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Posts Tagged ‘template<’
Posted in Handyman Services on Sep 24
There are several different models and designs when it comes to bathroom cabinets, so if you are tired of your old one, you’ll have plenty to choose from. Mr-Skill stresses the fact that bathrooms and kitchens tend to sell properties, so any enhancements you make can only improve the outlook. In this article, we deal with mounting a handsome double-mirrored cabinet above your hand basin, and it will look very elegant too.
What You’ll Need: 
- The cabinet – most come as knockdown kits
- Tape measure
- Pencil for marking
- Paper template
- Screws, plugs and screwdriver
- Drill and bit
- Spirit level
Better to play safe than sorry, so if you don’t have the skills or confidence for this job, rather get a bathroom fitting quote. You can find a bathroom fitter right here on Mr-Skill, just remember to ask for the best price.
Decide on Position 
Having assembled your purchase using the manufacturers instruction, decide where you want the cabinet. In the case of our mirrored-door cabinet, centring it neatly above the bathroom hand basin is a good position. Make up a template of the back of the cupboard, and use this for precise positioning and marking. Check the tiled surface onto which you will be screwing the new cabinet – ideally, you should anchor the cupboard with four screws, one close to each corner. Be careful not to drill anywhere near water pipes, and preferably align your screw holes to the grout line.
Mock it up
One of our regular London bathroom fitters advises that it is always best for two people to hold the cabinet in its final position before drilling the holes. Get the family to agree with the location, and the height needs to be such that you can see your reflection without bending or stretching your neck.
Up She Goes!
Once you have marked your holes on the back of the cupboard, drill through the back section using a carpentry bit. Offer up the cabinet to its final position on the wall and use the pencil to mark the holes on the wall, via the holes already made on the back of the cupboard. Make a final check for correct alignment using your spirit level. Use the right masonry bit for drilling your wall holes to the correct depth, then place the plastic plugs in the holes. Ask someone to help hold the cabinet while you locate the four screws through the cupboard backing. Mr-Skill says that if you have reached this point without any incidents, you can chant these words: Mirror, mirror on the wall.
Tags: align, batroom fitting quote, cabinets, Carpentry, cupboard, find a bathroom fitter, fitting, hand basin, height, holes, location, london bathroom fitter, masonry, pencil, plugs, screwdriver, screws, skills, tape measure, template
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Mr-Skill loves animals, and is particularly fond of cats. These independent animals are prone to coming and going as they please, so installing a cat flap is the least you can do to make your pussy happy – besides, it saves you having to get up and do the honours for Kitty in the middle of the night! Talk about leading a charmed life! One of our London window and door fitters says that cat doors are so popular in the big city environment that he does plenty of installations in both wooden and glass doors. 
Job Difficulty
Assuming you are a practical and handy-type of person, then this project should not prove too difficult. However if you are not so useful with your hands, rather get a window and door fitting quote here on Mr-Skill.
How it Works
Most of our interior doors are the hollow core type these days, and comprise of two wood veneers held in place by the actual door framework. This creates a hollow centre effectively, and this is where you should position the cat flap.
What You’ll Need
- A pussy cat (to supervise)
- A cat door (one your cat will fit through)
- Drill and bits
- Jig saw
- Inch-thick board for the surround
- Table saw
- Wood screws and a driver
Installation
Mark the new opening using the template supplied with the cat door, and cut the correct opening size on one side of your hollow core door. Do this by drilling a hole on each corner to accommodate the jig saw blade. Now drill the corresponding holes on the thin veneer of the other side of your door – again cut a straight line between the drill holes.
Finishing Off
Check the gap between the two-cut out faces of your hollow core door. Using your table saw, cut strips of wood to fit this gap exactly (in other words, along the length). Now cut the surround board into two equal pieces to fit the cat flap width, and the other two to fit the flap height – as in top and bottom, left and right.
You should now be ready to place the cut boards into the door framework, to bridge the gaps in the hollow core door – it should mirror the cat flap exactly. Next, secure the surround trim using half-inch screws, running two screws from each side of the hollow core door.
Good Going
If you have made it this far without any hassles, Mr-Skill would like to invite you on board so that others can find their window and door fitters to install their cat flaps! Now pop the kettle on and make yourself a nice brew! Don’t forget a sprig of catnip for pussy!
Tags: bit, board, difficulty, drill, find a window and door fitter, hollow core door, installation, installing, jig saw, job, london window and door fitter, project, screw driver, screws, surround, table saw, template, veneer, window and door fitting quote, wood screws
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Posted in Bricklaying on Apr 09
Perhaps you are planning your first DIY bricklaying project and are not sure how many bricks to order. Begin by drawing a brick grid on a piece of board to make life easier, and ensure a professional brick course later. Brick grids are like a template for the correct alignment of one brick upon the other, and form an important part of the planning process before you start building.
