We like this upcycling idea, just be sure not to undertake the making process directly after the emptying process!
Welcome to DIY Doctor's blog
Oct 30
Image by Canton
Be it autumn (just) still, I am currently preparing my home for winter and the colder weather months ahead. All that sleet, snow and rain can make the solstice seem glum but at least if you’re warm and comfy it’s bearable, so here is my top list of ways to prep your home for winter…
Check your Boiler
Give it a quick test run. Ensure that it hums smoothly when you switch it on. Your boiler should be serviced at least once a year to ensure it is safe and well. If you have a propane or oil furnace, make sure that you have the supplies topped up too.
For health and safety, clear any obstacles away from the air vents and then ensure you test the boiler with a carbon monoxide kit.
Chimneys and Fireplaces
Warming yourself by these may seem like a distant memory but in order for you to enjoy them again you need to give them a thorough check. Clearing any debris (and animals!) will help your roaring fires give heat and light long into the future.
To check if your chimney needs sweeping, light a little newspaper in the fireplace and see if the smoke moves up smoothly. If the smoke doesn’t go up the chimney then there is likely to be an obstruction. This will require a professional cleaner (do not attempt this yourself, it’s very, very messy).
For safety, if you see any broken points in your fireplace, please ensure that you have them fixed as soon possible.
Plumbing
If you have any exposed pipes outside, now it the easiest time to insulate them. Frozen pipes break easily and cost a lot to get fixed. The best way to insulate them is to cover them in soft foam and strap it tight with electrical heating tape.
For any outside hosepipes or lawn sprinklers, it’s best to turn off the water supply to them and cover them up for the winter to avoid damage.
Windows
Check that all windows are tight and not letting in drafts. You can test this by lighting an incense stick or a match near the edges and seeing if the smoke stays straight or moves towards the leak. The most recommended sealant is rope caulk. This should really save you money and comfort over the winter.
Roofs
Check all corners and crevices around your roof and soffits. Rain, wind, snow and ice can all work their way in and you may not have realised just how much damage happened over the warm and dry summer months. Sealing again with rope caulk will help.
So those are my top tips for sealing your home so that you’re comfortable this winter. Does anyone else have any tips to share?
Estelle Page is an interior designer, mother and eco-enthusiast. She writes for Eurocell building plastics about heating and energy efficiency.
Oct 29
The Northern Homebuilding and Renovating Show in Harrogate, North Yorkshire opens on the 2 November and continues until 4 November 2012.
We will be there and it would be great if you can get along to see us, we always enjoy the chance to get out of the office and meet our customers.
There will be lots of things to see for the DIY and Home Improvement enthusiast, so you are bound to pick up all sorts of ideas, advice and gadgets.
Mike Edwards From DIY Doctor will be on the Tips of The Trade Theatre and there are also seminars, masterclasses, and ask the experts sessions.
To claim your free tickets please visit the Northern Homebuilding and Renovating Show website and complete the form.
FREE tickets to the Northern Homebuilding and Renovating Show 2012
Oct 27
As of September 2012, there over 700,000 apps in the iPhone App Store and this has over doubled its size every year since its launch in 2008.
The store has created in its wake whole teams of developers dedicated to creating new and innovative apps every day, to try and make our day-to-day lives easier, more fun, more educational and in some cases more prone to procrastinating!
The ‘Utilities’ section in the App Store is filled with thousands of DIY-tool related apps, which can more often than not be hugely beneficial to projects. Here is a quick round-up of the most essential ones to look out for…
1. iHandy Level
Price: FREE
Avg. Rating: 4 Stars
The iHandy Level is a free app which allows you to measure the angles and verticality of household items like picture frames, tables, desks, chairs and shelves. All you need to do is calibrate it to your phone and you are ready to go. The app is ideal for all you perfectionists out there who just can’t stand a skewed frame or a wobbly table. This product has been around since the store’s inception, so by now all bugs and glitches to the app have been properly sorted – all the more reason to download it!
2. D.I.Y Calculator
Price: $0.99
Avg. Rating: 4 Stars
This handy little app is designed to help you calculate and manage all those measurements you need for flooring, tiling, wallpapering and painting plus it lets you organise room-by-room how much material is needed. Any redecoration orientated job has to start at the calculator, and the D.I.Y Calculator app allows you to organise that daunting task very efficiently. With a notes and picture section soon to be developed, it’ll be even more useful.
3. I.D. Wood
Price: $4.99
Avg. Rating: 3 Stars
Perfect for starting up any new carpentry project, the I.D. Wood app educates you on the different types of wood that has been used to create furniture, and gives you an exhaustive list of properties, what can and can’t be used for a certain wood and a wood’s Janka hardness.
4. Woodcraft
Price: $9.99
Avg. Rating: 4.5 Stars
Put your imagination on the screen with Woodcraft, an app that allows you to recreate your ideas in 2D and 3D, experiment with different joints and tools and compile a list of materials needed to complete the job. Once you’re happy with how it looks, you can start work!
5. Convertbot
Price: £1.49 (UK store only)
Avg. Rating: 4 Stars
Convertbot is just one of over a hundred converter apps in the store, but very few have better feedback than this one. The interface is incredibly easy to use and can convert over 440 different units of measurement, which should cover anything you could possibly want to do!
Downloaded any that you think should be mentioned? Comment and share below!
Estelle Page is a dedicated mother of two and a self employed interior designer, who finds her smart phone indispensable at times whilst at work. She blogs regularly for Dunster House.
Oct 26
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best – if you are struggling to see what type of screw head you need for screws in hard- to-see areas Lifehacker suggest pressing your fingertips against the heads for a few seconds and the answer will be clear to see.