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Posts Tagged ‘space<’
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Sep 12
If you have just had a new drywall built, the finishing off is easy enough to do yourself – assuming of course you have the basic know-how. However if you are still to build your drywall, you need look no further than Mr-Skill, where you can find a plastering and drywall expert to do the job for you perfectly. A drywall is an easy and neat way of partitioning or dividing a given area, and if space permits, you could gain an extra room by planning carefully.
Finishing Your Drywall 
Once your new wall is complete, you will need to sand it to provide a smooth and perfect surface for later painting or wallpapering. Wet sanding is far preferable to dry, simply because of all the dust and mess the latter method creates. In fact, one of our regular London plastering and drywall specialists far prefers the wet method of sanding as it makes for a much cleaner and healthier environment too. Let’s see what is involved:
- The first step is to pop down to your local hardware supplier and buy a sponge specifically designed for the wet sanding process. It’s not that expensive, but it is manufactured with an abrasive edge for sanding purposes, while the flip side is a sponge for wiping sludge away.
- Once you have your sponge, you need to dampen it, but don’t saturate it in water because this will quickly soak into the plaster surface which will make life very difficult if not impossible. The aim is to moisten the sponge just enough to gather the sand and dust effectively.
Wringing the Sponge
As you work, you will notice that your sponge is gathering increasing amounts of powdery residue from the drywall, so you will need to wring it out quite regularly. The wringing process maintains a clean and clear sponge face for further wet sanding work. Don’t forget to re-moisten the sponge after wringing it!
Message form our Sponsors! 
If this is all sounding too difficult or messy you could also get a plastering and dry wall quote from one of the many members signed up with Mr-Skill. Remember to ask for that special discount too!
Clean up Time!
Whether you are doing the wet sanding yourself, or using one of Mr-Skill’s experts, be sure to clean up properly when finished. Use a facemask and rubber gloves to protect your face and hands. Hopefully, you remembered to cover furniture and electrical appliances to prevent them from becoming dirty!
Tags: basics, design, drywall, dust, find a plastering and drywall expert, furniture, gloves, hardware, london plastering and drywall specialist, manufacturer, planning, plasterer, plastering expert, plastering-and-drywall quote, process, sanding, space, specialist, sponge, surface Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Sep 05
If you are considering some new ideas to modernise your kitchen, a feature island is one the many ways of creating extra space in this important room. That is because the space normally occupied by a double sink can be better utilised as a breakfast bar, or for more cupboard storage space. Unless you are handy with tools and building, this is a job best left to the experts. Find your kitchen fitting specialist right here on Mr-Skill, and don’t forget to ask for the special discount too!
Consider This 
There are two main considerations when building a kitchen island. The first factor is just what you plan to use the island for, and this you must decide before appointing your contractor and starting the project. Then, the height of the new island has to be compatible with the existing counter tops, which is normally around the 3-foot mark. Let’s look in more detail:
Island Uses
Some people want to make a centre-cooking island, others prefer a washing up and preparation area, while yet others want to make it a cosy breakfast bar where the family gathers to enjoy good food. It is important to decide ahead and plan correctly. You can confidently get a kitchen-fitting quote from one of our many pre-screened members right here on Mr-Skill.
Cook’s Zone
For the cooking theme, there will of course be electrical considerations – where to position the hob, under counter oven and extractor hood, for example.
Wash and Preparation 
If you have decided to use the island space as a food preparation and clean up zone, then you will have plumbing and possibly electrical issues to think about and plan around. You’ll also need to consider new lighting, tiling, and grouting, and don’t forget a possible re-paint too.
Kitchen Island Height
The normal height for kitchen units is 36-inches. You need to make your island compatible with this, in order to be able to work comfortably around the kitchen as you flow from side to side.
It’s a Cool Idea
One of our regular London kitchen fitters says that centre islands are very popular in new kitchen layouts. He jokingly suggests that it gives the chef of the house a command and control centre, from where all good things come. Who’s the boss of the house now, then? If in doubt, invite Mr-Skill along to adjudicate!
