Decorating Kingston
Decorating your house is a great way to give it a unique look and make it feel more like a home. Get some decorating tips from the articles in this section so you can start on your home projects today.
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Heading Tape Styles Kingston
Pulls the fabric into an irregular ruffle. Good for unlined, lightweight fabrics. Allow one and a half to three times the width of the pole or track.
Laying the Tiles Kingston
The following are the useful tips for laying the tiles. Read on this article and get more information about home improvement.
Decorating for Resale Kingston
There are a number of areas in your home that you might need to take a good look at before putting your house on the market. Many buyers are put off by a property that they feel would need a lot of time and money spending on it after they move in.
Paint Colour Considerations Kingston
Colour is the background that should complement the furniture, pictures, books, and accessories that make up your home. Colour can add interest to a room without needing to be outrageously bold. Equally, intense, bright shades can be effective without being overpowering. The key to choosing the right colour for a room is taking into account the various factors that will affect its final appearance.
Looking at Paint Charts Kingston
All colours are derived from three primary colours: red, yellow, and blue. Two primaries mixed in equal proportions create a secondary colour (red plus yellow makes orange; yellow plus blue makes green; blue plus red makes violet). The shades in between - the tertiary colours - are a combination of a primary and a secondary colour.
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Choosing Curtain Poles & Tracks Kingston
Curtain tracks are sold in lengths of up to 3 m (10 ft) and come with fixing brackets, slip-on hooks, end stops, and instructions for hanging the curtains. Some tracks have integral cords to allow you to draw the curtains without handling the fabric.
Choosing the Right Materials for Tiling Kingston
Having a headache in choosing the right materials? A useful reference is that you need 100 tiles measuring 10x10 cm (4x4 in) each to cover 1 sq m (10 sq ft). The bigger the tile, the fewer you will need. Please read on for more detailed information in the following article.
Dealing with Problem Surfaces Kingston
As a potential fire hazard (with the added danger of releasing poisonous fumes when burning), these tiles should be removed if at all possible. They will probably be stuck on with five blobs of adhesive, and whilst the tiles can usually be prised off with a broad scraper, the adhesive is more difficult to remove.
Decorating for Resale Kingston
There are a number of areas in your home that you might need to take a good look at before putting your house on the market. Many buyers are put off by a property that they feel would need a lot of time and money spending on it after they move in.
Dyes & Stains Kingston
The key difference between wood dyes and wood stains is that dyes do not protect the wood. Dyes need a finishing coat of varnish, oil, or wax. Overall, a dye gives more control over the depth of colour and, properly finished, will be more permanent.
Fitting a Carpet Offcut Kingston
If you're buying new, prepare the floor in the same way as for sheet vinyl . If you don't prepare with hardboard, make sure you hammer down any protruding nails and staples in floorboards.
Fitting a Stair Carpet Kingston
Fitting an offcut of carpet on a stairway isn't difficult, providing you don't rush the work. You will need an extra half a metre (about one and a half foot) of carpeting in length - this allows the carpet to be moved later to even out wear and tear (see step 4).
Fitting around a Pipe Kingston
To mark where to cut the plank, lay the plank lengthwise to the side of the pipe, with the long edge of the plank touching the skirting board, and mark where the centre of the pipe is on the short side edge of the plank. Then, move the plank so that its long edge touches the pipe, and its short edge is line up next to its neighbour, and mark the position of the pipe centre on the long edge of the plank.
Fitting the Tiles Kingston
Temporarily nail a straight timber batten along one of the guidelines so that you can butt the tiles against the edge to make a straight line. Use the point where the two lines cross as the starting point for tiling. For self-adhesive tiles, peel away the backing paper of the first tile and press it into place against the batten, flush with the other chalk line. Lay the second tile on the other side of the chalk line, again butted against the batten.
Fitting Underlay for Carpets Kingston
It's essential that a good underlay is used under all but foam-backed carpets. It reduces wear, adds to the warmth of the carpet, and helps dampen noise. Where there are small gaps between floorboards, put down a layer of building paper (a tough, water-resistant paper sold at builders' merchants) and place the underlay over the top.
