Home Improvement Ideas From Let Me Build It!

Draught-proofing doors and windows is an essential DIY job that will keep your home feeling warm and cosy and save you money on your heating bills. Most styles of doors and windows can easily be draught-proofed in just a few minutes, meaning you can have your whole house free from unwanted chilly breezes in one afternoon.

Draught-proofing Doors

Obviously, it is essential to draught-proof external doors, but if you live in an older house it is often a good idea to draught-proof internal doors too, as cold air can often find its way in from the outside no matter what precautions you take. The simplest way to draught-proof a door is to buy a draught-proofing strip from a DIY store. These are adhesive and stick to the side of the door, protecting gaps at the hinges and handles.

Draught-proofing Windows

These same adhesive draught-proof strips are the best way to seal casement windows, while brush strips, which are affixed to the frame with screws, are more efficient for sash windows. Double glazing comes with its own draught-proofing, a rubber sealant around the edges of the frame, but this may need replacing after several years.

Safety is a major part of successful DIY; no job will be considered successful if a DIY enthusiast requires a trip to hospital. There are many safety issues for a homeowner to consider before beginning a DIY job.

The Importance of Protection

DIY enthusiasts should use gloves, goggles and facemasks to protect themselves against glass and ceramics, metal and wood splinters, and dust and splashes. While they may not be stylish, the use of overalls is essential to keep loose clothing away from drills and other power tools.

The Importance of Ventilation

Homeowners should not use paint, varnish, paint stripper or any other chemical without first reading the label and ensuring sufficient ventilation in the room in which the product is to be used.

The Use of the Correct Tools

Use of the correct tool will render DIY jobs safer and more efficient. All tools should be kept in good condition. They should be sharpened, oiled and cleaned when necessary. Tools should be stored as directed, usually in a safe and dry location, away from pets and children.

The Use of the Correct Cutting Techniques

DIY enthusiasts should cut materials, not flesh. It is essential for materials to be cut away from the body. Homeowners should keep their hands away from jumping saw blades, should secure materials in a vice and use metal rules to cut against.

The Importance of Planning

DIY enthusiasts should take time to perform tasks in the home. They should not rush and should always provide themselves with enough time to finish the job safely.

The Careful Use of Ladders

Ladders are dangerous and should always be erected according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ladders should be placed on a solid, clean surface. Homeowners should enlist the help of a friend or relative to hold the ladder to prevent it from slipping. DIY enthusiasts should never lean sideways while up a ladder. Instead, they should take steps to move the ladder into the correct position.

A beautiful bathroom suite can mean the difference between a functional space, with little thought for aesthetic décor, or a designer bathroom that is a pleasure to walk into and relax in.  In the mornings, a well-appointed suite can help you quickly get ready without feeling stressed, and you do not necessarily have to spend a fortune to get a good look.

Bathroom suites consist of a toilet, a tub, a shower unit, and a sink.  Within those limits, however, anything is possible, as the potential plethora of bathroom design details are endless.  Bathroom furniture can be luxurious or relatively basic.  Once considered too plain, the contemporary look of white bathroom suites is now very desirable, and it has become much more chic than coloured suites.  Avocado or pale green may formerly have been commonly used for bathroom suites, but the seventies are far behind us now and a simple and classier look is preferred in the elegant 21st century, must-have bathroom.

Part of the skill of bathroom design is in fitting an appropriately sized and appointed bathroom suite into anything from a tiny cloakroom space to a large and spacious area.  You may wish to make a huge statement with your luxurious bathroom fittings, but if they overpower a smaller space, you need to reconsider what will best fit in to create the best look for your bathroom.

With all of the luxurious as well as durable materials available nowadays to create your perfect bathroom, you can fit the bathroom furniture of your dreams.  You can also select from many exciting bathroom accessories, which can turn a mediocre room into a luxury retreat, a place to revive in the evening or to freshen up each morning all ready to face a new day.

Whether it makes up part of the basement or the driveway, concrete can suffer cracks as it often has to withstand a significant amount of weight.  Being able to repair cracks that develop will help to ensure that the defect does not worsen and the surface can successfully retain its strength.