Tags: breakfast bar, cabinets, centre island, chef, cooking, countertops, electrical, find a kitchen fitter, floor height, food, kitchen, kitchen fitting quote, lighting, london kitchen fitter, modernise, Plumbing, preparation, space, storage space, wahing up Posted in Kitchen Fitting | Comments Off
Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Dec 19
London Kitchen Fitters are an astute lot, and the first thing they’ll ask when invited to quote is usually, have you got a plug for it? That’s because if they find you don’t, then they’ll have to come back a second time when they’ve already quoted a set price. Here’s how you might be able to go about the job yourself. If you don’t want to though, you can always Find a Kitchen Fitter on Mr-Skill right here.
• Decide where you want the under counter freezer to go. Everything is modular these days – if you have a modern kitchen most freezers will fit into the space behind a cupboard door. Make sure you allow an inch of free-space all around when measuring. That’s for air circulation, and to get your hands in to pull it out again for cleaning.
• Have the power supply installed. This is usually on the wall behind the freezer which should have sufficient cable length supplied. Don’t get clever with electricity though. Find an Electrician to do the job.
• Purchase your under counter freezer. Base your decision on three factors. These are appearance, energy efficiency and usable capacity. Does it have a drain for when you decide to defrost it, and finally, is the electric cable going to be long enough?
• Prepare for installation. The electrician may have removed the cupboard door and any shelves. If not, then now’s the time to do so. HINT The door and shelf make useful spares. Keep them, don’t chuck them away.
• Inspect the under counter freezer. Unwrap your new appliance carefully and check for any damage. Plug it in to see if it starts up, then turn it off again and unplug it. Remove it from the packaging completely, and set it down near the opening where you can make sure that it’s perfectly level.
• Now finally install it. Plug in the appliance again, and gently slide it into the cavity taking care not to snag the cable as it goes in. Then turn it on. That’s all folks. You did it yourself. Congratulations!
Now that sounds easy, doesn’t it? But sometimes the cavity is too small or the kitchen floor uneven. When that happens there’s no need to despair. That’s because you can get Incredible Kitchen Fitting Quotes right here, and not pay a penny for them either.
Tags: air circulation, appearance, appliance, cable, capacity, cavity, door, drain, electrician, electricity, energy, find a kitchen fitter, freezer, install, kitchen, kitchen fitting quote, level, london kitchen fitter, modular, package, plug, power, remove, shelf, shelves, space, supply, turn on, under counter, undercounter Posted in Kitchen Fitting | Comments Off
There is nothing quite as lovely as a water feature tinkling in the background on a gorgeous summer’s day. Before you even think of asking Mr-Skill for Landscaper Quotes, you first need to decide on the design and the location.
• Choose on the position of your water feature first, because there’s no point in rushing off and buying one unless you know where it is going. Will it be a detail on the patio, or something more generous in centre of the garden? Take advice from a registered electrician before you finally decide. That’s because the cost of running cabling can be higher than you think, and cost is distance-driven.
Your next step is to choose the water feature that best suits your needs. There is a huge range of pre-fabricated ones available, although some gardeners still prefer to Find a Landscaper to build one especially for them.
• You could recess a water feature in the middle of the lawn and install a water jet in the centre of it. Installation costs will be higher and the disruption disappointing. In the end though, you will have a delightful feature for many years to come.
• Perhaps you prefer something more compact and self-contained. There are any number of designs that have water flowing between stacked containers. Just remember that these are never more than adjuncts to other space, as opposed to being centre pieces.
• Your third alternative is something even smaller and more ornate. London Landscaping Firms often favour these because they have a tiny footprint and if used indoors you merely plug them in. Another advantage is that they are highly portable and make perfect gifts.
We take electrical safety seriously at Mr-Skill, and that’s why we insist that you request an electrician to check electrical safety for you, and to wire-up all outside water features too. Remember water, electricity and your body can be a harmful combination – act safely, please don’t get hurt.
Tags: cabling, check, compact, container, cost, decide, design, detail, distance, electrician, estimate, feature, find a landscaper, Garden, generous, gift, landscaper quotes, lawn, location, london landscaping, need, patio, plug, position, pre-fabricate, recess, safety, self-contained, space, summer, tinkling, water Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | Comments Off
Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Jun 08
Which one of us can look up at forest canopies and ancient trees without admiring Mother Nature’s loveliest works? There is something comforting about wood’s beauty that makes us want to bring it indoors, and into our homes. At Mr-Skill you can Find a Joiner to make all your dreams come true, and at less than average market rates as well.
