North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Whatever the style of a room, the type of curtains or blinds that you hang can make an enormous impact. Natural light is an important consideration when you are decorating a room – is it light and airy, or warm and cosy? Are the windows large or small? And do you want to draw attention to them or away from them? These things will influence whether you choose layers of sheer, floaty fabrics, plain tab top curtains on a simple pole, or brightly coloured curtains hanging in dramatic, tasselled swags and drapes.

A plain and simple style in neutral colours will blend into the décor and not compete with a beautiful mullioned window or a stunning view. Warm colours and rich textures such as wool, velvet and damask creates a cosy softness, and sheer fabric creates a romantic soft lighting effect and help disguise ugly views or provide privacy.

When you are choosing curtains for a room there is a lot more to consider than the type and colour of the fabric. You need to think about the length and fullness of the curtains – floor skimming drapes add drama – and the style of pole or tracking they will run on. By choosing different styles you can create anything from minimalist chic to fun and feminine, to overblown Rococo. You can mix and match curtains with blinds to create several layers of window dressing for added impact.

Choosing new curtains is an opportunity to give character and style to a room, or create a focal point, not just a finishing touch.

The sight of a beautiful lush garden is enough to make any green-fingered horticulturalist    happy, and being able to achieve this without harming the environment will offer a great deal more satisfaction.  

Water

A green garden needs lots of water, which does not have to come from already dwindling sources.  Set up a water butt in an external location where it can collect rain water and, if possible, place it beneath a drain spout where water run-off flows.  Fill a watering can from this source to water plants rather than using a hose to limit wastage.      

Pests

While birds and squirrels may be a welcome sight, some insects and rodents are distinctly less desirable and are seen as pests especially when they feast on planted vegetation.  A natural remedy to repel cats from the garden is to placing citrus peels amongst the plants or a cayenne pepper solution as both are non-toxic to plants and animals, but cats do not like the smell.  The pepper can also be used to prevent ants from taking up residence.  Slugs and snails can be disposed of by burying a container into the soil so that the rim is level with the surface.  These creatures love beer and will happy get drunk on it before falling in.  Mice and rats do not like the strong scent of mint so planting springs where the garden meets the property border can help prevent rodents making their way inside. 

Feed the Soil

In order to ensure a plentiful and good quality yield of any fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants, it is essential that the soil is full of nutrients.  Recycling kitchen scraps can be used for this purpose, which can reduce the waste that goes to landfill.  Compost fruit and vegetable peel in a covered container and use this in the garden.

For all-over body hygiene quickly executed, a shower unit is an invaluable addition to your bathroom furniture.  From transparent shower enclosures in any choice of size and custom built to fit your bathroom, to shower fittings incorporated over your bath, for those without the space for a separate shower, Aqualisa shower units come in many styles and sizes.

A simple box-like structure with a shower tray can fit into all but the smallest bathroom area, but those with bathrooms that are more specious may choose to have larger walk-in shower units, or even to install a wet room.  With the choice of jet-sprays, an outsize showerhead and the addition of durable wet walls, perhaps made from a marble finish, wet rooms fitted with wet room glass panels are the height of showering luxury.

Some people choose not to have a shower in their bathroom, even if it is neatly fitted above the bath.  Complete with a bath panel or shower curtains, a shower can be a very useful addition to your daily hygiene.  Relaxing in a long bath can be an opportunity to pamper you, and to soak in the lovely smells of essential oils, bath bombs or bubble bath to wash away the aches, pains and cares of the day.  However, when you are in a rush, and especially when you want to wake up from a night’s rest ready to meet the rigours of your working day, you cannot beat a session in a thorough, exhilarating shower.

Copper piping is still the preferred option in domestic plumbing systems, despite the fact that there have been many recent advances in plastic plumbing pipe development, with new materials and techniques coming along all the time.

