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The caulk around my exterior windows is cracked. How do I remove it and what product do you recommend to replace it? Do caulking agents come in different colours?
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If the caulking is cracked it is probably over cured and will not be easily removed using solvents. You will have to scrape it out, which is not too difficult if it is cracked.
It should preferably be replaced by a caulk, which remains mastic, but if you want it to a specific colour you may have to go for one of the acrylic based sealants.
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I have a washed pea gravel walk about 4 inches deep that is difficult to walk on. Can I put Portland cement on this dry and then hose it down?
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First recover 25% of the gravel from the pathway to put on the surface afterwards. You will then need to spread sand and cement at the rate of approximately one bag of sand to every square yard and one bag of cement for every 2 square yards. Carefully rake both of these into the remaining gravel and mix them up well. When this has been done, rake to an even level and roll.
Sprinkle the recovered gravel onto the top and leave the path without being disturbed for about 3 days. The moisture in the air should be sufficient to ensure that the cement goes off and you have a stable path.
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I have decking timber that is splitting and peeling very badly. What is the best solution for fixing this?
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The reason for decking timber splitting is due to the quality of wood used in the construction. The timber has obviously been cut green and treated with the moisture content too high. During the summer they have dried out and that is why they have split.
I do not understand how the peeling is taking place but this may be due to splitting in slab cut timbers. The only possible remedy without replacing the timber is to use Ronseal High Performance Wood Filler to fill up the cracks. Then use a stain to give a reasonable appearance.
You will not be able to use the Ronseal filler if the timbers are showing any sign of mould growth.
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I would like to paint my outside walls but they are covered in cement and the surface seems to be very sandy. I have tried painting them before but the paint peels off after a year. How can I make the paint stick?
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To prevent the next coat of paint from peeling, you will need to start by brushing down the walls to remove any loose sandy material. Then apply a stabilising solution.
The final step is to use an exterior masonry paint such as Sandtex or Dulux weathershield.
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How do I prepare and lay block paving?
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Block paving can be used in various locations. A driveway is the most arduous condition so we give detail below. If it is for a pathway you can delete the hardcore and increase the sand bed to 50mm.
The paving of a driveway depends very much on the type of soil you have in your area and the weight of vehicles you intend to use it. However as a general guide the following will serve.
We suggest that you lay over the whole driveway a 4" thick layer of broken brick or crusher-run stone. This should be well rolled by a roller weighing at least 1000kg. If you live in an area with very clayey, or sandy soil you should replace this with 100mm of concrete. Leave the surface in this case higher in the centre than at the edges and fairly rough.
On top of this lay a bed of at least 25mm of a sharp sand and cement mixture in the ratio of 10:1. You can conveniently do this by mixing up a fairly large quantity, levelling it out, rolling this and then by bedding the paving blocks onto it. Do not attempt to leave any of this mixture overnight to receive paving blocks the next day. Clear away any excess as soon as you finish one day's work. The blocks can be laid by hand and knocked into the sand using a piece of timber and a hammer, however a plate vibrator will achieve better compaction if you are doing a large area. These can be hired.
The blocks should be left for at least 7 days and then brush sand into the joints of the paving blocks before you attempt to run a vehicle on them.
The blocks are best laid in a herringbone pattern with an edging two blocks wide. The last row should be haunched with concrete 150mm wide to within 15mm of the surface.
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How can I remove a screw that has been stripped?
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To do this you need to drill a hole down the centre of the screw of at least 2mm in diameter, and go into the screw about 4 or 5mm.
You then insert an extraction tool, which is like a tap but with anti-clockwise threading. As it tightens up in the damaged screw it will unscrew it and release it.
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I want to supply my garden shed with electricity. What are the rules about putting a cable underground?
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To supply power to a shed or detached garage you will need the following:
- RCD protected supply at the fuse box, or as a fused and protected spur
- Sufficient armoured cable to reach the destination
- 2 way fuse box or consumer unit to mount in the shed/garage
- Suitable fuses or MCBs for the circuits to be installed
- Suitable sockets and wiring (2.5mmT&E)
- Suitable lighting and wiring (1.5mm T&E)
- Cable clips for the armoured cable, or bury the cable at least 600mm down in the ground
The size of the armoured cable (2.5mm 3-core or bigger) will depend on the cable length and the load to be placed on it.
