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Posts Tagged ‘summer<’
As we head into the warmer months, there’s no better way to beautify your garden than by adding a splash of floral colour. Flowering plants can be grown in almost any light conditions, but some species definitely prefer the sun while others are more shade-loving.
There are of course many choices for these two opposite corners of your garden. One of our regular London landscaping experts has drawn up a list of ten each – sun and shade – for your maximum enjoyment.
Ten for the Hotspots
- Let’s start with the not-so-lonely-Petunia. Correctly clustered, these beauties can provide a riot of colours.
- Passion flowers too are said to give of their best when the sun beams down on them.
- Tagetes, or African Marigolds and their French cousin seem to reflect the sun itself as they bask in its glory.
- Lavender is a true sun-worshipper, and offers a rewarding scent too.
- The Sunflower simply has to be included along with its radiant “smile”.
- Violas almost seem to dance in the breeze when the sun shines down on them.
- Carnations – no garden should be without this stunner.
- Phlox, you can mix these up with the carnations for a splendid show.
- Though the list could go on, let’s end with the drooping Fuchsias family – the pink and purple show will really brighten up the surrounding area.
Before we move on to the shade, a wander around your nearest garden centre will always provide you with lots of inspiring ideas. You may even decide to get a gardening quote from Mr-Skill when you get home.
Ten for the Shade
- Shade plants will of course be more subtle when it comes to colour, but Foxgloves certainly provide a splash.
- For deep-shaded areas try colonies of Ferns for their cooling green effect.
- They may have smaller flowers, but Dogwoods can be very rewarding too.
- The Green Globe Hebe plant provides a calming green backdrop.
- “Bleeding Hearts” can be stunning, especially when mixed with Lilly of the Valley.
- Camellias and Asters are for border-line partial-to-full shade areas.
- Sweet Williams and Sweet Peas will adorn just about any corner you decide to use.
If this all sounds too energetic, you could find a landscaper right here on Mr-Skill, and then just sit back and wait for the riot of colour to begin. Don’t forget to have the garden chairs and table set out to enjoy the show!
Tags: colour, corner, find a gardening-and-landscaping specialist, flowers, Garden, gardening-and-landscaping quote, light, london gardening-and-landscaping expert, shade, shade-loving, splash, summer, sun, sun-loving, warmer weather
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Spring has “sprung”, well at least according to the weather people. Clocks will advance an hour at midnight on the last Saturday of March. Suddenly, we will view everything in a better light – literally! And that includes our precious lawns that have survived another cold dark winter with little or no help from us.
It’s time to make amends. Although lawn mowing may seem a long way off, we do need to prepare the grass for those delightful months ahead. Of course, if this all sounds too strenuous, you could always find a gardener on Mr-Skill, and then sit back and enjoy the benefits.
What You Will Need
- Large garden fork, weeding tool and hose pipe
Weeding
Weeding is an important aspect of lawn care. Just as the grass is starting to grow, so too are the weeds in the lawn. They affect the appearance of the turf, showing up as dark green clumps in an otherwise-perfect lawn. Weeds also compete with the grass for water, and can prevent nutrients from reaching and feeding the roots.
Removal is fairly simple. Use the weeding tool to prise the weed and its roots out from the soil. Early spring is the right time to do this, because weeds will not yet have formed seeds.
Aerate and Fertilise
Using the garden fork, spike the soil with a downward motion, going as deep as you possibly can. Now, jiggle the fork back and forth, by placing your foot on the metal fork head and your hands on the fork handle and stem. The more you spike, the better the aerating action. After you finish, you can fertilise according to the supplier’s instructions.
Sowing Seeds and Watering
Scatter your preferred grass seed, again according to the instructions. Then water the area using a hand-held hose with adjustable nozzle. Water regularly until the spring rains take over, and a lovely lawn will greet you.
Our London Gardeners have one tip for every avid lawn enthusiast – now’s the time to check your mower and have it serviced. Isn’t it great to see promising signs of life in the trees and grass again?
Tags: clocks foward, daylight, daylight saving, fertiliser, find a gardener, fork, Garden, gardening quote, green grass, lawn, london gardeners, perfect lawn, roots, seeds, sowing, spike, spring, summer, turf, water, weeds, winter
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Misting or fogging in double-glazed windows is quite common in older homes where the guarantee has expired. Owners often put up this, because it is a cosmetic problem that they feel is not worth the money to repair. As a London Window Fitting Expert I’m often asked what causes this irritating problem, and I thought others might like to know why too.
 Some condensation is natural in the space between two glass panes, because of the difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures. In earlier days this drained naturally away. These days another plan is put in place in the interests of thermal efficiency.
- The moisture-absorption material used instead is known an silica – that’s the same stuff as the tiny white balls found in little bags and shipped with electronic goods.
