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Posts Tagged ‘weather<’
Did you know that by using a well-positioned skylight you could benefit from as much as 40% more light than from conventional windows? Mr-Skill advises that this is one project best left to the experts, because you don’t want to risk fiddling around on your roof unless you really know what you are doing. The good news is that we have several pre-screened experts at your service, so you can find a roofing specialist right here on Mr-Skill.
Whether it’s a loft conversion you are considering, or just more sun and daylight you want to enjoy indoors, there are many designs for roof windows – or skylights as some call them. Let’s have a look at some of the more popular options and then you can get a roofing quote from one of our experienced members: 
Velux Roof Windows – Installing this popular product on your roof can transform an otherwise dark area, fit only for growing mushrooms, into a space flooded with natural light. You also get the benefit of better ventilation throughout your home if you open the roof window, but don’t forget to close it when the weather turns.
Flat Roof Windows – Designed for modern flat roofs, they certainly bring the day in from outside.
Cabrio Balconies – What a transformation you will experience when you use your roof window to make an instant balcony without having to re-build the entire house.
Sun Tunnels – Perfect in passageways where you want to bring in more light. If you think about it, it’s the only way you can install windows in this area.
Certification and Guarantees 
Before appointing your roofing contractor, ask to see their certification of competency, and make sure they still have current registration with the relevant association too. And as Mr-Skill always insists, any job is only as good as its guarantee – be sure to ask about this, and remember to get it in writing as well.
All Said and Done
One of our regular London roofing experts advises that, while you may consider installing roof windows yourself, keep in mind that this is one of those precise jobs that requires specialist knowledge. He goes on to say, “ think of the safety risks you are taking while you work on your roof, and how sure are you that you will seal properly to avoid wind and water leaks?”. Water has an unforgiving habit of finding its way through any weak spot, so don’t be caught short.
Tags: balcony, cabrio balcony, certification, find a roofing specialist, guarantee, home, indoor, knowledge, loft conversion, london roofing expert, natural light, roofing quote, roofwindow, skylights, sun, sun tunnel, transformation, ventilation, weather, windows
Posted in Roofing, Gutters & Drainage, Roofing, Gutters & Drainage | Comments Off
The team here at Mr-Skill know that autumn is a good time to prepare their gardens for the cooler months ahead whilst the weather is still pleasant. Of course, in the winter months the landscape can look somewhat drab, but Audrey – she is one of our London gardening and landscaping experts – will provide some guidelines and tips to keep your beloved patch in tiptop condition over the coming months. So, don those old gardening cloths, pop on the gloves and grab the usual tools as you prepare for a day communing with nature! 
Have a Plan
Audrey says, “Preparing the garden for the colder months will keep it looking neat, as well as protecting the less hardy plants to a great extent. You must formulate a plan before you get stuck in though. Autumn is the perfect time for dividing perennial plants, and spreading them around the garden, as this will maintain their health and ensure greater coverage in spring.”
Our green-fingered Audrey has even more to offer. “If you are planning to plant new shrubs, trees or bulbs, do it well before the winter months while the earth is still easy to work with. Winter is an important time to many of our hardier shrubs as that is when they build bigger root systems.”
Garden Clean Up
As the days start to cool down, the leaves will begin dropping, and this provides an excellent opportunity to start a compost heap – or add to the one you already have. Raking and weeding are important activities at this time of the year, but be careful not to add weeds to the compost pile.
Gentle reminder from our team of gardening experts – they are ready and waiting for action, so if you feel this is all too tiring, then get your garden and landscaping quotes right here.
Mulching
Mulching is only necessary for more delicate plants, but even a thin layer of mulch will help insulate them from severe temperature drops – and it helps boost the soil and reduce erosion too. Don’t forget to move plant containers indoors or at least under cover to avoid frost, and a layer of mulch will also help them greatly.
There we go, all done and dusted as they say. Not a difficult job, unless of course you are not the gardening type. If that describes you better, then look no further: find a garden and landscaping service right here on Mr-Skill. This will leave you free to enjoy the pleasant autumn weather!
Tags: autumn, bulbs, clean up, cold, find a gardening and landscaping service, frost, Garden, gardening-and-landscaping quote, landscape, leaves, london gardening-and-landscaping expert, plants, preparation, rake, roots, shrubs, tidy, trees, weather, weeds
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | Comments Off
In this two part article, we first look at attending to brickwork tainted by air-borne pollution and then, everybody’s pet hate, graffiti. Part two deals with the cleaning of bricks contaminated by efflorescence.