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How do I add an extra socket onto an existing single outlet socket?
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A socket adapter will enable you to change single outlet sockets to double or treble sockets. These are much safer than standard adaptors. Alternatively, you can run a spur from an existing socket to a new double socket.
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Is it possible to remove paint from exterior brickwork?
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Use a chemical paint stripper or brick cleaner to remove the paint. This can be a hard job because of the heavy texture.
Stipple a chemical paint stripper or brick cleaner onto the paint and use a scraper to remove the surface paint. For ingrained paint use a stiff wire brush to help you shift it. You may need to reapply the stripper. Follow the instructions carefully and try a test patch first before leaving the product on for too long. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Rinse the bricks wells after stripping the paint. Using a high-pressure jet washer will help shift any remaining paint.
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How do I secure the frame on my garden decking?
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There are a number of ways that you could tackle this problem. Use the method that is best suited to your situation:
- Directly on subsoil. The decking frame can be laid directly on top of level compacted subsoil, providing the timber is pressure treated.
- Using posts. Firstly, you need to set the posts into the ground, inside the ring beam that forms the outer wall of the decking framework. Then build the framework for your deck by bolting decking joists to the posts. This allows joists to be secured without resting on damp ground, and rainwater will drain away without pooling. Cut off the posts below the level of the decking, then lay your decking boards on top of the joists. You could try leaving some of the posts to form the supports for a handrail.
- Concrete footings. Lay level concrete footings 300mm x 300mm x 300mm (12inches square) at 1200mm intervals around the perimeter. The deck may also require footings in the centre to reduce flexing.
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What is the correct mix for cement to lay patio slabs?
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The correct mix for laying a patio is 1 part cement to 4 parts sand, with just enough water to make a firm mix.
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How do I repair a hole in my plasterboard?
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Small holes and dents can be filled with interior filler, but if the hole is too large the filler will fall into the gap behind the plasterboard.
To fill medium sized holes you will need to patch the hole with an off cut of plasterboard.
- Trim the ragged edges of the hole with a sharp craft knife, to create a square even hole.
- Cut a piece of plasterboard big enough to fill the hole and overlap it by 25mm. Make sure that it will go through the hole you have cut. The idea is that this piece will be stuck to the back of the plasterboard.
- Make a hole in your patch piece and thread some string through it knotting one end round a nail to use as an anchor.
- Apply some adhesive to the front of your off cut. Put the off cut through the hole and using the string pull it up against the inside of the hole. Hold the string tight. You can then fill the area using interior filler.
- Once the filler has dried cut off the string, and apply a skim coat of filler flush with the wall.
For larger holes, you need to cut back to a vertical studding, add in some horizontal timber battens (called noggings), you can then cut a piece of plasterboard to fit the hole exactly, and nail into the studding and battens. You can then fill and sand flush with the wall.
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The hot water tank will not heat up via the central heating controls. It will only work with the immersion heating override control on. Do I need a new boiler?
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If you are getting hot water through to your radiators then there is no problem with your boiler. If you have a motorised valve, it could be stuck. If so you can detach the motor head and renew it.
Additionally your system may need cleaning - FERNOX Central Heating Cleaner is an excellent product for the job. The cleaner is extremely effective, and the usage guidelines are very clear. After cleaning the system use FERNOX Protector to line the system.
Boilers usually only require replacing if they leak. If you do not have a service maintenance facility it is worthwhile to take one out. British gas has a 3 star service for maintenance and callout.
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How can I remove a textured coating (artex or similar) from my walls and ceiling?
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This is a lot of very hard work, especially on ceilings. You can use a steam wallpaper stripper to soften the textured coating and scrape it off, which is a very messy and sticky job. Wash the area well after stripping, with hot water and detergent. You may need to repeat the process and do a second scraping. If the surface has been painted, you will need to score through the paint to allow the steam to penetrate.
Nitromors make a Textured Paint Remover that can be used to help soften the paint.
There are also lots of products now available to use to smooth out unwanted textured surfaces, especially if the pattern is not too pronounced:
- Artex Skimcoat, which does not need any plastering skills.
- Covertex is a paint that can be used to restore a textured surface to smooth.
