Skirting boards are a highly underrated aspect of any home, modern or traditional. The iconic TV series ‘The Thick of It’ once acknowledged this by comparing a character to skirting boards – “I assume we need them, but I’m not sure why”. Yet as the bridge between your walls and floor, skirting boards do a …
Best Paint for Skirting Boards in 2021 (UK Buying Guide and Reviews) Read More »
Typically costing between £95 and £145, a scroll saw can deliver better results than a jigsaw 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. In a Hurry? Here’s our Top Pick for the …
Best Scroll Saw UK – The Top 3 in 2021 (Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
Tile paints represent a cost-effective and straightforward way of injecting new life into ceramics which have otherwise seen better days. Generally intended for internal use only, some tile paints are fully weatherproof and apply to materials as diverse as brick, stone or concrete. However, tile paints deliver their best work when lightly applied to internal …
Best Tile Paint – The Top 3 in 2021 (UK Buying Guide) Read More »
Masonry paint can transform the appearance of a wall, fence, patio or outbuilding. However, to withstand the worst of the British weather, it needs to be hardwearing – and quick to apply. Many DIY jobs are ruined by a sudden downpour leaving freshly painted brickwork or render looking streaky and faded. Because the composition of …
Best Masonry Paint for Exterior Walls [UK Buying Guide] Read More »
As a regular DIY job throughout the home, finding a dependable gloss paint can simplify the annual (or biennial) task of sprucing up woodwork. It can also transform metallic surfaces, adding new interest and character. While there’s a bewildering array of products available, we give the award of ‘best white gloss paint UK‘ to Dulux’s …
Best White Gloss Paint UK (non-yellowing) – 2021 Buying Guide Read More »
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 ‘Best Jigsaw UK‘. To avoid making a costly mistake, both in time and money, keep reading to find out which …
Best Jigsaw in the UK – The Top 3 in 2021 (Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
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: …
Best Radiator Paint in 2021 (UK Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
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 …
Best Plunge Saw in the UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
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 …
9 Best Paint Brushes UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
Whether you’re chopping down a tree or trimming a hedge, having a cordless chainsaw is extremely useful, combining practicality and freedom of movement without worrying about power leads. However, with so many products available, how do you choose the best cordless chainsaw UK? After many hours of research and testing, we’ve done the hard work …
Best Cordless Chainsaw UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
A hand saw is an essential component of any toolkit, but few DIY products come in a broader assortment of shapes and sizes, prices and brands. To sort the wheat from the chaff, we’ve recently tested five of the best hand saws currently on the UK market from some of the world’s leading DIY tools …
Best Hand Saw UK – 2021 (Buying Guide + Reviews) Read More »
When it comes to the best emulsion paint, it’s often worth paying a little extra for a higher-quality product. High-quality paints have the texture and finish of single cream, whereas cheaper alternatives can resemble skimmed milk. Our three shortlisted products all claim to have near-identical coverage of between 12 and 13 square metres per litre. …
Best Emulsion Paint – The Top 3 in 2021 (UK Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
One of the critical tools underpinning the burgeoning fashion for upcycling older furnishings or accessories is chalk paint. Thinner than gloss and more muted than emulsion, chalk paint allows the weave or grain to show through. However, not all chalk paints are created equal. Some are suitable for upcycling metal surfaces or objects, while others …
Best Chalk Paint UK- 2021 (Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
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 …
Best Scroll Saw Blades UK – The Top 5 in 2021 (Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
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 UK? In this article, we explain …
Best Corded SDS Hammer Drill UK – Top 3 in 2021 (Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
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 …
Best Hacksaw UK – The Top 7 in 2021 (Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
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 …
Best Bandsaw UK – The Top 3 in 2021 (Buying guide & Reviews) Read More »
Whether you’re moving into a new house with a turfed lawn but no boundaries or improving the privacy of an existing garden’s open fencing, there are plenty of reasons for learning how to build a close board fence. A fully boarded fence gives you complete privacy at ground level, preventing your pets from seeing neighbouring …
How to Build a Close Board Fence – A Step-by-Step Guide (UK) Read More »
Nail guns aren’t a romantic purchase and don’t include advanced features. A nail gun is one DIY product where simplicity is a virtue, and affordability is vital. If you want a quick and dependable way of applying nails to fabrics or relatively thin timbers, there’s no reason to look beyond VonHaus’s electric staple gun/nailer. Not …
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 …
7 Best Circular Saw Blades UK (2021 Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
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 ‘Best Pillar Drill UK’. To avoid making a costly mistake, both in time and money, keep reading to find …
Best Pillar Drill UK – The Top 3 in 2021 (Buying Guide & Reviews) Read More »
Do you know how much 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 to take you …
How Much to Hang a Door in 2021? (Complete UK Cost Guide) Read More »
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 the average rendering cost per m2 UK. In a Hurry? Then find top-rated plasterers in your area …
How Much Does Rendering Cost per m2 UK? [2021 Price Guide] Read More »
Many home improvement projects aim to make the most of the available space in a property, but sometimes the setup of your home may waste precious space. If that’s the case, installing a stud partition wall is a great way to improve the layout. In this guide, we’ll take you through how much stud partition …
How Much Does Stud Partition Wall Cost per m2? [2021 UK Prices] Read More »
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 …
How Much Does an Air Source Heat Pump Cost in the UK? (2021 Price Guide) Read More »
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 …
Cavity Wall Insulation Removal Cost in 2021 (UK Price Guide) Read More »
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 …
Fire Door Installation Cost – How Much Should I be Paying in 2021? Read More »
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 …
Damp Survey Cost – What Should I be Paying in 2021? Read More »
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 …
Asbestos Removal Cost UK – What Should I be Paying in 2021? Read More »
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 …
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 …
How to Plane a Door Like a Carpenter (step-by-step guide) Read More »
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 …
How to Fit a Door Handle in 6 Simple Steps (Complete UK Guide) Read More »
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 …
How to Remove Wall Tiles in 5 Simple Steps (Complete UK Guide) Read More »
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 …
How to Mix Plaster in 6 Simple Steps (Complete UK guide) Read More »
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 …
Why you should use PVA for Plastering (and how best to apply it) Read More »
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 …
How to Remove Polystyrene Ceiling Tiles in 5 Simple Steps Read More »
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 …
How to Box in a Boiler in 7 Simple Steps (Complete UK Guide) Read More »
