister, squeak, stiffen, support, wood
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Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Jan 21
 Dry Wall gets its name from the fact that you don’t need wet cement materials to build it, which makes it ideal for internal walls that might need rearranging later. In modern buildings it is also used as an inner skin because of the way it facilitates the installation of services without the need for chopping bricks. It is capable of providing a superb final finish in the right hands too. Sounds like the perfect solution, doesn’t it? If you need a Plastering Quote for Dry Wall work contact Mr-Skill
Dry Walling is not quite perfect though. The sheets are fitted over a wooden framework in the same way ceilings are made. That means a lot of air space behind a brittle surface. If your teenager comes home awash with hormones and kicks a hole in it, how do you effect a repair when the filler just  keeps disappearing into the space behind the panel? Or, on a lighter note, how do you fill a space where a light switch once was that you just moved? You may not need to find a plasterer. That’s because a small repair is actually dead simple when you follow these 3 easy steps.
1) Trace a rectangle on the wall around the damaged area. Cut carefully though the outer surface using a sharp knife before cutting through with a keyhole saw. Use the down stroke only to avoid disturbing the surrounding material.
2) Attach one or more battens inside the opening with glue and screws and allow to fully dry. Then glue a  neatly fitting patch onto the batten with glue like no more nails.
3) The next day (no sooner please) cover the patch and immediate surrounding area with a suitable filler and, when dry, finish off with light grit paper on an orbital sander. Paint, stand back and feel good about what you just achieved.
We do not recommend that you try a large repair yourself. This is because a bad patch can mar a home and even bring the value down. Play it safe. Find a Dry Wall expert on Mr Skill and get Plastering Quotes from them.
Tags: batten, ceiling, cut, dry wall, dry walling, drywall, fill, filler, find a plasterer, fix, frame, glue, hole, internal, paint, partition, patch, plasterer london, plasterer quote, plastering job London, plastering quote, remove, repair, sand, screw, space, wall, wood
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Painting is fun. Let’s keep it so by doing a little planning before we dip brush and roller to paint. That way everything will work our great, you will enjoy yourself, and when your friends admire your work they might even think that you had decorators from London in to do the job!
 1. Selecting the colours that you are going to use can be the most difficult step of all. Do you want a warm or cool effect, and energizing feel or a relaxing mood? Try starting with a colour that is already there – the floor covering for example – and work outwards from this. Alternatively, why not copy an existing colour scheme you saw elsewhere.
2. If using more than one colour, think practically as well The space below the wainscotings should be the darker of the two to bed the scheme, while the lighter colour dominates above. Painting trim a lighter colour than the walls makes for a cozier effect. Play with your imagination before you paint.
3. Paint effects can make all the difference to a drab room. Experiment with colour washing and stencilling and break into a whole world of new ideas. Who says all four walls have to be done in exactly the same colour either?
4. Mix shiny and smooth paints for stunning effects. Flat matt finishes hide imperfections and are great for walls not subject to wear and tear.  Satin and eggshell paints are easier to clean, while gloss is robust and makes a statement on the trim.
5. Measure up and make sure you buy enough paint to finish the job with a single batch. The folk down at the hardware store will tell you how much you need when they know the square feet involved.
6. Preparation is your key to success. After completely clearing the room wipe down all the surfaces with diluted washing up soap. Fix cracks, sand them down and wipe clean again. Do you have all the materials you need, and a good ladder too? If so, you are ready to start painting finally! Does this sound like too much hard work? Simple solution, find a decorator at Mr Skill!
7. Mask everything off carefully. I know it is a real pain, however be assured that the painting will go quicker, and that the result will be well worth it too.
 8. Work from the top down. Sounds obvious, however you would be amazed how many people do the ceilings last, and have to touch up splashes everywhere. My advice is, always re-paint the ceiling first, because it will look drab when you have done the rest.
9. Never be tempted to slap on a thick coat of paint. Two thinner coats do a better job, and you will not get so much paint on your hands either.
10. Do the trim last. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, you get less mess on completed work. Secondly, the job ends on a high note.
If the job is a big one though, like redecorating the entire house it could be wiser to have painters in to do the job for you. You will find decorator quotes easily on Mr-Skill, your handyman friend.
