Jul 29
DIY Doctor have been nominated for one of this years Toolbox Awards – in the Best DIY Forums category.
The Toolbox Awards aim to acknowledge the best websites and online resources in the world of DIY and home improvements, and we are very pleased that our Forum has been identified as being in that category!
If you would like to vote for us, you just need to click here or on the image on the right and then click on the ‘Vote for me’ button. The closing date for voting is the 26th August, so tell your friends and help us by giving us your vote.
Thank you!!
Jul 29
In our never ending search for something new to offer you, we are launching a Facebook gallery next week with the self-explanatory title of ‘Builders Bums’.
We are hoping you will enter into the spirit of things and send us your photos of the best (and worst!) of builders bums as you complete your DIY projects around the home and garden.
Smile, you're on Candid Camera
All (non-offensive!) photos submitted will be put on public display in our Facebook gallery and we will tag them only with the permission of the owner of the bum – not the owner of the camera!
Get snapping people and lets see if we can’t put together the cheekiest gallery on the web. You will need to ‘Like’ us on Facebook to take part.
Dont forget not all Builders are men!
Jul 28
Restore your deck to top condition
Summer is here, the timber decking however is probably still a little under the weather with the constant monsoons we have been enduring. Time for a clean up befor the BBQ comes out and the Pimms gets decanted…………..Or whatever it is you do with a mixture of alcohol and vegetables!
The first thing to do when cleaning a timber deck is to wash it down thoroughly and this is best done with a power washer. If you don’t own a power washer you can hire one for the day (or even sometimes for half a day) from your local tool hire shop.
Follow the DIY Doctor project on using a power washer to get the best results from your cleaning.
Having washed the deck down you can apply any number of products to enhance and preserve it. Our personal favourite is shown in the image above (Click on this image if you would like to buy some) and gets right into the grain bringing out the beauty of the wood as close to the original condition as age will allow.
Staining a deck will enhance the timber colour
You can also colour the deck if it is a little faded and our recommendation for this is the range of colours from Cuprinol which stain, rather than paint, the deck. The difference being that stain soaks into the grain to give the timber it’s ,colour while paint, although soaking in a little, does so purely for adhesion to the surface. The colour element sits on the top of the timber. Again, click on the image if you would like to buy the stain.
Timber decks fade almost without our knowing and when we have spent a day restoring them it is always amazing to see how faded and grimy they had become. A rejuvenated deck will help you enjoy those lovely summer afternoons and evenings even more. For more information see our project on How to Stain Decking.
Jul 27
Top on-line magazine and website, DIY Week (.net) are once again holding their great competition to find the Uk’s top DIY products, suppliers and retailers.
The very best in DIY getting together to compete for great prizes
The awards will be spread across many categories including gardening, hardware independents, suppliers, manufaturers, wholesalers and retailers.
The black tie awards ceremony will be held at the Deansgate Hilton in Manchester on Thursday, 24th November.
Closing date for entries is September 23rd 2011 and entries can be submitted by clicking on the DIY Week awards image.
Jul 26
A great article in the Daily Mail yesterday told of Mr Barry Witham’s disastrous attempts at DIY which saw him attending hospital many times as a result of;
- Slicing open his thigh with a Hobby knife while laying carpet
- Stabbing himself with a screwdriver while mending speakers
- Falling through the ceiling from the loft
- Bringing down the kitchen ceiling while fitting a light
Mr Witham’s wife, Donna has now put her foot down (In a safe place one would hope!) and banned him from DIY.
Mr Witham, on the other hand, is not deterred. His statement that “I think I’m a bit unlucky” is priceless.
If you are having DIY problems and your family is insisting you call in the Pros, click on our link to finding an insured, reliable tradesman.
The image below is courtesy of the Daily Mail via North News and Pictures Ltd.
Find reliable tradesmen at DIY Doctor