Fixing the Supports for Curtain Poles & Tracks Kingston
You will need a hammer drill fitted with a masonry bit to make holes in the wall above the window. Masonry bits have hardened metal points that can bore through concrete, blocks, and bricks. Buy a small pack of assorted diameter bits as they are useful for other fixing jobs.
Getting a Perfect Varnished Finish Kingston
Before using polyurethane varnish, seal the surface with one coat of varnish diluted by 10% with white spirit. Use a soft cloth pad to work the varnish into the grain, and a brush to get into corners and mouldings.
Heading Tape Styles Kingston
Pulls the fabric into an irregular ruffle. Good for unlined, lightweight fabrics. Allow one and a half to three times the width of the pole or track.
How Much to Spend on Painting Equipment Kingston
Good-quality equipment should last a lifetime if you look after it - but sometimes life seems too short to spend time cleaning it. Here are some tips on when you need to go for the best, and when cheap and cheerful will do the job.
How to Install Curtain Poles & Tracks Kingston
Decide on the height of the pole or track by holding the curtains up to the window. It should be at least 75 mm (3 in) above the window frame. The curtain should be around 12 mm (1/2 in) above the floor to reduce wear on the hem. For shorter curtains, allow at least 50 mm (2 in) to drop below the bottom of the window frame, but make sure the fabric does not touch a radiator.
How to Wallpaper a Room Kingston
Do you know how to wallpaper a room? Well, when hanging wallpaper, you should normally start on the wall adjacent to the window wall and work back into the room. This way, shadows will not be cast if any edges are inadvertently overlapped. The exception is where a large motif is being used and there is a dominant focal point in the room, such as a chimney breast. Here, the motif would need to be centralised on the chimney breast wall.
Laying Laminate Planks Kingston
Laminate flooring needs a resilient underlay whether you're laying it over a timber or a concrete subfloor. Your flooring supplier will recommend what to use - usually it's thin foam. Unroll the underlay across the room, trimming it with a craft knife to fit round any obstacles, and tape the lengths together along the seams with heavy-duty adhesive tape.
Laying the Tiles Kingston
The following are the useful tips for laying the tiles. Read on this article and get more information about home improvement.
Laying the Vinyl Sheet Kingston
Leave the vinyl sheeting in the room for at least a day before laying it, either opened flat or loosely rolled. Vinyl is easier to work if warm, so turning on the central heating for a few hours will help.
Looking at Paint Charts Kingston
All colours are derived from three primary colours: red, yellow, and blue. Two primaries mixed in equal proportions create a secondary colour (red plus yellow makes orange; yellow plus blue makes green; blue plus red makes violet). The shades in between - the tertiary colours - are a combination of a primary and a secondary colour.
Measuring for Blinds Kingston
First of all, decide where you want to position your blind, either within the window recess, or outside it. Make sure you always use a steel measuring tape as cloth tapes are not accurate.
Paint Application Techniques Kingston
Whether you use a brush, pad, or roller is a matter of personal preference. Pads and rollers cover a surface more quickly. Please read on for more detailed information in the following article.
Paint Colour Considerations Kingston
Colour is the background that should complement the furniture, pictures, books, and accessories that make up your home. Colour can add interest to a room without needing to be outrageously bold. Equally, intense, bright shades can be effective without being overpowering. The key to choosing the right colour for a room is taking into account the various factors that will affect its final appearance.
Paints for Ceilings & Walls Kingston
Finding paints for ceilings and walls? You can buy paint that's specifically for plaster, which allows the surface to breathe. Don't use standard vinyl emulsion, as it creates a film that prevents the plaster from drying out completely.
Paints for Metal & Wood Kingston
Bare wood and metal are traditionally treated with a three-paint system of primer, undercoat, and topcoat - which gives maximum adhesion to these constantly expanding and contracting materials. It's best to buy all three paints from the same manufacturer, as they're designed to work together. Properly applied, the paints are able to withstand climatic extremes.
