There are some great DIY competitions around at the moment, where you can win anything from £25 cash to a power tool.
Just take a look at these DIY competitions:
DIY competition win a Torinio
DIY competition win an Autowrench
Monday, 16 March 2009
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Insulating a loft
Join an existing conversation or create a new thread related to Building in our DIY forum.
One of the ways to make substantial savings on your home heating bills is to insulate the loft. Not only can you save money on your heating bills, you may be eligible for a grant to carry out the work. Your local council or Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to provide you with the relevant information.
Insulating materials for insulating a loft
The two most common forms of loft insulation are blanket insulation and loose-fill insulation. Blanket insulation is made from glass fibre, mineral fibre or rock fibre and is sold in large rolls. All three materials are non-flammable and will have been treated against vermin, damp and rot. The rolls of insulating material are usually 6 - 8m long (20 - 25ft) and up to 400mm wide (16in). The thickness of the material can be 100, 150 or 200mm (4, 6 or 8in), but the thicker the insulation the less heat will be lost.
Blanket insulation
The rolls of insulating material are usually unbacked but can come with a paper backing to prevent tearing of the fibre or a foil backing. Rolls of blanket insulation with a foil backing are used when a vapour barrier is required.
Warm moist air from heated rooms will travel to cold unheated areas such as lofts, producing condensation. Over time this will reduce the effectiveness of the insulation and may even cause dry rot in the roof beams. A vapour barrier is used to prevent this.
The foil backing laid against the warm side of the insulation creates a barrier preventing the warm moist air passing into the loft. Rolls of polythene backed insulation material are also available and will serve the same purpose.
Loose-fill insulation
The most common forms of loose-fill insulation are exfoliated vermiculite and mineral fibre. Loose-fill insulation material is supplied in bags, which will cover an area of
One of the ways to make substantial savings on your home heating bills is to insulate the loft. Not only can you save money on your heating bills, you may be eligible for a grant to carry out the work. Your local council or Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to provide you with the relevant information.
Insulating materials for insulating a loft
The two most common forms of loft insulation are blanket insulation and loose-fill insulation. Blanket insulation is made from glass fibre, mineral fibre or rock fibre and is sold in large rolls. All three materials are non-flammable and will have been treated against vermin, damp and rot. The rolls of insulating material are usually 6 - 8m long (20 - 25ft) and up to 400mm wide (16in). The thickness of the material can be 100, 150 or 200mm (4, 6 or 8in), but the thicker the insulation the less heat will be lost.
Blanket insulation
The rolls of insulating material are usually unbacked but can come with a paper backing to prevent tearing of the fibre or a foil backing. Rolls of blanket insulation with a foil backing are used when a vapour barrier is required.
Warm moist air from heated rooms will travel to cold unheated areas such as lofts, producing condensation. Over time this will reduce the effectiveness of the insulation and may even cause dry rot in the roof beams. A vapour barrier is used to prevent this.
The foil backing laid against the warm side of the insulation creates a barrier preventing the warm moist air passing into the loft. Rolls of polythene backed insulation material are also available and will serve the same purpose.
Loose-fill insulation
The most common forms of loose-fill insulation are exfoliated vermiculite and mineral fibre. Loose-fill insulation material is supplied in bags, which will cover an area of
DIY guide to loft conversions
The loft makes up a large proportion of a property’s internal space: space that more often than not is under utilised. This space has enormous potential and with careful planning a loft conversion can greatly enhance the overall living experience, in addition to increasing the property’s value.
Image supplied by Skyline Loft Conversions, Bristol
It is generally accepted that a loft conversion can increase the habitable floor space of a two-storey property by as much as 30%. And with loft conversions usually being less expensive than building an extension onto the property, it is no surprise that converting the loft has become so popular.
A loft conversion of any kind involves a great deal of work, so detailed planning is essential. Although there is an almost endless variety of loft sizes and shapes, all loft conversions should be approached in a similar way. In this article we intend to look at the points that need to be considered to enable you to realise the full potential of your loft.
Next page: How roof designs influence loft conversions
Image supplied by Skyline Loft Conversions, Bristol
It is generally accepted that a loft conversion can increase the habitable floor space of a two-storey property by as much as 30%. And with loft conversions usually being less expensive than building an extension onto the property, it is no surprise that converting the loft has become so popular.
A loft conversion of any kind involves a great deal of work, so detailed planning is essential. Although there is an almost endless variety of loft sizes and shapes, all loft conversions should be approached in a similar way. In this article we intend to look at the points that need to be considered to enable you to realise the full potential of your loft.
Next page: How roof designs influence loft conversions
New DIY website launches to rave reviews
A new website has been launched for everyone with an interest in DIY. www.lets-do-diy.com provides step-by-step instructions on how to carry out a wide range of DIY projects. Currently there are almost 180 projects covering everything from relatively simple tasks like changing a tap washer to far more complex jobs such as installing a roof window.
The site is the brainchild of Bath company lets-do-diy Ltd and took two years to develop. The content is frequently updated to bring visitors the latest news on tools and materials, product reviews, a humorous look at DIY disasters, plus tips and advice. Furthermore, each month a feature article on a specific DIY subject is published.
Already the site has received a positive reaction. When lets-do-diy.com featured on an independent review website users were unanimous in their praise, rating the site highly for content, navigation, speed and design. Reviewed over a two month period lets-do-diy.com achieved a final overall score of 4.97 out of a maximum of 5.
“We’re delighted with feedback from visitors to the site and from the DIY industry,” said John Burry, editor of lets-do-diy.com. “As we continue developing the site and introduce new projects and features, we believe lets-do-diy.com will become a valuable resource for both the DIY novice and the experienced home improver.”
For further information visit www.lets-do-diy.com or call 01225 316940.
