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Monday, 29 December 2008 |
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Basic plumbing skills are needed to cut and join pipes. You also need to know about your heating system and how to drain it down
SAFETY FIRST
Check for pipes and electric cables before drilling. Always make certain you have identified the pipe properly before cutting it. Know where to turn off the gas, water and electricity before you start work. If you use plastic pipes or fittings to join metal pipes, make sure you link the metal with an earth wire.
INTRODUCTION
Add a radiator to your central-heating system to provide extra heat.
A radiator can be teed into any part of the central-heating flow-and-return pipes, but it is important that adding a radiator doesn't rob existing radiators of their share of the boiler output. Once you have established where to join the new pipes to the circuit, you can set about hanging the radiator on the wall. The best direction to work in is from the radiator to the heating circuit. Only when you reach the existing pipework do you need to drain down and cut the pipes.
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Monday, 29 December 2008 |
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You only need basic DIY and woodworking skills to build a carport. The most important part of the job is setting the supporting posts truly vertical - a job for which another pair of hands will be helpful.
SAFETY FIRST
There are no particular safety risks involved. Make sure that any power tools are plugged into an RCD adaptor or RCD socket outlet. Set up stepladders or other access equipment on level ground, and don't overstretch on them.
INTRODUCTION
If you have space off-road for your car, a carport is an inexpensive way of giving it some shelter from the elements. You can adapt the structure to the size you need and the space you have available for it.
A carport is more than just a protective canopy for your car. It can do double duty as a porch over a side door, and provides useful undercover space for storage. It can be used as a work area for DIY or car maintenance, a children's play area, even somewhere to dry clothes on wet days.
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Monday, 29 December 2008 |
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wet rot
Every house uses timber in its construction or decoration, and while it can last a long time, it is a died material and nature has various methods of making it decay unless it is looked after. Providing it is well maintained, timber will last many life times. Below two areas of timber rot found in the UK are addressed - dry rot and wet rot.
Dry Rot
Dry-rot fungus is often thought of as a building cancer, rampaging through buildings and rapidly destroying any timber in its path. The fungus, which thrives in moist unventilated conditions, will penetrate brickwork to get to more timber and can cause widespread destruction of structural timbers, skirting boards and door frames, and wood flooring.
In short, the fungus can be thought of as 'living in masonry and eating wood', and because the fungus thrives in damp, unventilated conditions, it can occur in the areas of a property that are not often seen, such as floor voids, or behind timber panelling, so damage may be extensive before the attack is discovered.
What to look for:
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Wednesday, 13 August 2008 |
Finishing a basement is a great remodeling project that can add a great deal of value and comfort to your home. If you have never undertaken this kind of project, however, it may seem too daunting for you to attempt. With a bit of planning, organization, and expert advice, though, most homeowners are perfectly capable of completing a basement remodel either themselves or by bringing in a qualified contractor to do some or all of the work.
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Saturday, 02 August 2008 |
The value of your home usually increases over the years, as long as it remains well maintained. Deferred maintenance is a huge detractor from a home's perceived & actual value. Whether you try to sell or refinance your home, down the road, the appearance of upkeep will show up in dollars.
Here are ten things you can do, this Fall, to keep and enhance your home's equity.
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