October 10th, 2008
Before starting up on any DIY or Home Improvement project you should always ensure you make the proper arrangements beforehand to ensure you undertake the project in a safe manner. Whether you are fully experienced or not you should always ensure you read up on all safety precautions and informational material regarding a project and all the tools required for the job before you start. More than 200,000 people are injured every single year as a direct result of DIY projects and around 70 people are killed. Most of these accidents can be easily avoided with the right knowledge and attention.
Follow these top safety tips to avoid a DIY disaster in your home this year:
Replace your tools
If any of your tools has a broken head or handle or damage to any area whether they are power tools or manual tools you should replace the entire tool or get it repaired by a qualified professional. Do not be tempted to continue using the tool.
Equipment Standards
Always purchase equipment and appliances that comply with British or European standards and carry the approved quality mark. If it does not carry the right label, do not use it, it can be extremely dangerous.
Avoid Shocks
When working with electrical works or in their vicinity, ensure you switch off the mains and cover up all switches and outlets that are broken with the right tape. Take out the fuse and keep it with you so that even if the power gets turned on again by accident, you won’t get an electrical shock. Always ensure you read up thoroughly on electrical items and wiring before you get started.
Read the Manual
Read all instructions, warnings and advice beforehand especially if you are using equipment for the first time. Read everything carefully and thoroughly and follow the guidelines strictly. Even if you have used the equipment before you should always remind yourself by having a read through of the manual, you never know what you might have forgotten that could be extremely important.
Un-plug it first
Always make sure you un-plug an item in use before you lift, adjust or handle it. Electrical items such as power tools and lawn mowers should never be touched or handled careless when they are still plugged in. If it’s still plugged in, it’s still a threat and handling blades can be very dangerous if there is an electrical presence.
Categories: Home improvement
October 10th, 2008
Cleaning and restoring paint brushes is one of the most tiresome and troublesome task to complete after any DIY decoration or home improvement job. In fact, it is often also the most overlooked chore and many people will leave their paint brushes and simply buy new ones when they come to need them again and find the bristles stuck solidly together. You can get more value for your money out of those old paint brushes with some easy cleaning tips and advice.
If you can, clean your paint brushes immediately after use. You don’t need to clean it every time you run out of paint, but after you finish the job, when you have a break from the job for the day or at the end of the day you should endeavour to give those paint brushes a clean. If you having a lot of breaks during the day for teas or coffees for example you should remove as much excess as you can from the brush and wrap it in cling film. This will stop the air getting to the bristles and ensure the brush does not dry up while you are away.
In order to clean your brushes thoroughly after use you should firstly soak up as much excess paint as possible after your DIY job by brushing it onto some spare newspaper or an old rag. Push the brush hard against the paint pot and squeeze out as much paint as possible before hand if you have a lot of excess paint on your brush.
If you have been using oil based paint you should tip some white spirit into an empty jar and work the brush bristles on the base of the jar with the brush inside the spirit. Remember to put on some rubber gloves in case of splashes and spillages. Once you have worked the brush thoroughly, empty the jar and re-fill it with clean white spirit. You only need a small amount of white spirit about an inch deep in the jar or a little deeper if the brush is bigger. Even though you will have to buy some white spirit to clean your brushes, it is much cheaper than buying new ones so it’s a good investment.
There are other types of paint as well including water based paints and each one has its own ideal partner for removal.
Categories: Home improvement
October 10th, 2008
Follow this easy reference guide to cleaning your paint brushes and you will enjoy a long and happy relationship with your bristled friends. Remember, regular and thorough cleaning is much cheaper than buying whole new brushes especially if you use high quality bristle brushes for your DIY project or Home Improvement job.
Top Tip – You should always try to minimise the amount of paint on your brush while painting, it provides a much smoother, more even finish and makes painting much easier too! Only put an inch of the tip of the bristles into the paint at the very most.
If the paint is water based you can rinse it under the tap. Warm water is the best for getting out paint but don’t make it too hot as you will need to work the bristles with your fingers too to get all the paint out.
If the paint is oil based you can use white spirits to loosen the paint. Fill a jar with an inch deep of white spirit and work the brush on the base of the jar. Never put your hands into the white spirit to work the bristles, and always wear rubber gloves while handling the spirit. Remember to thoroughly rinse off the spirit afterwards with hot water.
