If you have ever had any involvement whatsoever within a DIY project, chances are at some point you are going to come across MDF (or medium density fibreboard). The highly versatile and cost effective material is useful more many home builds. In this post we examine how to paint MDF.
One of the main issues with trying to paint MDF is that you will often find the paint you are using will set dry extremely quickly. It can therefore often be the case that the end result of your diy project is nothing more than a very poor, uneven finish. There are however available specially made primers that can be bought. These are used as a kind of undercoat for the MDF, onto which a secondary layer of paint can then later be added to create the desired colour and finish. The MDF primer acts as a form of sealant on the board, a process which involves sealing the timber from which the board is made and thereby allowing the second coat of paint to dry more naturally and evenly.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tips On How How To Safely Remove Wall Tiles
In this post we explore how you can safely remove wall tiles from rooms such as your bathroom without causing undue damage to the wall or surrounding areas of your property.
Preparation
In preparation for taking on this task the first thing you should do is protect the surrounding area in which you are going to work. I would advise laying down several layers of dust sheets to protect nearby sink basins, toilets etc and save yourself a lot of cleaning up later on. Debris from removing wall towels can occasionally cause damage to polished or delicate areas so please ensure you protect the area well. You will also need a paint scraper or similar tool to help remove any adhesive that remains clinging on to the wall.
Tools Required
The primary tool required to help you safely remove wall tiles from your bathroom or kitchen is a bolster chisel (better models will also generally come equipped with a hand guard). You will also need a mid size hammer or lump hammer - as well as obligatory safety goggles and gloves for your own safety.
Removing the Tiles
Firstly you will need to carefully align the bolster chisel with the grout line of the wall tile, and look to ensure you angle the tool as near to the attaching wall as possible. Once the chisel is correctly positioned, you use the hammer to hit the chisel top. Although the first few attempts are often difficult and cause the greatest amount of difficulty in removal, it wont take time for you to establish how hard you have to strike the bolster chisel in order to successfully loosen and remove the wall tile.
Once the first tiles have been successfully removed, the whole process should become much easier - although as you would expect this can be affected by which adhesive was initially used on the offending wall tiles. Having got the tile off the wall, you should then use a paint scraper to scratch off any remaining adhesive that is stuck to the wall. Be gentle in this process, so as not to cause any further undue damage to the underlying wall.
Preparation
In preparation for taking on this task the first thing you should do is protect the surrounding area in which you are going to work. I would advise laying down several layers of dust sheets to protect nearby sink basins, toilets etc and save yourself a lot of cleaning up later on. Debris from removing wall towels can occasionally cause damage to polished or delicate areas so please ensure you protect the area well. You will also need a paint scraper or similar tool to help remove any adhesive that remains clinging on to the wall.
Tools Required
The primary tool required to help you safely remove wall tiles from your bathroom or kitchen is a bolster chisel (better models will also generally come equipped with a hand guard). You will also need a mid size hammer or lump hammer - as well as obligatory safety goggles and gloves for your own safety.
Removing the Tiles
Firstly you will need to carefully align the bolster chisel with the grout line of the wall tile, and look to ensure you angle the tool as near to the attaching wall as possible. Once the chisel is correctly positioned, you use the hammer to hit the chisel top. Although the first few attempts are often difficult and cause the greatest amount of difficulty in removal, it wont take time for you to establish how hard you have to strike the bolster chisel in order to successfully loosen and remove the wall tile.
Once the first tiles have been successfully removed, the whole process should become much easier - although as you would expect this can be affected by which adhesive was initially used on the offending wall tiles. Having got the tile off the wall, you should then use a paint scraper to scratch off any remaining adhesive that is stuck to the wall. Be gentle in this process, so as not to cause any further undue damage to the underlying wall.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Add Value and Improve any Property By Stopping Damp
One thing that is extremely off-putting to anyone looking round a home for the first time is the dreadful sites and smells caused by damp. In order to tackle it you will first need to establish the cause and type of damp you are experiencing in the building. This can generally be divided into 3 camps: condensation, penetrating damp and rising damp. Needless to say, if you can tackle the issue of damp early it will minimise the damage it causes.
Condensation
Most damp in property is caused by condensation – that is to say air in the property has a very high concentration of moisture. This can then settle on cool surfaces such as stone, windows and other glass. Stopping this from occurring entirely is extremely hard, but can be addressed by properly insulating the property, ensuring your kitchen and bathroom is fitted with effective extractor fan units and ensuring that your washer/dryer also has ample extraction in place.
Penetrating Damp
Penetrating damp is another form of damp is caused by gaps in the mortar of your brickwork. This damage is often worsened by harsh conditions in UK winters so always try to repair any issues as early as possible. The best way of tackling the problem is by repointing the brickwork.
Rising Damp
This type of damp is caused by water seeping up through the earth and into your property. It can be tackled by fitting effective damp proofing to your home at ground level. Some older homes may not have this fitted but it is most certainly a worthwhile investment.
Condensation
Most damp in property is caused by condensation – that is to say air in the property has a very high concentration of moisture. This can then settle on cool surfaces such as stone, windows and other glass. Stopping this from occurring entirely is extremely hard, but can be addressed by properly insulating the property, ensuring your kitchen and bathroom is fitted with effective extractor fan units and ensuring that your washer/dryer also has ample extraction in place.
