Home Improvement Ideas From Let Me Build It!

Symptoms of Problems

The classic symptom that your bathroom or kitchen plumbing requires attention is slow draining. The trouble with blockages is that they can often build up over a period of time, making it difficult to notice that the sink is gradually taking longer and longer to drain. However, when the blockage has built up significantly, it will certainly become obvious. The good news is that the remedy does not always require the services of a plumber.

Fixing a Blockage

The first item of equipment in your arsenal should be a plunger. Partially fill the sink, bath or shower with water. Place the plunger end securely over the plughole ensuring, in the case of a bath or sink, that the waste trap is blocked with something, such as a facecloth. The waste trap is located between the plughole and taps, serving as drainage in case taps are left running.

By applying a vigorous ‘up and down’ motion with the plunger, all manner of residue will be brought up from the blocked pipe. When you allow the sink or bath to drain, the water acts as a flush. Keep repeating this process until you notice the drainage time getting quicker.

The most common cause of shower blockages is hair. The drain socket can be prised from the shower tray and inside you will find a plastic fitting, which can be lifted out, enabling any clumps of hair to be removed.

If the problem persists, your next option is to try out some kind of chemical drain cleaner, which can be purchased from hardware or DIY stores. Apply this to the affected pipe and then leave overnight to allow the chemicals to work their way into the waste matter, dissolving it. Ensuring this process is repeated on a monthly basis will prevent further build-ups.

Noise disturbance from neighbours or within your own home can be a real nuisance. Sound filtering down from above, below or next-door can have a negative effect on your quality of life.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help reduce noise levels in your home.

If you are constructing a new home or renovating an existing one, there are building regulations passed in 2003 with which you will need to comply. Check up on these regulations if you fall within this category.

If it is upstairs noise causing a problem, remember it is simpler to soundproof a floor than a ceiling. If you are soundproofing an existing room, it is possible to buy soundproofing materials that fix to floors, walls and ceilings. The thickness of sound insulation can vary, but bear in mind the final interior size of the room will be reduced once the insulation material is in place.

Soundproofing a floor is the easiest noise reduction option. A competent DIY-er could manage this job, however, a better result may be achieved using a professional carpet fitter. Soundproofing a floor involves laying or glueing one to two layers of soundproofing material, occasionally followed by carpet underlay. This is a simple and effective way of dampening sounds and reducing noise travelling between floors.

Another soundproofing option is to fabricate a floating floor. Reasonable carpentry skills are needed for this, but the final result will reduce impact and airborne noise levels.

It is possible to soundproof a ceiling, but this takes more time and expertise to achieve. For best results the ceiling should be removed and soundproofing insulation material placed between the joists. Bars should be fitted across the joists then the ceiling re-plasterboarded. Always use a qualified electrician to re-install or remove any light fittings.

The world of home insurance can be a daunting and confusing place to visit, seemingly full of numbers, statistics and bewildering terms. For most people, this can be simply sorted by going through a broker and letting them figure out what’s best for them, but with online comparison sites and direct websites becoming the more popular way of purchasing home insurance, it is important to understand some of the terms used in the insurance world.

Combined home insurance is generally what most home owners will go for; it covers both building and contents insurance, which means that the structure of the building is insured against damage and the cost of rebuilding as well as the goods such as furniture and appliances inside the building being covered.

Some people may wish to go for one or other of these policy types separately. For instance, landlords offering rentable accommodation may wish only to purchase what is expected of them, buildings insurance, while those living in the rented accommodation will want only what is not covered – contents insurance.

Home insurance can be an expensive item and as it is an expense that will occur annually it is best to make certain that you get the right type of policy and shop around the various sites, brokers and companies such as Policy Expert to get the best rates available. The cost of home insurance will depend on where the home is, how much it cost to build and various other factors, such as the risk of floods, etc.

Some matters affecting home insurance prices can be varied by the owner, such as installing good security to lower risk of theft, or setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme. These simple steps can have a great affect on the price of home insurance.

