Blog About DIY | Informative articles on DIY and Building

TV DIY pioneer Harry Greene dies at age of 89

March 13th, 2013

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Harry Greene

Harry Greene, one of UK TV’s first DIY presenters and the father of the former Blue Peter presenter Sarah Greene, has died at the age 89.

Mr Greene collapsed just days after returning home from a holiday with his daughter and her husband, fellow presenter Mike Smith.

In his early life Mr Greene toured as a theatre actor, and went on to appear on TV and publish DIY books. Mr Smith championed his father-in-law as a pioneer of DIY programmes on UK TV.

Born Henry Howard Greenhouse, Harry changed his surname to Greene in 1950 by deed poll.

Paying tribute on his blog, Mr Smith said his father-in-law was largely self-employed from his teenage years and worked his way from Wales to London via art college, Cardiff University, stage management, design, building, acting, writing and teaching children with special needs.

“My own dad had died back in ’76 – so Harry became particularly important to me,” Mr Smith added.

“He was one of those driven people.”

Mr Greene married Marjie Lawrence, an actress, in 1955 and they had three children. She died in 2010.

They worked together at Joan Littlewood’s theatre workshop at the Theatre Royal Stratford, east London.

Read the full BBC article here.

How to Lay Laminate Flooring

February 22nd, 2013

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Laminate Flooring

Part 1 of 3 – Preparation

If you’re not too well-acquainted with DIY, laying a new floor can seem like an impossible task. But don’t give up yet! This three-part Floormaker guide will teach even total DIY novices how to lay laminate flooring by breaking the job up into small, manageable stages, and explaining them in language that everyone can understand.

In this first section, we’ll cover the things you’ll need to do before you lay your new laminate flooring. Preparation is everything when it comes to laying a new floor, so if you’re planning to install a new floor in your home, read this first!

First things first, start by measuring the room that you’d like to re-floor so you can work out how much flooring you’ll need. No matter what kind of laminate flooring you want, you’ll need to calculate the area of your room. To do this, multiply the length of the room by the width in metres, this will give you the total square metre area you need to cover. Then find out what area one pack of flooring will cover. This will vary between products. To work out how many packs of flooring you need simply divide the total square metre area you need to cover by the pack size of the laminate flooring, this will tell you how many packs you will need to complete the job and remember to add 10% more for those ‘just in case’ moments.
Secondly, choose the laminate flooring you want. Remember to consider the price, style, texture, locking system, moisture resistance and thickness so you get the best laminate flooring to suit you and your home. Once you’ve bought your flooring, leave it in the room you want to lay it in for at least 72hrs before you start to install it. This allows the flooring to acclimatise to the room’s temperature and humidity. Laminate flooring will expand and contract due to temperature, so you want to make sure the laminate flooring is used to the room’s normal climate. This will ensure that the laminate flooring has adjusted to the room’s conditions before being installed. Always remember to store the packs of flooring flat during acclimatisation.
Next, go shopping! Assuming you’ve already got the flooring, here are the tools and accessories you’ll want to have handy when you’re laying a new floor:

Scotia edging (buy two times the room’s length in metres and two times the width in metres, and a little bit extra, just in case)
Wood Effect Floors

Underlay (see step 5 to work out what kind you need)
Floor Spacers, a Knocking Block, and a Pull Bar (available as an all-in-one kit or sold separately)
Cork expansion strips
Threshold strip – T Bar or Reducer
Pipe covers and Rosettes (wooden or pvc )
Tape measure
Fine-toothed saw/ Jigsaw with appropriate laminate blade
Drill
Hammer
Protective knee pads
Pencil and Ruler

Having all these accessories may seem a bit much; but if you want to give your room a neat and professional finish then these things are essential.

Once you feel ready to start, the first step is to prepare your subfloor. This is the surface you’re going to be laying your underlay over before installing your laminate flooring.

