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Posts Tagged ‘inspect<’
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
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Posted in Locksmith on Jan 06
There’s nothing quite as irritating as losing keys, or battling with sticking locks without a plan to bail you out. In fact, at times like this you sometimes feel like hitting your head in frustration against a wall. If in the City, you’ll need to  Find a London Locksmith to bail you out, and that could cost you a pretty penny too. This might all have been avoidable, if you had followed these simple tips:
- Have your outside locks serviced regularly. You can Obtain a Locksmith Quote by clicking on the link. There’s no charge for this service, and the rates you receive will be highly competitive too.
- Inspect your keys regularly for signs of damage. A bent key is brittle, and could suddenly snap in two pieces. A worn one could eventually fail to work, just when you need it most
- Make up a spare set of keys. Click on this link to Find a Locksmith in your immediate area. Once you have a spare set, entrust them to a neighbour or some other trustworthy person.
 TIP – Never leave your spare keys hidden on your property or in your car. Trust me, crooks know every place that you could think of, and you can even find these listed on the internet. Act wisely in this regard.
Mr-Skill is a tradesperson-listing service that is freely available to members of the general public, and provides a Bulletin Board where you can post your jobs. And that includes far more than just having keys cut too.
In fact, we provide Links to Every Trade Available, and deliver our service FREE.
Tags: bent, brittle, broken, competitive, damage, fail, find a locksmith, frustration, inspect, key, lock, locksmith quote, london locksmith, plan, rate, service, snap, spare, spare key, spare set, sticking, tip, trust, worn
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Posted in Locksmith on Nov 07
There’s nothing quite as unnerving as arriving home from holiday, and finding you’ve either lost your key or the front door lock refuses to budge. This unfortunately boils down to a lack of care or just stupidity. I can say that, because I’ve been guilty of these oversights myself when I was younger.
 Lost Keys – The solution is as simple as people’s failure follow it is incredulous. Leave a spare set of keys with a good friend you trust, so they can visit your home from time to time too. That way, you may never need to Find a Locksmith at such an inconvenient hour.
Jammed Locks – It’s a funny old thing, isn’t it? We update our ant-virus databases and we even sometimes mow our garden lawns. Yet we leave our essential door and window locks to take care of themselves completely, when all you need to do is the following:
• Lubricate all your exterior door locks with a puff of graphite powder (not oil because that will attract the dirt and dust). Lock and unlock them several times to work the lubricant in. If the lock is exposed to the elements and seldom used, consider taping over the outside keyhole with a piece of weatherproof tape to keep the moisture out.
•  The advice of every London Locksmith and all others lock repairers too is to take action as soon as a lock starts giving trouble. If you can open the door or window you could change the lock yourself. At the least you could possibly avoid paying overtime rates.
• Inspect your keys monthly for signs of damage, and never, ever use worn ones. That’s because a broken piece of key can be impossible to remove, necessitating an expensive repair.
Whatever else you do please do not overlook the need to maintain your locks. Did we mention you can get Locksmith Quotes on Mr-Skill too? You’ll find the rates more than competitive and our service exemplary. Isn’t that good to know. Remember that in times of trouble we’re here for you.
Tags: break, broken, budge, care, change, damage, door, element, find a locksmith, friend, graphite, inspect, jam, key, lock, locksmith quotes, london locksmith, lose, lost, lubricate, maintain, moisture, oil, powder, rate, remove, replace, solution, spare, stuck, tape, weather, window, work
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Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Nov 02
There’s nothing quite as sad as a worktop with a corner broken off, or burned by a hot saucepan or an electric iron. Fear not. A replacement is not as expensive as you think, even when done by a London Kitchen Fitting Firm.
•  Obtain a replacement piece that’s cut to size, and edged-off at any exposed end / ends. In that case, remember to allow an overhang that matches the other worktops as closely as possible.
• Clear the old worktop of everything. Remove the cabinet doors and clear the units completely. Carefully inspect for stains or water damage, because this is the best chance you’ll have to do repairs for some time.
• Remove the seal between the worktop and the tiles, and rout out any grout taking care not to chip or crack the tiles. Take your time – this is where you make a professional difference. If the gap is tight, you might need to Find a Kitchen Fitter to assist.
• Remove the screws that attach the worktop to the cabinetry from underneath, making sure you find them all. Double-check that the top is clear of all the tiles, and then gently work it loose. You must work evenly and gently to avoid any contact with the tile edges.
•  When completely free, remove the old worktop from the kitchen. Vacuum up all the dust. Wipe the surfaces clean and have a cup of tea. You’re past the halfway point!
• Lay the new top roughly in position, and gently move it into the space between the cabinetry and tiles. Attach it to the cabinetry from underneath, using the old holes and similar screws. Grout in the gap, and when this is dry add a bead of silicone. Now you can re-fit the doors and get on with your life. What a pleasure – damage controlled.
This information is provided with the compliments of Mr-Skill, although we recommend that only experienced people attempt this project. Should you decide to obtain Kitchen Fitter Quotes instead, we assure you of our best service, and top value in the industry too!