- This silica is in the separation bars that keep the double-glazing panes apart. You’ll find them right up against the inner window frame. The idea is that the silica absorbs the moisture in winter months, and dries out again in summer.
- Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and sometimes the silica becomes water-logged in less
 than five years. Most double-glazing is guaranteed for ten years though. If you are lucky enough to have the original warranty then you may have a claim.
If you are unable to prove the claim and want your unsightly problem solved, then I suggest you Find a Window Fitter to do this for you. Many people prefer to have a drain hole inserted instead, because this is half the price of a complete Replacement Window Fitting Quote.
The window fitter who contributed this advice is listed on Mr-Skill. Like our other skilled artisans in all UK trades, he has a reputation that goes back for years, and he is registered as required by law too. Please contact us in the event that you require Professional Window Fitting Quotes.
Tags: absorb, cause, claim, condensation, cosmetic, double glazing, find a window fitter, fog, frame, glass, guarantee, hole, home, indoor, insert, log, london window fitting, mist, moisture, money, old, outdoor, pane, price, repair, silica, spacer, summer, temperature, thermal, warranty, waterlog, window, window fitting quote, winter
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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
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Posted in Cleaning Services on Oct 12
Outdoor garden furniture bears the brunt of weather when left outdoors throughout the year, and if neglected soon loses its showroom gloss. This is especially true in larger cities where airborne pollution can be quite severe. In fact I know of several London Cleaning Services who make a living out of dealing with the consequences.
 It is not always necessary to request a Cleaner Quote on Mr-Skill though. Regular attention along the lines below can help avoid unnecessary expense, assuming you have the time available and the will to do it.
• Wash wooden furniture that has been coated with exterior grade varnish with soapy water and then rinse it clean. If possible store it in a dry place for winter or at least wipe away accumulations of rainwater regularly. Once a year apply a proprietary cleaner followed by a protective coat.
• Machine-wash fabrics from cloth chairs and hammocks using a gentle wash cycle. Stretch the cloth back into position before completely dry, to avoid it shrinking.
• Clean aluminium, wrought iron and mild steel frames with soap and rinse. Coat metal furniture with a protective coating, or else it will definitely rust.
•  Umbrella covers need machine washing and the frame joints need lightly oiling too. As with chair seats, refit the covers before completely dry.
• Remove acrylic seat-covers and wipe them clean, using a bleach solution to remove any mildew. Let the mixture stand for 30 minutes before wiping clean again.
• Clean wicker furniture using water under pressure from a hose or pump, using soap if necessary. When dry, the application of a paste wax will restore the shine.
A lot of work perhaps for something we may not use every day, and that stands idle in the winter. Why not get a Cleaner Quote from Mr-Skill instead? Then you can put your clean outdoor furniture away for winter, and have it ready to use again in the spring. Now that makes sense.
Tags: acrylic, aluminium, attention, chair, clean, cleaner quote, cloth, coat, dry, expense, find a cleaner, frame, furniture, Garden, hammock, london cleaning service, mould, oil, outdoor, pollution, protect, regular, rinse, shrink, soap, stain, store, stretch, summer, time, umbrella, varnish, wash, water, winter, wood
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Posted in Cleaning Services on Sep 13
As the late summer cools to autumn and the windy days arrive, it’s time to clean off the barbeque and store it away for winter. But using caustic oven cleaners is so old-fashioned these days, and  they just make the barbeque rust all that sooner too. So how did the old folks cope in days before all those aerosols? I doubt they even thought to Find a Cleaner.
• For starters, they cleaned their cooking surfaces regularly, and that’s half the trick. After all, fresh grease is a whole lot easier to get rid of, than burned-on, encrusted dirt.
• They had simple, practical tools too. These invariably included a stiff wire brush, hot soapy water, and rags to wipe the cooking surface. You can use paper towel nowadays, as long as it’s recycled!
• The old folks also didn’t leave the dirt until the morning when it had gone cold and yucky. In fact cleaning the barbeque was as natural to them as washing up the plates, and they never, ever needed to get a Cleaning Service Quote.
• Start by wiping the cooking surface with a warm, soapy cloth – you’ll be surprised how much dirt comes off that way. Loosen any stubborn bits with an old table knife that’s not too sharp, and finally scrub away with the wire brush and a little oil.
• Finally, wipe the grill surface clean with a fresh cloth or paper towel, leaving a light coating of oil behind to prevent the rust from taking hold.
What a pleasure when you wheel out the barbeque next summer. All you need to do is burn it off, and you’re ready for the pork sausages and the steaks. It’s almost as if you had had a visit from a London Cleaning Firm. Did I mention that you can Find a Cleaner on Mr-Skill Right Here?
