Thermostat Check 

Modern home heating systems allow you to control the degree of heat through a conveniently mounted thermostat – it’s usually located in the hallway passage. In the warmer months you can switch off the thermostat or set it well down, so that the system never actually kicks in. Keep in mind that thermostats can develop faults, but replacing them is probably a job best left to an expert – you can find a heating technician right here on Mr-Skill. 

Other Areas You Can Check 

Assuming you are quite familiar with your central heating system, there are some tasks you could perform yourself. Remember though, that the skills level is moderate, indicating that we assume a minimum level of knowledge and experience here: 

• Furnace Filters – These should be changed each year, especially if you have furry friends such as cats and dogs. Moreover, if you run air-conditioning in the hotter months, you can expect more dust and fluff in the atmosphere of your home. Dirty furnace filters are easily detected when the central heating struggles to push warm air about. 

Interlude: Don’t forget that central heating systems cost a lot of money, so rather than fiddle with them yourself, get a heating quote  right here on Mr-Skill.  

• Internal and External Wall Vents – It is essential to clear obstructions from the vents to ensure efficient air flow. Inside, you should check for household dust and insects, whereas outside vents tend to clog with leaves and other debris. Don’t forget to keep your cold-air return vents clear as well.

Cautionary

Pilot Light Inspection – About the only other routine maintenance you can perform yourself, is to check the flame-quality of your central heating pilot light. With the prevalence of natural gas these days, you should see a clear blue flame. If it’s yellow or orange in appearance though, then a problem is indicated, so find a heating technician without delay. 

A Little Knowledge Can be Dangerous 

One of our London heating experts laughs to himself when he gets called out to fix a problem caused by a DIY “heating expert”. He says that the old adage “penny wise and pound foolish” is so relevant to his line of business!

If you are looking for subtle ways of brightening up your bathroom, you could find that mosaic tiles are just the job. They can add texture as they come in a variety of shapes and patterns, and there’s a veritable kaleidoscope of colours to select from too. You can even add some of your own artistic ideas to get a sensational finish, and all your friends will think you’ve had the experts in! If you’re not quite so brave, perhaps you should find a tiling and flooring expert right here on Mr-Skill.

 Tips on Design 

If this is a first attempt at using mosaic tiles, it may be best to start with a simple concept. Even basic designs can look really impressive with bold highlights and a mix of complimentary colours. This form of tiling can be quite fiddly too, because each tile making up the mosaic needs to be positioned and glued in place individually. It can be quite similar to fitting pieces together in a jigsaw puzzle. 

Tips on Colour Selection 

Give some thought to the four components of colour, which are:

• Tone
• Temperature
• Hue
• Intensity

 If colour composition is not your best subject, rather get a tiling quote right here. 

Tone is the degree of lightness or darkness of a colour, whereas temperature refers to the warmth or coolness factor. Hue is the parent group of colours, including red, yellow and blue, while intensity indicates the depth of a particular colour choice.

 Taking it a step further, colours of different hues, but with matching tones can be complimentary. However, colours of varying intensity or temperature could end up clashing. When you select your mosaics tiles, consider them in different colour combinations before setting them in glue. Moreover, as you work, glance away from the detail from time to time, so as to keep the bigger picture in your mind. It’s very easy to get confused otherwise!

 Choosing Grout for Your Mosaics

The mix that we use to seal gaps between mosaic tiles is known as grout, and we use it to keep out unwanted dirt and dust too. Grout comes in many colour options, so you need to consider carefully, because your choice of grout finish can make or break the overall impact of your job. One of our regular London tiling and flooring specialists advises that if in doubt, use grey as your grout colour. That’s because grey is perfectly neutral, being halfway between black and white!

The secret to any good bricklaying project is constantly checking walls for correct gauge, plumb, level and straightness, while producing a strong structure that will stand the test of time. If that all sounds too much for you, then why not find a bricklayer to do the work for you – look no further than right here on Mr-Skill. 

What You’ll Need 

Trowel and Pointers

A trowel is the basic masonry tool, and is used for everything from mortar mixing to spreading. It is also used for “buttering” your bricks. Once the basic brick construction is complete, you will need the pointing tools to nicely finish off the joints. Different pointing tools create different mortar joint effects. 