The outside diameters of copper pipes are standardised to make it easier to work with them, and these are 15, 22 and 28 mm.  Imperial measurements are more likely in the case of pipes installed before 1970, although such pipes are no longer manufactured, and special fittings need to be used when connecting new pipes with these older ones.

When you need to cut through a copper pipe for whatever reason, such as to remove a radiator from the system or to extend or truncate an existing pipe, accurate marking is the key to success.  When making watertight joints, you must make sure that the ends are cut absolutely square.  You can use a hacksaw to do the cutting, but it is better to use a proper pipe cutter if you think there is going to be a lot of this type of work going on.

Make allowance for the length of pipe that will fit inside the join when marking it out.  A guide for the saw blade can be created well enough by wrapping stiff paper around the pipe so that its edges align.

Remember to remove all of the burr from the end of the cut pipe, inside and outside, using a half-round file.  A pipe cutter only produces burr on the inside of the pipe.

In order to qualify for a mortgage in the United Kingdom, the person or persons receiving the loan have to take out a buildings insurance policy for the property they are purchasing.  The main reason this comes as a prerequisite of taking out a mortgage is because it ensures the money that is loaned is as secure as it could be with regards to damage to the property.  Without such a safety net, if the property were to be destroyed in the event of a fire, for example and the mortgage holder could not afford to pay back the loan, the lender would have no means of recovering their investment.

For many homeowners living in the United Kingdom today, cutting down their outgoings is particularly important.  A huge number of people are taking a critical look at their outgoings in order to try and save money wherever possible.  Utility bills are high on the list, as are insurance policies.  For example, research carried out by an accountancy firm found that, in 2009, some 34% of UK policyholders switched their provider in order to secure a better deal.  The survey also found that policyholders had no loyalty to their existing insurer and that the price of the policy was the biggest factor to be considered.

In addition, the survey found that more and more people are looking to buildings insurance comparison sites when renewing or taking out a policy.  The number one reason for this is to save money, but it is also because, for the many Britons that lead busy lives, it saves a great deal of time.  As the number of home insurance policies available has increased, so has the number of providers customers feel they need to compare prices with.  However, the cheapest policy may not always cater for all the homeowners needs.

A natural wood floor is a great feature in any house and if you are lucky enough to have floorboards lurking under the carpet, why not uncover them and let their beauty shine. Sanding them down will get rid of old stains and marks, ready for a protective coat of varnish. There are plenty of people who can sand your old wooden floorboards for you but doing it yourself saves money and can look just as good as a professional job.

First, check for any loose, missing, damaged or rotten floorboards. You may need to replace some boards and nail down any loose ones. Also check for signs of woodworm, as this can be easily treated. Finally, hammer in any nails that sit proud of the surface, so they are at least 3mm below, and remove any old carpet staples. All these things can damage your sanding equipment.

Having prepared the floor, you are now ready to start sanding. Remember that this is a very dusty and noisy job, so wear a dust mask and consider the neighbours. Hire an industrial drum sander and a hand held rotary sander for the edges and corners. However, if you are only sanding a small area, less than 3m square, you will only need a hand held sander. Make sure you follow all the safety instructions, particularly when fitting the sandpaper. Start with coarse grade sandpaper to get the boards level, then use the medium, and finish off with the fine.

Here are some tips for saving money on tiling jobs:

Avoid buying new tiles by revamping the old ones- you can completely change the look of wall tiles with special tile paints. Spend time doing it properly; take care over the grouting and follow the instructions on the products, and your old tiles will have a new lease of life.

Borrow professional tools- somebody you know is bound to have tile cutting tools, leftover spacers and a spirit level. Just ask around.

Buy from trade outlets- significant savings can be made by asking a friend with a trade account to buy tiles for you, or to let you use their account at a trade outlet. Go to the beautiful, expensive showrooms for inspiration only.

Don’t scrimp on quality- this can be a false economy. If you buy the very cheapest tiles, you may need more of them when they crack and break during installation. Also avoid cutting corners in wet areas such as showers – do the job properly or you will have serious damp problems.

