TOP TIPS FOR… fixing creaking floorboards

:: Floorboards creak when two pieces of wood rub together. There are several causes of this, but one of the most common is that the nails which fix the floorboards to the joists become loose over time. It’s sometimes possible to solve the problem by pushing talcum powder or chalk between the boards, so try this first.

:: If this doesn’t work, walk over the floorboards to find out where the movement is. Providing the offending board is in good condition, you can remove the loose nails with a claw hammer and then fix the board back in place using the same holes – but with screws rather than nails, which will make it more secure. Remember to countersink the screw heads, otherwise they’ll protrude and could hurt someone or catch clothing.

:: If the floorboard isn’t in good condition, it may not be possible to lift it and screw it back down again. If so, work out where the joist is – this should be apparent from the row of nails – and drill new pilot holes through the board into the joist. Again, countersink the screws so they won’t cause problems.

:: If the end of the floorboard isn’t resting on a joist, give it the support it needs by lifting up the board and fixing a 25mm x 50mm batten to the side of the joist with long screws. Lay the board on top of the batten and screw back in place.

:: Never screw or nail into a floorboard unless you know what’s underneath, as this could be dangerous. Use a battery-operated cable and pipe detector to find out what’s under the board, although these detectors can be inaccurate if, for example, they pick up the nails in the boards. A more foolproof method is to lift the board up, if possible, and if you do find any cables or pipes underneath, mark these on the surface with a pencil so you can avoid them.

DIY NEWS BULLETIN

:: According to research by Triton Showers, women spend longer under the water than men. More than half of the women questioned admitted taking 10 minutes or more in the shower, compared to 42% of men.

There are also differences across the country – 44% of East Midlanders spend 10 minutes or more in the shower, with the inhabitants of Yorkshire and Humberside (40%), the North East and the West Midlands (both 36%) not far behind. It’s a different story in the South of England, though, with 42% spending just eight minutes or less showering.

If you’re looking for a new shower to spend time in, check out Triton’s new Unichrome Mersey thermostatic mixer range (prices start from around £270). Find out more by going to the company’s new-look website – www.tritonshowers.co.uk - which is designed to make it simple to find a shower to suit the look, bathroom and plumbing system of your home.

:: DIY can be physically demanding, especially when you’re working on floors or ceilings and have to kneel and bend or reach up high, but the Tribod mini massager from JML can help. Ergonomically designed to fit in the palm of your hand, it works by vibrating three massage balls that soothe aches and pains and relieve knots all over the body. This is often what you need after a hard day DIYing. The Tribod costs £9.99 from www.JMLdirect.com.

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15% off over 150 Garden Structures including Sheds, Arbours, Cabins & Summerhouses

15 % off over 40 Wooden, Metal & Plastic Sheds & Storage

15% off Selected Playhouses

15% off Selected Garden Rooms & Home Offices

15% off Arbours and Arches

15% off over 70 Cabins & Summerhouses

15% off Selected Carports, Canopies & Garages

15% off Selected Pet Houses
B&Q have some incredible deals this Bank holiday offering 15% off 1000s products online and in store. Please see each individual offer below for details.

Outdoor Living for less - All these offers are valid from 22nd May to the 28th May

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:: Fired Earth is celebrating its 25th birthday this year and, to mark the occasion, is offering 25% off selected favourites throughout the year (details online or in-store).

Also, if you spend £50 or more on paint in-store, Kevin McCloud’s new book Colour Now (RRP £9.99) is yours free. In it, McCloud researches, selects and combines more than 120 colours, including his own paint collection for Fired Earth. Each of the featured palettes is made up of between three and eight colour swatches and includes an introduction describing its influences, potential and variety.

If you want to know more about colours or if you struggle to choose and combine them in your home, this could be the book for you. See www.firedearth.com for more details.

:: Homebase has a new DIY advice centre on its website, offering lots of help and information for home improvers, including interactive tools, buying guides, projects, frequently asked questions, and ’How to’ guides. You can also view Homebase brochures there. Websites of DIY chains are a great source of information and advice – and this one just got better. Visit www.homebase.co.uk.

SEASONAL TASK…

Now is a good time to treat wooden garden furniture to protect it against the elements and wear-and-tear during summer, especially if you plan to leave it outside. Wait for a fine day and apply an exterior wood treatment, oil or paint, following the instructions carefully.

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Screwfix are promoting a new voucher code from Tuesday 12th May until Midday Monday 8th June (12.00).

