Home & Garden Improvements

Many homes have been built on sloping sites and this can present a potential problem with the garden. Building a retaining wall to hold back soil and water is desirable and a patio or sitting area can be created by doing this. An attractive and cost effective way to do this is to use old railway sleepers if you can get hold of them as they are solid and because they have been treated with a heavy pressure creosote treatment with last for many years without problems.

Using reclaimed sleepers will be cheaper than bricks, will possibly outlast brick which can spall and break due to frost with them being constantly wet through contact with the earth. Sleepers are of course heavy and you will need a helper to manoeuvre them into position, and the height should not exceed about half a metre. Although the sleepers will be virtually proof against rot, lining the inside of the retaining wall with builders’ polythene will ensure that they will still be there as long as required. However you should always allow a small amount of drainage at the bottom of the wall and this can be achieved by leaving gaps between the bottom row of sleepers.  Using reclaimed sleepers for creating raised flower beds is also ideal, this is a great help if you are trying to create a garden for a person who is disabled, or perhaps elderly.

When laying the sleepers please ensure that these are “bonded” in the same way as you would if laying brick or stone, the second row of sleepers should overlap the joints in the bottom row. These can be “fixed” by driving a large nail at an angle through the joint into the adjoining one as it will not be possible to nail through the face into the next one. You can now back fill the wall and you do not have to wait for cement mortar to dry as you would with brick or stone.

A timber garden room is an asset for any home or property. Not only is it a delight to look at, it also provides the home with valuable extra space.

Timber garden rooms from Oeco are built to the highest standards. Western red cedar, with its rich hues and textures, is used to clad each structure. It is the ideal material being both durable and treated with preservatives, ensuring the timber garden room will last for decades. The structure is topped with western red cedar shingle roof tiles, timber laths and cedar facias.

One of the main benefits of owning Oeco garden rooms is their versatility. Not only do garden rooms give families extra space, there is so much more that can be done with them. They can be used as family play rooms, a TV room or as an extra sitting room.  Oeco garden offices are perfect for the self-employed, as they avoid the need to rent expensive office space elsewhere.

A garden home office offers the same benefits as any other room in the property. It can be connected to the utilities to provide heat and lighting and even Wi-Fi. Garden offices from Oeco are also insulated to the highest of standards. Such levels of thermal efficiency are assured thanks to PIR rigid insulation thermal panels.

Added to all the benefits of beautiful timber garden rooms is their location. There can be few things better than an expertly constructed garden room surrounded by lawns, flowers, hedges and trees.

Picture: Oeco Garden Rooms

We imagine that you will have all witnessed qualified painters and decorators using a blow lamp to strip paint from windows and doors, and they look it really easy don’t they? There can be no doubt that removing layers or old paint can be very desirable as it gives you a chance to get back to the woodwork and provide an excellent surface which in turn will make the fished project look much better.

Removing old paint by this method is not difficult, but the first thing to say is unless you are very proficient using a blow lamp, a hot air gun is far better. Wear goggles and a dust mask when burning off paint and one thing to remember is that if your house is an old one then you are sure to have lead paint on the woodwork. Up until the mid-1960s, lead was widely used in household paint; this can be dangerous if breathed in, especially by children.

By using a hot air gun the paint will be melted with the heat and as it bubbles a scraper is used to remove it. If you are using a blow torch take extra care, hot air guns are less likely to scorch the wood. Special care must be taken when stripping paint on window frames as the heat can crack the glass, expensive in any case, but more so if these are double glazed units. Use a heat deflector shield to direct the hot air away from the glass, if you do not have a special deflector shield than a plasterer’s float will work, but do not let this touch the glass or the heat will still be in contact with the glass.

Picture: reclaimedhome

There is a growing demand for extra room self storage units from domestic households across the Midlands. The reasons for this increase vary, from the national economic downturn to the constant need to move home or office. Companies offering storage in Hinckley, along with Nuneaton self-storage operators, provide an easy and affordable solution, often with 24/7 access.

As the economic problems continue, many householders are finding they are short of space, but for financial reasons cannot move to a larger property. The solution is to move possessions that are stored in the attic, but which cannot be disposed of by being binned or recycled, to a unit and converting the space into an office or extra bedroom. The items can be stored in a unit of a suitable size, which means the homeowner is not paying for empty space. Customers can rest easy in the knowledge that their belongings are being stored in a safe unit, protected by CCTV, alarms and a secure perimeter.