Before attempting to remove dark pollution stains from your brickwork, make sure you have the proper safety clothing, including a hard hat, heavy duty waterproof gloves and industrial shoes (also waterproof).  Since you will be using acid, this is no job for the inexperienced DIY person – rather find a painting and decorating service in your area.
If cleaning light-coloured bricks, start by scrubbing the entire wall with a 1:20 solution of hydrochloric acid and water. Strengthen the solution to 1:10 when cleaning dark coloured bricks. Mix the acid and water in a plastic bucket or basin, and then apply to the wall with a stiff scrubbing brush.
Begin by scrubbing the wall at the top left corner (assuming you’re right-handed) and move across the wall, and then downward using overlapping circular scrubbing motions. It is advisable to treat approximately one square meter, and then pressure-hose that area before moving to the next section of brick.
When pressure cleaning, be careful not to apply too much force, as intense jets of water can disturb the bonding cement and may even damage the brick face. Make sure you are positioned correctly in terms of distance from the wall, standing at least three feet away. Use a wide-sweeping action for best cleaning affect.
If this is sounding a bit hard, rather get a painting and decorating quote, and get on with something else you would rather be doing.
When cleaning off graffiti, work a thick layer of citrus-based gel over the entire painted surface.  Now, work it into the crevices using a hard nail brush. Wipe off with a clean cloth, and then work in some more gel. Repeat the process until the graffiti disappears.
One of our regular London painters and decorators offers the following tip for removing unwanted graffiti. Cover the affected gel smeared wall with a plastic sheet taped over it. Leave this in place overnight to allow the gel to penetrate. Remember, the longer graffiti is left on the wall the more difficult it will be to remove.
A final pressure clean should be all that’s needed in the morning!
Tags: acid, algae, bricks, chalk powder, efflorescence, graffiti, lime, marks, pollution, pressure hose, protective clothing, stains, streaks, weather
Posted in Painting & Decorating | Comments Off
Posted in Handyman Services on May 07
Sometimes the bricks outside our homes take on a white powder-like appearance which does not look very nice. Technically known as “efflorescence”, it’s basically lime seeping out of the damp brick and giving it that unwanted chalky look. Of course, external bricks can also suffer staining due to airborne pollution, while everybody dreads the “artwork” of the graffiti experts.
 While lime-staining readily brushes off, the other two forms of pollution are somewhat more difficult to deal with. In this two-part article, we first explain how to remove unwanted graffiti and the effects of pollution, and then deal with lime-based staining in part two.
Removing Efflorescence Staining
Although this is a moderately easy job, you may prefer to seek professional assistance – find a handyman service right here on Mr-Skill and they will quickly resolve your brick-staining problem.
Assuming the lime powder is reasonably easy to reach using a properly secured ladder, begin by using a dry, stiff scrubbing brush. Resist the urge to wash down the brickwork after scrubbing, because wetting the wall will quickly see the staining problem return.
The next stage is to use a soft paint brush to remove the chalky deposits. You may find streaking caused by leaking downpipes or poorly positioned flashing. First repair the leak to eliminate the problem. If your water-heater tank is overflowing, it too may cause unsightly staining on the surrounding bricks. A simple adjustment to the float controlling the water level in the heater tank is probably all that is required.
Call in the Professionals
If you feel challenged by the thought of venturing up a ladder to clean your brickwork, why not get a handyman service quote instead? Then you can sit back and watch your unsightly wall being transformed to its original splendour.
Kevin, he’s one of our London handymen services, advises that efflorescence can manifest itself in brickwork long after the wall was built. It’s a combination of insufficient curing, and the elements going to work in the form of damp drawing out the remaining lime. He goes on to say that streaking on walls may be the result of something more serious by way of leaking pipes or drains. In this case, you would do well to bring in the experts rather than have a go yourself. Sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous!
Tags: cleaning, damp, efflorescence, find a handyman service, flashing, graffiti, handymen services quote, hydrochloric acid, leaks, lime, london handymen services, pipes, pollution, powder, pressure hose, protective clothing, stains, streaks, water, weather
Posted in Handyman Services | Comments Off
It may not feel quite like it yet, but with the Winter Solstice passed on December 21st, the days are getting longer and Nature has already begun to react. Plants have increased their growth in accordance with the available ambient light, and already bulbs are  gently stirring beneath the snow.
