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With only four weeks to go until the start of The National Home Improvement Show, we thought we should give you the low-down on what DIY Doctor will be up to during the show.

DIY Doctor will be hosting the Tricks of the Trade Theatre for the three days (28th – 30th September) and the timetable of presentations by the DIY Doctor himself, Mike Edwards, for each day is:

11.00 – How to skim plaster your walls
This presentation takes you through preparing the wall for plastering, mixing and applying the plaster and finally how to get it flat and smooth. You will also find out how to mend holes in plasterboard.
 
12.30 – How to avoid cowboy builders
There is a lot of news in the media about ‘Cowboy Builders’ and how they ruin lives – but there is very little advice given to help you avoid them. This presentation will give advice on how to find reliable tradesmen and cover how to make sure
·         you obtain accurate references
·         your builder is adequately insured during the work
·         you are covered against accidents
·         the finished work is satisfactory
·         follow-up snagging is completed
 
14.00 – How to skim plaster your walls
This presentation takes you through preparing the wall for plastering, mixing and applying the plaster and finally how to get it flat and smooth. You will also find out how to mend holes in plasterboard.
 
15.30 – How to tile your bathroom
Often the smallest room in the house but the most difficult to decorate! Learn how to get tiles to fit perfectly around toilet, basin and bath with minimum wastage and maximum effect.

Don’t forget you can get two FREE TICKETS to the show, being held at Olympia, just by clicking here or on the banner below!

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Everyone loves getting a new floor for their home; not only does it offer you a refreshing change, but if you buy solid wooden flooring, it can actually raise the value of your house.
In addition to this, but if you are looking to sell your home in the near future, solid hardwood flooring has been shown to actually sell a house quicker than one without.

Although engineered flooring itself certainly doesn’t devalue your house, it is generally considered inferior to the above; most people don’t realise however that it is actually better for the environment as it takes less wood to manufacture and because of that process, the wood can withstand higher amounts of moisture and temperature change.

The decision as to which flooring you choose is however totally up to you as Every Home deserves a good floor. Also to your choice, is whether you want to lay the floor yourself, or hire somebody to do it for you.

Although laying your own floor may seem somewhat outlandish, it is a form of DIY that more and more people are enjoying as there’s nothing like putting in a good few hours of hard work before stepping back and admiring your masterpiece.

Installing Engineered Flooring
The process of fitting engineered flooring into your home has never been easier! Thanks to the revolutionary, click and lock system which is crafted into every single piece of wood, the task is a relatively easy one to undertake. For this, all that you will need is a nail gun (if you choose to nail the wood to the floor), and some sheets of underlay, which acts as a damp proof membrane; a must have if you’re installing engineered flooring.

Installing Solid Hardwood Flooring
Although the tools involved in the installation of solid hardwood flooring is basically the same, it is however a little trickier to install solid planks of wood into your floor. Not only do you have to think more thoroughly about the amount of wood that you need, but you also have to consider the conditions of the room that the floor is being installed into.

Before you begin the installation process, you must ensure that the underfloor is completely dry so that there is a natural moisture equilibrium in the room that will not cause irritants within the wood and cause moisture to absorb into the wood.

You may also want to consider acclimatising the wood to the air, making sure that all sides of the wood receive equal exposure to the wood so that each part of it receives the right amount of exposure.

Also during the laying process, make sure that you have left adequate room for the wood to expand; avoiding the possibility of cracking and impairment.

Although this process does seem perhaps a little complex, it is one that when done right, provides vast amounts of satisfaction and appeals to the dreams of any DIY geek!

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Image by crinklecrankle.com

As the summer begins to draw to a close, it’s time to think about what to do with your garden furniture this winter. After all, it’s no use splashing out on the latest fancy garden set in summer, only to find it’s turned rusty or mildewed by next spring!

Protecting your garden furniture isn’t hard to do, and it’s sure to save you lots of time, effort and cash in the future.

1) Put it into Storage

The simplest and most effective way to protect your garden furniture is to put it into storage. Whether this be in your garage, your conservatory or your attic, it’s an ideal way to defend your furniture against any harsh weather.

Many pieces of furniture can also be damaged by UV Rays however, so if your conservatory doesn’t have a UV filter, then you can protect your furniture by using my next tip…

2) Cover it

Whether it’s stored inside or out, by putting a cover over your furniture, you’re adding an extra layer of protection. If your furniture will be exposed to sunlight, then choose a cover with a UV filter to prevent bleaching by the sun, while waterproof covers are essential if your furniture will be outside.

To prevent mould growth under the cover, always make sure you leave enough space to let some air circulate. It’s also a good idea to make sure that the cover is arranged in a way that doesn’t allow pools of water to collect.

3) Make it Weatherproof

If you really want to ensure that your garden furniture stands up to the elements, then it’s time to look into weather-proofing solutions.

Wood

Most woods can be made waterproof by simply spraying or staining them with a special varnish. These are usually available in both clear or coloured versions, so you can even give your plain-coloured furniture a classy update while you’re at it.