Another group that can benefit from self-storage units are students who tend to take flats on short-term leases and are constantly moving to different accommodation throughout their studies. Rather than lugging all their belongings back home every summer, a local self-storage facility takes away this annual hassle and may even prove a more cost-effective solution. 

With the need for people to be more mobile, for employment reasons, a significant percentage of the population is always in transit. Self-storage units are able to provide either a temporary or long-term solution to such issues.

Turning a basement into a useable space in your house can add up to £5,000 to the value of your property, so it is well worth doing. First thing to consider is what purpose the space will be used for i.e. extra storage space, a chill out/ cinema room or maybe a gym/music room.

It is important that the basement is a flexible space that can be used for multiple things; this will add the most value to your property and provides a multi-use room that can be changed easily to suit your needs.

The first job to tackle when converting a basement is the problem of damp. There is no point painting of wallpapering the walls if there is a damp problem, this will lead to mould and mildew problems and will have to be replaced regularly. It is best to get a specialist in to check for damp and fix any problems before you start.

Planning is the key for a basement conversion and things like electrical socket and any pluming must be thought out to best make use of the space available. Built-in shelving and storage areas create more space while blending into the surroundings and keeps the main area of the basement clutter free.

Once all the planning and initial building work has been completed the basement can be decorated in the same manner as the rest of the house and can be treated as another room to decorate in your chosen style.

Picture: David Goshorn

Designing a great bathroom is not just about the way it looks but also the practicalities of the room. The bathroom is the most used room in the house and can provide a luxurious space to relax and unwind, and planning every aspect of it to suit your family’s needs will make it a better room in the long run.

A new bathroom needn’t be expensive, just changing a few fixtures like taps or a radiator and adding some new tiles can drastically change the look of the room with the minimum of costs. If a new bathroom suite is wanted, looking online can find you the best deals, as well as visiting local reclamation yards if you’re looking for something a bit different or traditional.

Making the most of the space available in your bathroom is a practical design process especially here in the UK where bathrooms are usually smaller than the rest of Europe. Making use of bathroom storage units help to declutter the room and gives everyone their own space to store their products.

Doing some of the work yourself will save you money when re-designing a bathroom, but bear in mind that you will need a professional to do any plumbing and electrical work. DIY jobs you can do yourself include tilling, fitting bathroom cabinets, adding new taps and laying flooring; for bigger jobs such as fitting a new bathroom suite or power shower it is recommended that you hire a professional.

Looking in home magazines and online can help with inspiration when designing a bathroom, and visiting local bathroom suppliers means that you can see products in real life and talk to someone about the exact product you are looking at.

Before the first tile is laid the starting point will have to be found.  This can be done by drawing a chalk mark from the centre of each wall to the centre of the opposite one.  Where the two lines intersect in the middle of the room is the starting point. 

Next the tile adhesive should be spread.  A square metre is spread in one of the “quarters” outlined by the chalk marks.  The adhesive should then be scored by the edge of the trowel to make ridges. 

When placing the first tiles they should be laid along the longest chalked centre line.  The centre line ensures the tiles are lined up straight.  To ensure they are equally spaced for grouting, plastic spacers should be placed at the corners.

The rest of the tiles are then laid out from the centre of the room, as indicated by the chalk lines.  It is important that all the tiles are set at the same level and this can be checked with a spirit level. 

Some tiles may have to be trimmed or cut to shape to fit at the walls.  This can be done with a tile cutter.  When tiles are being cut a gap should be left to allow space for grouting.

Once the tiles have been laid they should be left to set for a minimum of 12 hours.  The next task is to apply sealer to the floor surface to prevent the grout from clouding the tiles.  This will take about two hours to dry.  Finally the spaces between the tiles need to be grouted.

When it comes to DIY people range from complete novice to expert DIYer however even the best at DIY have to ask or help sometimes! If you new to DIY then there is probably a lot of questions you have and hopefully we can answer some here.

What power tools should I use for which job?

Power Drill – To drill a hole, you need a power drill, make sure you buy a drill with different drill bits i.e. wood, masonry metal, etc.

