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Posts Tagged ‘inside<’
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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It may not feel quite like it yet, but with the Winter Solstice passed on December 21st, the days are getting longer and Nature has already begun to react. Plants have increased their growth in accordance with the available ambient light, and already bulbs are  gently stirring beneath the snow.
Some, come on Gardeners, it’s time to brave the chilly UK weather and start helping Nature to get going once again. Alternatively, you’re due to get those Gardening Quotes in time again!
- The Vegetable Garden. Order seed potatoes and plant out garlic cloves in pots. Dig the earth over for asparagus plantings. Mmmm – that sounds really good!
- How about an Orchard? The right time for planting trees is when the sap is down. If in the City, find a London Gardener while their rates are reasonable still.
- The Flower Garden. Remove fallen leaves. Cut down and compost annuals. There’s just so much to do, including taking hardwood cuttings of your favourite plants.
 How about a Few More Roses? Dig deeply to prevent root stock from shooting, and then plant in rich organic matter. Remember to support with stakes in case the high winds come.
- And Finally the Greenhouse. If the weather’s inclement you may like to Find a Gardener to clean inside and outside, and check the insulation. After that, you just need to do weekly visits and tidy up.
Don’t be surprised if the neighbours gawk at you out in your garden in your winter woollies. They’ll be jealous in the Spring though! There’s no need to tell them either about the wonderful Gardeners on Mr-Skill. For now at least, it’s a secret between you and me! And it’s all free too … when it comes to finding the perfect tradesperson of your dreams.
Tags: annual, asparagus, bulb, chill, compost, cut, cutting, deep, dig, find a gardener, flower, Garden, gardener, gardening quotes, garlic, green house, greenhouse, growth, inside, Insulation, leaves, light, london gardener, nature, orchard, organic, outside, plant, potato, potatoes, react, root, rootstock, rose, snow, spring, sprout, stake, support, tidy, tree, vegetable, weather, week, wind, winter
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | Comments Off
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
From time to time there are improvements to the design of windows that both improve their thermal qualities, and make bold aesthetic statements too. If you are living in an older home and are facing high heating bills, then it could be time to consider an upgrade. Of course it’s possible to do  the job yourself if you live downstairs, and have all the time in the world too. If not, here’s a brief description of the process that professional London Window Fitting Services like to follow.
o Measure for the replacement window carefully. Get this wrong and you could end up with an expensive contribution to the Council scrapheap.
o Make sure that the window you order is glazed from the inside for added security and ease of fitment, particularly if you will be working upstairs.
o When the new window arrives and the weather is appropriate, remove the old one carefully, taking care not to damage the surrounds in any way.
o Bed in the outer window cill, making sure that it is level, well sealed against rain and drafts, and firmly fixed.
o Secure the frame on all four sides, again making sure that everything is absolutely square, level and plumb. Fit wedges as necessary and screw firmly into place.
o  Glaze the window, and test that everything works correctly. If you get Window Fitting Quotes on Mr-Skill instead then this should hardly an issue, but insist on testing everything anyway. If you encounter a problem, loosen off the securing screws around the frame and adjust until the out-of-square problem disappears. Re-tighten everything.
o Complete the job by weatherproofing with silicone all round the frame outside.
If the thought of sealing off an upstairs window while standing on a long ladder puts you off, then why not Find a Window Fitter on our website instead. We monitor our tradespeople carefully for quality, and the competitive environment within which they work could also get you up to 30% off the going rate. How’s that for a good idea?
Tags: adjust, aesthetic, appearance, bed, careful, cill, damage, downstairs, find a window fitter, fitment, fix, frame, glaze, heating, inside, ladder, level, level.seal, london window fitting services, loose, measure, outside, plumb, process, proof, replace, screw, seal, secure, security, silicone, sill, square, surround, thermal, tight, upgrade, upstairs, weathermremove, wedge, window, window fitting quote(s)
Posted in Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
Posted in General Building on Jun 14
Summer is a great time to get out in the garden, light the barbeque and prune the roses. Perhaps one could also hop into the car and brave the traffic all the way down to Brighton?  But summer is also the right time to Find a Builder to catch up on the outdoor jobs while it’s not raining.
o Start with the roof and any chimneys first. Are the tiles or sheets still in good position and held tightly down? Check the flashing too, and double check for any signs of leaks by looking up at upstairs ceilings. And the gutters? Are they nice and clear too?
o Check the openings into buildings next – by this I mean the windows and the doors. Are they closing tightly and are all the locks and other fastenings working correctly too. This is not just about weatherproofing either. It’s about keeping burglars out as well.
o Go all the way around the house checking that the rainwater is still draining away nicely. Look for cracks in rendering and signs of damp rising up the walls. Go inside too,  moving furniture away from internal walls. Any signs of damp? You need to get a Building Quote before things get worse.
o A Builder in London I got chatting too the other day while waiting for a train back home remarked that gates and fences are like our teeth. By that he meant that some of us neglect them both until they start to give us trouble, at which point they cost a lot of money to repair.
I reckon that chap standing with me on a railway platform had exactly the right idea. We need to keep a hand on homes and fix the little things before they become expensive. Summer is the best time to do this while it’s still nice and warm. Unless, that is, you feel like stopping gaps while the winter rains fall down on you. I just thought I’d mention it, to keep you nice and warm and dry.
