Neil Cumins

I’ve been a property journalist since 2003, writing about everything from architecture and construction to interior design and home improvements, for property clients all over the world

best radiator paint

Best Radiator Paint in 2021 (UK Buying Guide & Reviews)

Painting a radiator requires precision and diligence to achieve a quality finish that will last for years. Furthermore, choosing the best radiator paint can significantly simplify the task and improve the finish’s longevity. Today’s radiator paints provide consistent coverage and fewer drips than their poorly-regarded ancestors, generating fewer toxic fumes in the process. Pro Tip: …

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best paint brushes uk

9 Best Paint Brushes UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews)

Paint brushes aren’t a particularly sexy addition to your tool bag, but they’re essential for any decorating job. However, with thousands of different products on the market – mostly sold in multipacks containing a variety of head sizes – choosing the right paint brushes for your home or business can be daunting. To cut through …

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best plunge saw

Best Plunge Saw in the UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews)

Increasingly eclipsing the less practical circular saw, the spring-mounted circular blades on plunge saws are ideal for precise and consistent cuts through the hardest woods. However, with so many plunge saws on the market today, it can be tricky to choose the best model. After testing the UK’s most highly-rated products side-by-side, we determined that …

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best hacksaw uk

Best Hacksaw in the UK – The Top 7 in 2021 (Buying Guide & Reviews)

Whether you’re preparing a pipe, working on wood or moulding metal, a hacksaw is your best friend. However, many hacksaws struggle with anything more challenging than timber and are unsuited to more rigid materials like metal. To separate the wheat from the chaff, we’ve spent hours testing the seven best hacksaws for cutting metal and …

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best corded sds hammer drill uk

Best Corded SDS Hammer Drill UK in 2021 (Buying Guide & Reviews)

If you have a large amount of heavy-duty drilling to get through, an SDS hammer drill is your ultimate weapon. However, there are huge price differences between the leading models, so it is worth paying more than twice as much if you’re after the best corded SDS hammer drill in the UK? In this article, …

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best circular saw blades uk

7 Best Circular Saw Blades UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews)

When it comes to high-speed cutting, there’s nothing to match the power and durability of a circular saw. Capable of slicing through anything from timber and plastic to ceramic and metal, circular saws are uncomplicated one-job machines that nevertheless come in various weights, power settings and states of portability. Circle of Strife It would be …

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best pillar drill uk

3 Best Pillar Drills in the UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews)

There are plenty of pillar drills to choose from in the UK, but only a few of them are worth your hard-earned money. We’ve spent hours filtering the good from the bad to arrive at the 3 Best Pillar Drills in the UK. To avoid making a costly mistake, both in time and money, keep …

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best bandsaw uk

3 Best Bandsaws UK – 2021 Reviews (plus buying guide)

Compared to some of the tools in a carpenter or handyman’s armoury, a bandsaw may seem unnecessary. Less precise than a scroll saw and less powerful than a circular saw, these are almost luxury items in that their functions could be completed by hand – or by another machine. However, bandsaws are great for repetitive …

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best scroll saw blades uk

5 Best Scroll Saw Blades in the UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews)

Even the best scroll saw is only as good as its blades. Choosing the best quality blades will make a significant difference in the quality of your work. In this guide, we consider what to look for when buying scroll saw blades. We’ve also spent many hours researching and reviewing the 5 best scroll saw …

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best scroll saw uk

5 Best Scroll Saws in the UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews)

Costing between £95 and £145, a scroll saw can deliver better results than a jigsaw, and without the bicep-busting strain of a coping saw or fretsaw. Below, we review the best scroll saws in the UK and explain what to look for when you’re comparing them. How to Find the Best Scroll Saw in the …

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best jigsaw uk

5 Best Jigsaws in the UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews)

There are plenty of Jigsaws to choose from in the UK, but only a few of them are worth your hard-earned money. We’ve spent hours filtering the good from the bad to arrive at the 5 Best Jigsaws in the UK. To avoid making a costly mistake, both in time and money, keep reading to …

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how much to hang a door

How Much to Hang a Door in 2021? (Complete UK Cost Guide)

Do you know how much it should cost to hang a door? Many don’t, and it’s costing them. Whether you need to buy materials to do the job yourself or decide to hire a carpenter to do it for you, it’s important to know what you ought to be paying. In this guide, we’re going …

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rendering cost per m2 in the uk

How Much Does Rendering Cost per m2 UK? [2021 Price Guide]

Rendering the exterior walls of your home is an excellent way to give it a new lease of life and impress potential buyers. If you want to use render to spruce up your property, it’s crucial to appreciate how much rendering costs per m2 in the UK. What is Rendering? When you render a property, …

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stud partition wall cost per m2

How Much Does Stud Partition Wall Cost per m2? [2021 UK Prices]

