Expert building guides
This section covers a range of general building how to guides. Carpentry articles show how to repair and hang doors, sliding wardrobe doors and windows, fit locks and latches as well as fitting shelves and repairing rotten wood. From advice on creaking stairs to stripping varnishing and repairing floors as well as laying hardboard, laminate flooring and vinyl floor coverings.
There’s a complete guide to plastering and skimming plasterboard plus repairs to old plaster as well as advice for drilling and plugging walls. There are hints and tips on glazing and insulation plus guides on chisels, planes, power drills and saws. Other articles cover patio building, loft ladders and attic conversions plus roof repairs, rising damp, and sealants.
Latest Building Guides
- Do You Need Planning Permission for Solar Panels in the UK?No, you do not require planning permission when adding solar panels to your home, unlike something like loft conversions or an extension over the garage which would certainly require planning permission. Installing solar panels on your home is an excellent way to reduce energy bills and decrease your carbon footprint. With the growing popularity of… Read more: Do You Need Planning Permission for Solar Panels in the UK?
- How to clear blocked drainsEverything you need to know about clearing blocked drains Blocked drains are unpleasant. But they are also very expensive to get cleared professionally, so it pays to know how to do the job yourself. How drainage systems work Before you attempt to unblock main drains, make absolutely certain what system you have and get to… Read more: How to clear blocked drains
- M Class Dust ExtractorM Class Dust Extractor As a reminder, there are three classes of dust extractor in the UK; L Class, M Class and H Class. Broadly speaking, M Class dust extractors are suitable for dust created from hard woods, sheet materials, brick and and concrete dust. Dust extraction is often a secondary consideration, especially for DIY… Read more: M Class Dust Extractor
- Laying chipboard flooringThe chipboard flooring sheets should be stored flat in the room for a couple of days before laying them to allow them to acclimatise to differences in temperature and humidity. Whilst chipboard flooring can be nailed, it is notorious for working loose and squeaking so screwing them down is the preferred method of fixing and… Read more: Laying chipboard flooring
Roofing
Doors & Windows
- How to hang a door
- Reverse handing a door
- How to fit a door threshold
- Door and window joint repairs
- Fitting door locks
- Glazing windows and doors
- Removing a broken pane of glass
- How to measure for wooden shutters
- Curtain pole measurement guide
- Repairing a broken door
- Buying the right door handle
- Casement window locks
- Casement window repairs
- Fitting a roller blind
- Door latch or mortice latch
- Cutting mortice for a new door lock
- Fitting a curtain track
- Cupboard hinges
- Cupboard handles and latches
- Sash window repairs
Misc
- How to break up concrete
- Shelving guide and ideas
- Top 10 tiling tips
- Setting out tiles
- Cutting ceramic tiles
- Guide to self storage
- Tips for reducing home insurance costs
- Guide to trades
- How to put up a fixed shelf
- Wood and sheet material
- How to put up an alcove shelf
- Concreting foundations
- Screwing into wood
- Power and hand drills
- Power and hand saws
- Types of screw
- Types of nail
- Sealing around baths and basins
- Planes and planing wood
- Choosing and using chisels
- Party Wall etc Act 1996
- Repairing rotten wood
- Grouting ceramic tiles
- Fixing ceramic tiles
- Rainwater system replacement
- Permitted development – expansion to guidelines
- Sliding doors for wardrobes
- Tips for finding your dream home
- Mixing concrete with a mixer
- Choosing a spirit level
- Reclaiming bricks
- Removing an old kitchen
- Excavating for a concrete slab or base
- Excavating foundations
Plastering
Kitchen
- Guide to flatpack kitchens
- Is doing your own kitchen worth the risk?
- Making good kitchen walls
- Ripping out your old kitchen
- Planning your kitchen layout
- How to fit glass splashbacks
- Fitting kitchen sink and appliances
- Installing an extractor fan
- Kitchen finishing elements
- Kitchen lighting – plug in pelmet lights
- Kitchen lighting – under cupboard lights
- Kitchen tiling
- Kitchen flooring
- Planning your kitchen – legal requirements
- How to fit kitchen drawers
- How to fit kitchen cabinets
- How to fit a kitchen worktop
- Planning your kitchen budget
- Questions to ask yourself about your new kitchen
- Fitting instructions for stainless steel worktops
- Knocking through a kitchen and dining room
Drainage
Lofts
Walls
- Stud walls and partitions
- Fixing heavy loads to plasterboard and solid walls
- Fixing to walls
- Demolishing a brick wall
- Removing plasterboard from walls and ceilings
- Preparation for a concrete garage
- Rising damp
- Removing a lathe and plaster ceiling
- Repairing a sagging lathe and plaster ceiling
- Minor repairs to lathe and plaster