Hammers and Chisels 

The choice of hammers is going to be a personal preference. For example, the “lump hammer” is usually used to break bricks when there’s a need to tie in to the course. A “bolster” is used to assist in achieving a clean brick break. It is in fact a wide-bladed chisel, and needs to be sharp if it’s to do its job.

Perhaps by now you are having second thoughts about bricklaying? No problem, you can get a bricklaying quote right here on Mr-Skill. 

Measuring Tools 

No decent bricklayer would attempt to work without a decent measuring tape, and it’s constantly in use too. The main purpose of the measuring tape is to help ensure the correct laying out of the footings of the brick course. This helps maintain consistency as the wall goes upwards. Then, a “box ruler” is useful for shorter measurements, and is regarded as being more accurate for those inaccessible interior measurements – you know, the “contortionist zone”.

One of our London bricklayers mentions that a few other tools of his trade could prove useful too. His list includes wheelbarrow, zinc bucket, spirit level and a plumb line – all are virtually indispensable. Happy bricklaying!

It’s all about eye-to-hand coordination, and just as some folk are better at kicking a football, others simply cannot get plastering right. Drywall plastering really is an accomplished skill, and quite frankly we suggest you find a plastering and drywall specialist right here on Mr-Skill. Leave this one to the professionals, and enjoy their handiwork. 

Drywall plastering is a messy job at the best of times. Dan – he’s a regular London plasterer and drywall expert – is going to offer a couple of really valuable tips for those brave enough to tackle this job themselves right here. Over to Dan then! 

“Drywall plastering is literally a touchy / feely process,” says Dan, “and this skill takes time to acquire. Rather like driving, you need to practice under genuine road conditions. So too with drywall finishing – you have to develop a feel for certain tools, as well as know how to mix a perfect compound for joint covering. 

“It all starts with the correct hanging job in the first place, says Dan. ”Your drywall has to be dead-flush against the wall and ceiling joints. Each screw hole should be countersunk to the precise depth, so as not to tear the drywall paper. You should also use sufficient fasteners there. 

“As a guide, I insist on a screw every sixteen inches along the walls, and each twelve inches along ceilings. I allow a quarter-inch gap on corner and other joints, although I try to aim for a flush seam where possible”. 

Moving on to the compound, Dan says that “most folk mix in a bucket or basin and end up with plaster that’s too stiff for use. You need to add sufficient water to make the mix the same consistency as creamy sponge cake icing. And it has to be lump-free for obvious reasons too. Don’t be tempted to over-whip the mix, as you will introduce too much air. This will show as tiny air bubbles in the application. Try to mix it gently and thoroughly”. 

That’s as far as Dan is prepared to go with his secret-sharing. He feels passionate about his work and would far rather see you getting a plastering and drywall quote and a professional job.

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!

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!

Begin with the protection factor – preferably remove the furniture from the room you are redecorating. If this is not possible, then cover everything with old sheets to prevent paint spills and keep out the dust. Don’t forget the carpets, and remove pictures too. If this is starting to sound too hard, perhaps you should consider a decorating quote? 

Attend to any cracks or holes in the surfaces you are about to paint and sand them down when dry. Now, mix a mild solution of sugar soap in warm water, and use this for removing marks, oil, grease and general dirt. Mask off anything necessary, including straight edges where ceilings and walls meet, so that you can concentrate on the task at hand, namely painting!

We’re assuming you have all the materials you require for the job, such as:

• The appropriate quality paint, brushes, rollers and trays
• Interior plaster-filler
• Suitable ladder
• Cleaning cloths
• Covers (for the furniture and carpets)

Always begin at the top with the ceiling, since paint does drip from your brush, and rollers do tend to flick paint everywhere too. Use rollers for ceilings and walls, and brushes for the detail work in corners, on skirting boards and around cornices. Rollers are designed to spread paint effectively, so avoid saturating them when you refill.

Depending on the colour you select, you may need to apply two coats of paint to get the desired finish. Remember to let the paint dry properly between applications.

One of our London decorators says that the biggest test of a job well done is the clean up after you have finished. He’s assuming of course that you have completed the job as expertly as he would!

Sometimes, the electricity supply to our homes is irregular, and this could cause a dip or a surge in the supply to an appliance. Fortunately, the design of our domestic plugs includes built-in protection in the form of a fuse-breaker. This clever gadget protects the appliance while it’s operating – a heavy power surge will result in a blown fuse, thus preventing damage and possibly even fire. 