Things You’ll Need
- Poster board
- Marker pen
- Ruler
If this sounds like too much hard work, why not consider getting a bricklaying quote from one of our many “brickies” right here on Mr-Skill.
Step 1 
Choose a pattern for your brick grid – you can select from one of many. The most popular is the running bond pattern, which results in a row of bricks all pointing in the same direction. Start laying the next row across half-the-brick length it is covering, as this achieves strength as well as unity.
The regular basket weave pattern is also quite popular. This involves placing two bricks adjacently to form a small square. Every other square laid in a given row, comprises two more bricks laid at right angles to the previous set. This results in a row consisting of alternate vertical and horizontal patterns. Keep in mind though that we are simply drawing the brick grid and not actually building the wall yet.
Step 2
First, sketch the outline of the proposed wall. You will need to use a scale that suits your board size. Now, draw a rectangle – which represents a similarly scaled brick at one bottom corner of your posterboard – don’t forget to use your ruler to connect the lines. In the UK, the standard brick size is 8½ inches by 4 inches by 2½ inches, and you’ll need to allow for the mortar too. Some people simply trace the outline around a scale-brick instead. 
Step 3
Continue outlining more bricks, moving across and upwards from your starting point. Keep in mind the grid pattern you have selected, and don’t forget to leave the appropriate gap for the mortar between each brick. When you’ve filled up all the available space, you can check to find out how many bricks you need to buy.
Expert Help
Even the best London bricklayer is charging lower rates these days because of the economic downturn. Why not save yourself a heap of trouble and find a bricklayer on Mr-Skill to do the job for you instead. They can buy the bricks a whole lot cheaper and could have the job done in a matter of days – while you get on with other things that you prefer.
Tags: basket weave, brick grid, brick size, bricklaying quote, find a bricklayer, gap, grid, london bricklayer, mortar, right angle, running bond, standard brick, template, UK brick size
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Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Mar 12
By replacing your kitchen cupboard door handles and knobs on your drawers, you are cosmetically modernising your kitchen for very little outlay or effort. Start off by selecting a design that appeals to you, and makes an appropriate statement in your “new” kitchen. The range is really quite staggering, and  there are even London kitchen fitting shops specialising in knobs, handles and knockers too.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to positioning handles and knobs, so you can do almost as you please. Remember though, the cupboard door action needs to be practical, so it would be of little use placing your handles at the bottom of the base-unit door. This is one of those jobs where you will find that if it looks right, it probably is.
That said, the rule of thumb is to mount handles towards the top left or right corner of the under-counter doors. This obviates the need to bend too low when opening them. Conversely, fix wall unit handles to the bottom left or right of the doors. When it comes to mounting knobs on drawers, use the two-thirds, one-third principal. Mark the middle of the drawer and position the knob two-thirds of the way up a deep drawer face (or the middle of a shallow drawer).
If everything looks right, mark all your drill points on the doors and drawers using a template so that all the holes are aligned.  Then start drilling with a smaller sized drill-bit to avoid splitting the timber. After that, you can finish drilling with the correctly sized bit. Keep in mind that the new handles and knobs should cover any existing holes or blemishes. Go ahead and fit the handles and knobs.
Now if that all seems too hard or you simply don’t have the expertise to install your cabinet handles and knobs, why not find a kitchen fitter on Mr-Skill. If you are going to do the job yourself, don’t forget to wear the right safety gear in the form of gloves and goggles, and make sure you have all the right tools handy.
Remember that Mr-Skill has an array of professionals on board, when you are ready to receive your Kitchen Fitting Quotes.
Tags: bottom, cabinet, centre, choice, cupboard, design, drawer, drill, drill bit, fit, handle, install, kitchen, Kitchen Fitting, kitchen fitting quotes, knob, left, london kitchen fitting, mark, middle, modernise, practical, range, right, rule, template, top
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Posted in Carpentry & Joinery on Mar 10
Many otherwise lovely English gardens are completely level thanks to the depredations of builders and the local topography. A tiny stream gurgling through the garden with a low wooden bridge above and flowering plants besides, can be a touching feature that might add pounds of value too.
You might or might not decide to Find a Carpenter after reading what follows on, but you will definitely need good quality hardwood like cedar, redwood or similar, being two lengths of 2 x 12 timber for the main supports, and sufficient 2 x 4 planks for the floor.
o Make a template for the supports (keep the curve shallow to avoid the need for railings), and mark this on the wood supports. Make sure that the footings at either end are 18 inches long and that the total length of the bridge will be a multiple of the width of a single floor plank.
o Cut the supports out carefully, tidy them up, sand them and apply two coats of polyurethane outdoor seal.
o Cut sufficient planks to the desired length. Tidy these up too and apply sealant after sanding.
o Attach a floor plank to either end of the pair of supports to create a sturdy frame. I suggest using nylon plugs and stainless steel screws although I know that some Carpenters in London prefer to use stainless steel nuts and bolts right through.
o After you attach the balance of the floor planks similarly and apply a final coat of polyurethane, you can put the bridge in place and call your better half to join you for a cup of tea.
