Search results

Just wanted to field this question to all you decorators out there. About a year ago I decorated a renovated house from top to bottom, including a large new build extension. A year on, and the client has called me back to fix all the settlement cracks which have appeared, mainly in areas of...

Just hung two rolls of this dark brown feature wallpaper from Homebase. The instructions stipulated to allow the paste to soak for 10 mins. During this time the paper expanded from the usual 52.5 cms to 54 cms (15mm!!) Most papers I have used in the past have expanded from 52.5cm to 53cm...

Does anyone now if you can paint over these plastic strips, or does doing so render some insurance/certificate void?

Can anyone advise on the following - put up a curtain rail today, some parts of the wall were easy to drill into, but the areas directly above the window could only drill in about 2cms, I am assuming this is the lintel I'm hitting. I was using a bog standard 700w 240v hammer drill with an...

Hi there. Need some advice as I need to point some patio slabs (heritage Calder Brown paving). What is the correct mix of sand/cement (I have been advised 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 and 6:1 from different sources), the gaps are about 1/2 inch. Also how wet should the mixture be? Would a dry mix be...

I have been asked to paint a newly plastered wall which the client has already painted with a coat of Homebase All Purpose Interior primer (oil based). I intend to do two coats of vinyl matt on top of this. I was told that you would get saponification if you apply an oil based coat on an...

Can anyone help explain what is going on here? The other night I switched on our main lights in the living room and it set off a child's battery powered toy which was sitting in the middle of the room. Happens every time you switch the light on. The ceiling light is one of those 5 x 40w small...

Hi We have 5 steps leading up to our front door which I wish to paint a cream colour. Has anyone used a paint which will last a few years and not show signs of wear. It's currently flaking off and looks extremely taccy. Any help would be much appreciated.

Wonder if anyone has experienced this defect and could tell me what causes it. Was stripping this bathroom in a very old house (all the walls are solid brick with plaster finish. Basically, stripped off all wallcoverings with a steam stripper, then washed down the walls with Tetrion sugar soap...

Hi Has anyone used the "no nonsense" range of products from the screwfix catalogue? If you have just wondering what you thought, especially on the caulk and grab adhesive products. Any comments would be helpful. Also, was given a tub of Dulux one coat satinwood by the client - couldn't use...

What's the score on painting outdoors during the winter months? Need to paint some previously painted pebbledash and a front door in oil based paint. Is it a done thing what with so much moisture about? Does gloss still perform well in temperatures just above freezing?

Hi there Just half way through re-felting my flat roof when rain has stopped play. I have started to apply the second layer of felt to be stuck down to the first (which I have nailed in place). I have been putting on the adhesive with an old clean paint roller and have a couple of questions...

Hi there Recently removed a double radiator to lay some flooring. When I put it back, I turned the system on and opened the in pipe and both bleed valves (one on the rear and one on the front panels). When the rad was full and both valves dripped water I closed them both and opened the out...

Hi, Recently had kitchen tap replaced to a mixer, now hot water just trickles out and when you begin to add the cold it just shuts the hot off completely.

Hello I have some lovely anaglypta which has previously been painted with a silk emulsion. I need to get it to a matt finish. As the paper is textured it will be a bit tricky to rub down. Would you do one coat in softsheen followed by the matt coats? Cheers Tony

Hi there After I line a room I always run a bead of caulk where the paper meets the skirtings, door frame and especially in the corners. I use this dow corning product from Brewers http://www.geocel.co.uk/product.aspx?id=137&pt=adhesives which is an acrylic filler. The problem arises...

I have an external blockwork wall which I wish to render then paint. The builder's merchant sells plastering sand. Does anyone know what type of finish this will give? I have rendered a wall using sharp sand and normal builders sand in the past. How does the plaster sand compare? Thanks in...

Hi Can anyone shed some light on the coverage claims of Dulux trade paints? On all the tins of vinyl matt it says that it covers up to 17sq m per litre. I have never got anywhere near this coverage (I have just used 5 litres to cover a 35 sq metre ceiling giving me 7 sq m per litre, and...

Hi There Can anyone recommend a suitable paint to paint floor boards in a bedroom, with a matt effect? Thanks in advance

Just got a couple of questions re oil based paints. Can someone tell me the difference between an interior oil undercoat compared to an exterior (say weathershield) oil undercoat? Can the external be used on an interior surface? I have a tin of 15 year old Dulux Trade Satinwood. Can this...