If your subfloor is made of wood, simply ensure that it’s firmly screwed down and flatten any screws or nails that are bulging out. All subfloors must be clean, level, flat, healthy and dry.
If you have a concrete subfloor that isn’t level, you can buy a product called self-levelling screed that you pour onto the floor to even it out, so wait for that to dry if you use it. Screed usually takes one day per 1mm to dry. If you have new concrete it will take one month per 25mm (1 inch) to dry. It is imperative that the subfloor is dry before you proceed.
If your subfloor is covered in carpet or carpet underlay, remove it; laminate flooring should not be installed on top of carpet. For optimum results, remember to vacuum the subfloor before you start. Doing this removes any grit or dirt that might be hanging around. It also makes for a cleaner home!

Now you’re ready to put down the underlay. You should choose the underlay to suit the subfloor not the product. All downstairs subfloors will require a vapour barrier or an underlay with an incorporated vapour barrier.

On a concrete subfloor, Polyfoam underlay is perfect when used with a vapour barrier. An alternative to this is a High Performance Underlay which will have an incorporated vapour barrier and be better underfoot for both comfort and noise reduction.
A wood subfloor may be better suited to a fibreboard underlay; this will take away any undulations from the timber boards and give even more sound reduction. And one more word of advice, always use fibreboard underlay over existing floorboards.

Congratulations! You are now ready to starting laying your laminate flooring. Rest assured that the next part is just as easy as this part was; we’ll teach you how to lay laminate flooring, and get it looking good, in Part 2.

This advice on laying a new floor was provided by Floormaker. You’ll find all kinds of stylish laminate flooring products, as well as all the tools you’ll need to install it, at their website.

Stay Safe With DIY

February 22nd, 2013

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Home Improvements

The beauty of home do-it-yourself projects is that anyone can tackle them. However, that doesn’t mean that they’ll always be a piece of cake. In fact, there are some key safety aspects to consider, from how to avoid asbestosis claims to knowing when you really can’t do it all by yourself. Keep reading for the details on how to stay safe during your DIY project.

Do some homework on the scope of your project. There’s nothing worse than beginning a home improvement project only to find out that you don’t have the right tools, ample space or the correct permits to finish it. When you aren’t prepared, you increase the chances that you’ll be tempted to forego safety measures, so plan your project from start to finish before you pick up a hammer to prevent any mishaps.

Get a home inspection before beginning. Before you begin to do any demolition on your home, it’s important to know what may be lurking behind those walls. Especially for older homes, an inspection now can let you know whether you need to hire specially trained contractors with experience in removing dangerous materials like asbestos. If you do recruit help and unknowingly expose them to asbestos, you could face a mesothelioma claim in the future.

Make sure you invest in the right tools. Having the right tools to complete your DIY project is not just a matter of safety but also necessary to get the results you want. Most importantly, however, injuries and accidents can happen when you use tools in ways in which they are not intended. There are ways to cut corners on home projects so that you meet your budget, but it shouldn’t be done at the expense of your safety.

Wear safety equipment. You should cover as much of your skin as possible when you work on a DIY home project, so wearing blue jeans is standard. Also, you’ll want shoes with a good grip to prevent slips and falls around sharp and dangerous tools. And if you’re working with power tools and/or sawdust, remember to wear safety goggles.

Recruit help. Carrying unwieldy objects such as doors and cabinets is not a one-person job. Remember that you can find safety in numbers, so recruit able-bodied family and friends to help you get the job done. An extra person can also help spot you while you’re up on a ladder, which is one of the most common ways that homeowners injure themselves during DIY projects.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be more likely to finish your project on time and on budget. But most of all, you’ll have a beautiful new addition to your home and the satisfaction of knowing that you did it yourself.

Article by Blog About DIY

Tips for Being Energy Savvy in the Home

February 19th, 2013

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Solar Panels

With the cost of electric and gas rising faster than inflation, many of us are putting ourselves into debt to keep warm this winter or just simply going without. Energy regulator Ofgem has found that in the last three months, providers have trebled their profits, hitting us with an average yearly dual bill of £1,420!