Some, come on Gardeners, it’s time to brave the chilly UK weather and start helping Nature to get going once again. Alternatively, you’re due to get those Gardening Quotes in time again!
- The Vegetable Garden. Order seed potatoes and plant out garlic cloves in pots. Dig the earth over for asparagus plantings. Mmmm – that sounds really good!
- How about an Orchard? The right time for planting trees is when the sap is down. If in the City, find a London Gardener while their rates are reasonable still.
- The Flower Garden. Remove fallen leaves. Cut down and compost annuals. There’s just so much to do, including taking hardwood cuttings of your favourite plants.
 How about a Few More Roses? Dig deeply to prevent root stock from shooting, and then plant in rich organic matter. Remember to support with stakes in case the high winds come.
- And Finally the Greenhouse. If the weather’s inclement you may like to Find a Gardener to clean inside and outside, and check the insulation. After that, you just need to do weekly visits and tidy up.
Don’t be surprised if the neighbours gawk at you out in your garden in your winter woollies. They’ll be jealous in the Spring though! There’s no need to tell them either about the wonderful Gardeners on Mr-Skill. For now at least, it’s a secret between you and me! And it’s all free too … when it comes to finding the perfect tradesperson of your dreams.
Tags: annual, asparagus, bulb, chill, compost, cut, cutting, deep, dig, find a gardener, flower, Garden, gardener, gardening quotes, garlic, green house, greenhouse, growth, inside, Insulation, leaves, light, london gardener, nature, orchard, organic, outside, plant, potato, potatoes, react, root, rootstock, rose, snow, spring, sprout, stake, support, tidy, tree, vegetable, weather, week, wind, winter
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | Comments Off
Posted in Handyman Services on Nov 16
I wish that I could to Find a Handyman on Mr-Skill for every weekend of the year. There are so many jobs waiting for me around the house, but the wife thinks that being busy keeps me fit and healthy. The more I say “we have the money” the more I’m told to get on with the work myself. So all that I can do is dream of what might otherwise have been.
First Weekend
 The first job every month would be to deal with water run-offs. I’d have the gutters and downpipes cleared out and wiped down nicely. Then we’d rod out the storm-water drains and get rid of all weeds together. What a pleasure. Come on rain.
The Second Weekend
No doubt the weather would hold off now that the drains were cleared, so the next job would be to sort out the garage. Not even a pair of London Handymen would know exactly where to put things, so I guess my participation would be unavoidable
Weekend Number Three
There’s never been three rain-free weekends in the UK since time began or so I’m told. This time I think the handyman could wipe all the interior woodwork down, and get rid of all that mould. I’d get on with  something else nearby, just to keep an eye on things, if you know what I mean?
The Fourth Weekend
By then, of course we’d be quite a team. I’d know the other person’s skills and start getting extra mileage from their Handyman Quote. There’s nothing quite like having an extra pair of hands around the house, especially when it comes to carrying things.
In practice this would never happen, and if it did the wife would say “now what’s the point of Getting in a Handyman on Mr-Skill when you do half the work yourself’? Sometimes it seems that only another man would understand. Or did I perhaps overlook something in my haste?
Tags: busy, carry, downpipe, drain, find a handyman, garage, gutter, hand, handyman quote, house, job, london handymen, month, mould, rain, skill, team, water, weather, weed, weekend, wipe, wood, work
Posted in Handyman Services | Comments Off
Posted in Locksmith on Nov 07
There’s nothing quite as unnerving as arriving home from holiday, and finding you’ve either lost your key or the front door lock refuses to budge. This unfortunately boils down to a lack of care or just stupidity. I can say that, because I’ve been guilty of these oversights myself when I was younger.
 Lost Keys – The solution is as simple as people’s failure follow it is incredulous. Leave a spare set of keys with a good friend you trust, so they can visit your home from time to time too. That way, you may never need to Find a Locksmith at such an inconvenient hour.
Jammed Locks – It’s a funny old thing, isn’t it? We update our ant-virus databases and we even sometimes mow our garden lawns. Yet we leave our essential door and window locks to take care of themselves completely, when all you need to do is the following:
• Lubricate all your exterior door locks with a puff of graphite powder (not oil because that will attract the dirt and dust). Lock and unlock them several times to work the lubricant in. If the lock is exposed to the elements and seldom used, consider taping over the outside keyhole with a piece of weatherproof tape to keep the moisture out.