Tags: broken, burn, cabinet, chip, clean, counter, crack, cut, damage, door, dust, edge, end, expose, find a kitchen fitter, grout, inspect, kitchen, kitchen fitter quote, london kitchen fitting, loose, overhang, remove, repair, replacement, screw, seal, silicone, stain, tile, top, unit, vacuum, water, wipe, work, worktop
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Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Sep 02
There are a variety of reasons for installing under-counter ovens. These range from hygiene issues through to the slim line fashion-statement that this creates. Although under-counter cookers normally come in standard sizes, it is always best to check carefully before  you begin counter surgery, or indeed buy the cooker in the first place.
Please note that the advice that we provide here does not include any electrical work, and that this must be done by a competent, registered electrician that you could Find Here. We can also help you Find a Kitchen Fitter in your area too, in case you decide to contract out the entire job.
• The first stage of the project involves creating a suitable-sized opening in your run of counters according to the cooker-manufacturer’s instructions. Work carefully, to avoid damaging the counters that remain. If you kitchen is a modern one, you may need to do little more than remove a set of doors.
• Have an electrician install the electricity supply directly wired to the breaker box via a dedicated switch.
•  Unpack the stove and inspect it carefully for any defects. Then remove the door to make it easier to manhandle. If you find it a little heavy, perhaps you should save your back and ask us to arrange Kitchen Fitting Quotes instead?
• Gently remove the trim-pieces around the oven, any remaining packing materials, and the shipping feet, if any. Connect the power cables, and gently slide the oven into place. Fasten it in position according to the instructions, and replace the trim pieces for a perfect finish.
Gosh, they do make things easier these days, don’t they. Notwithstanding that, I’ve heard that Kitchen Fitters in London are kept busy doing similar jobs daily. We certainly receive a lot of enquiries on Mr-Skill for this, and would be delighted to assist you in this regard too.
Tags: care, contract, cooker, counter, damage, electrical, fasten, feet, find a kitchen fitter, heavy, inspect, install, instruct, kitchen fitter in london, kitchen fitting quotes, manufacturer, material, opening, oven, position, remove, slide, stove, trim, under counter, undercounter, unpack
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Posted in Electrical Work on Aug 04
A dimmer switch has the effect of turning down the electricity in much the same way as turning down a tap reduces the flow of water (although that is just an analogy). It is a simple, cheap improvement that adds ambiance to any room. Just be aware that dimmers do not work on fluorescent tubes and some low energy bulbs, at least as yet.
o  Obtain a suitable dimmer switch that matches your current installation and is suitable for use in the UK. Turn off the power at the mains and double check that the power at the switch is dead by turning on the light switch. I learned this trick from a wizened old Electrician in London who liked to say if it’s wired to bypass the mains switch then it won’t be the first one that I have seen.
o Remove the cover plate over the existing light switch and withdraw the switch itself. Before removing any wires from it make a simple diagram noting how each colour wire is connected. This is to avoid needing an Electrician Quote in case you end up having to reinstall it and forgot which wire went where.
o Remove the wires from the existing switch and set it to one side. You might like to keep it in your bottom drawer because you never know when you might need it. Gently draw any slack wire out from the wall and check it carefully for any damage. If the wire ends are getting frayed give them the necessary attention.
o  Connect the wires to the replacement dimmer switch according to the instructions, making sure that it is correctly orientated so it will slide neatly into the recess, remembering to tighten the screws up nicely. Now take a five minute break for reasons I will disclose. Have a cuppa tea, exercise your dog, show your wife how much you love her – in fact do anything you like that takes five minutes or even more.
o Re-tighten the screws that hold the dimmer wires in place noting how the wires under them have settled. This is the single most likely reason why wires sometimes still come loose, and is a secret you might well like to pass on to a friend. Press the dimmer switch gently into position, screw it down and refit the cover plate to complete the job.
Now you can turn the main switch on again and test your job. Not working? Check the bulb. Still not working? You may not need to Find an Electrician yet. Remove the dimmer switch and have it tested. Now aren’t you glad you made a diagram of how the old switch was connected.
Tags: ambiance, bypass, cheap, check, colour, connect, correct, cover, diagram, dimmer, electrician in london, electrician quote, energy, find an electrician, fluorescent, inspect, installation, light, loose, main switch, mains, off, plate, power, recess, save, screw, settle, slack, slide, suit, switch, test, tight, uk, wire
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Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless odourless gas that is the product of incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels. These fuels include gas, oil, coal and wood, but all are however safe when used correctly. According to the Health and Safety Executive, approximately twenty people die in Britain every year from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by wrongly installed gas appliances, and flues that  have not been properly maintained and cleaned. If there ever was a reason to Find a Heating Engineer, then surely this is it.
