Category: Features
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Winter building maintenance tips
The most effective way to prevent winter property problems is really simple – do a bit of maintenance. In the article below, leading interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen gets together with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) to remind homeowners to get the basics right – and then have fun. Laurence says: “Maintenance…
Categorised under: Features
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Are you asbestos aware?
Nearly half of the UK’s handy homeowners do not realise that asbestos was used as a domestic building material as recently as the 1990s, according to research from the British Lung Foundation (BLF). As a result the charity is urging anyone who does it themself to be asbestos aware after its canvass of 2,000 homeowners…
Categorised under: Features
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Useful organisations
Looking for some help and advice when it comes to DIY and home improvements? There is a huge range of industry bodies, regulatory organisations and advice groups that may well meet your needs. Most have informative websites, accreditation schemes for traders or retailers or even telephone helplines – check out the list below to find…
Categorised under: Features
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How to keep DIY projects on track
Everyone’s heard horror stories of DIY projects gone horribly awry – the bathroom that remains untiled for a year or more, the building work that gets horrendously over budget. What can you do to make sure this doesn’t happen to you? The key is planning, planning and more planning. Whether it’s a relatively simple project…
Categorised under: Features
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DIY factsheets: a round-up of useful resources
We’ve done the work so you don’t have to – at least when it comes to finding DIY help and advice online. Here’s a handy checklist of retailers offering advice, inspiration, factsheets, brochures, tech guides and useful little conversion widgets. Help and inspiration from B&Q Knowledge centre – How-tos, buying guides and your DIY and…
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DIY: Getting a little help
Never mind the DIY boom, what about those times when you simply can’t do it yourself? There’s a tricky little job that’ll make all the difference to your home – and you’ve been meaning to do it for months. But you’re worried about making a mess of it, or maybe you just don’t have time.…
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Council tax revaluation: the facts
A council tax revaluation that would have calculated new payments for every home in the country is now indefinitely on hold with the government saying it will definitely not take place during this parliament. In 2005 the value of every home in the country was set to be reassessed to calculate new council tax payments.…
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DIY in-depth – get help and advice here
Your DIY and home improvement questions answered Want to get your head around DIY basics, learn expert tips and tricks, pick up design tips or get some great ideas on ways to improve your home? You’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list of the articles you’ll find in this section: Are you asbestos…
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Electrical safety: what you need to know
Ever since January 1 2005 in England people carrying out electrical work in their home have had to follow new regulations to ensure they are not putting themselves or others at risk. The relevant section of the Building Regulations is now known as Part P. Under these rules electrical work must be carried out by…
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Our top 10 tips for buying power tools
Are you thinking of buying power tools for the first time, or maybe upgrading your existing collection? Or perhaps you’ve got them in mind as the ideal present for the DIYer in the family. Either way, it may seem like a maze out there, with an immense range to choose from – but here are…