•  The advice of every London Locksmith and all others lock repairers too is to take action as soon as a lock starts giving trouble. If you can open the door or window you could change the lock yourself. At the least you could possibly avoid paying overtime rates.
• Inspect your keys monthly for signs of damage, and never, ever use worn ones. That’s because a broken piece of key can be impossible to remove, necessitating an expensive repair.
Whatever else you do please do not overlook the need to maintain your locks. Did we mention you can get Locksmith Quotes on Mr-Skill too? You’ll find the rates more than competitive and our service exemplary. Isn’t that good to know. Remember that in times of trouble we’re here for you.
Tags: break, broken, budge, care, change, damage, door, element, find a locksmith, friend, graphite, inspect, jam, key, lock, locksmith quotes, london locksmith, lose, lost, lubricate, maintain, moisture, oil, powder, rate, remove, replace, solution, spare, stuck, tape, weather, window, work
Posted in Locksmith | Comments Off
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
Posted in General Building | Comments Off
Posted in General Building on May 30
We choose our Builders on Mr-Skill with great care and are proud of the reputation they enjoy. It may however happen from time to time (but thankfully very seldom) that things  do not work out quite as well as everybody hoped. When this happens, we investigate circumstances very carefully to continually improve the quality of our service, and to make sure our customers Find a Builder who suits them.
Almost inevitably we find that the root cause of the problem is a natural misunderstanding that developed between a Builder and their Customer, often as a result of one of the following classic problems:
o The Customer did not explain requirements sufficiently or the Builder did not understand them. In our experience there is only one way to avoid this, and that is a written specification signed off by both parties.
o The job took longer than the Customer expected. There are usually two reasons for this, namely unexpected snags and inclement weather. Unfortunately these are both beyond the control of either party. The best way to avoid a problem escalating is to agree a strategy when negotiating Building Quotes.
o  There is disagreement about the final price charged after the work is completed. Again co-operation is the only way to really avoid conflicts, and that means agreeing all escalations before they apply.
o I may have mentioned the Builder in London I know before, but I must say that I always find his advice well-worthwhile repeating. He reckons that marriages and building contracts have at least one thing in common, and that it to beware of bad body chemistry (but not the way you could be thinking).
He believes that the secret to avoiding building disputes is to avoid doing business with anybody who does not feel quite right as he puts it. When he finds a client with whom he knows he really can work well, he approaches everything thereafter as if they were both business partners and friends.
This is why we always say team up with your builder too, for the simple reason that this really does make the difference.
Tags: agree, builder, builder london, builder quote, building job london, building quotes, choose, customer, dispute, escalation, explain, feel right, find a builder, find a tradesman, friend, hope, misunderstanding, partner, price, problem, reputation, requirement, sign, snag, specification, team, tradesman london, tradesman quote, weather, work
Posted in General Building | Comments Off
 The inglorious British weather has been up to its nonsense once again. At least some of those of us who had to go out into our gardens recently have no doubt been cursing the design of our garden paths. What may seem ideal on a sparkling sunny English summer’s day usually does not work as well with snow around.
Generally speaking we all need paths that are both delightful in summer, but that drain well during rain too and are easy to shovel clear of snow besides. This does not have to be impossible to achieve at all, after you find a landscaper or two to choose from on Mr-Skill.
This is where hiring a professional landscaper makes so much sense. We can easily get so used to what is in our gardens that we no longer see the wood for the trees at all.  All the rated gardeners on our website have been carefully checked for their professional competence as well.
An old friend of mine who is retired now but used to work at Kew loves to relate an anecdote to anyone who is prepared to listen. It seems a landscaper from London had landed a job to build a path through a large rose garden. When he had finished his gently winding masterpiece my friend commented that’s great, but how the heck to I get the lawnmower through?
The moral of all this is that a garden path must be practical as well as a pleasure to the eye. When you get landscaping quotes from us, you also get advice from acknowledged and experienced rated experts in their field who love their gardening.
Tags: delightful, design, drain, expert, find a gardener, find a landscaper, Garden, gardener london, gardener quote, gardening london, gardening quotes, landscaper london, landscaper quote, landscaping london, landscaping quotes, lawnmower, path, pathway, practical, rain, rose garden, shovel, snow, weather
Posted in Gardening & Landscaping | Comments Off
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