Hairline Cracks

Minor cracks in concrete can be rectified in the same manner as cracks in other materials with the use of a filler.  Use a pallet knife to work a silicone-based filler into the gap as deep as possible and use a scraper to remove the excess and level out the compound on the surface. 

Deep Cracks

Scrub the affected area with a wire brush to clean the surface in preparation for accepting the fresh concrete.  Mix a ready-made concrete in accordance with the instructions and pour it into the crack, ensuring it is properly filled.

Jagged Cracks

Deep, jagged cracks will often contain small fragments of concrete that have come loose, which can be lifted free by hand.  Use a chisel and hammer to dislodge loose particles and widen the gap to make the repair process easier.

If you are wondering what the differences are between Roman blinds and roller blinds, then here is a definitive explanation.

There are many variations of these two styles of blinds, but the difference is in the method by which they are drawn up. Both roller blinds and Roman blinds hang above the window and are drawn down to block out the light. Roller blinds are always made of a flat piece of strengthened fabric which is rolled around a pole, usually made of metal. When pulled down, they unravel, and then roll back up again on a spring system, as required.

Roman blinds on the other hand are drawn up using a pulley system of cord or string which gathers them up in folds. Roman blinds are made of fabric and have a fairly simple construction. They have one vertical line of cord attached on each side which draws them upwards. The fabric is strengthened with a series of horizontal dowel rods so that it folds neatly into flat horizontal folds as it goes up.

There are several variations on Roman blinds, using looser fabric and without having horizontal rods. These are called Austrian and Festoon blinds and they have a more gathered or ‘ruched’ and fussy effect, rather than lying flat against the window. They often have several vertical lines of cord attached to the fabric to gather it up into ‘scoops’ as it rises.

Whilst roller blinds are best bought ready-made, you can make Roman blinds yourself, with the help of instructions. Roman blinds can be made of almost any fabric and are usually lined. The horizontal dowel rods can be either hidden in pockets or tucks within the fabric, or glued onto the back. Simple metal grommets are punched into the fabric to make holes for the cord.

The drains of the sinks in the kitchen and bathroom can be prone to clogging, as much as the external drains, which can make it handy to know how to quickly and efficiently unblock a drain.

Obstruction Type

Check the clogged drain to determine what type of obstruction is causing the problem; this will dictate the method to be used to remove it.  In many cases, the blockage will be caused by a build-up of grease and foodstuffs, but can also be as a result of an errant foreign object.  Initially attempt to clear the blockage by unscrewing the U-bend pipe after placing a bucket beneath the pipe work.

Chemical Cleaners

It is best to act when water no longer flows freely down the plughole, as this is a sign of a pending blockage.  In superficial cases, a mixture of carbonate of soda and vinegar can dissolve grease and fat, but a caustic soda solution is effective for more stubborn cases as prepared products available from DIY stores.  Where the instructions allow, leave the solution to work overnight and make sure it is flushed away thoroughly.

Drain Clearing Tools

Tools may be necessary for some blockages and depend on where the problem lies.  Plungers can be useful to force air down sink plugholes and toilets with the sudden pressure often being sufficient to remove the clog.  Alternatively, a drain snake – or an auger – can be worked into both internal and external pipes to scrape any waste build-up from the walls of the drain, which can be lifted free or flushed down.

As is the case with lead pipes, mild steel pipes should be replaced wherever possible because their expected lifespan will by now have been well exceeded.  They are probably badly corroded on the inside and this will have a substantial affect on the expected flow volume.  Also, connections to mild steel pipework with copper will have the effect of creating additional problems through electrolytic corrosion, and any such connection could well become another separate blockage problem within a the space of a few years.

Bearing this in mind, if such a connection cannot be avoided, or is desired on a temporary basis until the mild steel pipes can be replaced, use the steps below to make it.

Both lead and mild steel pipes can be joined using appropriate compression joints, which employ a rubber compression ring.  A threaded joint would, however, be preferable, either an external thread which consists of a male iron thread or an internal thread which consists of a female iron thread.

The threaded connection is achieved by first applying polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) jointing tape for a few turns onto the male thread of one of the pipes in clockwise direction.  This is then wound into the female thread of the associated fitting to form the sound bonded joint.