Whilst soaring costs are putting large dents in our bank balances, our environment is suffering too with the burning of fossil fuels increasing levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. We have all heard the term “carbon footprint”. For those who do not know, this is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions per organisation, event, product or person. Here are some ways of being energy efficient so that you can reduce your carbon footprint in the home as well as your average dual bill cost:

Change your provider

uSwitch.com is a free, impartial website which allows you to compare electricity and gas prices across different providers so that you can make sure you are getting the best deal. The website also provides detailed information on energy providers as well as customer ratings.

Keep Warm

This may seem obvious but wearing extra clothes or putting an extra blanket on your bed will deter you from turning up the heating, or even using it. A friend popped round the other day and complained that my house was cold to which I explained that I simply put another jumper on or use a blanket whilst watching television so that I save money. Turns out, my friends energy bill for the winter last year was over £600!

When you do use the heating, turning the thermostat down by just 1 degree could save you a good deal of money.

Having an Energy Efficient Home

Apply for free solar panels, free cavity wall and loft insulation, and an energy-saving grant to increase the energy efficiency of your home, reducing your carbon footprint and cost.

Draught excluders will help reduce heat escaping from under doors and window frames.

Turn it Off

Perhaps another obvious one but one that is easily forgotten: switching off lights and appliances that are not in use and unplugging chargers (they still use electricity whilst not charging). Leaving televisions and set-top boxes on standby will increase your costs and footprint so switch these off too.

Energy saving bulbs are an inexpensive yet imperative buy to keep costs down. They also last longer than a standard bulb.

Appliances

Using a halogen oven is much more efficient than an oven. If you do have to use the oven, leave the door open to allow heat to escape, warming your house.

If cooking on a hob, use the right ring for your pan. Using a small pan on a small ring will reduce the energy used.

Keeping your fridge and freezer full will reduce the work done by the appliance and thus, save energy.

Energy in a washing machine predominantly goes into heating the water so washing at a low temperature will save energy. Taking clothes out immediately after the cycle to hang them will reduce the need for ironing. If time and weather permits, hang clothes to dry rather than using a tumble drier.

When using a kettle, only boil the amount of water you need.

By following these simple, yet effective steps to reducing the energy used in your home, not only will you make a good saving year after year, you will also be doing your bit in helping the environment.

Article by Emma Walters

Most common work related accidents

January 27th, 2013

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Health & Safety

Under UK law, employers are responsible for assessing and managing risks in the workplace to protect their employees from becoming victims of work-related accidents and illnesses. These safety measures vary according to the industry, but may include ensuring that employees receive frequent health and safety training or providing them with proper protective gear.

Still, even when safety measures are carefully followed and implemented, accidents can still occur in the workplace. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that 173 work-related fatalities and 591,000 accidents occurred in the UK last year alone. Find out which accidents were among the most common by reading the article below.

Slips and trips

The HSE reports that slips and trips are one of the most common types of workplace injuries, accounting for approximately one-third of all major injuries. In total, an estimated 30,000+ workers were hurt due to a slip or trip that occurred in the workplace last year, with 8,929 workers reporting a major injury and 21,128 workers being incapacitated to work for three or more days. Poor flooring, obstacles, contamination in the form of liquids or grease, and environmental factors are some of the most commonly cited culprits for causing slips and trips in the workplace.

Falls from height

According to RIDDOR, working at height is the most perilous workplace activity, accounting for nearly one-quarter (23%) of fatalities. Furthermore, falls from height are the second most commonplace cause of major injuries to workers, with a combined total of 7,378 employees reporting major injuries or over-3-day absences from work in 2011/2012. The field of construction puts employees at the greatest risk, accounting for six in ten fatal workplace falls, especially if the worker is self-employed.

Handling, lifting, and carrying

This broad category covers everything from strains and sprains while lifting or carrying loads to cuts from sharp objects and body parts getting trapped in machinery. Over 30,000 handling incidents were recorded by RIDDOR last year, and an estimated one in ten of all major workplace incidents were categorised under the “handling, lifting, and carrying” handle. Water and waste, transportation and storage, and manufacturing are the three fields in which handling injuries are most likely to occur.

