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Ideas, Advice & How-To Guides

Practical advice from British trade professionals and hardware veterans to help you tackle seasonal DIY projects with confidence.

Home Maintenance

October 20267 min read

25 DIY Jobs to Do in Autumn: The Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist

Get your property prepared for winter winds, rain and frost with our complete October checklist. Learn how to bleed radiators, clear gutters, insulate exterior water pipes and protect decking.

Quick Key Takeaways:

Inspect roof flashings and seal any loose tiles using roofing mastic.

Clear leaves from guttering and install leaf guards to prevent blockages.

Turn off external outdoor garden taps and drain pipes to prevent burst pipes during cold spells.

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Decorating & Painting

September 20265 min read

DIY Decorating Guide: Everything You Need to Paint a Room Properly

Painting a room isn't just opening a tin of emulsion and rolling away. Our step-by-step masterclass reveals preparation techniques, sanding grit advice, masking tips, and roller techniques.

Quick Key Takeaways:

Wash walls with sugar soap to remove grease and allow fresh paint to bond properly.

Use high quality low-tack painter's tape on skirting boards and door frames.

Cut in with a 2-inch angled synthetic brush around switches and cornices first.

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Repairs & Insulation

October 20266 min read

How to Fill, Fix & Seal Your Home Before Winter: Cracks, Gaps and Draughts

A cold draught under a doorway or around a floorboard can drain heat and hike up your energy bills. Discover cheap DIY solutions including expanding foams, flexible caulk and draught excluders.

Quick Key Takeaways:

Use flexible acrylic caulk for interior gaps between skirting boards and walls.

Apply expanding polyurethane foam for deeper cavity gaps around service pipes.

Install self-adhesive rubber draught strips along drafty wooden window sash frames.

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