However, while this will help to seal the wood and to protect it from water, fluctuations in temperature can still cause wood to warp. So on those cold winter nights your wooden furniture is best kept indoors.

Plastic

Naturally waterproof and weatherproof, plastic is the ideal material if you don’t want to worry about weather protection. However you can still find that algae will choose to grow on your table, so make sure to give it a quick wipe over every now and again. Over long periods of time plastic can become brittle if exposed to extremes of hot and cold, but it’s one of the least vulnerable furniture materials. Now if only it looked nicer!

Wicker

If you are the proud owner of a wicker furniture set, then Tung oil is the ideal solution to protect it from the elements.However, wicker is one of the more fragile materials used for garden furniture, so despite a Tung oil coating it should still be moved inside during heavy downpours. Wicker is also very susceptible to frost, so move it inside as soon as the weather begins to cool.

Metal

If you have a cast or wrought iron patio set, make sure to keep a close eye on it as both can easily rust. Keep them inside during bad weather and look into weather proofing solutions such as a waterproof cover. If you have an Aluminium set on the other hand, you have no need to fear; while aluminium may be the most expensive of the three, it doesn’t rust, so it often works out cheaper in the long run!

Rattan

PVC rattan sets designed for the garden are naturally weatherproof, so you have nothing to worry about. However, rattan sets designed for indoor use are most certainly not, so never leave them outside for prolonged periods of time. You can easily wash off any dirt that builds up on outdoor rattan furniture with a hose pipe, and they will usually have built in UV protection, so they won’t fade in the sun.

So whether you have rattan, metal or oak furniture, there’s a simple way to protect it.

Do you know of any other ways to help your garden furniture survive the winter?

Estelle Page is an interior designer and DIY addict. When she’s not busy working on her latest project, you’ll find her with her nose buried in the latest style magazines. She loves sharing helpful hints and tips and writes for Great Furniture Trading Company in her spare time.

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Buy to Let might have fallen from the headlines recently after its popularity during the pre-recession housing boom, but it is still an option for many investors.

If you are making your first move into this market it’s important that you make your property as attractive as possible to your target tenants. Here are our tips for decorating your property which can be tweaked to suit any budget:

• Decide whether you will be offering your property furnished, unfurnished or part furnished. This will partly depend on the property type – for example student lets need to be furnished and they have specific requirements such as desks in bedrooms. For other tenancy types it’s best to research the local market and see what’s standard for your area and if it’s cost effective for you to furnish it. For furniture, choose fairly neutral pieces but tailor them to the market. For example, if you want to make it more homely you could use French style furniture in a bedroom to create a feminine family feel.
• It’s the standard piece of advice for landlords, but keep it neutral. Tenants will want to walk in and be able to quickly imagine themselves living there, and styles or colour schemes which are too individual and daring can be off putting. Avoid white apart from in bathrooms as it can look too stark. Magnolias and hints of yellow add warmth without being over the top.
• Think about your target tenants. Young professionals? Couples? Families? Students? This will impact on your design choices. Students are more likely to appreciate interesting or personal touches, while young professionals in general will want sleek, modern décor which is stylish but also easy to maintain and keep clean. Families are more likely to prioritise comfort and practicality, and touches such as storage space.
• Don’t forget that when your tenants move out you will need to fully clean the property for the next inhabitants. Decorating your property with this in mind can save you a lot of bother down the line. For example, choosing silk finish paints will make your walls easier to wipe clean and is durable and less likely to be marked. Use mould and water resistant paint for bathrooms and kitchens. Good quality carpets withstand industrial cleaning better than cheap ones, but this will depend on your budget. It might be more cost effective to choose cheaper carpets and just replace them every few years. Remember – patterned carpets hide stains better. Wood or laminate floors which have a good coating on them can be cleaned easily but consider whether your target market will prefer exposed flooring or carpets. You might need to change mattresses and update bedroom furniture, so think about how easy this will be do to.
• Always make sure the property is sparkling clean for viewings and think about other ways to show off your space and fulfil its potential. If you have a small room, putting in a mirror is a simple way to open it up and increase the light. If you have the budget to add a couple of fairly neutral decorations, such as a picture or wall hanging, and you think this would be appropriate then do it. Tiny touches such as putting a toothbrush holder in the bathroom can make it seem more hospitable and welcoming.

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Here at DIY Doctor, we know that some of you Home Improvers and DIY’ers cannot get enough of the subject and that you read, listen and watch anything that comes out. If however you are too busy doing it to watch it you may be unaware of Dom Littlewood’s series on BBC1 ‘Don’t Get Done, Get Dom’.

We were pleased to see TrustMark Chairman, Liz Male on episode 6 where she detailed some of the key things householders need to do to protect themselves and how best to work with contractors who use sub-contractors. She was keen to point out that if a member of the public uses a TrustMark firm which in turn uses sub-contractors they remain protected as detailed in Trustmark’s core Criteria. The member firm remains liable and responsible for any work done.

In case you were not aware of how Trustmark works you should watch again if you can.

Check out our HIPS page (Home Improver Protection Solution), for more information on Trustmark and other ways of avoiding the cowboy builder.

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