May 16
We are pleased to announce that Karen has completed the redecoration of her front door – and we think you will agree that she has made a very good job of it too.
An early start on Saturday gave her the chance to give the door a final sanding to flatten a couple of high spots where brushstrokes in the application of the undercoat were a little obvious. Having stripped the door to prevent exactly this uneven finish, a fine sanding was enough to get rid of these.
The door was then given a brush down followed by a final rub over with a wax tacking cloth. This is a cloth impregnated with wax that will pick up any remaining dust from sanding a piece of work but without leaving any residue.
The door was then painted in sections – have a look at our project painting a panelled door for the best way to do this.
Obviously the door could not be closed for several hours, so it was propped open using wedges to prevent any uninvited guests during the afternoon!
By Sunday afternoon, the paint was dry enough to fix the newly polished lock and door furniture.
Here is the final result:
Karen says ‘I’m pleased with the finished result, and although it’s taken longer than I anticipated the eco-friendly paint stripper I used made it much easier. After the first undercoat, it was clear that I would have to take this off again as the overall finish would have been worse than when I started. It made all the difference stripping it back to bare wood. I just wish I hadn’t been tempted to take a short cut in the first place! Still, I’ve learnt a lot and am now ready for the next challenge. ‘
Well done Karen – and having seen the garage door we think this is likely to be her next project!
May 13
The latest book written by DIY Doctor Mike Edwards is now available to purchase or download.
In just 96 pages, and covering some of the most common diy projects, this little book will soon become a firm favourite.
Easy to read and with simple to understand diagrams, the book is a perfect starting point for the novice DIYer or new home owner needing make basic repairs. If you are just looking for help on the ‘how to’ of decoration techniques this book fits the bill perfectly.
Split into 5 chapters, both indoor and outdoor projects are included – from hanging wallpaper to re-pointing your walls.
The book is available as a download on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iBooks, or click here to purchase a hard copy from Amazon.
May 11
Residents of Frome in Somerset, where DIY Doctor have their main office, seem to be keen DIYers!
Our competition to find the Local DIYer of the Year was launched in April and as we get closer to the closing date entries have been flooding in.
Sponsored by Sergeant Ironmongers in Frome, here at DIY Doctor we are delighted at the response of so many of our townsfolk.
Open to residents of Frome and anyone living within a 10 mile radius, the competition closes on 31st May. The top three entrants will be invited to the exciting live final which will be held outside of Sargeants Ironmongers on Catherine Hill on 4th June.
Who knows, you could win the top prize of equipment worth £200 to continue your DIY projects in style and become the very first DIYer of the Year for Frome!
May 10
Latest figures from the Halifax bank seem to indicate that house prices are still in decline. Although this may be good news for first time buyers or even those looking to downsize, if you have a property to sell it can be a little disheartening to see values falling.
“Weak confidence amongst households, partly due to uncertainty over the economic outlook, is constraining housing demand and resulting in some downward movement in prices,” said Martin Ellis, Halifax housing economist. “The latest figures show that the underlying trend in house prices continues to be one of modest decline.”
It is against this background that many people are deciding to make improvements to their existing properties rather than move.
One way to add both value and valuable space to your home is a loft conversion. By extending up rather than out as with a traditional extension, you can gain additional living space without losing your garden.
Kitchens and bathrooms also feature quite often in the ‘wish lists’ of many home improvers.
Many of these projects can be undertaken by an accomplished DIYer, but if you are considering any improvements to your home, click here to get up to 5 free quotes for your planned project.
May 09
All work on Karen’s front door project was postponed due to a weekend of inclement weather.
Although it didn’t actually rain all weekend, there was not enough time to complete the paintwork and to be able to close the door securely for the night without risking the paint sticking. After all her hard work, Karen didnt want to take the risk of either being burgled or spoiling the finish on the door.
So, it looks like it will be next weekend before this is completed and no-one will be more pleased than Karen!