Tags: builder, builder london, Building, building quotes, burglar, ceiling, check, chimney, correct, damp, door, drain, expensive, fastening, find a builder, fix, flashing, Garden, hand, home, inside, inspect, job, leak, lock, opening, outdoor, position, rain, rainwater, render, roof, sheet, summer, tight, tile, wall, weather, work
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Apr 25
Replacing a wooden outside or a wooden inside door is equally straightforward if you keep your head on straight and are reasonably handy. If neither of these requirements matches up to you though, then perhaps you need to Find a Handyman on Mr-Skill? Otherwise, this is how you go about it.
o Observe the old door carefully. Does it fit neatly? Or, on the other hand, do you need to alter the gap on one side or the other, or at the top or bottom? If so, measure up and make notes.
o Prop the old door fully open and wedge it underneath. Turn the hinge screws in the doorframe halfway out, budge the hinges loose, remove the screws completely and then remove the door to your workshop, or somewhere dry outside.
o Remove all the ironmongery from the old door. Lay it on top of the new door allowing the same spacing from left to right and from top to bottom. Trace a profile, make any adjustments you noted, and re-size the new door with a suitable saw. When done, sand down and mark where the hinges and lockset go.
o  With an assistant at the far side of the opening (to push the door open if it sticks) fit the new door loosely in the doorframe and make sure that everything lines up nicely. If the fit is good, then cut out for, and fit the lockset, and attach the hinges. If not, re-adjust the door first.
o With an assistant on the far side of the door, wedge it upright and half-open too. Attach the hinges to the doorframe. After you insert the lockset and fit the handles, you have a brand new door that should close perfectly.
The Carpenters at London based firm Excelsior Doors make it a matter of pride that each new door fits perfectly every time, or else the unfortunate carpenter must pay a round of drinks down at the local Pub. If you get it right yourself, then I reckon the very least that you deserve is a cup of tea and perhaps a biscuit.
Tags: adjust, attach, budge, carpenter quote, carpenters london, door, find a carpenter, find a joiner, fit, gap, handle, hinge, inside, internal, joiner london, joiner quote, lock, lockset, loose, mark, observe, outside, perfect, profile, prop, screw, space, wedge, wood
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 An electric tumble dryer is a great asset in the British climate where washing can hang for days without drying and airing properly. The only problem with these marvellous appliances is that they pump moist air into the house where it steams up windows and fertilises the mold. The answer, pump the moist hot air outside – to do this Find a Plumber or read on below.
o Find a convenient place against an outside wall to stand your dryer, preferably where the lowest part of the dryer vent lines up with a point outside at least one foot off the ground. Before proceeding, make sure there are no pipes, cables or combustible materials between the dryer and outside.
o Carefully measure and very accurately mark a circle on the inside wall exactly opposite your dryer vent, then drill a ¼ inch hole through to the outside directly in the middle. Hire an appropriate hole saw from your local hardware shop (or several saws depending on the construction method of your home) and drill a short way from the inside. Finish the hole off by drilling from the outside making sure that the tool is cutting horizontally and allowing it to cool off from time to time. If you get as right as a Plumber in  London may, the two holes will line up perfectly.
o Insert the insulated ducting through the wall and attach it to the outside vent. Attached this vent in turn to the wall in a way that it can be removed for servicing. Returning inside, fit a collar to the duct inside and you are ready to connect up to your dryer.
Expert Tip As lint builds up inside the duct it creates a fire hazard to be taken very seriously. Avoid trouble – clean your vent out twice a year and if you are unsure how to do this get a Plumber Quote. Don’t give fire a place to start!
Tags: cable, climate, collar, combustible material, connect, drill, dryer, duct, elbow, extension, find a plumber, hole, inside, insulate, mark, measure, moist air, mold, outside, pipe, place, plumber london, plumber quote, plumbing job london, plumbing quote, saw, tumble, vent, washing
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
Posted in Handyman Services on Jan 25
 Even by British standards the weather really has been awful so far this winter. With the year-end holidays behind us (and perhaps a quick flip to warmer climes for the lucky ones) the long slog continues through to that spring day when the crocuses and daffodils finally pop up through the never-ending snow. Tempers flare sometimes in cramped conditions stuck inside and watching telly – what about some handyman-related activities the whole family can share this weekend?
o For starters, how about tackling that cupboard under the stairs. I know things can get bad in there, but do you really need to find a handyman? Dad can lug out the heavy stuff while Mum makes two  piles. The children have fun discovering what is waiting for them in the corner.
o After that, what about cleaning the inside window frames and glass? It can be fun looking at the snow outside and waving to the neighbours. Thanks heavens for double glazing or our fingers might stick to the frozen outer panes.
o If you are living in the City you could ask Handyman London Providers to send a fellow around to clean the outside glass as well. Personally I think it’s a miserable job to ask anybody to do, which is why I don’t think I’ll bother.
That’s enough work for the family to do next weekend I should think. If anybody has any further ideas may I suggest getting a handyman quote on Mr-Skill and staying out of trouble? Or else the family could send you outside to shovel snow!
Tags: activities, clean, cold, cupboard, double glazing, family, find a handyman, frame, glass, handyman london, handyman quote, inside, outside glass, pane, stair, weekend, window, winter
Posted in Handyman Services | Comments Off
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