Lots of home improvement projects aim to make the most of the available space in a property, but sometimes the setup of your home might waste precious space. If that’s the case, installing a stud partition wall could be a great way to improve the layout. By installing a stud partition wall, you can add …

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air source heat pump cost uk

How Much Does an Air Source Heat Pump Cost in the UK? (2021 Price Guide)

Exploring ways to reduce your fuel bills is a worthwhile endeavour for any homeowner. Installing a heat pump is one option you can explore to generate your own heat, and possibly save a little cash. But How Much Does an Air Source Heat Pump Cost in the UK and how much can you save on …

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cavity wall insulation removal cost

Cavity Wall Insulation Removal Cost in 2021 (UK Price Guide)

Good cavity wall insulation can work wonders for your heating bills. By slowing the movement of heat through your walls, it helps your home stay warmer for longer. If your insulation isn’t installed right, though, you can suffer significant issues. This guide explains when (and why) you might need to remove cavity wall insulation. It’ll …

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fire door installation cost

Fire Door Installation Cost – How Much Should I be Paying in 2021?

Installing fire doors isn’t something many of us will have done before. Fire doors aren’t necessary for all property types and development projects – but when they are, it’s crucial to know as much about them as possible. Below, we outline the average fire door installation cost in the UK. We cover all the ins …

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damp survey cost

Damp Survey Cost – What Should I be Paying in 2021?

Damp can be a complex issue in your home. Depending on the type and extent of a damp problem, it could cost thousands of pounds to sort out. Even worse, some unscrupulous tradesmen prey on people’s concerns about damp, making homeowners pay over the odds for damp proofing work they don’t even need. The only …

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asbestos removal cost uk

Asbestos Removal Cost UK – What Should I be Paying in 2021?

Think of your worst nightmare during a home improvement or renovation project. Were you thinking about the possibility of finding asbestos? If not, you probably should have been. Asbestos in any kind of property can cause huge problems. This hazardous material is something you must deal with carefully, but what’s the best way to handle …

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how to measure stair carpets

How to Measure Stair Carpets

Homeowners often think it’s too difficult to do anything with their stairs. They’re not confident enough to try replacing their stair carpet themselves, and getting a carpet fitted by a professional can be expensive, as we recently explained in our guide to carpet fitting costs. The fact is that sorting out your stair carpet isn’t …

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how to plane a door

How to Plane a Door Like a Carpenter (step-by-step guide)

Most of the time, you might not give the doors in your home a second thought. That is until they start sticking, scratching your floor or otherwise giving you grief. Then they can quickly have you on the threshold of madness. If you do have a door needing some attention, it’s generally easier to resolve …

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how to fit a door handle

How to Fit a Door Handle in 6 Simple Steps (Complete UK Guide)

Not all home improvement projects need to be super complicated or break the bank to make a real difference. There are some simple things that anyone can handle, so to speak, which can really liven up the look of any room. Fitting new door handles is a great example. Once you know the steps, it’s …

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how to remove wall tiles like a pro

How to Remove Wall Tiles in 5 Simple Steps (Complete UK Guide)

We’ve all got home improvement projects we know we should crack on with. According to research from B&Q at the start of 2019, Brits typically have 16 small projects either on the go or on their minds. The same research also revealed that replacing tiling was a project one in six respondents felt needed to …

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how to mix plaster

How to Mix Plaster in 6 Simple Steps (Complete UK guide)

Amateur DIYers and home improvement newcomers fear few things as much as plastering. It’s a job with a reputation for being devilishly difficult to get right. Kezzabeth brilliantly sums up the frustrations which may arise in her blog post. There’s one key thing any would-be plasterer can do, to boost their chances of success. That’s …

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pva for plastering

Why you should use PVA for Plastering (and how best to apply it)

If you’ve got some plastering work that needs doing, you’re probably wondering whether you should try it yourself. Plastering is something of an art form, and it can go badly wrong if you don’t know what you’re doing. With the right guidance, even an enthusiastic amateur can achieve great results. Jan and Christine, writers of …

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how to remove polystyrene ceiling tiles

How to Remove Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles in 5 Simple Steps

The 1970s have a lot to answer for in the interior design stakes. You only have to think of avocado bathroom suites and Artex to realise that. One of the worst decorating trends of the era, though, has to be the compulsion to install polystyrene ceiling tiles. These unsightly tiles have long-since fallen out of …

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how to box in a boiler

How to Box in a Boiler in 7 Simple Steps (Complete UK Guide)

Is an exposed boiler spoiling the look of your kitchen? You’re not alone. Research has found that unattractive exposed boilers are a bugbear among many UK homeowners. In fact, 57% of them would look to knock £5,000 off the purchase price of a house just because the boiler was on show! Fortunately, you don’t have …

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