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Posts Tagged ‘press<’
One of life’s more unpleasant moments is flushing the loo and watching the pan fill up almost to overflowing on a Sunday morning. Fortunately it never does though, and that’s because bowls and tanks come in matched sets.  And then there’s the small matter of having to Find a Plumber to come out over a weekend, and what to do without a bathroom while you wait for them to arrive.
This is why many of us like to keep a plunger in the garage “just in case”. These simple tools cost far less than a plumber’s call-out fee, and are just the job when you need them most.
- Lift up the toilet seat, and insert the plunger rubber-end down trying to trap as much floating matter as you can. While London Plumbers are pretty used to unpleasant jobs like this, even they still wear rubber gloves, and mouth and eye protection.
 With the plunger pressed down firmly and covering the toilet outlet completely, pump the handle up and down a few times.
- HINT As you do so bear in mind that the aim is to get water inside the plunger rubber and then force it out again to clear the stoppage.
This should do the job. If it doesn’t please don’t try to clear the outlet with rods that could crack the porcelain. Rather ask Mr-Skill for a Plumbing Quote from a reputable tradesperson working in your area.
Remember, it costs absolutely nothing to use our services and the plumbers’ rates are fair!
Tags: bathroom, block, bowl, clear, eye protection, fill up, find a plumber, firm, force, glove, insert, london plumbers, loo, matter, mouth protection, outlet, pan, plumbing quote, plunger, press, pump, push, rubber, stoppage, tank, toilet, trap, weekend
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
Roofers lay tiles loosely over each other in an overlapping pattern, and hold them in place with edging fascias, and special tiles cemented in place along the ridges. If these ridges fail, then there is a possibility of a strong wind lifting sheets of roof tiles with disastrous results. This fairly common problem usually begins as roofs settle after the first few years, and  the rendering beneath the ridges separates.
This is not a job for an amateur with a bad head for heights. In fact, we strongly recommend that you Find a Roofer to do the following work for you instead.
• Identify which ridge tiles have worked loose. This could be just one, a few, or the entire ridge, and the solution varies accordingly. If you can remove the loose tiles without disturbing the adjacent ones then this could save you time and money, although it is unwise to take chances and end up with a patch job.
• Obtain a supply of replacement ridge tiles. Remove offending ridges, set them aside and carefully chisel the loose rendering off the roof tiles beneath. You can leave a small residue of old rendering behind, provided that this is firmly attached.
• Soak the replacement ridge tiles and the supporting roof tiles with clean water until they have taken up a slightly darker hue. This ensures that they do not suck the moisture out of the new rendering, and weaken it.
•  Loose fit a new ridge tile, make a chalk mark on either side of it, and set it aside again. Lay two generous lines of suitable tinted rendering within the chalk lines. Press the ridge tile gently into place and remove any surplus rendering with trowel and damp cloth. Repeat the process as necessary along the entire ridge, remembering to close in the ends of the last ridge tiles if you replaced these too.
• A competent London Roofer will always check carefully that there are no cracks or holes showing anywhere on the ridge. This is because a strong gust of wind can blow rainwater through a tiny hole into the roof space below with surprising force, and form damaging pools on ceilings.
Should you decide to get a Roofing Quote on Mr-Skill, then we would be delighted to put you in touch with several rated tradesmen working in your area. We know you will be satisfied with the price and quality of the bids that you receive, and we wish you well with your roofing project too.
Tags: chalk, check, chisel, competent, crack, disturb, fascia, find a roofer, gust, hole, lift, london roofer, loose, loose fit, mark, moisture, overlap, press, rain, remove, rendering, repeat, replacement, roof, roofing quote, separate, settle, soak, tile, water, wind
Posted in Roofing, Gutters & Drainage | 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
There comes a time, even in the life of a kitchen sink installed by one of the leading plumbers in London, when the water refuse to drain down and a scummy mess remains. This is embarrassing at the best of times, and can even make you want to burst in tears when guests are present. Avoid heartaches – learn these lessons now before you need them.
 The attached picture illustrates the principles perfectly, even though when you find a plumber on Mr-Skill you may expect a neater job. Notice that the dirty water from the sink, and from the dishwasher hose on the right both pass though U-Bends. These U-Bends trap water in them that prevents odors from passing from the drains below to the kitchen above.