Alternatively, you could apply a skim coat of finishing plaster. It is a job requiring some skill and you can only achieve a smooth finish with some practise. It may be better to get a professional to apply the skim coat of finishing plaster.
Never try to sand off a painted textured surface, as this creates a lot of very unpleasant dust, which could be dangerous.
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What paint can I use to paint my kitchen worktop?
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Views differ as to whether it is possible to paint kitchen worktops, whatever they are made of. My personal opinion and that of many paint manufacturers is that it is not possible to paint a work surface in a kitchen. A painted worktop would not be durable enough for its normal use and isn't recommended as a food preparation surface.
As a good alternative you could tile your worktop or have it laminated.
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The caulk around my exterior windows is cracked. How do I remove it and what product do you recommend to replace it? Do caulking agents come in different colours?
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If the caulking is cracked it is probably over cured and will not be easily removed using solvents. You will have to scrape it out, which is not too difficult if it is cracked.
It should preferably be replaced by a caulk, which remains mastic, but if you want it to a specific colour you may have to go for one of the acrylic based sealants.
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I have removed old wallpaper from my walls but it has pulled chunks of the plaster and paint off with it. Do I need to re-plaster my walls, or is there another way to make the surface smooth again?
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You can have your walls re-skimmed with plaster; this is best done by a professional, as it is a difficult job to do yourself if you have no experience.
However, if the walls are not too bad it may be possible for you to repair the walls yourself
- Remove all loose and flaking material.
- Use interior filler in powder form to fill the larger holes. Build up the filler in layers, allowing to dry each time. Do not try and fill the hole in one go as the filler will shrink and fall out. If you have lots of large areas to fill, using plaster is more economical.
- Use the interior filler to skim over uneven patches. This type of filler is the easiest to apply in very thin layers using a filling knife. You will need to sand when dry so as to blend in the repaired areas into the wall surface.
- You may need to fill and sand some areas several times to achieve a smooth even surface. Spending some time doing this will greatly improve the wall.
- For cracks around door and window frames use ready mixed flexible filler, and smooth off while wet as these fillers can be difficult to sand
If necessary, you may need to hang a 1000 grade lining paper to give you the best surface to paint on if your walls are still slightly uneven.
You can buy thicker flexible paints that will cover minor flaws and cracks. Look at Polycell Evencell for a smooth finish, as this works very well and is easy to apply. It is only available in white, but can be painted over.
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How do I repair a leaking/dripping tap?
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Removing the 'clip-on' adapter from the end of the tap can usually cure this problem. However you will need to buy a 3/4 inch hose washer and put it in the fitting. Screw the tap back on and this should resolve the problem.
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What is the difference between plaster and polystyrene coving and how easy is it to fit coving around a room?
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Coving is relatively simple to fit into a room. The polystyrene type has been designed with DIY in mind because it is light and easy to handle. However, the plaster coving does give a perceptively better finish but is heavy and requires more skill in handling. The major difficulty is having to mitre the corners of the coving.
In both cases you will need to cut the coving to fit the lengths of the walls, mitre the ends and apply adhesive to the bottom and top edges.
Always cut the coving for the whole wall before you start to check your mitres. With the adhesive on the back of the coving push it into place on the wall and hold for approximately one minute. Paint when you have completed the whole room.
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How do I take up old vinyl flooring tiles and prepare the floor to lay new ones?
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Vinyl flooring tiles are very easy to remove and replace.
To remove the old tiles use a wide scraper, a 3-inch wallpaper scraper is ideal, and a hammer. If the tiles are difficult to remove a blast of heat from a hairdryer will help. Once you have the edge of a tile up it is relatively simple to strip off.
If there are any thick patches of glue remove them by using 'Toluene' - an adhesive remover, this product is also known as Evo-stik Adhesive Remover.
Once you have removed all the tiles check the surface level of the remaining adhesive. If, as is probable, this is protruding or there are holes on the floor, skim over the whole floor with self-levelling compound. This will take 48 hours to be ready for laying your new tiles.
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When I switch on my central heating the water gets hot but the radiators do not. Can you help?
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There are various aspects of your central heating system that could be at fault. The following is a checklist that you will need to go through:
- Is the thermostat set to the current room temperature or above? Do not forget that an outside temperature of 15-20ºC dictates that your room temperature should be set at approximately 25ºC.
