Dec 03
Fitting a door handle is one of those things that many of us believe we won’t be able to do, however, it is an easy job that will only take you an hour if you have a few simple tools. Today, most door handles come complete with all of the needed screws, but if you are unsure, it’s wise to go into a DIY shop and speak to an assistant who would be more than happy to help and provide you with the correct screws.
Step 1. You must first insert the square spindle through the sashlock/latch. If the spindle is slotted you must make sure that the slot is facing downwards.
Step 2. Slide the handle backplate or the rose onto the spindle and fasten it to your doors with the screws.
Step 3. Slide the handle or knob tightly onto the spindle. Fix it into place with the grub screw provided (again, if you are not sure if you have one of these, speak to an assistant in your local DIY shop, they will be able to advise you).
Step 4. To fit an escutcheon (the metal part that surrounds the keyhole), align the backing plate with the slot in the case and fix into place with the screws.
Step 5. Now all you have to do is either push or screw on the escutcheon cover, simple!
Step 6. For the finishing touches, clean your new door handle or door knob with a soft clean cloth. Never use harsh cleaners or solvents. To protect your door handle, apply a small amount of beeswax.
Hopefully this easy guide has shown you just how simple it is to fit a door handle. The only tricky part is finding the perfect door handle or knob to match your interior. You could take a look at online shop, LoveHandles.uk.com, as they have a huge range of door handles and door knobs from all across the world.
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.
Jun 17
DIY Doctor are now offering tradesmen work via lead generation, which can save you a lot on wasted advertising.
When a home owner wants some work done on their house or garden, and they feel it is beyond their DIY capabilities, they can come to our Find a Tradesman page and register, for free, to receive free quotes from competent, reliable, trustworthy and insured tradesmen to do the job.
This way, as a tradesman, you can pay for as many business leads as you would like, but you know the customers:
- genuinely want the job done
- already have a budget in mind
- are local to you, in the area you have chosen
- want work done in your chosen specialism
May 17
For a long while DIY Doctor has been trying to combat the effects of Cowboy Builders in our industry. We have published articles on Cowboy Builders and how the country loses millions of pounds because the majority of tradespeople in this country do not have any form of insurance to protect their customers.
We have now joined forces with Quotatis who will not allow tradespeople to join their data-base without the relevant insurances. They are also thoroughly vetted and references are followed up to ensure you only receive free quotes from the best of the bunch.
Click into any of our project pages or look at our Find a Tradesman page to be sure to beat the cowboys.
May 05
Nick Ross, the former Crimewatch and Watchdog presenter, has been signed up as the face of an ombudmsan scheme for the conservatory and double glazing industry being launched from Manchester. The Double Glazing and Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) has been set up by Tony Pickup, who in 1996 set up the Quality Assurance Association, a trade association for contractors.
The Double Glazing and Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme aims to offer protection for double glazing and conservatory consumers and double glazing and conservatory installers in a £4.65bn double glazing and conservatory industry. The double glazing and conservatory industry was responsible for 22,000 complaints to trading standards last year.
The DGCOS has already signed up 126 double glazing installers. It is claimed that the new scheme is different from existing consumer protection schemes because installers who sign up for it are legally bound by its decisions.
The DGCOS Compensation Fund will pay out all bona fide claims to compensate homeowners using DGCOS Accredited Installers where traders fail to live up to their promises and the ombudsman has found in their favour. Traders will also have some protection against customers who withhold payment or make unfounded complaints. The double glazing installers also have to pay into a bond scheme to cover compensation if they cease trading.
Nick Ross said: “Consumer agencies champion ombudsman schemes because they give customers real protection. DGCOS is based on similar schemes which have been successful in other industries and are strongly recommended by consumer groups.
“Rogue traders have done serious harm to the reputation of the industry, so restoring confidence is important not just for consumers but for all good contractors. DGCOS can help rebuild trust and mark out the good guys from the cowboys.”