Tags: autumn, barbeque, burn, caustic, clean, cleaning service quote, cold, cooking, encrust, find a cleaner, grease, knife, london cleaning firm, oven, paper towel, rag, regular, rust, scrub, soap, store, summer, surface, tool, warm, water, wind, wipe, wire brush, yucky
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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
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Now that the first blush of spring has come and gone, and the roses have been all lightly pruned back, it’s time to get the shears and garden spade out, and finally sort out the weeds.  Don’t feel like doing this again? No worries. We have all the help you need right here on Mr-Skill.
o Perhaps all you really need is a quick tidy up? We have garden experts here who are ready and able to provide you with a competitive Garden Quote. And what’s more you can check their references from all their other jobs too, so you know exactly what you could be getting.
o In no time at all our gardeners could be in and out of your garden as quick as a proverbial flash, leaving everything neat and tidy for you. What a pleasure. All that’s left for you to do is to pop down to the garden centre, and buy some punnets of late summer flowers.
o  Perhaps, though, you need a complete garden make-over? You could also find an expert landscaper here. Just provide them with a budget and a few ideas, go away for a weekend, and it’s almost like your home was featured on the telly courtesy of a London Landscaping Firm when you return home.
At Mr-Skill we believe that gardens are there to be enjoyed these days, and should never be allowed to become a drudge. That’s why we decided to add gardeners and landscapers to the lists of skills we broker. Why not jump on our website right away, and ask us to arrange a few Garden Quotes today?
Tags: budget, complete, enjoy, expert, find a gardener, flower, Garden, garden centre, garden quote, help, home, landscape, london landscaping quote, make over, makeover, neat, pleasure, prune, punnet, quick, quote, reference, rose, shears, skill, spade, spring, summer, tidy, weed, weekend
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Posted in General Building on Jun 14
Summer is a great time to get out in the garden, light the barbeque and prune the roses. Perhaps one could also hop into the car and brave the traffic all the way down to Brighton?  But summer is also the right time to Find a Builder to catch up on the outdoor jobs while it’s not raining.
o Start with the roof and any chimneys first. Are the tiles or sheets still in good position and held tightly down? Check the flashing too, and double check for any signs of leaks by looking up at upstairs ceilings. And the gutters? Are they nice and clear too?
o Check the openings into buildings next – by this I mean the windows and the doors. Are they closing tightly and are all the locks and other fastenings working correctly too. This is not just about weatherproofing either. It’s about keeping burglars out as well.
o Go all the way around the house checking that the rainwater is still draining away nicely. Look for cracks in rendering and signs of damp rising up the walls. Go inside too,  moving furniture away from internal walls. Any signs of damp? You need to get a Building Quote before things get worse.
o A Builder in London I got chatting too the other day while waiting for a train back home remarked that gates and fences are like our teeth. By that he meant that some of us neglect them both until they start to give us trouble, at which point they cost a lot of money to repair.
I reckon that chap standing with me on a railway platform had exactly the right idea. We need to keep a hand on homes and fix the little things before they become expensive. Summer is the best time to do this while it’s still nice and warm. Unless, that is, you feel like stopping gaps while the winter rains fall down on you. I just thought I’d mention it, to keep you nice and warm and dry.
Tags: builder, builder london, Building, building quotes, burglar, ceiling, check, chimney, correct, damp, door, drain, expensive, fastening, find a builder, fix, flashing, Garden, hand, home, inside, inspect, job, leak, lock, opening, outdoor, position, rain, rainwater, render, roof, sheet, summer, tight, tile, wall, weather, work
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Posted in Electrical Work on Jun 06
 Now that the United Kingdom is in the full flight of glorious Summer and May Flies are here, it is time to be out in the garden after supper to enjoy the stars. Be careful though in case it is dark and you could trip. If this possibility exists, why not ask several providers on Mr-Skill to put in Electrician Quotes with suggestions on how to improve your outdoor illumination for you.
o The first decision to make is how you are going to power up your system. Solar-powered lighting has many advantages, including a tiny-eco-footprint and simplicity of installation. On the down-side batteries radically restrict output, and there are those that argue that these are major pollutants in their own right.
 Mains-wired illumination has fewer of these disadvantages and is virtually unlimited in its flexibility. It is however also more expensive to install. You also ought to Find an Electrician to do this for you, both for safety reasons and to remain within the law.
o The second decision that every gardener needs to make is far more subtle and may bring out the artist in every one of us. An Electrician London-Based whom I know well reckons that what is really needed is gentle brush-strokes and not flood lights, and I think that he is right there.
After all, if there are straight lines in Nature then I have yet to find them. Everything is a combination of curves and blending tones. After you have achieved this magic in your own garden, why not send a picture of it to Mr-Skill so that we could enjoy your creativity too.
Tags: battery, cheap, curves, electric, electrician london, electrician quote, expensive, find an electrician, flows, Garden, hues, illuminate, inexpensive, install, law, light, limit, magic, mains, nature, pollutant, power, restrict, safety, solar, stars, summer, system
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