- Have you got thermostatic valves on your radiators? If so check that they are not sticking. To do this you will have to take the head off and make sure that the pin is moving freely.
- Is your pump working correctly?
- Has your central heating system been cleaned recently? If not sludge could have collected in some important areas and this causes a blockage.
- Have you tried bleeding the radiators? Air may have got into the system and have collected in all of the radiators.
Leading DIY stores all stock the products for cleaning and protecting your central heating system, Fernox products being excellent for this job.
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One of my radiators leaks from the top of the valve. Do I need to replace the valve, if so please can you tell me how I do this?
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Firstly you will need to turn off the water supply to the heater tank, which is usually in the roof-space of a house.
One of your radiators should be fitted with a drain valve on the supply pipe. Connect a hose to this pipe and then turn the small square head on the valve until the water starts to run out of the pipe. After 2-3 minutes open the air vent keys on all other radiators in the house.
When the water has completely drained replace the old valve with the new one. Tighten all the air vents and shut the drain valve. Turn on the water supply to the heater tank and vent the air from the radiators.
After your central heating system has been running for a few days you may need to vent the system again. Additionally you may also need to open or close the valve you have replaced to rebalance the system.
When refilling the system it is a good time to put in Fernox Corrosion Preventer to help prevent the rusting of your radiators.
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What type of varnish can I use on my wooden floor?
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There are many different varnish products available, but they basically fall into two groups - water-based varnish and polyurethane varnish.
Water-based products are quick drying, easy to use, low odour, environmentally friendly, non-yellowing, and you can wash your brush in water.
Polyurethane and solvent-based products take 16-24 hours to dry, have a strong smell, have high VOCs (volatile organic compounds), need white spirit to clean up with, and can yellow with age.
Generally, polyurethane products are slightly harder wearing than water-based. All varnishes can darken the surface to which they are applied.
Only use 'floor varnish' on your wooden floor.
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Should I fit my new shower and toilet on top of the tiled floor or should it be fitted prior to the floor?
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Certainly if you are fitting new sanitary ware it should be done after you have done all the tiling. It saves level problems and cutting tiles to fit. It also makes sealing much easier.
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How do I build rustic looking shelves out of landscaping timbers?
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There is no reason why shelves cannot be made of any timber. However the quality of timber used for "landscaping" is usually not adequate for indoor use. It has a much higher moisture content and will warp and distort if used indoors. You can obtain a rustic effect by using thick boards and sanding them or using a spoke shave to make the front edge uneven.
If you're thinking of using split logs such as those used in landscaping you will have to firstly allow them to dry out for approx. 3 months in the environment where they are to be used and then strip off all the bark. You will then have the problem of shelf brackets. The only way I can see to do this is to cut through on the curved face a square parallel slot and put the bracket into this slot. I would not recommend suspending the shelves by putting the brackets on the flat top surface.
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When the toilet is flushed there is a vibration through the water pipe and a loud noise. Can you help?
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I suspect the noise you're referring to is 'water hammer' in the feed pipe to your toilet. This can be reduced or perhaps even eliminated by fitting a ball valve in the pipe and adjusting it so that water pressure is reduced. The ball valve is normally sold as an isolating valve.
It may also be worth fitting a Fluidmaster entry valve in place of the conventional valve. These are American-made and are very effective in cutting down the noise in toilet systems.
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There is an inch of carpeting from my exterior wall that looks dirty even though it is relatively new. How can I stop this from happening?
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Your problem is caused by dust coming under the skirting board and entering the carpet. This could be accompanied by moisture but you would have seen other signs of this moisture.
To overcome the problem you should lift the carpet at the edges and check that there is no gap below the skirting. If there is, fill it using a silicone sealant. It is important that the floor floats relative to the wall and only a silicone sealant is sufficiently resilient for this. You can then glue a small quadrant or Scotia bead to the skirting. Your carpet, if you are careful, should go back in position without cutting, although it may require some adjustment depending upon how it was originally laid.
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I plan to install a hardwood floor, please can you tell me if I need to leave any space between the wall and the first board?
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It very much depends on the type of wooden floor you wish to use and whether you want it to be a floating floor or not. If it's a rigid floor of at least 3/8 inch thickness, you should lay it at right angles to the existing floor and use concealed nailing to the joints to give a good final finish.