Being struck by a moving object or a moving vehicle

After falls from height, workers being struck by a moving object or a moving vehicle accounted for the highest number of workplace fatalities in the UK last year. The former accounted for 31 fatalities, and as one might expect, were most commonly reported in the industries of construction, agriculture, and manufacturing. Meanwhile, moving vehicle accidents accounted for 20 workplace fatalities, though it is important to note here that only vehicle accidents that occur on work premises—such as car parks and loading bays—are reportable to RIDDOR. Fortunately, there has been a downward trend in the number of motor fatalities in the past ten years, and major and over-3-day injuries are relatively low as well. In fact, non-fatal vehicle injuries accounted for a mere 2% of workplace accidents recorded by RIDDOR.

Getting help

Of course, this article only provides a small sampling of the types of accidents that can occur in the workplace, from harmful chemical spills to faulty machinery and collapsing structures. If you have been the victim of an accident at work, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your losses and damages. Contact the solicitors at Irwin Mitchell to assess your eligibility.

Top 5 tips for funding your own Tradesman’s degree

December 5th, 2012

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BSc for Tradesmen and women

For those who wish to become a professional tradesman such as a surveyor or qualified electrician the following article will offer a few tips on how to gain access to some of the funding you will require to get the education you need, thus turning your DIY skills into a full time professional way to make a living.

This might seem rather odd to young people just starting a degree course, but once upon a time the government used to pay course fees and give students a maintenance grant. Yes, students were once paid to go to university.

Nowadays you’re on your own. You have to pay course fees and of course do things like eat and sleep somewhere warm.
If you are committed to extending your learning and want to experience university life there are ways in which you can fund your own degree (assuming you don’t have millions in the bank, or wealthy parents who are willing to fund you through the next three or four years).

Here are our top five suggestions for doing so:

1. Get a loan. Obvious, but that’s the option that is most attractive to students who simply cannot raise the thousands of pounds needed to pay for their course and living costs. There is a limit on how much you can borrow per year, and you need to apply very early (before you get a place at university, even). Loans are dealt with by the Student Loan Company and you don’t have to repay the loan until after you are earning a certain amount (though note that interest is added to your loan regardless of how little you earn: so the longer you take to pay it off, the more you’ll end up repaying).

2. Apply for help. You can get: Help with tuition fees from your Local Education Authority; hardship loans from the university,
a Childcare Grant if you have children grants if you are a lone parent, have adult dependents, or have a disability.

3. Get a bursary. If you: Are the first in your family to access higher education; Come from a low-income family and live or study in an ‘Excellence in Cities’ area you might be able to apply for an ‘Opportunity Bursary’.

4. Get a job. Many courses only have 20 hours of lectures/tutorials. Most students will have evenings and weekends free. Get a job as a waitress/waiter or bar person, shop assistant or whatever you can find. There are plenty of jobs around offering unsocial hours such as evenings and weekends – perfect for students (it also gives you less time to spend your money). A job will also give key skills that employers will look for: timekeeping, organisation, social and communication skills and multi-tasking.

5. Sell your stuff. Unless you own a Formula 1 car you’re thinking of getting rid of, selling your belongings is unlikely to pay for your course fees. But selling a few items you don’t use anymore or don’t need to use can bring in some much-needed cash for day-to-day expenses and living costs. For example, you could sell your laptop and maybe get ‘‘ money for mac. Use the university’s computers for your work. Put an add on your student union board (e.g. “I want to and give a price, then add your number to the bottom of the paper a few times so that potential buyers can tear off your number to call you later). Holding a garage sale to sell off old books and clothes you don’t need any more might be a good idea as well.

Do what you need to in order to pay for your fees and take care of yourself. Cut back on unnecessary expenses, but don’t miss out altogether on university life: after all, if all you want to do is study, you could do an open degree course instead. University life is so much more than lectures, so enjoy it and do your best to pay for it using the tips set out above.

Article by Simon Lucas.

Guide to Roof Damage and Repairs

November 6th, 2012

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New Roof

British winters can be harsh and very windy. During stormy weather, roof tiles can become cracked and loose, and an regular problem is slates falling off. It’s important that boken slates are fixed quickly and leaving it will only result in a hefty repair bill in the future.