Depending on the value of the furnishings in your home, it may be a good idea to go with high value home insurance, which covers houses with contents over the value of £80,000.

Adequately installed ceramic flooring should last a long time with normal usage. However, all floors are prone to damage. Tiles can become cracked or chipped when heavy objects are dropped onto them. Once a tile has suffered such visible damage, there is no way in which to mend it, other than to remove and replace the tile. This job is not tricky and involves the use of a few household DIY tools.

Before you start to replace the tile, you will need to find a matching replacement tile. You should also ensure that you have matching grout to hand. Equip yourself with all the safety equipment that you require, including work gloves and safety goggles.

Use masking tape to mark the tile with an X. Use a drill equipped with a 0.25 inch masonry bit to drill holes across the X that you have marked on the tile. The holes that you create should ideally measure one inch apart. Position a chisel over the X you have made on the tile and use a hammer to tap the chisel. This will break the tile up into small pieces. Ensure that you are gentle, as you do not wish to damage the surrounding tiles. Once you have broken up the tile, remove the pieces before attempting to remove the grout and tile cement left behind. A scraper will help you to do this.

Vacuum the floor to remove dust and debris before spreading tile adhesive onto the area with a notched trowel. The tile adhesive should measure 0.25 inches thick.

Place your new tile into the space and ensure that the tile is evenly positioned and is the same height as that of the surrounding tiles. Leave the tile to set in its position overnight. 

Pack the space surrounding the tile with grout. You do not have to worry about being messy as you can simply wipe off excess grout from the old tiles once you have finished grouting.

Is it time to replace your bathroom tap? Are you searching for a quick way to update the look of your bathrooms? If it’s been a while since you’ve gone shopping for bathroom suite fixtures, you may find it enlightening to take a look at the new varieties. There are several types of bathroom taps that you may be interested in when you’re looking for your new fittings.

Compression Taps

These are the traditional bathroom taps you may have used as a child. These taps have two handles or values, one for hot and one for cold. Even though there are newer types of taps that are available these days, many homeowners prefer the classic look of these fixtures.

Disc Taps and Ball Taps

Unlike compression taps, disc taps and ball taps do not consist of two valves. Both of these taps use just one handle, shaped either like a disc or like a round ball at the end. To use these types of taps, simply grasp the end and rotate the handle to the right for cold or to the left for hot.

Cartridge Taps

These taps are similar in appearance to compression taps, because they can have two different handles as well. However, what sets cartridge taps apart is ease of movement. Unlike compression taps, cartridge fixtures don’t use washers, which means that the handles don’t tighten or loosen while being used. This makes cartridge taps move smoothly and easily, compared to the other traditional types of fixtures.

Sometimes it isn’t clear whether a DIY job needs screws or nails, and sometimes you don’t want to appear ignorant by asking. Therefore, to help you figure out what you need and to avoid confusion, here are some basic guidelines:

Nails are cheaper and are generally used to attach things that are unlikely to be pulled apart. For example, if you were gluing pieces of wood together you might use nails to hold them in place while it sets. You can also hammer in nails much quicker than inserting screws. Annular nails have ridges which help them grip better than smooth nails.

Unlike nails, screws require a pilot hole to be drilled first. Because they have good grip, they hold tighter than nails and are unlikely to come loose. Screws are also the best choice when a fixing needs to taken out then put back in again. So, for example you would screw curtain rods and shelf brackets to the wall so they could be taken down for decorating. Different jobs require different types of screws, from countersunk to twin thread.

Colour fashion trends are not uncommon in relation to blinds and curtains. It is difficult to predict the most popular colours and options for blinds and curtains and it is for this reason that the majority of shops will offer a range of different options to suit homeowners’ requirements. 

In recent years, elegant styles with colours such as silver, gold, almond and copper have proved popular with buyers. Homeowners typically select shades that match the colour scheme of the room in which a blind or curtain is to be installed.