After cleaning any brush you should ensure you rinse thoroughly with hot soapy water and then pat dry on a rag or newspaper. Then wrap up in a sheet of newspaper and hold together with an elastic band. Do not bend the brush or bristles; keep it in its original shape.
Further Paint Types and their removal partners:
For Cellulose you can use amyl acetate which is readily available form your local chemists.
Varnish requires Methylated spirits to be used in the same way as white spirits. Remember to always wear rubber gloves for all of these removers!
Rubber can be removed with petrol but remember to rinse thoroughly afterwards and to only clean in a well ventilated area, outside if possible.
Polyurethane can be dealt with by Paraffin or white spirit whichever you choose.
Oil can also be removed with Paraffin or white spirit. White spirit is the popular choice by many artists when cleaning their brushes.
Washable distemper can be removed with a weak solution of vinegar. This may make your home stink of vinegar for a bit so clean if outside if you can.
Categories: Home improvement
September 23rd, 2008
If you are looking to get started on a large home improvement project you should ensure you are fully organised before you embark on the task. Avoid a home improvement nightmare by carefully planning and calculating everything you will need and what you will need to know before you start the home improvement task. It’s all too easy to start off a job and then leave it half way through because of time constraints, inappropriate equipment or not enough materials. There is nothing worse then having a DIY job go wrong and languish in the corner of your home until you decide to just get someone else to do it and pay out the money for it anyway.
To avoid getting into this DIY mess, following these simple tips to home improvement success and you will find your journey through the world of DIY is quick and painless.
Tip One: Planning.
It’s not the most exciting job in the world but if you plan properly for your task it will save you lots of time later on. Make all the decisions about what you are going to do before hand to avoid getting bogged down and stuck later on.
Tip Two: Budget.
Once you have planned out exactly what it is you want to do, work out how much it will cost. Remember to research costs and in cases where you can’t be exact always over estimate. Never, ever guesstimate a figure it simply won’t work.
Tip Three: Make a file.
Make sure you have everything you need to hand in a handy colour co-ordinated lever arch file. This is so you can look up quantities, colours and shop item codes easily and quickly so you get exactly what you want and don’t forget anything.
Tip Four: Set a timescale.
Organise your days into allocated time slots. Always give yourself plenty of breathing space but keep it tight and strict enough to adhere to. Allocate each day to a new task or set of tasks and ensure you complete them in that time. This will ensure you get everything done in a timely fashion and will break the project down for you into manageable portions.
Tip Five: Read the Instructions.
Before you embark upon your project ensure you research your project. Read instruction manuals, how-to guides and more for tips advice and safety guidance on the work you’ll be doing.
Categories: Home improvement
September 18th, 2008
What is DIY?
DIY is an acronym that stands for Do It Yourself. More and more people are turning to DIY products to get their home improvements complete themselves unlike the conventional method of hiring a paid professional. These days, you can purchase flat pack furniture and other DIY designed products to perk up your home with minimal fuss. They come armed with screws, instructions and all the bits of wood you need, in fact the only thing you need to have, is a screwdriver. For other things like repairing plumbing, tweaking electrical goods or making a patio, things can be a bit more difficult. You will need some online guidance to help you with the project you are completing or to give you some home improvement ideas.
Why do it yourself?
Quite simply, DIY is cheaper and in most cases it’s easier than you think. The concept of a DIY job will quite often scare people away who are unsure of what they are doing. If you have never successfully repaired your plumbing before then it is natural to not have much confidence in yourself when it comes to plumbing. Most people will leave this kind of a job to the paid professionals who charge just for looking at the problem and then tell you they need more parts. But why pay for something you can do yourself? With a simple set of instructions and a list of all the parts you need, you can tackle that pipe head on and it won’t cost you anything extra. You just pay for the materials needed to fix it and not by the hour.
Who is DIY for?
DIY is for almost anyone who is capable and old enough to pick up a drill and use it in a safe and responsible manner. It’s not just for big guys with paint stained shirts, it’s also for housewives, OAP’s, businessmen, barmaids, hairdressers, secretaries, doctors and a whole lot more. Anyone can get started with their DIY home improvements following a little research and some will power. Plan ahead carefully, make sure you have everything you need and ensure you use all tools in a safe manner. You too can enjoy the benefits of showing off your home to your close friends and family with the added tag line “I did this!” Create a home in your house and make it truly yours.
Categories: Home improvement