Tags: batch, ceiling, coat, color, color washing, colour, colour washing, cool, dark, decorator quotes, decorators london, eggshell, energizing, fill, find a decorator, find a painter, gloss, light, mask, materials, matt, measure, mess, mood, paint, paint effect, painter quotes, painters london, Painting, preparation, relaxing, sand, satin, shiny, smooth, stencil, thick, thin, trim, wall, warm, wash, wipe
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Oct 11
A small hole in the ceiling may happen accidentally when someone drops a tool in the loft, or be an unwanted leftover from a light fitting that you removed. The principles to making it good again are the same, once you have arranged for an electrician to isolate any electric points. Do not attempt this job yourself if the diameter of the hole is greater than four inches – rather choose from competitive plasterer quotes and find a plasterer to do the job for you.
 o Wear safety glasses at all times, and a face mask when you are in the ceiling space. This is because all manner of things end up in ceilings, and you need to protect your lungs and eyes from harm.
o Clean up the existing hole with a sharp Stanley knife or similar so that no loose material remains. If the ceiling has been plastered, remove a little of this around the hole too.
o Obtain a suitable piece of board that will overlap the hole by approximately three inches on all sides, two full-sized bricks, a hand brush and a tube of silicon as well. Enter the ceiling space with a friend and carefully work your way across to the hole, preferably without dropping anything on the way.
o Brush the immediate ceiling around the hole to remove dust and any debris. Put a generous run of silicone around the hole. Lay the board over the hole, and put the bricks on top of it to press it down securely. You are finished in the roof and need not return.
o Make up a small amount of slurry using any cement-based product mixed with a bonding or key-coating product. Mix this very well until there are absolutely no lumps and it has the consistency of thick cream. Gently apply a thin layer of this to the surface of the exposed board, the hole’s edge, and where you may have removed plaster too.
o Wait for 48 hours before proceeding further. An apprentice working for plasterers in London tried to go ahead straight away, and had to go back into my roof space to repeat everything a second time.
o Obtain a small batch of skimming plaster, and trowel this over the hole using a broad paint scraper. Make sure that this does not protrude below the ceiling level, and leave to dry. The trick is to press it in firmly as you slide the scraper across, and then leave it strictly alone until it has bonded nicely.
o Wait until the plaster does not respond when you press it firmly with your finger, then tidy up the job, merging it into the ceiling as best you can.
A few days later, you can redecorate the patch. Unfortunately, the ceiling will always show a smudgy mark, unless you redecorate completely. Where would you be without Mr-Skill?
Tags: board, bonding liquid, brick, brush, ceiling, ceiling hole, cement, debris, drywall builders London, drywall builders quotes, dust, face mask, fill, find a drywall builder, find a plasterer, hole, hole in ceiling, key-coat, knife, merge, paint scraper, patch, plaster, plastered, plasterer quotes, plasterers London, redecorate, repair, safety glasses, scraper, silicon, slurry, stanley knife
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Posted in General Building on Sep 22
If you ignore a situation where the earth against an outside wall remains damp, and just wipe away the white powdery efflorescence from time to time, then you do yourself and your home a disservice. This is because permanent moisture can weaken bricks and cement over time
 Solving this relatively common problem is easy when you know what to do. All you really need is a good back, a strong pair of arms, and a good spade.
o Dig a trench against the wall all the way along. The trench should be two spades wide and two spades deep.
o Extend your trench a little further to a point where you can dig a deeper hole one meter cubed in size. Fill this hole to the level of the bottom of the trench leading to it. Tradesmen in London usually have access to builder’s rubble. If you do not have this too, then you can use large stone chip instead.
You will need the following materials:
• A length of 50 mm plastic drainpipe that is half a meter longer than your trench, and one end cap (joined pipes are not a problem)
• Sufficient landscaping fabric to wind three times around this pipe, and half a dozen cable ties
• Sufficient large stone chip to fill the trench, and the hole if necessary.
o Assemble the 50 mm plastic drainpipe, using appropriate glue to secure the end cap and any joints. Drill a series of 8 mm holes through it spaced 20 cm apart. Make sure that these holes are in a straight line and directly opposite.
o Mark the end cap clearly opposite the two sets of holes. Wrap the pipe in the landscaping fabric (taking care not to obscure the end cap) and secure the fabric with a few cable ties.
o Lay the 50 mm pipe so that the open end protrudes over the hole. Pack stone chip under it until you have achieved a gentle downward slope, then rotate it until the marks on the end caps are horizontal. Back-fill the pipe, so that it does not deflect under downward pressure.
o Gently fill the trench with stone chip to 10 cm below the lip. Do the same to the hole, using rubble or more stone chip. Top up with earth to ground level or finish off with paving, and the job is finished.
How does this work? The dry stone in the hole draws moisture through the pipe from the trench outside. The landscaping fabric allows the water through, while keeping the holes unblocked. You will not need tradesmen quotes for such a simple job unless your back is troubling you. In that case, rather find a tradesman at Mr Skill.
Tags: build a french drain, chip, damp, damp outside wall, dig a french drain, drill, fill, find a tradesman, french drain, garden fabric, gravel, hole, holes, landscaping fabric, london tradesmen, plastic pipe, pvc pipe, rubble, spade, stone, tradesmen quotes, trench, wall
Posted in General Building | Comments Off
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