When laying a hardwood floor, you lead with the tongue. If you wish to use concealed nailing then you must nail into the groove of the piece, which you have just laid. This does require some skill but it is the means whereby you can lay hardwood flooring without seeing the nails. It does help if you drill a 2mm hole to lead the nails, which should be at 400mm centres.
If it is to be a floating floor, you will have to lay down a foam or fibre underlay and then lay your boards on top of this. The joints of the board must be glued together to keep the floor stable. This is the way that laminate floors are laid and you have to leave a gap of 10mm all round the walls.
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How do you calculate the correct size of radiator for a room?
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You can determine the size of radiators required for each room in your house by measuring the room in cubic feet and applying the following factors to that figure:
Lounges and dining rooms multiply by 5. Bedrooms multiply by 4. Common areas and kitchens multiply by 3. For rooms facing north add 15%. For French windows add 20%. For double glazing deduct 10%.
This will give you the output of any radiator in BTUs (British Thermal Units).
The total will give you the demand in BTUs for the whole house. Add 20% to the total for a hot water circulating tank and 10% for general losses. This will give you the boiler size you need for your house.
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Several of the floor joists against the outside wall of my house have gone rotten. Can I repair these without replacing the entire lot?
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The simple way to repair joists like this is to cut out the rotten material and treat the cut ends with a wet and dry rot treatment such as Cuprinol 5 star.
Then plate both sides of the joists with new joists of a similar size. Bolt these through the old joists using timber connectors. As a guide, the length of plating should be at least 4 times the depth of the joists.
Finally, be sure to apply the timber treatment to all new timbers and to the seatings in the wall.
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How can I remove a screw that has been stripped?
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To do this you need to drill a hole down the centre of the screw of at least 2mm in diameter, and go into the screw about 4 or 5mm.
You then insert an extraction tool, which is like a tap but with anti-clockwise threading. As it tightens up in the damaged screw it will unscrew it and release it.
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What's the best way to remove old tiles from my wall?
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The most successful way of removing wall tiles is to use a hammer and bolster chisel. Start at the edge of the tiled section, prising and knocking off the old tiles. You must wear goggles and gloves to protect yourself from chips of flying tile. Once the tiles have been removed you will need to chisel off the remaining tile adhesive from the wall. This is likely to damage the wall, so you will need to spend some time filling and repairing the surface before decorating.
If you wish to re-tile over the area, only large holes need filling, as smaller dents will be filled with the new tile adhesive.
You can tile over the top of old tiles. You need to check that they are level and firmly attached. Any badly cracked or loose tiles should be replaced. Stagger the joins of the new tiles over the old ones.
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How do I take a feed off two currently existing electricity sockets to create two more?
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It is possible to end up with 4 separate sockets (single 1 gang or double 2 gang)
The present wiring will run in a loop (ring main) from the fuse box to each socket in turn and then back to the fuse box. You may have one of these rings for the kitchen, upstairs and downstairs. You will have to find the wire that feeds into the first of your sockets, the other wire should then be fed between the two sockets you have.
This wire will need to be disconnected at one socket and diverted to the new socket site. A new wire will then run from this point to the second new socket and from there to the original socket that the wire was removed from. This will complete your ring main once more.
You should allow for ten outlets per ring main to prevent overloading. Once this number is reached a new ring should be created.
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How do I add an extra socket onto an existing single outlet socket?
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A socket adapter will enable you to change single outlet sockets to double or treble sockets. These are much safer than standard adaptors. Alternatively, you can run a spur from an existing socket to a new double socket.
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The grouting around my wall tiles is looking grubby. Do I need to re-grout, and if so, how?
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Using a cream cleaner and an old toothbrush can clean up sealant and grouting quite well. Mould should be treated with a fungicide such as Cuprinol No More Mould or Polycell 3 in1 Mould Killer as ordinary cleaners will not kill off the mould spores.
If the grouting is only discoloured, there is no need to replace it. You can use a grout-whitening product to freshen it up, or alternatively use a coloured grout reviver to add a new look to the tiles.
If some of the grout is missing or in really bad condition, you will find it better to scrape out the old grout using a grout rake. Use an old toothbrush to brush out all the loose grouting, before replacing with new waterproof grouting.
