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Posts Tagged ‘line<’
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
More UK residents are adding the WOW-Factor to their homes every year, by replacing unsightly French Doors with Bi-Folding Doors in PVCu,  Timber or Aluminium. That’s because not only do they open all the way in glorious summer. They’re also among the snuggest fits available in winter too. And this gives you the best of both worlds when you need them.
While most people prefer to Find a Door Fitter on Mr-Skill to fit Bi-Folds to existing openings, the brave could possibly install these by themselves. If contemplating this yourself, please do offset the risks of inadvertent damage against the savings on the labour. The following are criteria you may like to consider when specifying Door Fitting Quotes instead
- Standard Sizes – If your opening is slightly oversized, consider lining it with appropriate material to take up the gap, and pre-empt requiring an expensive special order
 Slim Sightlines – How much clear vision will the frame sacrifice? You need to get as close to unobstructed as possible, albeit within constraints
- Thresholds – Do you require low-maintenance flush-fitted thresholds, or those recessed for outdoor weatherproofing?
- Locking – What level of security is wise? Locks are not all that expensive. Think ahead here – it could be time for an upgrade
The secret to a successfully trouble-free Bi-Fold Door installation – as any London Window Fitter knows – is a completely square and plumb installation. We cannot over-emphasise the need for this. If in any doubt at all of your ability to achieve this, why not rather seek Expert Advice instead? We’ll introduce you to a skilled and rated tradesperson, absolutely free to you.
Tags: aluminium, bi-fold, bi-folding, bifold, bifolding, clear, close, damage, door, door fitting quote, find a door filler, flush, gap, line, lining, lock, london window fitter, open, opening, outdoor, over-size, oversize, plumb, pvcu, saving, security, snug, square, threshold, timber, uPVC, vision, wide, window, wood
Posted in Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
The kitchen truly is at the heart of every home, and if you think about it the sink tap is at its core. First thing in the morning we use it to fill the kettle. Last thing at night we rinse the dirty dishes. Cook uses it at least a dozen times a day. The family gathers around it to do the washing up.
 There are some really handsome kitchen taps around these days. Why not Find a Plumber and spoil yourself with a new one. If you are thinking of doing it yourself, then here’s what’s involved.
1. Isolate the hot and cold water supply, making sure the flow stops completely. Position a bucket beneath the tap under the sink.
2. Loosen off the nut that holds the tap in place. London Plumbers always travel with a basin wrench – if the nut is hard to get at, you’ll know why.
3. Disconnect the flexible water lines connecting the tap to the water supply at the lower end. Be careful not to strain the piping. As you remove the couplings a little water will flow out. Make sure the bucket is in place before you do!
4. Remove the old tap complete with the flexible pipes attached. Clean the sink surface thoroughly where the old tap rested. Take your time to do this properly. Apply a  generous bead of plumbers putty around the hole in the surface of the sink, and gently bed the rubber gasket into it.
5. Insert the new tap assembly through the hole including the flexible water lines. Locate the fixing nut, position the tap, and tighten the nut firmly. Attach the pipes to the water supply remembering to be generous with plumber’s tape.
6. Re-tighten the nut that secures the tap as it will have bedded down. Remove the surplus putty that squeezed out and clean the sink top thoroughly. Turn on the water and test the tap. No leaks? You’ve earned a cup of tea and a biscuit too!
Sound’s easy, doesn’t it? But there are various things that could go wrong, resulting in water leaks that could ruin expensive kitchen cabinetry. Why not get a Plumber’s Quote on Mr-Skill instead? You’ll save pounds off normal rates, and could still enjoy that cup of tea and biscuit.
Tags: attach, basin, bucket, change, clean, cold, flexibly, flow, gasket, heart, home, hot, insert, isolate, kitchen, leak, line, loose, nit, pipe, putty, rubber, save pounds, sink, supply, surplus, tap, tape, test, tight, water, wrench
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Sep 27
A visit to a Victorian building such as a Shopping Arcade or City Hall evokes admiration for the skill of plasterers of yesteryear. Embossed ceilings, covings and wall mouldings are all examples of a forgotten craft, and we doubt you’d Find a Plasterer to match them anywhere in the United Kingdom these days.
