Water Tanks

After the past two days of constant rain, it might be worth thinking about getting a water tank for your garden. They will collect as much water as possible to help prevent your garden flooding. You can also get rainwater harvesting kits! Check out Tanks Direct for more info.  

Better safety measures needed for construction

A company in the South East have been fined over £200,000 in fines after the death of an employee on a construction site. The company failed to tell their workers that there was a live volt cable in the area they were working on and failed to put safety measures in place throughout the excavation. 

Safe & Sound at Work Campaign

The HSE are currently conducting the Safe & Sound at Work Campaign. They aim to offer step by step guidance to help business's involve their team in managing health and safety and benefit from improved consultation. A case study shows how one business lowered their insurance premiums by 50%. Read the article an do your bit! 

Door Security

Door security is vital in our homes. Unfortunately a number of break ins occur due to poor locking systems. Ensure your doors and secure, if you need a new locking system don't delay your home security any longer, get in touch with one of our handymen in london. If you would like a bespoke front door, contact our carpenters in london. We want to make your home safe!

Radiator maintenance

Bleeding your radiators is an important, safe and quick task that should be conducted annually. The process allows trapped air to be released. If your radiator is cold at the top but warm at the bottom, its more than likely that trapped air will be the problem. 
1. Turn off your central heating

2. Find the bleed valve - usually located on the side of the radiator

3. Place a cloth or bowl underneath the bleed valve to catch any water that may leak

4. To bleed the radiator, insert the bleed key into the bleed valve (located in step two) and carefully turn it anticlockwise. (Not too much, just half a turn will do) You will hear a hissing sound; this is the trapped air in your radiator escaping. You will know when all the air will have escaped because water starts to trickle out of the valve. 

5. Re tighten the bleed valve carefully and ensure it’s tight. Clear up any spills.

6. Switch the central heating back on once you have finished bleeding all the radiators in the house, making sure that all the bleed valves are tight so no air can escape. 

Wallpaper tips

First thing to do is to strip and remove all existing wallpaper. Cover the floors with dust sheets so the old wallpaper doesn’t stick to the carpet or flooring. Sand down any blemishes and plaster where necessary.

Wallpaper:

Lining paper is used as a base for painting.  It gives a smooth surface to paint onto.

Wood chip is a cheaper paper containing small bits of wood between two pieces of paper. When too thin it can be easily torn and when too thick it is hard to trim.

Relief wallpaper is good for covering rough or uneven surfaces. The paper has a raised pattern imprinted.

Textured vinyl papers are hard wearing and relatively easy to hang.

Paste:

Ensure that you use the right paste for the wallpaper you have chosen. For vinyl papers use a paste that prevents mould growth. For other papers use a hot or cold water paste. Avoid lumps developing by stirring well. On the back of the paste packet it will have instructions for mixing and standing times.

Abrasive tools

Abrasive materials can take a rough, patchy surface and make it smooth and clean. Use the right abrasive to touch up a small area or to strip an entire surface clean.

Sandpaper - is a fine or heavy gritted paper which can remove anything from thin varnish to heavy rust. Make sure the sandpaper's thickness suits the item being sanded. 

Steel Wool - the coarseness of the metal fibers can scour everything from tile to brass to wood.

Files - a small file can smooth out rough patches of wood.

Plane - allows you to shave off thin layers of wood without damaging the surface.

Sander - both electric and manual sanders speed up the process, allowing you to sand a larger surface quickly and more easily.

DIY is becoming increasingly popular, whether its sprucing up a small side table or completely renovating a new dinning room table and chairs. 

Wind farms break record

Last week, Britains windfarms generated a record breaking 4GW which is enough to light and heat 3 million homes. At around 10am, wind turbines were supplying 10.8% of the total amount of electricity going into the grid. This is a positive change to create a lower carbon economy. 

Exterior house maintenance

Before the winter months draw closer, check the exterior of your home and windows for wood rot, loose cement or peeling paint. These problems will make your home look tired and run down and can become worse during the winter. 
If you need to spruce up the exterior of your home in preparation for colder times, get in touch with our handymen in london or painter and decorators in london who would be more than happy to help. 

Kitchen Floor Tiles

The most common types of kitchen flooring are vinyl and tiles. Generally in the kitchen there is plenty of water spilt, heat, grease and condensation. Its best to choose a flooring that is easily maintainable and has resistant properties. These how to fit a kitchen floor tips are ideal if you are attempting DIY. If you are still unsure and not overly confident, get in touch with our handymen in london who would be more than happy to help.