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How do I seal and paint a concrete floor?
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To paint a concrete floor it is best to use a floor paint specifically for the purpose. There are various makes available on the market that are suitable for concrete. All floor paints are tough and durable, but for a garage or workshop floor use Garage Floor Paint.
To prepare the floor for painting, make sure the surface is clean, grease free and dry. Any loose flaking material should be removed using a wire brush and vacuumed up. Use an exterior filler to repair any cracks in the surface. Newly laid concrete should be left to dry-out for at least one month before painting, and any salt deposits should be removed with a wire brush.
Before painting with solvent-based floor paint, bare and powdery surfaces should be sealed with a concrete sealer first.
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How do I artex my ceiling?
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The process is very simple, however it is difficult to achieve an even design all over. Using an artex roller, apply one coat of artex over an area of approximately 1 square metre, then create your desired patterned finish, for example, stippling, waving or combing.
When you have completed the first area repeat this procedure until the entire ceiling is covered.
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What is the most effective way to re-insulate my loft? The current fibreglass insulation is very old and flattened.
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The existing fibreglass insulation will be extremely dirty so I suggest you apply a new layer of insulation over the top. 'Miraflex' is a very good product for this job, as the fibreglass insulation is encapsulated in plastic sleeves making laying easy and it also prevents the fibreglass becoming dirty.
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How do I cut bathroom floor tiles to fit around my bathroom suite?
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Make a cardboard template of the shape needed for the tile, or use a profile marking gauge which will enable you to record the exact shape of the obstacle, before transferring to the tile. This can be applied to all types of tiles.
To cut a ceramic tile to fit around awkward obstacles, use a tile saw that has a special tungsten carbide coated rod. Alternatively, use tile nibblers, but these are not so accurate.
Vinyl floor tiles can be cut using a sharp craft knife or strong scissors.
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How do I treat my skirting boards for dry rot?
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You have a serious problem because dry rot is an extreme form of decay and urgent treatment is essential to prevent it spreading to the whole building. Dry rot thrives in damp and badly ventilated areas, which can spread far wider than the timber where it starts. In very damp conditions it can send out its spoors into plaster and even cement rendering. It is characterised by white growths resembling cotton wool known as 'mycelium'.
The first step to getting rid of dry rot is to make sure that all the infected timber is cut away to a depth of at least 400mm (16in) beyond the last sign of rot. Chemical treatment should then be applied to all of the remaining timber and to all brickwork and plasterwork within 1.5 metres of the infected area. Ensure that good ventilation is provided to all areas which have been infected, even to the extent of putting in air bricks in external walls. The work required is so extensive that it may be better to call an expert in to treat it.
If you only have a very small patch of dry rot Cuprinol 5 star timber treatment is a very good product for preventing dry rot from spreading. If you can cut out the affected timber, Cuprinol also make a hardener which reduces the spread of dry rot and you can probably fill in any small diseased area with Ronseal Wood Filler.
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I would like to lay a wooden floor on top of concrete, can you suggest the best type of flooring to use?
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Firstly, you must ensure that the concrete is absolutely level. If it's not, the best way of doing this is to apply a latex levelling compound.
The next step is to prevent moisture movement and, in this case, the best solution is to paint over it with two coats of a bituminous type paint such as liquid roofing felt.
Most DIY stores will stock 3 grades of laminate flooring:
- 1600 for light commercial/heavy domestic use
- 900 for normal domestic use
- 500 for light domestic use
The flooring is simple to lay but don't forget that this is a floating floor and as such must have an underlay to prevent transmission of sound when you walk on it. Laying it is a matter of relatively simple skill, except where you have to cut the boards to meet skirting and door openings.
At this point there are two methods of laying the floor:
- Put down timber battens at 400mm intervals and nail the floorboards on top
- Lay a 'floating floor'. You will need to lay a layer of foam or fibre felt. On top of this lay either tongue and groove hardwood boards or laminate boards.
These are both laid with the tongue of the tongue and groove boards leading. Apply some PVA cement along the joints of the boards and knock them in whilst the glue is still wet. You should prepare pieces ready to go where you have central heating pipes. The floor, however, should be cut about 10mm away from any skirting boards and cover this gap with a quadrant bead.
