North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Home Improvements’ Category

When fitting a new door handle, the first step is to drill a hole for the latch, usually about a metre up from the base of the door. Mark its position on the door’s edge.

Hold the latch in position at the centre of the door’s edge and use a pencil to trace around it.

Use a drill bit that is designed to cut into wood and slightly bigger than the latch, allowing thereby enough room for the latch to be fitted into the hole. Measure carefully the depth of the hole that will take the latch. You can do this most effectively by holding the drill bit against the latch and mark the actual drill bit with masking tape at the point where it will stop drilling.

Next, use a wedge to keep the door steady and begin drilling the hole for the latch into the side of the door to the correctly marked depth, and use a chisel to get rid of any wood debris.

Insert the latch next, and mark its position after making sure it is perfectly level. Use a chisel for marking the pencil outline before chiselling out the recess, then press the latch in to see that it is flush with the surface of the door.

Holding the latch in position on the outside of the door, push a pencil through the latch’s hole and mark it where the handle spindle will be inserted. Then drill the hole and clear debris from it before sliding the latch into the door, attaching the door handle and adding the latch plate.

In the case where an airlock is suspected of being the cause of a blockage of water to a tap, the air will need to be forced from its trapped position.  Airlocks usually result from poor design of the plumbing in a low-pressure or storage-cistern fed system.  Pipework in such a system should never be run uphill and then downhill because air will become trapped in the high pocket.  No water will be able to pass if the pressure is not sufficient.  Air should always be allowed to rise and escape through a cold feed or tap outlet.

Expelling trapped air from the high points in a poorly designed system will allow water to flow, so the problem will normally occur again only when the system has been drained.  If you did not install the system yourself, when you drain it you will likely not know whether or not it was designed well until you try to refill it; the problem, however, is that once you refill the system and determine that there must be trapped air, you have no idea where the high point is.

Try first to connect a hose to the open tap and give it a good blow.  If this does not work, join a small section of hose pipe to join up the low-pressure tap outlet to the high-pressure mains water tap outlet, as this may force the air from the high point.  This is a trick often used by plumbers faced with the same sort of problem.

It is possible to create a new look in a bathroom without spending a lot of money. Luckily, the bathroom is usually the smallest room in the house and much cheaper to redecorate. While remodelling a bathroom can be expensive when all fixtures are being replaced, this is not a necessary route to travel. Small and subtle changes can make a huge difference and keep homeowners adhere to a budget.

The first thing to do is consider the walls. They may need a new coat of paint or a completely new look with wallpaper. No matter what is chosen, make sure the colours are light as this will help make the room appear larger.

Though taps are small fixtures, they can make a statement. Worn taps will make the room look run down. By replacing these, owners will enjoy a clean and modern look. This is a simple and very cheap fix that will really help the overall look of the room.

Seeing as this is the smallest room, replacing the floor should be affordable. Changing to tile or hardwood will add a dramatic effect, but if the budget does not allow for this, simply buying new a new bathroom matt or rug can make a big difference as well.  

There is no need to try and purchase complete bathroom suites. A bathroom makeover will rejuvenate this room. Bathrooms can be fun to redecorate and with many colours, textures and storage options available, homeowners can literally create a new look every few months without over spending.

Vertical blinds are blinds that consist of a number of vertical panels made of stiffened fabric that hang down and slide against each other to open them. They slide along an aluminium track and are weighted at the base to ensure that they hang straight. They can be slanted to increase or reduce the amount of light let into the room. The ease at which these blinds are controlled makes them a very popular choice.

Vertical blinds are often popular in conservatories and are especially good for patio doors. Additionally, it is possible to use vertical blinds for sloping glazing.

Vertical blinds are very easy to use. You simply pull a cord to move the panels along the aluminium track, and then pull the chain to tilt the slats. If you have children, it may be better to fit a child-safe want. This is a plastic stick attached to the top of the first panel, and used to pull or push the blind along the track. This mechanism reduces the risk of accidental strangling. Alternatively, you could opt to have your vertical blinds fitted to a motor. This will battery operate your blinds, and entirely reduce the need for cords or anything hanging at all.

Vertical blinds can be fitted into windows of any size, although they are best used in large windows and patio doors. You could use them in a conservatory to cover a number of windows at once.

The slats for vertical blinds come in a couple of different sizes, and in a huge range of fabrics. This means you should be able to find a colour and fabric that will suit the room in which they are going to be hung. 

A foundation is a structure that resides underground and has the function of distributing a building’s weight to spread it over a greater area. It is essentially a sort of raft if you think of the soil as water, which also moves and swells. A foundation thought of in this way can be seen as keeping a structure afloat and stopping it from sinking into the soil. The greater the load it must carry, the greater a foundation needs to be.

With things like small, single-brick-thick garden walls that are lower than about 700mm you can get away with a 100mm thick concrete slab twice the width of the wall. A two-brick-thick wall on the other hand would need a slab 150mm thick and three times the wall’s width.

If the construction in question rests on chalk or virgin rock, a concrete foundation slab is sufficient to adequately support smaller garden structures such as patios and walls. If the site is solid rock but slopes slightly it will have to be levelled out with a concrete wedge-shaped raft, or alternatively you could use raised decking to float over the slope, setting its supporting posts in concrete-filled holes.

Different types of soil also have different problems associated with them, with sand for instance draining very well but prone to shifting. Usually you’ll find that you have to build a foundation of some description, and at the same time take account of drainage. After digging the foundation, check the bottom earth, and if this is soft replace it with compacted hardcore before laying the concrete slab.