Circular Saw – These are handy for cutting wood, a saw will do small and simple jobs but you need a power tool for anything large.

Sander – Like a circular saw a sander is great for large jobs furniture can be quickly sanded along with doors, just imagine the elbow grease doing it by hand.

Jigsaw and Router – Detailing can be important in DIY, jigsaws are used for cutting patterns or holes in wood, a router is similar but designed for more intricate work.

What building regulations are there?

In the UK there are a number of building regulations, small DIY jobs normally don’t fall under any, however larger ones may, and these can include:

-Loft Conversion if there are windows installed, a permanent stairway and electricity.
-Structural changes to your house including removing load bearing walls, part of the loadbearing wall or removing or remodelling a large wall.
- Re-roofing with new materials.
- Fitting new windows and external doors.
-Putting in cavity wall insulation.

Do I need a professional to undertake this task?

Plumber – Some plumbing jobs are best left to a professional, especially if you have no experience yourself. Water leaks can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage, and you may not be covered by your insurance if you did it yourself.

Electrician – Re-wiring a plug yes, rewiring your home no. Minor repairs can normally be done yourself, anything else you should call in an electrician. Electrical faults can cause a range of dangerous problems including electrocution and fire.

Follow the same line for anything related to gas. Unblocking a chimney is best left to the professionals. Window and door instillation, when you buy new windows, fitting is included in the price, so let them do it.

If planning to move home in the near future, self-storage may be the answer; for example, if the sale of the existing property is completed before moving in to the new one or if the current house would be more marketable if it were to be de-cluttered. Whatever the reason, self-storage units can provide the solution. No matter whether the individual or company is searching for storage in Nuneaton or storage in Tamworth, there is sure to be a facility that suits both in size and budget.

An internet search will soon locate a nearby self-storage facility that offers an excellent flexible service covered by an industry standard. Generally, once the paperwork has been completed, the storage unit can be used immediately. There is no need to worry about getting tied up in long-term and unbreakable leases, as the units can be rented from as little as a few days at a time to as long as is required.

In general, self-storage premises are open during normal business hours, but more than 50% offer a 24/7 service, meaning that customers can access their items whenever they wish. It really is like having an extra room; a room that comes in any size to meet the customer’s specific needs. Units of various sizes can be rented, from 10 sq ft up to, for example, 500 sq ft. This means that customers are paying only for the space they actually require, which makes the entire process both fair and affordable.

Reputable self-storage facilities that operate under the UK industry standard must have, as a minimum, 24hr CCTV coverage and a secure perimeter. Other security features that self-storage sites typically offer include alarms, smoke detectors and coded electronic gates. Emergency phones are available to customers and the sites and units are brightly lit.

Picture: Andrea_R

The most common reason why a roof needs to be fixed is that it is leaking.  This can be because of loose or missing tiles, blocked or sagging gutters, flashing which is missing or defective, or crumbling mortar or rendering.

Evidence of a leaking roof can be damp patches on the ceiling.  The roof space should also be looked at to check for damp or damage in the joints and timbers.

Unless someone has the necessary scaffolding and safety equipment it is not wise to climb onto the roof.  However, if this can be done safely there are several tasks which can be performed.  Any plant material on the roof, as well as blocked gutters, should be cleared.  If the guttering needs fixing the supporting brackets can be tightened and the gutters and downpipes repaired with sealant. 

Guttering and downpipes made out of cast iron should be painted and any old putty – used in sealing joints – can be replaced using non-setting mastic. 

Fixed tiles which are broken or missing will need to be replaced.  The old tile can be slid out using a trowel and then the replacement can be slid into place.  For damaged lapped tiles the row above should be pushed up.  The broken one can then be levered up and removed and the replacement slid into place. 

Sometimes the roof may need more serious repairs.  Unless the homeowner is competent in doing this kind of work it is best to call in the experts.  Major tasks can include replacing a rafter or whole truss, which may well necessitate the roof covering having to be stripped.  If the DIYer can do this kind of work the options when dealing with faulty timbers is to remove them and use replacements, or strengthen them using steel plates.  If the walls have spread, leaving the principal rafter insecure, steel brackets are used to provide support.

Picture courtesy of jmgartblog