There have been some interesting findings in a recent survey conducted by Which?

The results suggested that over 2.5 million people have had a dispute with a builder or tradesman in the last 3 years, and a quarter of those actually took formal action. When you look at the reasons for disagreements between client and tradesmen, the cowboys are definately rearing their ugly heads. The most common disagreement was regarding the quality of work, but other problems included not turning up when agreed, delays over completion and general untidyness.

Other feedback from the Which? survey showed that a quarter of people didn’t get a written quote before start of work, and 4% were asked to pay the upfront for the whole job.

Obviously here at DIY Doctor HQ, we aren’t exactly surprised by the results of the survey, and their executive director, Richard Lloyd has some wise words

“To avoid problems, you should always have a written agreement between you and the trader. And it’s important to do your homework – make sure you get several quotes before deciding who to use, choose a recommended trader and check they’re a member of a professional body.”

So with the DIY Doctor free ‘Desired Outcome Building Contract’, you shouldn’t find yourself in dispute. The contract protects homeowners against rogue traders while protecting good tradesmen from rogue homeowners (yes, there are such people!).

There is no better test of anything than to put it in the hands of the people who will use it the most and we are happy to say (as you can see from the video below), the Desired Outcome Building Contract passed all tests with flying colours.

The homeowners felt that they had full control of their job and had no fear of ‘surprises’ while the builder knew he was going to get paid, the right amount and on time.

The Desired Outcome Building Contract proves what we have said all along. With the right tradesman both parties have exactly the same agenda. The right job, for the right price.

If you are looking for reliable, insured tradesmen, click here

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Restore your deck to top condition

Summer is here, the timber decking however is probably still a little under the weather with the constant monsoons we have been enduring. Time for a clean up befor the BBQ comes out and the Pimms gets decanted…………..Or whatever it is you do with a mixture of alcohol and vegetables!

The first thing to do when cleaning a timber deck is to wash it down thoroughly and this is best done with a power washer. If you don’t own a power washer you can hire one for the day (or even sometimes for half a day) from your local tool hire shop.

Follow the DIY Doctor project on using a power washer to get the best results from your cleaning.

Having washed the deck down you can apply any number of products to enhance and preserve it. Our personal favourite is shown in the image above (Click on this image if you would like to buy some) and gets right into the grain bringing out the beauty of the wood as close to the original condition as age will allow.

Staining a deck will enhance the timber colour

You can also colour the deck if it is a little faded and our recommendation for this is the range of colours from Cuprinol which stain, rather than paint, the deck. The difference being that stain soaks into the grain to give the timber it’s ,colour while paint, although soaking in a little, does so purely for adhesion to the surface. The colour element sits on the top of the timber. Again, click on the image if you would like to buy the stain.

Timber decks fade almost without our knowing and when we have spent a day restoring them it is always amazing to see how faded and grimy they had become. A rejuvenated deck will help you enjoy those lovely summer afternoons and evenings even more. For more information see our project on How to Stain Decking.

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Top on-line magazine and website, DIY Week (.net) are once again holding their great competition to find the Uk’s top DIY products, suppliers and retailers.

The very best in DIY getting together to compete for great prizes

The awards will be spread across many categories including gardening, hardware independents, suppliers, manufaturers, wholesalers and retailers.  

The black tie awards ceremony will be held at the Deansgate Hilton in Manchester on Thursday, 24th November.

Closing date for entries is September 23rd 2011 and entries can be submitted by clicking on the DIY Week awards image.

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Following feedback from you, our users, we’ve moved back indoors for our most recent new projects.

The bathroom seemed to be the main focus of your feedback, so we have several new projects in this area.

If you are considering changing your lighting, then our guide to bathroom lighting will give you some hints tips and advice on the regulations around this.

We have also covered various methods of bathroom heating,  plus how to replace a damaged tile, changing a toilet seat and fitting a shaver point.

How to hang pictures and heavy mirrors are popular requests, so have a look at our projects on these too.

Do keep letting us know what else you would like to see on DIY Doctor – and what you think of these latest projects!

If you prefer to employ someone to do your home improvements, click through to our Find a Tradesman for free, no obligation quotes from reliable, insured tradesmen in your area.

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As summer progresses, there are plenty of jobs in the garden that need constant attention. Mowing the lawn becomes part of the summer ritual as it is usually done on a weekly basis.

Many of these outdoor jobs involve the use of electrical equipment – lawn mowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers being the most common items in regular use.

Here are some simple rules to follow to ensure you don’t become a shocking summer statistic!

• Never use electrical equipment in wet or damp conditions
• Always use a socket fitted with an RCD – and check it regularly!
• Wear appropriate footwear – sandals will not offer any protection to your feet
• Wear safety goggles and gloves when using a strimmer to protect your eyes and hands
• Check cables and connectors are sound and not damaged before use
• Ensure cables are kept away from the area you are working in to avoid damage
• Extension cables should be fully unwound to prevent overheating

The most important piece of advice is to ensure any electrical equipment is unplugged before attempting any cleaning or repairs. This may sound obvious, but the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) reports that this accounts for 13% of all electrical accidents.

After use, ensure your garden equipment is clean and stored in a dry environment.

This will prolong both it’s life and potentially yours too!

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