The site is the brainchild of Bath company lets-do-diy Ltd and took two years to develop. The content is frequently updated to bring visitors the latest news on tools and materials, product reviews, a humorous look at DIY disasters, plus tips and advice. Furthermore, each month a feature article on a specific DIY subject is published.
Already the site has received a positive reaction. When lets-do-diy.com featured on an independent review website users were unanimous in their praise, rating the site highly for content, navigation, speed and design. Reviewed over a two month period lets-do-diy.com achieved a final overall score of 4.97 out of a maximum of 5.
“We’re delighted with feedback from visitors to the site and from the DIY industry,” said John Burry, editor of lets-do-diy.com. “As we continue developing the site and introduce new projects and features, we believe lets-do-diy.com will become a valuable resource for both the DIY novice and the experienced home improver.”
For further information visit www.lets-do-diy.com or call 01225 316940.
DIY Sparks Sex War
An online poll asking who is better at DIY – men or women – has erupted into a fierce battle between the sexes. The poll is featured on the home improvement and DIY website http://www.lets-do-diy.com/. And the huge response it has generated seems to indicate that the most explosive area for gender conflict has shifted from the traditional battleground of driving ability to DIY.
The website’s editor, John Burry, says: “We thought asking if men or women were better at DIY would provide lets-do-diy.com with a little light relief, but both sexes appear to have very strong views on the subject.”
Hundreds of visitors to the site have voted, but the battle is raging at its most fierce in the website’s forum where dozens of comments have been posted.
“Everyone at lets-do-diy.com is surprised by the strength of feeling expressed in the forum,” says Mr Burry. “Both sides of the debate have put their case with amusing anecdotes and scathing attacks on the DIY capabilities of the opposite sex.”
He continues: “On a serious note, the poll clearly suggests that today many more women are undertaking home improvement projects and consequently DIY is no longer the predominantly male activity it once was.”
To date over eight hundred people have voted in the poll with the division of opinion currently standing at 54% to 46% in favour of men being more proficient at DIY. But with the poll running until the end of March, the final result is far from clear.
To see how the poll stands at present visit http://www.lets-do-diy.com/
The website’s editor, John Burry, says: “We thought asking if men or women were better at DIY would provide lets-do-diy.com with a little light relief, but both sexes appear to have very strong views on the subject.”
Hundreds of visitors to the site have voted, but the battle is raging at its most fierce in the website’s forum where dozens of comments have been posted.
“Everyone at lets-do-diy.com is surprised by the strength of feeling expressed in the forum,” says Mr Burry. “Both sides of the debate have put their case with amusing anecdotes and scathing attacks on the DIY capabilities of the opposite sex.”
He continues: “On a serious note, the poll clearly suggests that today many more women are undertaking home improvement projects and consequently DIY is no longer the predominantly male activity it once was.”
To date over eight hundred people have voted in the poll with the division of opinion currently standing at 54% to 46% in favour of men being more proficient at DIY. But with the poll running until the end of March, the final result is far from clear.
To see how the poll stands at present visit http://www.lets-do-diy.com/
Saving Energy and Money
For many people the recent cold weather will have highlighted how a severe winter combined with steep increases in oil, gas and electricity prices could result in financial hardship. But help is at hand.
The DIY and home improvement website www.lets-do-diy.com is currently offering advice on how to cut domestic fuel bills this winter. Under the heading “Get Switched On To Saving Energy” the main areas where energy is lost are identified and a range of measures recommended for improving energy efficiency – resulting in lower domestic fuel bills.
Many of the energy saving solutions discussed are relatively inexpensive and simple to install, and include insulation, draught proofing and secondary glazing.
Information is also provided on various agencies offering grants to fund part or all of the work required to make your home more energy efficient.
The website’s editor John Burry said: “Many households are facing an increase of almost 40% in their heating and lighting bills this winter. But by carrying out the energy saving recommendations in the lets-do-diy.com article, domestic energy bills can be reduced dramatically.”
Find out how to cut your household energy bills this winter by visiting DIY tips for saving energy and money
The DIY and home improvement website www.lets-do-diy.com is currently offering advice on how to cut domestic fuel bills this winter. Under the heading “Get Switched On To Saving Energy” the main areas where energy is lost are identified and a range of measures recommended for improving energy efficiency – resulting in lower domestic fuel bills.
Many of the energy saving solutions discussed are relatively inexpensive and simple to install, and include insulation, draught proofing and secondary glazing.
Information is also provided on various agencies offering grants to fund part or all of the work required to make your home more energy efficient.
The website’s editor John Burry said: “Many households are facing an increase of almost 40% in their heating and lighting bills this winter. But by carrying out the energy saving recommendations in the lets-do-diy.com article, domestic energy bills can be reduced dramatically.”
Find out how to cut your household energy bills this winter by visiting DIY tips for saving energy and money
Sanding wooden floors
I am looking at sanding my floor boards again. After 12 years in my house the bathroom floor needs re-sanding. Last time I had terrible trouble, knocking the nails down, then getting an industrial sander. Man what a nightmare it took loads of work. Still I guess once youve done it you know better for next time. Its a good job there are sites like lets-do-diy to offer advice now.
sanding a wooden floor
sanding a wooden floor
Thursday, 5 March 2009
DIY toilet repairs
I wish I had found this article before attempting to repair my toilet, replacing a toilet it would of saved me ages of draining the cistern, tightening nuts and filling in holes with silicone because it still leaks.
What a nightmare, still we have a nice psh button flush now, all I need to do is get my son to remember to lift the seat and flush afterwards, kids eh
What a nightmare, still we have a nice psh button flush now, all I need to do is get my son to remember to lift the seat and flush afterwards, kids eh
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