Unfortunately, all of us from time to time are guilty of allowing lumps of food (or worse cold fat) to go down the kitchen drain. If this lumps or congeals in the U-Bend then the water cannot flow through the drain and you have a blockage. There are three ways to solve this problem:
o Fill the sink with water as hot as you can bear. Remove the sink plug. Place the palm of your hand over the opening while the water drains and pull it up and press it down repeatedly, trying to push the water through. If you are lucky, the drain will clear.
 o If this does not solve the problem, repeat the process with an inexpensive rubber plunger that all hardware stores sell. The trick here is to block the sink drain hole by pushing the plunger down and creating a vacuum. When the sink is full, vigorously push the plunger up and down to clear the stoppage. If you have a double sink, pump the side closer to the U-Bend, asking a friend to hold the drain plug down on the other side (to prevent your efforts ending up on your kitchen floor).
You say that I said that there were three solutions. You are right. If neither of the above solves the problem, rather call for plumber quotes. The last thing you need is a septic cut that happens when you attempt to dismantle dirty plumbing.
Tags: block, blockage, blocked, clear, drain, drainage problems, fat, find a plumber, kitchen sink, mess, messy, odors, odours, plumber london, Plumber Quotes, plunger, pong, press, pump, rubber plunger, sink, smell, smells, stink, stoppage, u-bend, ubend, unblock
Posted in Plumbing, Heating & Gas | Comments Off
Are the sliding doors to your patio becoming difficult to close or open? If you cleaned the rails but this did not make a difference, then it could be time to replace the roller sets. This is actually quite easy, although the doors are heavy and you may prefer to find a window fitter at Mr-Skill.
 o Remove the sliding panel or panels by lifting these into the upper recess and taking them out at the bottom first. If they do not come free readily then the rollers are adjusted to prevent burglars getting in (window fitters in London often use this trick, although your local fitter may not have thought that this was necessary). This is easy to achieve. Shine a flashlight into the hole at the bottom of each side of the sliding panel, determine the type of screw in there and turn it all the way anti-clockwise. The panel will now come out easily.
o Lay the sliding panel carefully down avoiding scratching and examine the two roller sets. These fit into a groove at the bottom of the door. Lever them out using an old flat screwdriver.
o Fit new roller sets following the reverse process, remembering to screw the adjusters all the way anti-clockwise.
o Re-install the repaired door in the same way that you removed it. Adjust the rollers fully clockwise – if the door is sticky turn them back a bit, but only just enough to release the panel all the way across the run. Invite a family member or friend to test the door, while you enjoy the feel-good feeling.
If you decide that this is too difficult for you to do, then why not request window fitter quotes. The job will not be that expensive on Mr-Skill.
Tags: adjust, adjuster, adjustor, anti clockwise, anti theft, door, find a window fitter, fit, lever, panel, patio door, press, recess, remove, roller sets, rollers, screw clockwise, sliding door, sliding panel, sticking, sticky, upper recess, wheels, window fitter quotes, window fitters london
Posted in Window & Door Fitting | Comments Off
Posted in Handyman Services on Sep 07
It can be a real problem when wallpaper starts peeling at the seams, especially because wallpaper is expensive and you may not be able to find a replacement roll. Does this mean that you have to strip the walls and start again? If the paper is otherwise in good condition, the answer is definitely not, provided that you have the tools, and are good with your hands. The job is also simple, and you should be able to get everything that you need down at the local hardware store. If this sounds too hard for you, why not find a handyman on Mr-Skill?
You will need:
o Wallpaper-Repair Glue
o Narrow Paintbrush
o Damp Sponge
o Wallpaper Seam Roller
o Ladder (if this is necessary) and a friend to hold it steady
Step 1 – Pull the loose edge away gently until a slight resistance indicates that you have reached the point where the wallpaper is still well stuck.
Step 2 – Using the paintbrush, apply a thin layer of wallpaper-repair glue to the underside of the paper, making sure that you cover it completely (the coat of glue should be just paper thick)
Step 3 – Carefully press the glued paper back in place, taking care not to crease it, and smoothing it out with the palm of your hand. Use the damp sponge to work any bubbles gently away, working towards the seam. Remove all excess glue.
Step 4 – Roll your work really tight and smooth with the wallpaper seam roller, and allow the wallpaper to dry. Handymen in London put a piece of tissue paper between the roller and the repair to avoid creasing their work. Make sure you have removed all the glue first.
It should not be necessary to get handyman quotes for such a simple job. This is one piece of work that you could do yourself.
Tags: crease, find a handyman, find a paperer, glue, ladder, paintbrush, paste, peeling paper, peeling wallpaper, pill, press, replacement, roll, sponge, strip wallpaper, stuck, tissue paper, tools, wallpaper repair glue, wallpaper roller, wallpaper seam, wallpaper seam roller
Posted in Handyman Services | Comments Off
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