A damaged roof will eventually lead to leaking of rainwater which over time creates dampness. What might be a simple repair job could deteriorate into a full roof replacement. But it’s not only the property that needs protecting; passers-by also need protecting from loose tiles which can fall to the ground below.

Here is an expert guide on protecting your roof and house:

Emergency roof repairs

Falling tiles can be extremely hazardous so seek emergency repair services fast. Myredlandroof offers a feature online where you can search for reputable tradespeople in your local area that can be at your house swiftly.

Assess the damage to your roof

Roof Tile

Stand on the other side of the street and scan the roof for any damage. The sooner you can spot a problem the quicker it can be resolved. Do not climb on top of the roof yourself to assess the damage as this is dangerous. What is your roof’s material? Metal roofs tend to be quite resilient in storms in contrast to asphalt which can be easily dislodged.

Replacinf broken tiles

What might start out as a small leak can quickly become a flood so if you do inspect the roof and find cracked or missing slates, call someone out immediately to patch up the hole. To prevent any water damage, cover all the electrical appliances in the home with plastic sheets. You may need a dehumidifier to reduce the dampness caused by the leaking roof.

House Insurance

Before you fork out any costs, check with your insurance company to see if you are covered. If there has been an accident during the storm and a tree has fallen onto the roof, then you will probably be covered but normal household insurance doesn’t cover you if a leak is the result of a badly maintained roof. If it is a result of age, it’s unlikely it will be covered but examine the policy for more details.

Damage from Trees

If a tree has fallen onto your roof during the storm, make sure you take pictures of the interior and exterior damage before moving anything. They will be needed as part of the claims process with the insurance company. Pack the necessities and leave the property for your own safety; the tree could move if another storm was to occur and therefore people inside would be at risk.

This article was provided by Myredlandroof, the roofing experts with over 90 years’ experience in the industry. Visit www.myredlandroof.co.uk today for more specialist advice on roof repairs and replacement.

How to rewire your home safely

October 24th, 2012

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Rewiring

Every year British households are wasting millions of pounds on DIY mishaps and it is an expense that in the current economic climate, quite frankly is hard to justify.
As a result:

14% wished later on that they had called a professional to do the task that they themselves had failed.
Interestingly, the differences of success are found to be regional with 85% of Scottish people claiming to have done a good job.
In England’s capital however, Londoners were rather less confident with only 42% happy with the DIY that they had previously performed.

With that in mind, the average failed DIY job costs households around £500 per call out and failed DIY amateurs later admitted that the professionals were cheaper and more convenient overall.

But how do you know if your house needs rewiring?

The only way to know if your electrics are faulty and that is by testing, though there are sure ways to check for the warning signs; the obvious ones are damage to sockets, switches and lights as well as overheating outlets.

Other, less noticeable traits include the quality and age of the fuse box. If it has a wooden back, cast iron switches or if it has rewirable fuses, this is an indication that the box is very all and will therefore need to be replaced.

Of course, age is only one reason that your wiring may need to be replaced as like anything in life, bad workmanship is yet another reason that your wiring may need working on. If the plugs show live wires, the labels are omitted on the fuse box or the fuse box does not have marks to identify the circuits, this is all sign of bad workmanship.

If all the signs point to faulty wiring, perhaps it is time that you called in the electrician.

How to prepare

To put it bluntly, get ready for the mess of having your house turned upside down. If you’re thinking of decorating in the next few years, make sure that you rewire before the work takes place and not after!

Make a list of all the sockets and lights in the house and highlight which ones need working on so that you can make sure that the electrician has everything he needs to get the job done properly.

Remember that during the period that work is being carried out, you may be without electricity or water for a lengthy period of time.

You could of course, if you trust the electrician, get him to carry out the work whilst you are away on holiday; this is the option that many people chose to take.

Doing this may actually result in a lower price as the workman will not have to continually put things away every time he leaves.

Make sure that once the electrician is done, that you receive the appropriate certificate for the work that has been received; this confirms that the work has been carried out in accordance with the national safety standard for electrical installations.

If you need to replace parts of your kitchen, suppliers such as EuroFit Direct can help you with almost nearly every aspect of your kitchen.

