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Posts Tagged ‘silicone<’
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
Posted in Kitchen Fitting | 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
Its amazing how many homes there are across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom where the beauty of their bathrooms are spoilt by a grotty run of silicone sealer around the edges of the bath. To make things worse, some cowboys even add silicone on top of silicone,  until the effect looks really dreadful.
No Bathroom Fitter in London associated with Mr-Skill (or any others located elsewhere for that matter) would dream of doing anything as unprofessional as that. If they did, we would delete them from our system with a single click of our system administrator’s mighty mouse.
Here’s how you could expect the job to be done, if you decided to Find a Bathroom Fitter Here.
o Cut away carefully behind the old silicone on both sides with a sharp Stanley knife, taking care not to scratch the surface of the bath if it’s one of those new ones that scratch so easily. Peel as much of the silicone away as you possibly can. If it is really grotty behind it, you may like to use disposable gloves to protect your skin.
o  Clean the area thoroughly with a good disinfectant soap, and dry it well with paper towel.
o Pop down to your local hardware shop and buy some proprietary silicone remover, a tube of mould resistant silicone, and a caulking gun. While you are there, study the instructions on the silicone tube, to find out how to neutralize it when its job is done, and what safety precautions to take when working with it too.
o Using the silicone remover, strip every vestige of remaining silicone around the bath, and tidy things up generally. Now’s the time to attend to any grouting that might need cleaning off and tidying up too.
o Obtain a roll of the thinnest “sellotape” that you can find, and mask off around where you want the new silicone to go. Take your time here, because this is what will make the final difference.
I’ll continue in the next blog. Meantime, anytime you need to Get Bathroom Fitters Quotes to do a complete bathroom upgrade instead, we have some really good ones listed on this website.
Tags: bath, bathroom, bathroom fitters london, bathroom fitters quotes, blade, careful, caulk, clean, cut, effect, find a bathroom fitter, glove, grout, gun, hardware, knife, mould, peel, remover, seal, sellotape, silicone, spoil, strip, surface, tidy, tube, wash
Posted in Other Craftsman Services | Comments Off
Before continuing, first make sure that the “sellotape is nicely stuck down. You can add more in tricky corners to make things easier down the line. Take up the tube of silicone, and check the instructions once again. Then obtain a supply of clean water, a cloth, several pieces of paper towel, a sheet of newspaper, and a bowl with a small amount of dish-washing liquid squirted into it.  Remembering that silicone dries quickly once applied, are you ready? Not going to get Bathroom Filler Quotes from Mr-Skill? Right. Let’s go.
o Unscrew the long nozzle from the silicone tube, cut away the topmost portion of the spout, and fit the tube into the caulking gun. Cut the tip off the long nozzle at an angle of about sixty degrees. The amount you remove dictates the thickness of the silicone stream – don’t cut off too much initially. You could always lop of a bit more afterwards if necessary. Screw the nozzle back on again.
o Gently pump the caulking gun until a steady stream of silicone flows from the nozzle. Stop pumping, let it settle and wipe the nozzle clean. Experiment with laying a bead of silicone across the newspaper remembering two things. Firstly, you push the caulking gun away from you, and secondly, the angle you cut off the nozzle must face your work. When satisfied, wipe the nozzle clean and trim it to your satisfaction.
o  My old pal the Bathroom Fitter in London reckons that siliconing baths is a matter of jumping in and I agree within him. So, without thinking too hard about it, just run a bead around the bath. Work slowly enough to create sufficient bulk though, because the material is not an easy thing to add too.
o Without wasting a single moment, lay the caulking gun down on the newspaper (it will dribble), dip your finger in the dishwasher liquid and smooth out the bead you just laid. Get this right first time, wiping your finger on the paper towel and adding more soap to it as necessary.
o Without wasting any more time either, peel the sellotape way and dump it on the newspaper as you go. This is the messy bit, so watch your clothes.
Resist the urge to fiddle with your handiwork until the following day, when you could tidy it up where necessary. Rather clean your hands with the remainder of the soap, and then make yourself a cuppa tea instead. Well done. You didn’t really need to Find a Bathroom Fitter this time, did you? And I bet you did a better job than all the cowboys put together.
Tags: angle, bathroom fitter london, bathroom fitters quotes, bead, caulk, corner, dish wash, find a bathroom fitter, flow, instructions, mess, newspaper, nozzle, paper towel, peel, pump, push, run, run a bead, screw, sellotape, silicone, smooth, soap, spout, tape, trick, water, wipe
Posted in Other Craftsman Services | 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 Handyman Services on May 24
Surprisingly enough, removing and replacing a bath is technically quite straightforward provided there are no added complications. If things go well for you, then you may not even  need to Find a Bath Fitter to do the work for you. Make sure you know what you are about though, because water does have a habit of flowing downstairs and ruining floors and carpets.
o Remove the inspection panel in front of the bath. If it un-clips then good luck to you. If it is made of brick you could well be faced with a lengthy and messy job. Once again think smart – is this the job for you?
o Obtain a replacement bath (and fittings) that exactly replicates the old one in terms of all dimensions. Your old bath is attached to the fabric of the house in three ways, namely on stands, with pipes and drains, and along the back and sides with grout and sealer. Work carefully in all three instances, and avoid problems down the line.
o Isolate the hot and cold water supply before you start, fitting in-line taps if necessary. Disconnect the pipes from the taps, or cut them off if they are inaccessible as they usually are.  My mate who specialises in Bath Fitting in London always says leave as much pipe over as you possibly can because you never know what can happen next. While you are at it, remove the drains too.
o If you wish to leave the tiles intact then clear the grout and silicone away with a sharp metal scriber until you have a clear gap. You will need at least a quarter-inch of clear space when you loosen out the bath, so remove a row of tiles if necessary instead of cracking them.
o Obtain a length of chain, pass it through the drain hole and hold it in position with a bolt. Have an assistant hold this steady while you pull gently upwards on the taps. With a little effort the bath should come loose and you can remove it carefully from the room. Clean up the mess and have a cup of tea because you surely do deserve it.