Replacing the fuse is not a difficult task provided you have a basic knowledge of, and a healthy respect for electricity! To do this job yourself, you will need the correct-sized screw driver, pliers and of course, the replacement fuse. Check that the new fuse is suitably matched – amperage rating – to the old fuse. If this is all sounding a bit intimidating, why not find an electrician right here on Mr-Skill. 

Start with safety first – isolate the circuit breaker on the mains board for the wall plugs that you plan to work on. Now you can safely remove the plug from the socket and take off its cover using your screw driver. Some plug covers are a clip-tight fit, and will need to be carefully prised open.

Look for the small glass tube inside the plug and remove the blown fuse from its cradle using the pliers. Blown ones will have a burnt or smudged appearance. Insert the new fuse into the cradle, checking to see that it is of the correct rating.

Recommendation: if your plugs are very old, you should consider getting an electrical quote to upgrade them all.

Clip or screw the plug cover firmly back in position. You are now ready to test the new fuse, so place the plug in the socket and switch on the circuit breaker on the mains board. Now switch on the appliance to check that everything is working as it should.

One of our London electricians recommends that you don’t take unnecessary risks with potentially faulty plugs. If after changing the fuse, the plug still does not work seek professional assistance instead.

 What You’ll Need 

• Suitably sized urn with hole in base
• Submersible water pump (as used in aquariums)
• Nozzle head and extension pipe
• Waterproof ceramic basin for the urn to stand in
• Some decorative pebbles and plants
• Heavy-duty plastic sheet to waterproof and house your display 

Visit your local outdoor centre, and get a garden and landscaping quote. Then, if you feel confident to go it alone, purchase all of the above items to suit your budget. Decide where you want to display your new indoor water feature. Set down the plastic sheet to protect the floor on which the feature will stand. You will need a power socket to run the electric water pump – not too close, we all know that water and electricity don’t mix!

 Place your ceramic basin in position. Place the water pump at the bottom of the basin. Attach the extension pipe to the pump (remembering to seal the joint at the base of the urn), and then lower the urn over it. Once the water is added, the pump will fill the urn with water which will cascade over the rim of the urn and collect in the basin. The water is continuously re-cycled by the pump. 

Add sufficient clean water to the system, and then run it to see if any topping-up is required. Once you have the water side of the feature set up, you can add pebbles and plants as you please. These additions will have the effect of displacing some of the water, so make sure that you don’t overfill the water feature. 

Many of our London plumbers love building water features, so if you think this is all too difficult, then you can find help through Mr-Skill. Nearly time to switch on and sit back and admire your handiwork! You could also add some exciting light displays around your new water feature, so that you can enjoy a different ambience at night.

Even if only performing simple tasks when working at your home, a general builder needs to have a clear understanding of all of the home construction processes. This must include the basic building structure through the laying on of electrical, plumbing and even heating and ventilation systems too. Moreover, your general builder must be able to read and interpret blueprints, and should be able to calculate dimensions for each room t00. 

The scope of the work could include building your home from scratch, but a skilled general builder should easily be able to assist with renovation work and smaller projects as well. So if you are looking to find a general builder, there is no better place to start than right here on Mr-Skill. 

Things to Watch For 

When requesting a general builder quote, don’t be shy to ask these important questions, and make sure they get properly answered too: 

• Does the person you are considering have the all-round skills that they will need? If they don’t, they may end up sub-contracting certain tasks, and this could be dangerous as you would be dealing with unknown people.
• Do he or she have a thorough understanding of all interior and exterior building materials?
• Are they at ease with kitchen and bathroom fittings, including lights and switches?
• Do they have a comprehensive set of equipment including power tools, and do they know how to use them correctly? 

Sign a Contract 

Be sure to draw up a contract with your general builder. This agreement needs to cover the specifics such as start date and time, agreed costs, supply of tools and materials, and so on. Ask too about penalties, should the builder run over the agreed time schedule – this prevents unfair delays due to things beyond your control that could include deliberate time wasting too. Remember to add an arbitration clause to cover disputes and disagreements. Any good builder will be quite willing to sign a fair contractagreement

Accreditation 

One of our expert London general builders is very proud of his workmanship, which has come at the cost of extensive training and apprenticeships too. He advises that you should check that your builder is properly trained and has the experience to finish the assignment satisfactorily. Don’t be shy to ask for certificates of registration – the last thing you want is to become some cowboy builder’s training ground!