Bold patterns are currently very fashionable with householders who have chosen to create a feature wall in their room. Blinds are often available in the same pattern or colour as that of the feature wall. Large flower print blinds are popular, as are stripped roman blinds. Homeowners who have chosen patterned wallpaper for all four of their walls may wish to opt for a plain coloured blind in a similar colour to that of their walls. This will prevent a room from feeling “busy” and will prevent the room from appearing to be smaller than it actually is. 

For kitchens, blinds should be chosen in shades that complement the colours of the walls. Blinds in a kitchen can be as bright or as pale as preferred. Blinds in kitchens need to be wipe-clean and waterproof, as steam and other cooking residues can easily mark them. Bathroom blinds should also possess similar properties as they can develop mildew when they are in a closed and damp environment.

Loft Conversion

Converting roof space is a tried and tested way of increasing both living area in your home and the value of your property. Many lofts are spacious enough to accommodate a bedroom and en suite bathroom. Although competent DIY-ers can carry out some of it, a loft extension involves major building work and requires expert professional input.

Adding Extra Bedrooms

Estate Agents will tell you this is where you can add value to your home. If there is ample space that simply needs rearranging into a better configuration, then it is a sure-fire way of increasing value. Be mindful of creating a lot of small, boxy rooms that will be impractical to live in.

Central Heating

People are put off by homes without central heating, so this is a simple way of making your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Creating Parking Space

Parking space is essential for many homebuyers. If you can create a new parking space at the front or side of your dwelling, you may increase its value. In suburban areas where parking along both sides of the street is common, an off-road parking space carries a premium.

Garden Renovation

Clearing and landscaping a neglected garden makes your home more attractive to buyers. A few well-placed pots and hanging baskets with colourful blooms make such a difference to first impressions.

Kitchen and Bathroom Re-fit

Revamping tired old kitchens and bathrooms with modern, clean units and sanitary ware is a big hit with house hunters.

Planting a New Lawn

If you do not have a decent lawn, cultivating one is not too difficult. The simplest option is to start from scratch by planting a new one. In order to avoid problems caused by mixing different types of grass, the first thing you will need to do is kill off any straggling remains of the existing grass. Head off to your local garden centre and purchase a herbicide. Following the instructions, you will need to mix the concentrated chemical with water; the solution is then applied with a sprayer.

This task should be undertaken when there is little wind, ensuring the area is kept clear for the duration. The herbicide container will explain how long this weed-killing process should take. Afterwards, measure out the grass seed; again following the guidelines relating to the rate of coverage. New seed should be watered thoroughly so that contact is maintained with the ground beneath. However, do not overdo it, otherwise the seeds may rot.

Laying a Lawn

Garden centres supply ready-made lawns, in the form of turf sods. You should be looking for turf that is slightly over half an inch, but less than an inch thick. The soil should be moist, certainly not wet or completely dry. A good tip is to ensure the actual grass is green, as yellow or brown leaves indicate unhealthy grass.

Never leave the individual rolls stacked up. The key to a successful lawn is laying the sods immediately, starting at solid edge, like a patio. The rolls should be placed down according to the same principal as laying bricks, with alternate rows staggered. Trimming can be achieved with a knife.  Once completed, the lawn should be saturated with water.

Tips for Mowing Your Lawn

Never be tempted to simply allow the grass grow freely and then chop it off in one gruelling mowing session. Instead, it is better to mow regularly, clipping a short length each time.

When measuring your windows for the installation of blinds, you must first decide on the mounting. Blinds can be mounted either inside or outside the reveal. Mounting a blind on the inside of a window reveal ensures that the shape and look of a window is retained, for example, as in a bay window, which has a distinctive shape. An outside mount is perfect for streamlining and balancing the shape of a window that has unequal proportions. It is therefore essential that your measurements are accurate and this can be achieved most efficiently with a stiff metal rule.

Measuring is one of the trickiest parts of dealing with blinds and curtains and it is often the case that the individual who will be fitting the blinds will measure the window for size. If a homeowner does choose to install a blind, great care must be taken to ensure that the measurements are exact. The golden rule is to measure once and then to repeat the procedure; small discrepancies in measurements could prove an expensive mistake.