These people all probably died from a sudden intake of the deadly gas that prevented their blood from carrying oxygen to their tissues, skin and other organs. The gas may however also kill almost imperceptibly over a longer period of slow leaks. These are the sensible precautions you could follow to avoid this happening to you and your family.
o Make sure that any work carried out in your home is done by a Gas Safe registered engineer who is competent to do the particular job. You can get Gas Fitting Quotes right here.
o Arrange for regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered firm as recommended by them.
o Ensure that any room containing a gas appliance is adequately ventilated, and that any chimneys, vents and flues do not become blocked. If you have one, get your chimney swept annually,
o  Never use any heating appliance that burns carbon-based fuel without a flue installed by a Gas Safe registered fitter. Paraffin and cabinet heaters are never completely safe and should not be used.
o Fossil-burning appliances outside the remit of Gas-Safe registered fitters should be regularly inspected by another person competent to do the work.
There could hardly be a London Plumber who does not also recommend the installation of audible carbon monoxide alarms in every room, although these are no substitute for proper maintenance. This is because in the event of sudden failure, carbon monoxide could kill you in your sleep. Sobering words today from Mr-Skill.
Tags: alarm, appliance, audible, carbon monoxide, check, chimney, clean, CO, coal, colour, competent, danger, die, find a heating engineer, fitter, flue, gas, gas fitting quote, gas safe, inspect, install, installation, kill, london plumber, maintain, odour, oil, poison, register, registered, safe, service, smell, sweep, swept, taste, vent, wood
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
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Posted in Electrical Work on Jul 11
 One of the most important things to understand about electricity is that it always follows the shortest route. If you are standing in bare feet on an un-insulated surface and touch a live wire, then the electricity in that wire will try to complete its cycle through your body, and could kill you.
Fortunately this happens less and less these days, thanks to the mandatory installation of earth leakage protection systems. These detect a sudden flow of electricity and trip a special breaker to stop this continuing. They are necessary in addition to dedicated circuit breakers, because these may be insufficient in themselves when the soil conditions are dry.
Electricity kills people every year in Britain, often because they were not covered by earth leakage protection. Here are several reasons that could cause this:
o Earth leakage protection not installed. This condition is not legal, and you must Find an Electrician if any doubt at all.
o  Earth leakage protection faulty. All devices get old and eventually fail. Make a habit of pressing the test switch on your distribution board at least once a month to make sure it trips the power instantly. If it does not, then you must consult an Electrician in London or wherever else you live urgently.
o Perhaps the greatest danger of all is where somebody has bypassed the earth leakage system on one or other circuit in the past because a piece of equipped kept tripping. This represents a potentially lethal threat. Again, if in any doubt at all you must get Electrical Quotes for a full inspection.
As we wrote this blog we realised just how easily neglect can creep up on all of us, and that this includes neglecting to arrange regular electrical safety inspections too. We have contractors serving just about every major postal code in the United Kingdom. We urge you to have your property electrically inspected regularly, so that you can enjoy the safer life at home that you deserve.
Tags: body, breaker, bypass, circuit, earth, electrician london, electrician quote, electricity, fail, fault, find an electrician, inspect, insulate, isolate, kill, leakage, lethal, live, neglect, old, protect, protection, regular, safe, short, test, trip, wire
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In the good-old, bad-old days, as the older generation of London Roofers still likes to say, roofs were simple, easy going things with single pitches and only chimneys to seal around.  These days things are noticeably different – every hip, and every pitch and every valley represents a challenge for heavy rain, not to mention the mini-bali inset gables that are all the rage at present.
Waterproofing is intended to create a barrier to prevent rainwater from entering a roof and damaging the ceilings and furniture beneath. When it falls directly from above, the design of tiles and cappings is often sufficient to make sure it runs away. Problems arise though when the a gale is driving the water into every crevice, and this can get a lot worse after a cowboy roofer stomps all over your roof while cracking tiles.
It is a wise idea to Find a Roofer on Mr-Skill from time to time, and to ask them to check that everything is still in place, and that nothing needs repairing. This is especially valid in the case of tiled roofs, because tiles are heavy, timbers do settle, and cement under ridges does crack loose over time.
 If you are buying a house, and the one that you are considering has a flat roof, then my advice is to avoid regular Roofing Quotes and to buy something else with a simple pitched roof instead. This is because water inevitably collects on flat surfaces in pools, and will eventually find a way through. The only technique I know of avoiding this is to re-seal a flat roof long before the covering starts to deteriorate. In the greater order of things, flat roofs are cheaper to build, but cost more to maintain. Beware the buyer.
The most important thing of all is to be careful about who you allow to go up on your roof. Urban legend is full of stories of unscrupulous roofers who create work for themselves up where a homeowner never goes. This is where Mr-Skill comes in. Our reputation depends on the honesty and integrity of our roofers, and we intend to keep our good name intact by screening them carefully.
Tags: barrier, break, cap, capping, ceiling, check, chimney, covering, crack, crevice, direct, find a roofer, flat, gable, gale, gutter, hip, inspect, leak, london roofer, maintain, pitch, proof, quotes from roofers, rain, ridge, roof, roofer in London, roofer quotes london, roofers London, roofing quotes london, sag, seal, settle, storm, tile, valley, water, waterproof, wind
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