Apr 25
If you have a brick fireplace that is a bit of an eyesore, or maybe you just fancy sprucing it up a bit, we have two new projects on diydoctor which might be just what you need.
The first project is all about how to clean your brick fireplace, and covers several different methods you can use. It can be a messy job and can involve using quite strong chemicals, but as long as you protect the surrounding area in the room and are prepared to use a bit of elbow grease, the transformation is worth it.
Now a good clean might be all the fireplace needs, but if you are wanting to paint it you should take a look at our new project on how to paint a brick fireplace. This gives step by step instructions on how to prepare, what types of paint are best to use and how to go about painting the brickwork. The results can be really worthwhile and change the whole feel of a room.
So now you don’t have to put up with an embarassing fireplace anymore!
Apr 12
Great new projects on painting wooden floors and painting wooden stairs have now been added to the website. They give step by step instruction and advice on each project so that you can get the best finish.
Many people are choosing to update a room by painting the floor as it gives such a clean and bright feel and changes the feel completely, and you can alter the style of stairs by giving it facelift. Choose muted tones of white, off-white or pale grey or go for something complely different and choose a bold bright colour! Most importanly is your choice of paint – make sure you choose a paint designed specifically for floors as it has to withstand an awful lot of wear and tear.
Both projects will talk you through the preparation needed and the tools needed for the job. It is worth spending time on the prep or you will find the paint will not adhere to the surface. Some planning before starting will be necessary as if you are painting a floor, it is best to have cleared the area completely for the duration of the task, and if it is a staircase, you really need to avoid using the stairs as much as possible to avoid dust and grease and to allow a decent amount of drying time.
Having said all that, it is a hugely satisfying DIY project to do and if you have any photos of a floor or staircase you have painted in your home, send them in to us or post them here on the blog!
Apr 04
We have all the advice you need if you are planning on a spot of painting and decorating in the home this spring. Our new project on preparing walls and ceilings for painting talks you through how to get a room ready before you start followed by all the things you need to do such as washing down walls, filling any cracks in walls or round doors and windows, and remembering to mask off all skirting, windows/doors, not forgeting sockets and switches.
There are also a number of projects on other aspects to do with decorating including stripping wallpaper, paint stripping, painting new plaster, painting panelled doors, painting flush doors, painting a sash window and information on different types of brushes and paint rollers to do the job and how to clean them.
We also have a really helpful page on decorating tips and tricks which is well worth a read through as it covers things like what to do if you are using old paint, how to get a top quality finish when glossing and how to avoid getting paint all over the rim of the tin while you are painting plus lots more!
Mar 13
Many people find the huge range of different types of paint now available are a bit of a minefield, so two new projects on the diydoctor website are offering lots of information about paint for the interiors.
The first explains the range of paint available when it comes to preparing to paint, such as basecoats, textured paint and anit-damp paint. It goes on to give a guide to the different types of topcoat, from vinyl matt, vinyl satin and vinyl silk emulsion to kitchen and bathroom paint, stating what qualities they have and when and where you might choose to use them in your home.
It guides you through what you need to use when painting wood and metal and for the type of finish you are looking for, as well as specialist paints avialble for painting tiles, radiators, mdf,, floors and fire retardant paints.
Another new project gives a guide to eco paints and why you might choose to use this range of relatively new paints on the market. These paints are better for you and the environment and are becoming very popular for home improvers with a great variety now more easily available in shops and online and are competatively priced. Certainly worth looking into if you are doing some redecorating.
Mar 08
As we said last week, we have lots of new projects being added to the website over the next few weeks, and one of the latest is the ‘Skirting Board Painting’ project, which guides you through all you need to know.
Not many people enjoy doing this job as it can be a bit fiddly but this project gives advice from the tools and material you will need, the preparation you need to do before you start including making sure you have your carpet or flooring protected, and then advice on the actual painting, from undercoat to gloss.
The key to painting skirting boards is not to rush. Take your time and don’t overload your paint brush and you should avoid drips and unnecessary mess, and get a great result!