Easy fixes for four common plumbing problems

October 6th, 2012

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DIY plumbing

It’s at this time of the year that you should really be asking yourself a few questions about your home. Do I have adequate boiler cover? Is my home energy efficient enough and can I tackle any simple plumbing problems that may arise?

With summer coming to an end and the cooler months coming up fast, the answer needs to be a resounding yes – but if you are struggling with the last of these, here are some handy hints that might be useful.

Dealing with a blocked loo

This is just one of those simple tasks that many people aren’t aware they can sort out themselves without having to call out a plumber. The first thing to do is pick up a plunger, especially if yours is a household that is prone to blockages. These are very cheap and will usually be enough to do the job. If not, wriggle some plumbing wire into the system or hold of a drain snake that will do the same job with a bit more power.

Fixing a leaky tap

This has to be one of the most common plumbing problems – and one that can be incredibly wasteful for homes. Switch off the water mains in the house, holding the spout of the tap and unscrew the nut that holds it in place. Check the washer and see if it needs to be replaced then tighten up the bolt and you may well see the issue has been resolved.

Unclogging a sink

It’s easy to get a sink clogged up – especially in the kitchen where food often finds its way down the drain. However, this massively inconvenient problem can also be easily solved with a plunger or some plumbing wire. Obviously, we would recommend you use a different plunger or piece of wire to the one you’ve been using in the toilet, and once the job is done, pour some drain cleaner into the drains and wash it away with warm water.

Stopping a continuously running toilet

This can be a strange one. Seemingly out of the blue one day, you flush your toilet and it seems to never stop running afterwards. This can often relate to the condition of the flapper valve, which is the rubber seal that sits at the bottom of the tank or the ballcock washer. These are very cheap and simple to replace, so give it a go and avoid having to pay someone else who may be over qualified!

It’s wise to invest in home emergency or boiler cover for the bigger things – but very often you could find there are repair tasks you can do yourself.

Hammer on the head: DIY health and safety training for your employees

July 25th, 2012

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Preventing Accidents

Hearing about an accident at work is probably one of your worst nightmares as a business owner. It is common for the head of a company to worry about safety and health concerns because properly trained and efficient workers are the most valuable asset you can acquire. The success of your business depends on them, which is why it is important to consider creating a health and safety training program for them if you haven’t already.

If you are embarking on this new venture within your business, here are the steps you should take.

1. Identify key safety concerns. When most business owners or executive level managers are spurred to create a safety program, it is because of particular concerns related to their industry or past work accident claims. There are general rules that you will want to implement, such as wearing the appropriate attire and going to the doctor when they are sick. However, there may be more detailed rules that you want to include relating to heavy equipment or how to handle stress in a high-pressure environment, for example.

2. Designate a safety point person. You should have at least one person in your company who is devoted to implementing safety rules and answering any questions that your staff may have. Even if you have a small business and can’t afford to pay someone to do this job full-time, you should write it into the job description of one of your managers. This will ensure that all of the safety program components are consistent and cohesive.

3. Write a safety plan. Once you have chosen your safety manager, work together to create a safety guide for all employees. You can use guidelines provided by local authorities and occupational safety companies, but make sure to tailor it to your particular business. You may have job requirements or a work environment that requires more implementation to ensure that all of your employees are safe and healthy.

4. Implement multi-level safety training. Instead of gathering all of your workers at once to have a safety and health training workshop, try implementing your new program in two steps. First, gather managers to educate them on the safety and health rules but also on how to properly implement them within their departments. This will help you carry out a more thorough training for the other employees once you are ready to present the program to the entire team.

5. Follow up the initial training with “refresher” courses. Once you have successfully completed safety training, turn your attention toward the future. Your employees will need refresher workshops once a month to keep safety and health at the forefront of their day to day operations and your safety manager will also have to think of an abbreviated training to bring new employees into the fold.

If you really want to hammer in the importance of remaining safe and healthy at work, you could also create and distribute safety literature to all employees recapping all of this information. This will provide them with a reference as they strive to create a safe work environment.