Save 5% on all orders over £50 or more with the following voucher code: Affiliate5%

Simply enter your unique offer code in the special instruction box when you reach the check order details screen. The saving will be deducted from your order total before your card is charged (it will not show on the checkout total or confirmation email).

Terms and Conditions:

- Offer cannot be redeemed against Delivery charges or Gift Vouchers.
- Offer cannot be redeemed in conjunction with any other voucher.
- Offer only valid via the web.
- Offer valid from Tuesday 12th May until Midday Monday 8th June 2009.
- Offer is open to all UK residents aged 18 years or over except employees of Screwfix Direct or their families and anyone professionally involved with this promotion.
- There is no cash alternative.
Promoter: Screwfix Direct Limited.

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Britons are collectively planning to spend £4.5 billion on home improvements over Easter, with many hoping to add value to their property, a survey showed today.

The average person will spend £181 on DIY projects during the Bank Holiday weekend, rising to more than £200 among people in London, according to research by The Co-operative Bank.

Nearly a third of people said they were planning to carry out work in a bid to add value to their property, while 28% wanted to improve their current home because they could not afford to move.

But 16% of people said they were planning a DIY project so that they did not get bored, 13% want to make their home more environmentally friendly and 9% want to create more space for their expanding family.

Homeowners are most likely to carry out work on their garden and lounge at 18%, followed by the main bedroom at 17% and the kitchen at 15%.

But while 33% of people will be painting and 29% will be gardening, 12% of people planning home improvements will be buying new furnishings.

Terry Jordan, head of mortgages at The Co-operative Bank, said: “In the current economic climate with the slowdown in the property market, people are not moving house as much as before.

“Instead the research clearly shows that people are looking to make improvements to their existing homes in order to add value and better their living space.”

:: Onepoll.com questioned 3,500 people during March.

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:: Polystyrene ceiling tiles are unsightly and old fashioned, but removing them isn’t much fun, so be sure you want to. Once you’ve started scraping them off, you can’t just stop.

:: Make sure you have a stepladder tall enough to enable you to reach the ceiling without stretching and straining, as this could be dangerous. The ladder should always be placed on a flat, stable surface and the floor should be protected from falling debris, unless you’re planning to replace it.

:: You’ll need a stripping knife to scrape off the tiles. One with replaceable blades is a good idea because you can change them when they become blunt. Be careful about damaging the ceiling underneath, especially when the blades are sharp, as plaster can be very soft and prone to gouges.

:: Once you’ve removed the tiles, you’re left with the problem of the adhesive underneath. You can continue scraping this off, but it will be easier if you use a hot air gun to soften the adhesive first. Scrub any remaining adhesive off with an abrasive sponge dipped in solvent thinner.

:: Be very careful when using the hot air gun, as, again, you don’t want to damage the ceiling – or yourself. Play safe by wearing protective gloves, glasses and a dust mask and remember to ventilate the room. You should also wear something like a shower cap on your head to protect your hair from the falling tiles and adhesive.

DIY NEWS BULLETIN

:: DIY is enjoying renewed popularity because of the recession, according to a survey by online trades and services portal MyHammer. It found that 85 per cent of those questioned would rather make improvements to their home than sell up in the current economic climate.

More than half (58 per cent) of those surveyed said they were planning or doing home improvements, and more than two thirds (69 per cent) said it was because they have to stay in their current home for longer than they originally thought.

The study found that the hardest hit are the over 56s, with 92 per cent saying they must improve instead of move. Following the fall in house prices, many of this age group are stuck in their current homes, whereas before they’d have been able to downsize and use the profit from the sale towards their retirement.

:: B&Q has teamed up with shutter specialist The California Company to offer made-to-measure shutters on its website. The online service guides you through every step of the process, from selecting and measuring to ordering and DIY installation.

You can enter your exact opening sizes, choose from a range of designs and the number of panels for each window, then select a stain or paint and the finishing touches. Free shutter samples are available and there’s a choice of elm or poplar wood and a variety of stains, ranging from cherry to honey oak.

All the shutters are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) accredited, which means that the wood has been sourced from independently certified, well-managed forests or other controlled sources. Prices start at £175 a square metre – see www.diy.com/shutters.

ASK THE EXPERT…

Q: What’s a good DIY way to get privacy on my lower windows without having net curtains?

