Nov 11
The proposed government policy called ‘Green Deal’, designed to improve the energy efficiency of homes, will be consulted on by ministers later this month.
Under the scheme, apparently families will be offered ‘cashback’ of up to £150 as an incentive to get involved. Householders can then have their homes made more energy efficient by having loft and wall insulation fitted as well as double glazing, and pay for this in installments. This cost would of course be offset by lower energy bills.
The idea of ’cashback’ is under discussion as a form of incentive, although Labour’s climate change spokesperson Luciana Berger said that “it would be wrong to classify it as a true incentive given it would have to be paid back over time by consumers who took up the deal.”
So, watch this space……….
Sep 09
We may only be in the first half of September, but it would definately appear that summer is over, and so we should all be turning our minds to any autumn jobs that need attention before the weather turns more wintery.
Our project on Autumn Maintenance Checks gives some good pointers including attending to any external decorating, making sure you get your boiler or other heating serviced, do any loft insulating needed, check all windows and doors are draught proofed, make sure any extractor fans are working to avoid condensation, checking and clearing guttering, cleaning patios and paths and making sure any exterior lighting is working. There is also instruction on dry lining walls.
Nov 04
While the weather for many of us is still quite mild, it is a good time to get up in your loft and insulate. You can lose up to 15% of your heating through your roof if you don’t have insulation, and this can equate to a loss of up to £155 a year!
Top tips on loft insulation:
Clear all rubbish and clutter out of the loft.
To stand in the loft use a length of board about 25mm thick and at least 1.3m long, to lay across at least 3 joists. The ceiling joists themselves are not meant to be stood on as they are not load bearing and the gaps in between the joists are 12mm plasterboard which will not support the li8ghtest of humans!
Use a proprietary lead lamp to provide adequate lighting in your loft.
It is very important that your loft is ventilated. Poor ventilation leads to condensation forming in the loft and this condensation can soon rot roof timbers and cause structural damage. If there are no roof windows then follow the loft floor along to the point where the roof comes down to meet it. At this point (called the eaves) there should be a gap between the underside of the roof and the outside wall. This gap should be about 25mm wide and will usually have a meshed grill within it stopping insects and birds getting into the loft. Any cracks or holes in the ceiling should be filled before laying your covering.
All wiring in the loft must be lifted and laid on top of the insulation otherwise the cables will overheat and become a fire hazard.
See our project on loft insulation and how to fit it for more information.
Nov 01
We live in a very old cottage in Scotland. There was little or no insulation.
I need to insulate between the ceiling rafters in the bedroom. There are also furry guests scuttling about that I need to evict. I can’t access the space from the first floor above because the floorboards are very securely fixed and partially extend beyond my reach.
I need to pull down (some?) of the plasterboard ceiling to insulate. Do I need to pull the whole ceiling down to fit a Waterproof membrane? This old cottage is well ventilated (!) & we have no central heating.
Any help would be appreciated
John
Jul 28
DIY Doctor will be running the ‘Tricks of the Trade’ section of the National Home Improvement Show again this year.
We will be delivering several presentations during the three days on How to Skim Plaster a Wall, How to Tile a Bathroom, How to avoid Cowboy Builders and a DIY Disasters comedy show. The Tricks of the Trade section is sponsored by Quotatis.
The show runs from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd of Octorber at Earls Court in London, and is the place to go to discover practical ideas for your home improvements. Whether you are looking to extend, save space, restore or decorate your home, you will find innovative and practical ideas to inspire you. You can even get advice on a one to one basis in the Ask the Experts area, or learn how to tackle a DIY project with us, DIY Doctor, in the Tricks of the Trade zone.
For loads more information on the show and to buy tickets go to the National Home Improvement Show website.