 Thanks to the modern magic of fibrous and even plastic imitations though, it is still possible to replicate their art, and here’s how you go about doing so.
• Start with something relatively simple like decoration around a door frame or a ceiling rose, and make sure that if you use a ladder, it will be secure and safe. If in any doubt at all, have someone hold the ladder for you.
• Purchase your moulding from your local hardware store. Before you do so, get all the answers that you need. Buy the adhesive the moulding manufacturer recommends, and do not skimp by choosing a cheap alternative instead.
• Have a friend hold the moulding in place back home, and move it around until you are satisfied about where it should go. Mark a pencil line all around the perimeter of the moulding so you know where to attach it later.
•  If the moulding is made of lightweight polystyrene or plastic then you may get away with simply gluing it in place (possibly temporarily secured with tiny nails or painters tape). If not, then you will need to create some type of elementary formwork to hold in position until the glue dries. If this sounds too complicated, perhaps you should Request a Plasterer Quote on Mr-Skill instead?
• Apply the adhesive to the moulding in a rippled manner to the density the instructions specify, and press it into place within the pencil line you drew. The secret is to get it right first time, and not to fiddle with it afterwards. Tidy up the adhesive when it is fully dry, and you are ready to decorate!
We have London Plasterers on Mr-Skill (and in all other areas too) who are on standby, and waiting to fit mouldings for you should you prefer. Our unique method of combining rated craftsmen with internal competition, is your assurance of best value for money anywhere.
Tags: adhesive, ceiling, coving, decorate, door, emboss, fibrous, find a plasterer, fit, fix, glue, line, london plasterer, moulding, nail, pencil, place, plasterer, plasterer quote, plastic, press, ripple, rose, skill, tape, victorian, wall
Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
Posted in Bricklaying on Sep 07
Sometimes finishing off the joints between bricks can seem like a never-ending chore, unless you have years of experience as some Bricklayers in London may. This is because bricks are naturally made products, and have all sorts of holes and cracks where plaster may collect. If you are contemplating a DIY job such as building a smaller set of steps, then you can try to bridge your experience gap with tips like these.
•  Buy a decent set of tools. I cannot over-emphasise the difference that a shiny new float or builder’s trowel can make, and these are inexpensive too. So throw away your rusty set and make a fresh start on your next job.
• Decide on the type of joint you want. There are a variety of different strokes for different folks, and the right solution is usually the one that you prefer the most. Some people like full grouted joints requiring fewer tools, while others want recessed, hand-tooled ones that take a little extra time. Remember to specify what joints you may require when calling for Bricklaying Quotes on Mr-Skill, as this may affect the price.
• Don’t be shy with masking tape. This may be frowned on by professionals, but can be a dab trick for weekend builders such as you and me. Time and effort spent improving techniques this way, can produce really professional looking jobs that you can be proud of too.
•  Use a grout bag or grout gun. Believe me; these make the difference between pain and pleasure. This is because they are not only quick to use, but they also make a whole lot less mess. And yes, you could even save a little plaster, although this is often more in the salesperson’s mind.
• Use a jointer’s tool to create recessed grout lines. This is essential equipment for scooping out surplus grout material, and I doubt you will Find a Bricklayer anywhere who does not have at least one in their kit. The trick is to add a little more material when required, as opposed to applying too much in the first place.
Not an awfully difficult job to do, although grouting bricks can be fiddly and frustrating. Attempt the job yourself by all means if you have lots of patience and spare time. Otherwise, why not Find a Skilled and Rated Tradesman on Mr-Skill instead, to take the hassles (and the cement) off your busy hands.