The copper or plastic pipe is made as a compression connection onto this joint.  Jointing paste can be used rather than PTFE tape, but care must be taken to confirm that it is acceptable to use it with the pipe’s contents, as indicated on the tin.

Gravel paths are growing in popularity with DIY homeowners, in part because they are so easy to install.  They also improve the look of your garden and prevent dust from rising and muddy paths in wet weather.  Another good reason to use gravel for pathways and open spaces is the sound that is made when it is walked on; there is a good chance you would hear it if an unauthorised person was on your property.

There are many different kinds of gravel to choose from, and they differ in size and colour.

Chips of green basalt are pricey, but work well on pathways.  The small pieces need a firm border to keep them on the pathway, and must be laid between 40 and 50 mm deep.

Pea gravel is a mix of small cream, black, brown, and grey stones.  It is very good for borders and garden paths.  This is a cost-effective kind of gravel, and should be laid 30 mm deep.     

Granite chippings are chunky and come in single colours such as grey, red, and black – but can be mixed.  This type of gravel tends to be on the expensive side, but is perfect for a modern garden.

Beach pebbles come in a mix of cream, greys, and white; they can be used for pathways, but are better for borders or for decorating.  One popular option is to combine beach pebbles with pea gravel in a pathway.  Beach pebbles tend to be on the expensive side.

Flint chips are very resilient and make an attractive garden pathway.  Flint chips are easy to find but expensive when compared to pea gravel.

Stone chippings provide a firm and less noisy pathway.  They come in grey or brown and provide an unusual but none-the-less attractive finish to a garden path.

A cost effective way to furnish a room is to buy wooden pieces at car boot sales or second-hand furniture shops.  It saves even more money if you are able to do the restoration on these pieces yourself.

To start the restoration process, clean the piece thoroughly with warm soapy water.  When the piece is dry, put on protective gloves and coat it with paint stripper, and then leave it on for the recommended time period so that it will completely penetrate the varnish (or paint).  Use fine wire wool to take off the softened varnish, replacing the wire wool as soon as it gets clogged with material.  When the varnish is removed, sand the piece with fine sandpaper, always working in the direction of the grain.  Do this until all that is left is the original wood.

Wipe the wood down with white spirit using a clean, lint free cloth; this will serve to both remove any dust and neutralize the paint stripper.  Do not skip this step because if the paint stripper is not neutralized it could negatively affect the new finish.  Next, apply wood restorer to the entire piece with a clean cloth; this should be applied using a circular motion, and will help to get rid of marks and bring back the natural look of the grain.

There are a number of ways to finish off the piece including painting, staining, varnishing, oiling, or waxing it.  Which finish you choose will depend in large part on the purpose of the piece.  A piece such as a chair that will be used a lot will need a hardwearing finish, and in most cases should be varnished.  A table may only require a few coats of wax or oil.

Whichever finish you opt for, follow the instructions on the packaging to the letter, and do not skimp on the number of coats you apply; along with making the piece look great, the finish helps to protect the furniture from wear and damage.

Cellular blinds are not as well known as other types of blinds, such as Roman blinds or roller blinds. However, cellular blinds are just as effective as the other types of blinds. The cellular blind is made from a series of hexagonal cells, which are placed side by side. A cellular blind is considered to be an energy efficient product.

The energy efficiency of the product is dependent upon the number of cells contained within the blind. The greater the size of the cells making up the blind, the greater amount of air that can be trapped, hence, the larger the cells of the blind, the greater the insulation the blind provides. 

Cellular blinds, also referred to as honeycomb shades, are sold by many retailers. Cellular blinds are available in a variety of colours and designs. They are designed to allow a certain amount of light to enter into the room.  In addition, they can be designed to be raised and lowered in both directions. Some retailers stock motorised versions of these blinds, allowing for the lowering and raising of the blind at the touch of a button.

Blinds are becoming an increasingly popular choice for windows, they are easy to care for and take up less space than curtains. They come in a variety of colours and designs and can be easily matched to a home’s existing decor. Blinds are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. Blinds are a common choice for the kitchen or bathroom, in which the window is usually found above a sink or worktop, rendering it difficult to reach. A motorised cellular blind is a wise option for rooms of this kind as the householder is not required to reach over worktops to operate the blind.