Roman blinds can make a real style statement and they also have a number of practical benefits. Available in a range of fabrics, Roman blinds can suit a number of rooms, particularly those such as the living room, the bedroom, the conservatory and the study. Many Roman blinds are available as a blackout blind option, adding additional style to a bedroom whilst blocking out light and ensuring a good night’s sleep.

The soft fabrics that Roman blinds tend to be made from mean that their appearance is less harsh than other blind options such as Venetian blinds, roller blinds and vertical blinds. The soft, luxurious style of Roman blinds makes them a suitable space-saving alternative to curtains in small rooms.

By simply pulling a cord, Roman blinds can easily be adjusted to different levels to alter the amount of light coming in through a window. This can help to prevent glare and can also prevent other soft furnishings indoors from suffering damage from sunlight. As lined curtains can reduce energy bills by preventing heat from escaping through windows, roman blinds offer style and practicality around the home.

There are a number of tasks that need to be completed around the house each year in order to prevent more serious problems from occurring later. The guttering around your property should be cleaned out annually to prevent a build up of leaves and debris.

There are a number of problems that can occur from a build up of leaves in the guttering, including an increase in fire risk and a high chance of blockage, which can lead to further problems. The only tools you will require are a ladder, hosepipe, trowel and possibly a plumber’s auger. The best time to do carry out this task is at the end of winter, when all of the leaves have dropped.

The first thing you need do is get up on the ladder and move along the entire length of guttering, scooping out all of the leaves with your trowel. Once this is complete, you use the hosepipe to blast the gutter clean. The next stage is to check the downpipes for blockages. Simply aim the hose down the pipe and check to see if the water comes out from the bottom. If not, you may need to use the plumber’s auger to free any blockages.

Just by following these easy steps, you will be able to keep the guttering clear and free of problems, which will prevent any serious issues from developing in the future, such as the guttering coming loose from the wall, flooding, rotting of wooden edgings and leaks.

Shelving can be put up almost anywhere and is a useful way of creating extra storage space. The first consideration is the load that will be placed on it. For heavy loads, for example, steel shelving from 430 mm to 2.4 m long, with brackets from 120 mm to 610 mm wide, is ideal. For lighter loads, steel shelves in lengths from 188 mm to 2.5 m, with brackets from 100 mm to 570 mm is preferred.

There are various other options available, including melamine, softwood, hardwood, coated chipboard, wood veneered chipboard, medium-density fibreboard or MDF, plywood and glass. Timber and wood-veneered chipboard are more expensive than coated chipboard and must be sealed, while coated chipboard is a cheaper alternative and needs no finishing.

Glass used for shelving should be at least 6 mm thick; though 9 mm toughened glass is best. The edge of the glass must be bevelled by the supplier to ensure a safe, smooth, finish; sturdy brackets should be used, as glass is heavy.

Another option to consider is acrylic and Perspex sheeting. This should be at least 12 mm thick and is capable of supporting light to medium loads. 

Measuring for blinds is very important as you want to make sure that your blinds fit perfectly to ensure they are as effective as possible.  Many windows are a standard size but it is still important that you measure your window accurately just to make sure.  There are several pointers to take into account to ensure that you get the measurements you need.

The recess measurement is important if you want your blinds to fit within the window recess.  To measure the width of the recess, measure the inside width at the top, middle and bottom of the recess.  Use the narrowest width measurement when purchasing your blinds.

Take the exact measurement if you are looking for blinds which will hang outside the recess which overlaps the window.

A handy hint is to use a steel tape measure and record your measurements in millimetres rather than inches to ensure accuracy when purchasing your blinds.

Make sure, when measuring the drop required for your blinds, that you measure the height of the window on the right, left and in the middle.  Use the shortest height measurement you obtained when measuring the drop when you are purchasing your blinds.

Roller blinds will be fitted inside the recess so you will need to ensure you have this measurement.  Wooden blinds will also be fitted within the recess.

Measuring for bay windows will require a number of additional measurements to be taken, as they will need blinds for the front as well as for the sides.  There might be a small gap where the blinds meet but this tends to be blocked by the window frame at these points so should not offer too much inconvenience.  VELUX windows should come with a code which will allows manufacturers to know which size of blind you require.

There was a time when any reasonably sized garden would have a shed. Usually a flimsy constructed plywood structure, it would provide gardeners with a little base of operations. “Pottering about in the shed” came to be synonymous with doing nothing much of any consequence, just enjoying your own private space in the world. Gradually, garden sheds faded out of fashion, the stuff of spoof ads in Viz comics and sitcoms about men growing old disgracefully (think of Victor Meldrew’s luckless encounter with a swarm of bees).

In the 21st century, however, the garden shed is making an upmarket comeback in the form of the garden room. No more rickety plywood or plasterboard here, today’s garden room is made of top quality timber, double glazed and heated, offering a viable alternative to a home extension or conservatory.

Types of Garden Room
The phrase “garden room” is usually used by manufacturers to refer to the most basic variety of room, designed as a living space detached from your main home. Depending on the manufacturer, you may also be offered the option of a “garden office”, with more electrical wiring so that you can plug in equipment for your home office, such as a computer or printer; or a garden studio soundproofed for musicians or customised to provide artists with their own studio space.

These rooms will usually not need planning permission, and offer a perfect solution for people who wish to work from home, but may not have the space in their main residence. Some larger garden offices and studios even come with their own bathroom and shower installed, for those who want a true home (a few feet) away from home in their own back yard.