Penetrating Damp
Penetrating damp is another form of damp is caused by gaps in the mortar of your brickwork. This damage is often worsened by harsh conditions in UK winters so always try to repair any issues as early as possible. The best way of tackling the problem is by repointing the brickwork.
Rising Damp
This type of damp is caused by water seeping up through the earth and into your property. It can be tackled by fitting effective damp proofing to your home at ground level. Some older homes may not have this fitted but it is most certainly a worthwhile investment.
Great Advice For Buying DIY Materials To Improve Your Property
Are you looking to improve your property with a bit of DIY but find the whole process confusing and befuddling? Well these simple tips can help you approach a DIY task in a more ordered and structured manner.
Draw Up a List of Materials
It may sound a bit obvious, but failing to plan ahead is a key error of many DIY enthusiasts. Before rushing off to the shop carefully consider the materials you may need and plan out a list of things you will need to buy before you jump in the van. This can help stop unnecessary journeys back and forth to the DIY store.
Measure and Plan
Before starting to buy any materials have a clear plan in mind with measurements, scales and materials so you can ensure you don’t waste money by buying too much of a raw material and wasting your money.
Consider Delivery Requirements
If you do not have a van to hand or are requiring some particularly large items for a grand project, you may consider ordering your DIY materials online and have them delivered to your door via a courier or delivery lorry. This can save a lot of hassle and stress.
Compare Prices
Make sure you get the best possible deal for the materials you need by comparing prices between online stores, major retailers and independent shops in your local area. You may be able to get price match deals or free delivery on materials to improve your property – all of which will save you money.
Draw Up a List of Materials
It may sound a bit obvious, but failing to plan ahead is a key error of many DIY enthusiasts. Before rushing off to the shop carefully consider the materials you may need and plan out a list of things you will need to buy before you jump in the van. This can help stop unnecessary journeys back and forth to the DIY store.
Measure and Plan
Before starting to buy any materials have a clear plan in mind with measurements, scales and materials so you can ensure you don’t waste money by buying too much of a raw material and wasting your money.
Consider Delivery Requirements
If you do not have a van to hand or are requiring some particularly large items for a grand project, you may consider ordering your DIY materials online and have them delivered to your door via a courier or delivery lorry. This can save a lot of hassle and stress.
Compare Prices
Make sure you get the best possible deal for the materials you need by comparing prices between online stores, major retailers and independent shops in your local area. You may be able to get price match deals or free delivery on materials to improve your property – all of which will save you money.
What Causes Leaking Pipes Around Your Property?
It may sound obvious, but for many people the reason they find that the pipes in their property start to leak is simply because they are old and have become dilapidated. In such cases, it may be unfortunately beyond repair and there is no alternative other than to fully replace the pipe work.
In some instances however, there are ways in which you can avoid getting leaks in your pipe work. If for example, you have sizeable trees in close proximity to your property, it may be the case these are causing the issue – and as such you need to take particular care. This is because large trees and shrubs can often draw out the ground water from the area surrounding their roots, which can cause the earth in which they stand to give way and subside.. This in turn can create additional stress and strain on your pipe work, causing damage that can cause leaks. The roots themselves can also sometime penetrate the pipes and cause them to crack, break and leak.
Although it may sound a drastic solution, the only way of tackling this issue may be to remove the offending tree and its roots – however it can be worth first seeking advice from a qualified expert before taking such extreme measures. Please also consider the legal obligation of felling large trees – particularly in residential areas.
In some instances however, there are ways in which you can avoid getting leaks in your pipe work. If for example, you have sizeable trees in close proximity to your property, it may be the case these are causing the issue – and as such you need to take particular care. This is because large trees and shrubs can often draw out the ground water from the area surrounding their roots, which can cause the earth in which they stand to give way and subside.. This in turn can create additional stress and strain on your pipe work, causing damage that can cause leaks. The roots themselves can also sometime penetrate the pipes and cause them to crack, break and leak.
Although it may sound a drastic solution, the only way of tackling this issue may be to remove the offending tree and its roots – however it can be worth first seeking advice from a qualified expert before taking such extreme measures. Please also consider the legal obligation of felling large trees – particularly in residential areas.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Property Improvement UK Blog
Welcome back to property improvement UK, a home improvement blog for all you British DIY lovers! If like me you love nothing more than to climb up that step ladder and add a lick of paint to your crumbling house walls, (but are not perhaps too clued up on how to do it) than this is the place for you! Please keep checking my blog and share all your DIY delights, bathroom banter, or tiling tips, as well as passing on any home improvement and gardening advice which you feel will be helpful to suit any house - from a simple flat (like mine!) to the grand old British stately homes of yesteryear. Please pass on your home improvement advice as I need all the help I can get if I am to make any sense of my own bizarre desire to do the jobs around the house which should clearly be left to professionals (or maybe my Dad!)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Property Improvements in the Garden
As you may have read in my previous home and property improvement posts, I've been in the back garden recently doing a few general odd jobs, in addition to planting a range of fresh herbs and giving the new place a bit of atmosphere with some solar powered garden lights. I was kind of beginning to actually get into my stride a little bit, especially when considering my limited experience in actually having, never mind having to look after a back garden of any note. Inevitably though, the great British summer once again expressed itself in some style. Rain poured down pretty much all afternoon, thus doing some DIY in the back garden seemed more like a polar exhibition than a lazy slouch around out the back of the house. Not much solar power for those new garden lights then eh? :-)
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