Loft conversions in london

The advantages of having a loft conversion are:

- Extra space is added to your home

- Increase in value of your property

- You can avoid moving house if in need of extra space

- Creates a comfortable house for a larger family

- Faster renovation than other extension construction

- No planning permission is required

- Cost effective renovation 

- No need to decrease your garden/outdoor space

 If you want to know more about loft conversions in london get in touch with our builders in london at Pukkajob.com.

Home maintenance tips

Now that we are approaching Autumn, ensure your home is ready for the cooler months by following these easy maintenance tips.  

- Test your garage door monthly to ensure that it opens and closes correctly. You don’t want to have a nasty surprise in those winter months when you desperately need to put the car away

- Check your fires and replace furnace filters quarterly

- A RCD (residual current devise) is an electrical device that can be installed in the home electrical system to protect your family from electrical shocks. Check this monthly, any faults, call an electrician

- Clean leaves and debris from guttering and drains every season

- Clean and vacuum the refrigerator coils at the back of the fridge once a year

- If you have an original fireplace, have it inspected and cleaned annually. Also check the exterior of your chimney

- Inspect window and door caulking, sealing and weather stripping yearly 

- Replace the batteries in smoke detectors yearly

- Examine roof shingles to see if any are lost or damaged

- Inspect concrete slabs for cracks, movement or damages

- Check exterior hose faucets for freezing after winter

- Check your gas boiler quarterly

- Clean your oven every 6 months and check the door has tight sealing

- Change the refridgerator water filter every 3-6 months depending on water condition and usage. 

- Inspect your washing machine for leaks

- Polish natural wood to keep it clean and looking fresh

If you need a helping hand, our handymen in london would be more than happy to offer their services. 

Wood is still top building material

Wood has always been a significant and useful building material used for a variety of purposes from houses and boats to kitchen utensils, furniture and artifacts. The most common types of timber are:

Oak – this wood is popular in high quality joinery, offering a luxury finish. Very suitable for construction, Oak is a number one timber for furniture, coffins, church pews and pulpits. 

Pine – this wood is used in heavy construction and supports spars and masts in ship building.  Lower density pines are used for joinery and light construction. 

Beech-  this wood is typically straight grained and offers a fine, even texture. Beech varies in density and toughness. Some beechwood is used in beer as a fining agent, it is used in German malt beer to give it flavor. 

Carpenters in London

Pukkajob.com offers highly skilled Carpenters in London for commercial and domestic services. Jobs can include:

• Making timber framed structures

• Studwork partitioning and floor joisting

• Hand cut roofs

• Stair removal and installation.

• Fitting door frames and locks

• Handrail installation

• Hardwood/laminate flooring installed

• Sanding and varnishing of floorboards.

• Floors and walls ply lined

• Fitting decking, fence posts and sheds 

• Bedroom wardrobe fitting

• Commercial refurbishment and renovation 

• Replacement of Wooden fascias and soffits 

• Bespoke kitchens, cupboards and doors

• Bespoke storage solutions, shelving and bookcases

• Full carpentry and restoration service on small and large projects.

• Make up/install/alter flat pack furniture.

Summerhouses and Cabins in your london garden

Cabins and summerhouses can be great extra outdoor spaces used to shelter from the rain, as simple storage, playrooms for kids or offices for adults. A quality range can be found at Jewson's. If you require a bespoke cabin or shed, get in touch with one of our carpenters in london, we will be more than happy to advise and design a solution for your london home. 

Interesting Electrical Facts

• One lightning bolt has enough electricity to service 200 000 homes.
• In 1886 the Statue of Liberty was the first lighthouse to use electricity.
• In 1957 a battery was discovered in Bagdad. It was made by the Parthians, who ruled Bagdad from 250 B.C.E. to 224 C.E., and was used to electroplate silver.
• The Brooklyn Bridge was the first bridge to be lit using electricity.
• Electrocution is one of the top five causes of workplace deaths.
• An Electric eel can produce an electric shock of up to 650 volts at one amper.
• Early in their history, Christmas lights were so expensive that they were more commonly rented than sold. An electrically lighted tree was a status symbol in the early 1900s.
• A 100 watt modern light bulb emits about 1600 lumens, while a single flame oil lamp form the 1800s emitted about 2400 lumens.