A: Plain frosting film is inexpensive and easy to fit yourself (decorative film tends to be much more expensive). If you want something less permanent, bottom-up blinds work like upside-down roller blinds (from the windowsill up) on a pulley system, so you can control how much of your windows you have covered. These blinds can also be installed quite easily by DIYers, but they’re not cheap. Another (fairly expensive) option is shutters, some of which come with installation included and some of which are designed for DIY installation, but they will reduce the light coming into the room.

SEASONAL TASK…

Easter’s coming up, the traditional start to the DIY season, and if you’re staying at home, why not use the long weekend to do a meaty home-improvement project? Plan ahead early so you’ve got everything you need to get on with it and don’t have to brave the bank-holiday shopping crowds.

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Childhood sweethearts Stanley and Christine Buck have created a model of a 1950s town to remind them of “happy times”.

The retired couple, of Whittlesey, Cambs, have spent much of the past 20 years crafting the MDF replica.

The 1:24inch scale model features a variety of places that hold memories for them, including the coffee shop in Greenford, London, where they met in 1957.

Mrs Buck, 68, said she and her husband, a 75-year-old former factory worker, had spent thousands of hours on the project.

“I used to do it all day, as well as the housework,” said the mother-of-two, who has nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

“I’m the artistic one and he makes the buildings.”

She said the model, which is 24ft in length and 2ft deep, was based on 1950s architecture and fashions.

“It’s a collection of buildings we’ve known or that remind us of places that we’ve been to,” she said. “We get pleasure from looking at it. It has memories for us.

“It’s more about the period than any particular place.”

The cinema where they went on a date is included in the town centre model, along with houses, flats and shops.

The couple, who celebrate their golden wedding next year, have welcomed visitors from neighbouring counties to view their work, which is stored in a garden shed.

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I think this looks a bit like a Shepards Hut but without the wheels

Henley Offices Compact Maxi Room
Now £7857.66 Was £9299.00 Save £1441.34

1. 15% off Selected Order Only Garden Buildings

2. 15% off Order Only Fencing, Railings & Gates

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Grout can become discoloured over time with mould, cooking splashes, shower gel and shampoo residues taking their toll. Before you consider replacing the grout, try scrubbing it with sugar-soap or grout-cleaning spray and then, if necessary, use grout paint to make it white again. If this doesn’t do the trick, and you can’t live with the grout as it is, you’ll need to rake it out and replace it.

You may also need to replace grout if it wasn’t applied properly in the first place, if it has cracked and deteriorated, or you want a different colour. If you’re responsible for applying it poorly, make sure you do it right this time or get a tiler in. Removing grout is not a particularly nice task – it’s boring, repetitive and hard work – so don’t undertake it lightly.

Mould is usually black, but if you have brown mould on your grout, this may mean that water is getting in behind the tiles and penetrating the joints. If so, you’ll need to find – and remedy – the cause of the problem before regrouting, or get a plumber to.

You should use a grout rake to remove the grout, which is a small tool with replaceable blades. You’ll need to remove at least 2mm of the old grout (preferably 3mm) for regrouting to work, but it’s important not to scratch the tiles in the process or you’ll have to replace those as well.

Raking out the grout involves moving the rake from side to side and up and down along the joints. Unless you have tiled recently, the grout will be set hard so this will take some effort. Once you’ve raked out the grout from the whole tiled area, you’re ready to clean out the joints and regrout.

DIY NEWS BULLETIN

The new Dremel Driver gives you precision, control and power thanks to a variable-speed trigger and a T-handle design, yet it measures just 12.5cm, enabling you to work in tight areas where other screwdrivers won’t fit.

The driver is perfect for medium and light-duty DIY drilling and driving work, including mounting pictures on walls, installing lock sets and assembling flat-pack furniture (there are even two IKEA bits included in the kit).

Powered by a 7.2V lithium-ion battery, which ensures it’s lightweight, the Dremel Driver has a variable speed of 0-300rpm and an electronic brake, so it stops exactly when you want for maximum precision.

It also has a linear rmp ’ramp-up’ for extreme accuracy, especially at low rpm, and Longlife Electronic Cell Protection. This safeguards the battery from burnout, overheating and full depletion – there’s no ’memory effect’ so it should always be ready to use.

The Dremel Driver comes with a charger, eight driver bits and detachable storage so you can keep the bits to hand. It costs around £55 from DIY stores or online at www.dremel-direct.com.