If you are building a new home with a double volume entrance hall, stop for a moment and consider just what added beauty strong horizontal and vertical wooden beams can bring. Upstairs rooms can lead from Juliet-style balconies that bring added warmth and light and space, even on a chilly winter’s day.
Alternatively, why not ask Mr-Skill for Carpenters Quotes to change your boring interior doors into simple wooden works of art. Suddenly your home takes on a classy feel, and you will be surprised how little this pieces of magic costs. Add wooden skirting’s and wainscoting’s to complete the timeless classic feel.
A kitchen always benefits from the addition of wood detailing and this adds a richness that sometimes seems almost to reflect in added savour to the food. There are Joiners in London who make their livings transforming kitchens in this way. Conversions like these are expensive, but may have a multiplier effect on the value of your home.
At Mr-Skill we hope that you are enjoying what we write, and that it provides you with pleasure and inspiration too. Remember us when you are looking for any kind of tradesperson. Ours are rated, and charge competitive prices. Could you do better elsewhere?
Tags: art, beauty, carpenter quote, carpenters london, cost, door, dream, entrance, find a carpenter, find a joiner, forest, hall, home, indoors, inspiration, joiner london, joiner quote, kitchen, light, magic, skirting, space, tradesperson, transform, trees, wainscoting, warmth, wood, wooden Posted in Carpentry & Joinery | Comments Off
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 Posted in Carpentry & Joinery | Comments Off
Posted in Tiling & Flooring on Apr 14
What will the bathroom of this summer turn out to be? For what will Bath Fitters in London be quoting this time? Will it be for virginal white victorian bathtubs on four heavy legs again? Oh, how yesterday-ish, the modern dreamers say. Today is about light, brightness and the illusion of space. Perhaps you do not agree. Perhaps I do not either. Nevertheless, let us at least listen to what they are trying to tell us. We might learn something too.
Perhaps one should rather Find a Bath Fitter to create a symphony of reflective mirrors, granite tops and white cabinetry. Across a broad mosaic floor, a shower could accommodate a pair of lovers easily. And everywhere bright, glorious light filtering naturally through the ceiling with a glimpse of plants through a window beyond?
Perhaps not. Perhaps a bathroom is a more serious place where we go to do our business. No time for lingering here. Just teutonic space efficiency – modern white fittings offset by sober dark wood cabinets.
Maybe a bathroom is a lover’s tryst. An open wet room where no secrets hide. An extension to the bedroom where more exciting things await. Why hide your charms behind closed doors, some people say.
Personally, I think that a bathroom should be an extension of the outside environment. A private garden or a view across the Bay of Capri – such as the one designed by an architectural genius to the right. No matter how little I can afford, I should still like to be able to lie back in a bath and connect with nature.
I for one am going to Get Bathroom Fitter Quotes the instant that I win the Lotto. How about you? Will you be doing that too? In the meantime happy dreaming, for of such small things are the sweetest dreams made.
Tags: bath fitter london, bath fitter quote, bath fitting london, bath fitting quote, bathroom, bathroom fitter london, bathroom fitter quote, bathroom fitting london, bathroom fitting quote, bright, cabinet, ceiling, charm, dark, design, efficient, environmnent, find a bath fitter, find a bathroom fitter, Garden, granite, light, lover, mirror, mosaic, secret, serious, shower, space, style, summer, victorian, view, wet, wetroom, white, window Posted in Tiling & Flooring | Comments Off
Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Mar 22
As we get more gadgets in the kitchen, worktop space just seems to drift away. Eventually we get to the point when we feel like getting Kitchen Fitting Quotes to rip everything out and start again. However, is this really necessary? Perhaps we ought to learn to work smarter instead, and save some money. Here are a few of the better tips that I acquired through the years:
o Buy a cutting board that fits over the sink, instead of taking space on a countertop. An added advantage is ease of cleaning up afterwards.
o If you have the luxury of space, then why not add a central preparation island. This provides extra working space, and there is room for storage space below for pots and pans.
o Perhaps you could extend a kitchen counter top in the length. Think laterally – this could also be a fold-down shelf that tucks away neatly when not required.
o Have a friend comment on how you use your under-counter storage space. We all keep things we never use in kitchen drawers. Be strong – DECLUTTER.
o Every Kitchen Fitting London Job includes fitting door racks. You can store all kings of things this way. Kitchen towel, jars, bottles, spices – the list is almost endless.
o Fit a pot and pan rack above the stove. You could clear an entire cabinet like this, and no longer have to stoop down to find them either.
o Look for space to fit slide-out mobile storage units in gaps between appliances and cabinets.
o Use hanging baskets to store fruit and vegetables. They stay fresher longer, look great and you also know when you need to buy more.