Bathroom accessories not only offer functionality but also help to add style and luxury to your bathroom.  Mirrors, cabinets, soap dishes and towel rails are just a few of the many accessories available that will help you to improve your bathroom.  With so many designs available, you are sure to find bathroom accessories that suit your bathroom perfectly.

For extra luxury, heated towel rails are a great choice for the bathroom.  Towel rails are available in wide variety of designs and are not only essential but also look stylish and will help to enhance the overall look of you bathroom.  Heated towel rails are a particularly good choice for those wishing to create a cosier atmosphere in the bathroom.

To create a unique look for your bathroom, you may wish to consider opting for accessories that offer a more unusual design.  Ordinary accessories such as toothbrushes holders, soap dishes and event toilet brushes are now available in a wide variety of designs, including brass and chrome, which will help to add something unique and stylish to your bathroom.

Bathroom accessories do not just have to add functionality to your bathroom.  You can select accessories simply for decoration to improve the look of your bathroom.  Items such as decorative glass bottles, ornaments and bathroom plaques are great choices for those wishing to add something more interesting and creative to their bathroom.

Bathroom accessories are also ideal for those wishing to create different themes for their bathroom.  Unique accessories and accessories such as fish-shaped ornaments or rubber ducks help to create a fun theme for the bathroom and you can even consider adding your own pictures or designs for any themes that you have in mind.

Whatever design you are planning for your bathroom, you are sure to find accessories that will help you to complete your theme. There are many manufactures offering bathroom accessories such as Ideal Standard and Inda, so there is no limit on what you can achieve.

Wet rot on a window sill is best dealt with quickly because it penetrates wood, weakening it and making it less secure.

First, locate all the rot. Some areas will be obvious and spongy, but others may lurk beneath the surface. Press a fingernail against the wood, if it sinks in, you have found more rot.

Next, use a chisel and hammer or slot head screwdriver to remove crumbly wood. If it is soft but relatively intact, a reinforcing wood hardener product can be applied.

If the rot is too serious for this, chisel out until you reach sound wood, then rebuild with new wood cut to fit. Use exterior wood adhesive and brass screws to attach new wood firmly, as any movement could allow water in. Once fitted, paint new wood with primer. Obtain a smooth surface using a plane.

Once wood is dry fill holes and cracks with exterior wood filler, using a palette knife. Any big holes can be filled with a two-part epoxy wood filler.

Once filler has dried, sand to a smooth surface with coarse sandpaper and then paint.

Blinds as window coverings have become increasingly popular, as people prefer an uncluttered look to their house interior. The design of blinds means that their straight lines and perpendicular corners are more in keeping with a clean modern look. There are many different types of blinds, giving customers a wide variety of styles to choose from according to their requirements.

Blinds have become a very effective alternative to curtains. Often blinds are more versatile than curtains as they can be easily, and cost-effectively, crafted to fit a certain window size. Blinds can be effective insulators against heat or cold, as well as being more adjustable than curtains when it comes to letting in light. Blinds are effective as a screen, giving privacy to the inside of a house, while letting in the desired amount of light at the same time.

Blinds can be made out of a variety of different materials and fabrics, which means that the customer has a greater choice, according to taste and budget, than they would when choosing curtains.

Another advantage of blinds is that they can be used to cover windows that are not vertical, which curtains cannot, as curtains are always loose at the base, whereas blinds can be fixed to rails at both the bottom and the top.

Blinds can be a less expensive option than curtains, especially made-to-measure roller blinds that use significantly less material. Roman blinds use slightly more material than roller blinds, but still not as much as curtains.

Roller blinds and roman blinds do not necessarily need professional installation, and can be fitted by anyone, whereas the fabrication of curtains, being time consuming and complicated, is a skill that the average amateur interior decorator does not possess.

Blinds are more suitable than curtains in certain instances, such as in bathrooms or kitchens, where hanging material may cause the curtains to become damp or splattered.