If you’re planning to lay a wood floor any time soon, check out the seven new brushed and stained oak floors recently added by Kahrs to its Linnea Narrow range.
The floors include white-stained Oak Blanc, Oak Cloud and Biscuit, mid-toned Oak Honey and dark-toned Oak Amber, Coal and Coffee. Each board has a multi-layer construction comprising a wood-veneer surface, high-performance HDF core and wood-veneer bottom layer.

All the new floors have a brushed surface and stained matt lacquer pre-finish and come with a 12-year guarantee for surface wear. They’re also straightforward to fit – the company’s Woodlot(R) joint system ensures that gaps are minimised throughout installation and for the lifetime of the floor. To find out more, see www.kahrs.co.uk or call 023 9245 3045.

ASK THE EXPERT…
Q: I’ve got some blown plaster in my hall – what should I do about it?

A: You really need to replaster, or preferably get a plasterer to do it - plastering is hard for DIYers to get right. If you’re not putting any weight on the plaster, such as coat hooks, you could try papering over it with lining paper or wallpaper, which should keep it in, although this isn’t the ideal long-term solution.

SEASONAL TASK…
The weather’s being unseasonably nice so get out into the garden, if you have one, and do any DIY you can out there, whether it’s sawing, sanding, stripping, painting or assembling something.

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TOP TIPS FOR… fitting doors
Don’t be tempted to fit the door furniture before you’ve fitted the door. The same applies to painting the door and the doorframe. Fitting a door usually involves a lot of trial and error and it’s easy to scrape the door and the frame in the process, so wait until you’ve finished before doing any painting.

:: Most doors have to be trimmed to fit, but if you live in a period home, fitting (and finding) doors is likely to be harder. Period doors tend not to be a standard size and your doorframes may have moved over time.

:: Getting the size of the door just right is usually tricky, time-consuming and frustrating. You don’t want it to scrape on the floor (you should protect the floor underneath when fitting the door), nor do you want a large gap at the top or bottom that lets in draughts (you can add strips of wood here if necessary). That said, getting an exact fit at the sides is obviously most important because otherwise the door won’t close.

:: You’ll probably need a circular saw to cut the door to fit, as most doors are too thick for jigsaws. Once you’ve got the door pretty much the right size, use a plane (preferably an electric one) to shave off smaller amounts of wood until it fits exactly. Cut a door down too much and you could compromise its structure, so it’s essential to get it right.

:: You may have to move the position of the hinges and the lock and handle mechanisms on the door or frame, or sometimes both. Do whatever’s easiest without compromising the way the door works. External doors are usually best fitted by a professional, not least because it’s vital to have your security locks installed correctly.

DIY NEWS BULLETIN

:: No self-respecting DIYer should be without a good book to help them and The Reader’s Digest DIY Manual is just the thing. It has already sold more than three million copies and is now being re-released with information on the latest building, plumbing and electrical regulations, as well as advice on making your home more environmentally friendly.

Each DIY job is explained in a clear step-by-step way, complete with pictures. There’s also lots of useful information, tips and trade secrets. Whether you’re new to DIY and need help to get started, or you’re a more experienced DIYer wanting to tackle advanced home-improvement tasks, you’ll find it really useful.

The manual also includes information on eco-friendly materials, saving energy and how to assess and improve the energy-efficiency rating of your home. There’s an accompanying CD-ROM that has a carbon-footprint calculator to help you gauge your home’s CO2 emissions, a ’ready reckoner’ for estimating DIY materials, and 42 animated DIY tasks and techniques.

The revamped Reader’s Digest DIY Manual is available from 26 March and costs £19.99. See www.readersdigest.co.uk

:: If you’re planning a big DIY project in the garden this spring or summer, check out the new Homebase Garden Buildings brochure for, among other things, fences, sheds, log cabins, gates, gazebos and decking. It can be viewed on the Homebase website – www.homebase.co.uk (Online Brochures is under Advice & Guidance on the homepage).

ASK THE EXPERT…
Q: Where’s a good place to get period doors?
A: Salvage yards and eBay are good places to look, although the doors won’t necessarily be cheap. Skips are an excellent – and free – source of period doors, though it may take months until you find what you need and your success will partially depend on how many houses in your neighbourhood are of a similar period to yours.

SEASONAL TASK…
Mothering Sunday’s coming up and if your mum’s handy, why not get her something fun like a leopard-print tool belt or a flowery toolbox and matching tools? Look on the internet. Some amazing items can be found.

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