This works for you. That’s great. No good? Ah well, then perhaps it is time to Find a Kitchen Fitter on Mr-Skill, after all. At least you tried.
Tags: counter, cutting board, door rack, drawer, find a kitchen fitter, gadget, hanging basket, island, kitchen, kitchen fitter london, kitchen fitter quote, kitchen fitting london, kitchen fitting quotes, mobile, pan, pot, room, sink, space, storage, store, top, under counter, unit, work smart Posted in Kitchen Fitting | Comments Off
Posted in Plastering & Drywall on Jan 21
Dry Wall gets its name from the fact that you don’t need wet cement materials to build it, which makes it ideal for internal walls that might need rearranging later. In modern buildings it is also used as an inner skin because of the way it facilitates the installation of services without the need for chopping bricks. It is capable of providing a superb final finish in the right hands too. Sounds like the perfect solution, doesn’t it? If you need a Plastering Quote for Dry Wall work contact Mr-Skill
Dry Walling is not quite perfect though. The sheets are fitted over a wooden framework in the same way ceilings are made. That means a lot of air space behind a brittle surface. If your teenager comes home awash with hormones and kicks a hole in it, how do you effect a repair when the filler just keeps disappearing into the space behind the panel? Or, on a lighter note, how do you fill a space where a light switch once was that you just moved? You may not need to find a plasterer. That’s because a small repair is actually dead simple when you follow these 3 easy steps.
1) Trace a rectangle on the wall around the damaged area. Cut carefully though the outer surface using a sharp knife before cutting through with a keyhole saw. Use the down stroke only to avoid disturbing the surrounding material.
2) Attach one or more battens inside the opening with glue and screws and allow to fully dry. Then glue a neatly fitting patch onto the batten with glue like no more nails.
3) The next day (no sooner please) cover the patch and immediate surrounding area with a suitable filler and, when dry, finish off with light grit paper on an orbital sander. Paint, stand back and feel good about what you just achieved.
We do not recommend that you try a large repair yourself. This is because a bad patch can mar a home and even bring the value down. Play it safe. Find a Dry Wall expert on Mr Skill and get Plastering Quotes from them.
Tags: batten, ceiling, cut, dry wall, dry walling, drywall, fill, filler, find a plasterer, fix, frame, glue, hole, internal, paint, partition, patch, plasterer london, plasterer quote, plastering job London, plastering quote, remove, repair, sand, screw, space, wall, wood Posted in Plastering & Drywall | Comments Off
Most of us have garages, and some of us have storage sheds too. The problem is that we store so much junk in them that the car ends up outside, and the bicycles in the rain.
What about using the space between the car roof and the ceiling instead? Before you let the money that a decent racking system costs scare you away, compare this with the cost of just two months rented storage elsewhere. If this makes sense to you, read on. Do not worry if you think you are unable to do the job yourself – Mr-Skill will help you find a handyman right for the job.
Garages with pitched roofs have oodles of unused space above the car. This is because architects design them to blend in with the house even though a car is less than door height in the house. In essence, all you have to do is install some mezzanine racking at the right height, cover it with timber, and you have a new crawlspace storeroom above the car.
You could also hang your mezzanine floor from the ceiling – the risk here is that it could come loose, or the rafters could get loaded with too much weight. That is why I agree with handymen from London that you build it up from the floor like a tree trunk. It may cost more, but it will do more work too.
You will be surprised how much extra space you can create for so relatively little money. Your garage will look tidier, and you will be able to find all your tools again. How is that for another good idea from Mr-Skill? Now its time to get cracking with handyman quotes.
Tags: build storge inside the garage, car, costs, crawlspace, find a handyman, garage, handyman quotes, handymen london, junk, mezzanine, racking, roof, roof space, shed, space, storage Posted in Carpentry & Joinery, General Building, Handyman Services, Moving Homes & Hauliers | Comments Off
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