Tags: add, brick, bricklayers in london, bricklaying quotes, cement, clean, crack, DIY, experience, find a bricklayer, finish, float, flush, full, grout, hint, hole, joint, line, mask, masking tape, mess, natural, new, plaster, professional, recess, render, rust, save, scoop, shiny, skill, specify, step, technique, tip, tool, trowel
Posted in Bricklaying | Comments Off
Wouldn’t it be nice to have the dining room opening directly into the garden on a balmy summer’s day? What a good idea except you only have a window, and climbing in and out through it is hardly everybody’s idea of fun. Well then, why not convert the window to a set of french doors instead? After all, Door Fitters in London do this sort of thing every day.
o Call in a supplier to measure up, quote and make up a new set of doors for you, and do nothing else yourself, until these arrive and have been checked for size. They should be exactly the same width as the existing window, unless that  is you are looking for a whole lot more work to do.
o Empty the room completely. Remove one opening window pane so you can climb in and out through the opening. Secure the inter-leading door and mask around it. Also mask around the doors of any cupboards and protect anything else appropriate from dust.
o Remove the window and its frame completely, being extra careful not to disturb any plaster. If you notice any cracks in the wall above the opening immediately prop it, and seek expert advice. Changing windows into doors is a job only for the brave. That’s why so many British homeowners get Door Fitting Quotes on Mr-Skill instead.
o Mark perpendicular lines from the left and right bottom sides of the existing opening down to floor level, on both sides of the wall. Check and double-check these carefully. Cut through these lines with an angle grinder, working alternatively from the inside and the outside, until you can see light shine right through. Do your best to cut square with the wall, because this will make the rest of your task far easier.
o Break out the wall using a large hammer. The masonry will be resting on the damp course and may even come out in a single piece, so take care it does not fall on precious children, tools and dogs.  Remove the rubble. Tidy up the opening. Clean up the room. The dirty work is done.
o Remove the french doors from the window frame (if pre-fitted) and offer the frame up to the opening. It should be a close fit, but not a tight one. Wedge it in position and check that it is vertical, plumb, level and square. Use more wedges to adjust it until everything is perfect. Get this wrong, and the doors won’t close properly.
o Attach the frame permanently to the wall with plugs and screws. Remember to drive them in the last few turns by hand, in case they need to come out later to make a change. Then hang your doors, making tiny adjustments as you go along until everything is perfect. Install the locks and handles. Your home is secure again, and you didn’t need to Find a Door Fitter either (although you could have on Mr-Skill). You can even open up the inter-leading door again to receive a well-deserved cup of tea.
All that’s left to do is to tidy up the inside rendering, touch up with paint and seal around the frame outside with silicone. It’s nice when a job like this comes together relatively easily. Won’t the neighbours be surprised…
Tags: angle grinder, attach, brick, check, child, clean, crack, cupboard, cut, dirty, dog, door fitters in london, door fitting quote, dust, empty, exact, find a door fitter, frame, french door, Garden, hammer, handle, hang, horizontal, idea, level, line, lock, mask, masonry, measure, open, paint, pane, perpendicular, plaster, prop, quote, remove, render, room, rubble, screw, secure, side, silicone, size, square, summer, supplier, tool, true, vertical, window
Posted in Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on May 31
In days gone past plastering over exterior walls was popular because it covered crooked surfaces and helped with waterproofing too. It is less popular these days though, because it is labour-intensive to  maintain as opposed to face-bricks. If you own an older home then you may also own one with exterior plastered walls. In this case the chances are that these will need repairing from time to time, meaning that you could need to Find a Plasterer.
Stucco Plaster otherwise known as Rendering was commonly used during the 19th Century when it was composed primarily of lime. These days cement is more often used to apply one of several different qualities of finish:
o Common Stucco aims to produce a surface that is as smooth and even as possible
o Rough Stucco is more uneven and is scribed with lines to imitate bricks or stonework
o  Stucco may also be dyed with pigments to produce a permanently tinted effect. Great care must be taken when mixing to ensure a consistent hue.
RoughCast or Pebbledash is a cruder external plastering solution that requires a lower skill level and is cheaper to apply.
o In DryDash, pebbles or gravel are pressed into wet plaster to create a rustic effect.
o WetDash uses a slightly different technique whereby a mixture of aggregate and plaster is towelled over as a top coat.