I hope the job goes well and that you do not experience any problems. Once the wood is cut, the job goes quickly and you should not need to bother yourself with Carpenter Quotes. You could add railings like the ones illustrated here if there is depth below the bridge, or if you simply fancy the idea.
Tags: attach, bolt, bridge, carpenter quote, carpenters london, cedar, cut, find a carpenter, find a joiner, finish, floor, flower, footing, Garden, hardwood, joiner london, joiner quote, length, nut, plank, plant, plug, polyurethane, railing, redwood, sand, screw, seal, sealant, stream, support, template, wood, wooden
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Posted in Kitchen Fitting on Feb 01
Base and wall-mounted kitchen cabinets are similar in construction, with the exception of the following three notable differences:
o Base units are finished off with separate worktops while wall mounted ones come complete with capping boards
 o Wall-mounted ones are not as deep from front-to-back as floor standing ones – this is so you don’t bump your head when you work beneath them.
o Cabinets on the wall come just with shelves, while floor-standing ones may house accessories like drawers and other modules too.
With these three exceptions, the process of assembling and mounting upper and lower cabinets, and fitting doors is similar. Many homeowners get Kitchen Fitting Quotes though, after they discover what is involved.
Assembling Carcasses
Unpack everything in open floor space, checking for damage as you go along and taking care not to damage exposed edges. Assemble according to the manufacturer’s instruction, making sure that the  carcasses are true and square. Match doors to frames and label accordingly.
Installing Carcasses
Install the upper units first. Temporarily mount a level batten along the wall where the bottoms of the wall-mounted carcasses will rest. Have an assistant rest each in position and attach it firmly to the wall. After all the carcases are mounted screw them together tightly. Remove the temporary batten. Seal right around them to keep insects away.
After aligning and leveling the floor standing units carefully, screw them to each other, push them firmly back and attach them to the wall. Fit the kick plates and seal all gaps against insects as well. Does this sound like far too much work to do when you get home from work? Why not Find a Kitchen Fitter on Mr-Skill instead?
Fitting Doors and Handles
 Attach the hinges to the doors using a template to locate them if necessary. Offer the first door up to the opening with the hinges fully open. Mark screw holes, punch out lightly and attach the hinges to the cabinet. Make rough adjustments. When all doors are installed, adjust finally again, so that the tops line up, and the shadow lines are similar. Attach the handles, using a template to make sure they align too.
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Not actually. A Kitchen Fitter in London trains staff for an average two years before they appoint a person to head their fitting team. Perhaps you ought not to practice on your expensive new kitchen fittings either.
Tags: accessory, assemble, attach, base, batten, cabinet, capping, cascass, damage, depth, door, find a kitchen fitter, frame, handle, hinge, inspect, kitchen, kitchen fitter london, kitchen fitter quote, kitchen fitting london, kitchen fitting quotes, level, mount, screw, seal, shadow line, square, template, true, unit, wall, wall mount, worktop
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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
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Posted in Cleaning Services on Sep 28
I read somewhere that toast always falls to the ground jam-and-butter side down. While I do not know whether this is true or not, I do know that the best way to attract a cigarette burn is to fit a new carpet. This is why a good carpet installer always leaves a few scraps behind. If you have a burn to repair, and no matching scraps to do this with, then  you may be able to scrounge a patch. If not, remove a small piece of carpet that lies permanently under solid furniture and use this. Some housekeepers in London are capable of doing a job like this – others may not be quite as dedicated.
o Remove only as much of the carpet pile as is necessary. Cut between the pile and avoid straight edges and sharp corners. Do not cut through the underlay, because this will be the link between the carpet and the patch.
o Identify a matching section of the carpet scrap. Carpets often have grains, and there may be repeating patterns too. Cut out a patch slightly larger than the hole that you are going to fill, again avoiding the pile (if the patch is large, it may be useful to make a paper template first).
o Dry fit the patch. If necessary trim it, or begin again if you got things badly wrong. When you are happy with your efforts, align and glue the patch to the underlay with non water-soluble contact adhesive, taking care to avoid staining the surface of the carpet while you do. After waiting 24 hours for the glue to dry, carefully cut away any loose strands with a small sharp pair of scissors, and your repair is complete.
This can be a rewarding weekend job to do. If you do not enjoy this type of project, why not get housekeeper quotes at Mr-Skill and find a housekeeper to do the job for you?
Tags: burn, carpet, cigarette, cigarette burn, cleaner quotes, cleaners london, contact, contact glue, cut, find a cleaner, find a housekeeper, glue, grain, housekeeper quotes, housekeepers london, loose, mat, match, patch, pattern, pile, remove, repair, rug, scrap, scraps, strands, template, underfelt, underlay, water-soluble
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