Preparing Floors for Tiling Kingston
Tiles must be laid on a level, firm base because any flexing will crack the grouting. It's essential that there is a flow of air under the floor to stop condensation forming. Check that the airbricks around the external walls aren't blocked with debris or earth. If they are, clear them and check under the floor for signs of damp or mould - such problems will need professional treatment before the tiles can be laid.
Preparing Indoor Surfaces Kingston
When you are preparing indoor surfaces, there are many things you should put into consideration, for example, the metalwork, woodwork, plaster work and sound plaster work.
Preparing the Walls for Papering Kingston
Remove fittings such as wall lights, shelves, and roller blinds, because you can't paper around them. Make sure that the electricity is switched off at the mains before removing wall lights and that the power to any bare wires is cut off until wallpapering is complete and the lights are back in place.
Problems: After You've Finished Papering Kingston
Poor preparation has meant that old size (sealant) remained on the wall. Wiping with a clean, damp rag may help but usually the only answer is to start again, making sure the walls are washed down with warm water to remove old adhesive and size. Please read on for more detailed information in the following article.
Problems: Whilst You're Working Kingston
Generally caused by not hanging paper vertically or taking too much around a corner. For a corner crease, cut along the crease, apply more paste, and brush back into place. If the repair is too noticeable, hang a new length. If you are getting creases in straightforward lengths then the paper is not being hung vertically, so you need to start again.
Selecting the Right Colour for Wood Finishes Kingston
Colour charts and samples are for guidance. The only accurate test for colour is to try it on an identical piece of timber - either an offcut or an inconspicuous patch, for example under a table top.
Setting Out the Tiles Kingston
Find the middle of the two longest walls and mark across the room between these points with a chalk line. Do the same for the shorter walls, marking a second line on the floor. The centre of the room is where the lines cross. If you have a dominant feature in the room, such as a fireplace, centre the line in the middle of the feature instead of the middle of the wall.
Special Purpose Paints Kingston
Woodgrain Effect Paint can be applied to most surfaces. It can give a painted door, for instance, a passably natural-looking finish. Saves the hassle of stripping back to bare wood. Please read on for more detailed information in the following article.
Tiling a Floor Kingston
Once you have planned the design and prepared the floor, tiling a kitchen or hallway of around 10 sq m (100 sq ft) should take a couple of weekends. Although it's not a job for the complete novice, if you have basic DIY skills you should be able to tackle plain floor tiles. However, if you want to use expensive natural stone, or want a particularly complex pattern, it may be worth calling in an expert.
Types of Blinds Kingston
Blinds can either be used on their own as a simple treatment or in combination with curtains. They are useful for small windows or for windows where there is no space at the side for a curtain, and be fitted either inside or outside the window recess.
Types of Woodstrip Flooring Kingston
The three major varieties of woddstrip flooring are: The most expensive woodstrip flooring option. Substantially thicker than laminated planks, they can be used in place of floorboards, which will be a more complex installation. Most can be sanded and refinished when the finish has worn - check with the manufacturer.
Wood Stripping Methods Kingston
Wood Stripping is slow, but good for small or fiddly projects. It is the best option for paint that might contain lead and can also be used on metal and glass. Some lacquers are not affected by chemical strippers, and you may need to use cellulose thinners to remove them.
Wood: Checking & Preparing the Surface Kingston
If the wood has a lot of knots or is very resinous (oozing sap), the affected areas should first be sealed with knotting solution, which can be brown or colourless. Use a colourless version if you want to apply a translucent finish on top. Applying knotting solution will affect the wood's ability to absorb wood dye and it may be incompatible with some finishes, so make sure you check the manufacturer's recommendations.
Working with Features Kingston
When wallpaper a room, there are a lot of things you should take into consideration, for example, the corners, the doors, the windows. How to make it work? Here are some tips.