Before choosing between Plastering Quotes make sure that you know what the contractor envisages, and ask to see samples of similar work previously done. Plastering is an art-form that develops through experience, not just after training.
Tags: aggregate, brick, cement, common, dye, experience, find a plasterer, gravel, hue, lime, line, maintain, pebble, pebbledash, pigment, plaster, plasterer london, plasterer quote, plastering job London, plastering quote, render, repair, roughcast, rustic, sample, scribe, smooth, stone, stucco, surface, tint, trowel, uneven, waterproof
Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
 The first thing to remember is that cold-water pressure is relative, but that yours should be the same as both your neighbours. If all three homes have poor water pressure then the problem lies with council delivery and you should speak to them. If the problem is restricted just to you though, then you have a stoppage somewhere in your home. Here is how to track the problem down.
o Is the pressure low at every tap, or just at one? If just at one, then you most likely have a faulty tap, or hopefully just a damaged washer. Tap washers must be changed as soon as possible to avoid damaging the tap itself. Try changing yours right now. If this did not solve the problem, then Find a Plumber to Replace the Tap for You on Mr-Skill instead.
o If the pressure is low on several taps but not at all of them, then you might have a stoppage in a line somewhere. This is likely to be a valve in the line concerned that is not set fully open. My mate from <a href="http://www.mr- skill.co.uk/plumbing-heating-and-gas/”>Reliable Plumbers London always opens a valve fully and then closes it back a quarter turn. This is so he can work it back and forth if it gets sticky later.
o If the pressure is low throughout the house, then the main supply valve at the water meter could be partly closed. If all else has failed, then this could solve the problem easily. Remember not to leave it fully open either please.
If none of the above suggestions works a trick then I am afraid that you have a partial blockage in a pipe somewhere. You need to Find a Friendly Plumber to help you out on Mr-Skill, before you end up with a pipe burst. You will find plenty more helpful advice from the folk at Mr-Skill on this blog.
Tags: blockage, change a washer, council, find a plumber, line, meter, neighbour, open, pipe, plumber london, plumber quote, plumbing job london, plumbing quote, pressure, sticky, stoppage, tap, valve, washer, water, water meter
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
Posted in Tiling & Flooring on Dec 29
Often we move into new or previously occupied homes because they are the closest to perfect that we can find within restrictions. At that time we are full of ideas of things that we need to change – like fixing those awful tiles in the family bathroom? Of course because we are creatures of habit we seldom do what we set out to do, with the net result that we often end up accepting second best.
 This New Year, why don’t you do something different by resolving to find a tiler on Mr-Skill to finally sort out that awful tiling job for you. These are the things you may need to discuss with them:
o Do you need a complete bathroom makeover, or just new tiles and tile fittings to spruce things up? The important thing to remember here is that it is seldom possible to replace baths, sinks and toilets without damaging tiles, making it sensible (if you can afford it) to do a complete job at the time.
o What size tiles do you need? Large tiles may make a room look more spacious, smaller tiles make it look friendlier and cosier too. Rectangular tiles with the longer side set horizontally make a space look wider, turn them around and the room is suddenly taller instead.
 o Colours are important because they set the ambience for a room. Blues and greens seem cooler on a hot summer day, but are cold and unfriendly on a winter morning. For this reason, many homeowners prefer to go for neutral, lighter colours and then accent these with seasonally adjusted colourful towels.
o Is a trim line necessary? While these may look good in a shopping centre or grand hotel bathroom, they can easily double the cost of tiles and end up as an over-statement. For this reason Advanced Tilers London often recommend a simple under-stated line instead, just to divide the vertical space and make it homely.
Are you feeling inspired now? Are you in a mood to fix that awful tiling job you inherited? Before the moment passes, why not get tiler quotes on Mr-Skill and start your New Year off on the right foot too.
Tags: ambience, bath, bathroom, change tiles, cold, color, colour, find a tiler, fittings, horizontal, kitchen, large, line, makeover, new, re-tile, rectangular, retile, sink, size, small, tiler quotes, tilers london, tiles, tiling, toilet, trim, vertical, warm
Posted in Tiling & Flooring | Comments Off
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