That was not all that hard, was it? With a little more experience some people might even imagine your spouse got Bath Fitting Quotes on Mr-Skill. Perhaps she should still though?
Tags: bath, bath fitter london, bath fitter quote, bath fitting london, bath fitting quote, bathroom fitter london, bathroom fitter quote, bathroom fitting london, bathroom fitting quote, brick, budge, carpet, cold, cut, disconnect, drain, find a bath fitter, find a bathroom fitter, fitting, floor, grout, hot, inspection, isolate, lift, loose, loosen, panel, pipe, remove, replace, replacement, ruin, scribe, silicone, stand, tap, tile, water
Posted in Handyman Services | Comments Off
Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Jan 28
 Installing kitchen worktops and sinks should be well within the capabilities of a skilled home craftsman with a straight and level eye and the right tools too. Bearing in mind the high costs of the cabinetry involved and the virtual impossibility of reversing an over-cut, you could also be wise to find a Kitchen Fitter with experience to do the job for you instead.
o When fitting a pair of kitchen counter tops the first thing to consider is the overall effect. It is better to fit the top across the far wall first (when viewed from the kitchen entrance), because that way the joint will be less obvious to the eye.
o After cutting and loose-fitting this top, measure for the other one, carefully allowing for the fact that wall corners are seldom square. When you are absolutely sure, mark up the top and cut it carefully to avoid chipping the laminate. Loose fit the complete set, and adjust where necessary. Remove and seal all raw edges (except the one that will be exposed) with a polyvinyl acrylic product.
 o Run a bead of silicone along the top of the cabinetry where the first counter top will be fitted, press it down firmly and immediately secure it with screws from the underside. Apply the joining strips with silicone on both sides, run silicone along the top of the remaining cabinetry, push the second counter top firmly into place and secure it with screws as well. Remove all excess silicone immediately.
o Place the kitchen sink upside down in position and mark the outline with a carpenter’s pencil or indelible fell-tipped pen. Double check with the manufacturer’s template and adjust your line as required. Mark out a second outline a centimetre inside the original one and cut this out carefully using an electric jigsaw. Remember to support the surplus piece before you start. When done, seal the cut edge with the same polyvinyl acrylic product.
 o After checking the sink fit and making any adjustments, install the taps and drains including traps. Fit the sealing ring around the edge of the sink-top. Run a bead of silicone along the top of the cut-out in the kitchen top and lower the sink carefully into position. Secure with the clips supplied. Finally, fit matching laminate to the exposed edges. Kitchen Fitters London and surrounding areas sometimes prefer to finish the job off with strips of wood instead.
As I mentioned, not an easy job especially accounting for the cost of kitchen counter tops. Do not attempt to do this job unaided unless you are confident of success. Rather play safe and get Kitchen Fitting Quotes courtesy of Mr-Skill for installing worktops and sinks instead. If not an expert, you could just be glad you took my advice.
Tags: adjust, adjustment, clips, cost, cut, drains, edge, exposed, find a kitchen fitter, jigsaw, join, joint, kitchen, kitchen fitter london, kitchen fitter quote, kitchen fitting london, kitchen fitting quotes, kitchen sink, laminate, level, loose fit, outline, polyvinyl acrylic, raw, screws, secure, securing clips, silicone, sink, straight eye, strip, taps, template, traps, wood, work top, worktop
Posted in Kitchen Fitting | Comments Off
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Jan 27
Cornice (or coving as it is also called) is the stuff that neatens up the gap between the ceiling and the walls. While originally put in place to stop the dust from falling through and to seal out  cold as well, these days coving is an interior decorators delight in terms of the exciting modern designs available.
Coving can work loose or come away slightly leaving an ugly shadow line for a variety of reasons. Causes include a job not done well in the first place, slight ceiling movement beneath a poorly braced roof, somebody walking clumsily in the roof space, and even a foot pushed through by mistake. The right trade to call in is a plasterer. If the job is small enough you could attempt to do it yourself. If unsure, avoid a disaster and get a plasterer quote from Mr-Skill.
The hardest past of fitting a new piece of cornice is getting the mitred corners right. This is because after you study the ceiling the temptation is to put the coving in the mitre box the wrong way round. We recommend you practice with a piece of scrap before attempting the real thing.
Attaching a piece of cornice is a whole lot easier. The material is usually light-weight and easily attached with a product like no more nails or silicone. If it keeps on falling off attach it temporarily with a few panel pins, or some pieces of strong tape.  Re-attaching a heavy piece of coving is the plastering job London tradesmen know how to do best. May we suggest you leave it to the experts?
If you are comfortable standing on a ladder, then sealing the gap between the coving and the wall and ceiling could be well within your capabilities. Simply draw a bead of white all-purpose acrylic sealer along the joint and smooth off with a damp cloth. You could use a moistened finger too. Chances you might not even have to paint again.
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But will you have the time to do the job? Save the hours for your favourite soccer team, watching soap operas on telly or visiting the pub. Find a plasterer instead on Mr-Skill.
Tags: acrylic sealer, attach, ceiling, cloth, cold, come away, corner, cornice, coving, decorate, dust, find a plasterer, finger, gap, ladder, loose, mitre, mitre box, no more nails, paint, panel pin, plasterer london, plasterer quote, plastering job London, plastering quote, shadow, silicone, tape, wall
Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
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