The use of solid wood is difficult as the wood must be at the right moisture content. The first alternative raises the floor by about 65mm. The B&Q packs of flooring, however, give full instructions on how to lay it which, if followed carefully, should cause no difficulty. The only tools you will require are a tenon saw, a hammer, a square and the small kit designed to help you pull the sections into position.
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How do I remove a load-bearing wall?
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Do not attempt to change any internal walls as this is a matter which requires Building Regulations approval from your local authority.
Once you have contacted them they will send a building inspector to your house to examine the walls. A building surveyor will prepare the necessary documents and will advise you on how to proceed.
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What is the best way of attaching a shelf to a wall without showing the fixings?
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A handy method of doing this is to fix the shelf by doweling it to the wall. For this you will need some 1inch doweling, a 1inch wood drill bit and a 1 inch masonry drill bit. Then follow these steps:
- Find and mark the centre line of the shelf
- Along the centre line mark out the position of the dowels (start about 4 inches in from either end, and space about 9 inches apart)
- Using a spirit level, mark the centre line on the wall where you would like it positioned, then mark the dowel positions
- Using the wood drill bit, drill the dowel holes into the wood approximately two thirds of the depth of the shelf, then fit dowels using wood glue, leaving approximately 3 inches sticking out to fix into the wall
- Drill dowel holes into the wall approximately 3.5 inches deep and check the alignment with the shelf
- Finally, fit the shelf using panel adhesive (not nails), or an epoxy resin fixing, to glue the dowels in place
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How do I remove a radiator?
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You can follow these simple steps:
- Turn off the heating
- Turn off the valves either side of the radiator
- Drain the radiator by slightly undoing the nut connecting the radiator to the valve and allow it to drain into a suitable container. When the container needs emptying, just retighten the nut and repeat until the radiator is empty
- Undo both valves and lift the radiator off the wall
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How do I stop limescale from building up in the pipes and immersion heater?
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There are two possible solutions to this problem:
- Fit a water softener to your system. This adds salt which softens the water. However, you must leave a drinking supply separate from your heating system, which means your kettle will still fur up. Water softeners do also tend to be expensive.
- There is a device made by a company called International Wizard, which controls limescale build-up by electrolysis. This device clamps around the pipe with no electrical connections. It's also very easy to install.
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How do I remove nails from a skirting board without ruining the wood?
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The best way of removing nails in this case would be to pull the entire skirting board away from the wall. This should leave the nails exposed at the back. Then, using a pair of pliers, you can push the nails out from the back, thus avoiding any damage to the front.
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How do I install 2 way switching?
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You will need the following:
- 2 x 2 way switches
- Enough 1.5mm 3 core and earth cable to run between the two switch positions
- Trunking or conduit to cover the cable or allow it to be sunk into the wall where needed
- Earth sleeving
All switches sold by B&Q come complete with wiring instructions. Here are the connections, once the cable is in place:
Original switch position:
- Yellow to COM on switch
- 2x red to SW1 on switch
- Blue and black to SW2 on switch
New switch position:
- Yellow to COM
- Red to SW1
- Blue to SW2
All earth wires with earth sleeve to earth point on back boxes (and switches if metal).
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What can I use to seal my new plaster?
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Firstly, you will need to allow the plaster to dry out thoroughly before decorating. You can usually see a change in colour as plaster dries. Once the plaster has dried, a white powdery deposit called efflorescence will form on the surface. Wipe this off with some sacking and repeat until the efflorescence ceases to appear.
Painting
If you are painting the surface only use paint suitable for new plaster, as vinyl emulsions will not allow moisture to escape. Dulux Trade Supermatt is specially designed for this purpose and comes in white and Natural Hints. Several thin coats of paint can give a better finish than one thick coat.
You can also buy special Plaster Sealer which can be used before painting on bare plaster, plasterboard and powdery surfaces.
Wallpapering
If you decide to wallpaper, you will need to 'size' your walls. The size will do two things: prevent the bare walls from absorbing the paste on the back of your wallpaper; and make it easier to slide the wallpaper into position on the walls. You can buy size or you can apply the same paste, as you would use to hang your wallpaper. In both cases, spread evenly with a paste brush over the whole surface.
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