Category Archives: Handyman

Must-do winter maintenance

winter-maintenance With another big freeze on the way, will your house stand up to the strains of winter? Here are some must-do maintenance jobs to keep your home in tip-top shape through winter:

Heating up nicely

The middle of a snowstorm is the last time you want your heating to pack up, but you can reduce the chances of that happening with good care. Arrange for your boiler, central heating, fire and gas appliances to be checked once a year by a Gas Safe registered engineer, who can pick up early signs of wear and tear as well as detect potential dangers. If you take a winter holiday, set your heating on a timer to come on for at least an hour a day to prevent pipes freezing when youÔÇÖre away.

A clean sweep

On a cold winterÔÇÖs day, thereÔÇÖs nothing more cheering than cosying up in front of a real fire. But itÔÇÖs essential to maintain your fire, chimney and vents properly, to check for blockages such as birdsÔÇÖ nests and to remove creosote deposits, a potentially lethal by-product of wood burning. Call in a professional chimney sweep at least once a year and take extra care if you have a thatched property.

DonÔÇÖt lag behind

Check the insulation in your loft and make sure itÔÇÖs up to scratch. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a quarter of a homeÔÇÖs heat can be lost through an un-insulated loft, leaving you shivering and sending your heating bills, well, quite literally through the roof! Lag all pipes and tanks and make sure roof insulation is topped up to the recommended 270mm.

Up the garden path

Maintaining the outside area of your property is just as important as the inside. Make sure the driveway or path to the front door is clear of moss and fallen leaves to prevent the risk of a family member or a visitor slipping, and light the way with adequate outdoor lighting. Not only will it help you stay safe but it will deter burglars, who like dark, wintry nights. Keep a bag of rock salt in the garage or shed so you can grit the path in case of snow or ice.

All right on the tiles

Keep guttering clear of leaves and debris and check the roof for loose or broken tiles or problems with the pointing. DonÔÇÖt risk injury by climbing onto the roof yourself; take a look from ground level and call in a reputable roofer to check out suspected issues and make repairs.

Storing up trouble

DonÔÇÖt forget outbuildings and boundaries. Check locks on gates and look out for potential weak spots in fencing that might not withstand the next gale. Inspect the shed for leaks and think about when you might need to replace the roof. A felt roof typically supplied with many sheds will last about five years, whereas a rubber roof could last 40.

Clear the clutter

Dark winter days are a good chance to de-clutter your home ahead of the spring clean. Stop hanging onto things ÔÇÿjust in caseÔÇÖ and go through the house one room at a time. Fill boxes for charity, sell them online or find a car boot sale in your local area ÔÇô just get rid of the stuff you donÔÇÖt use!

And if youÔÇÖre still not motivated to do a little maintenance, remember that failing to look after your home properly could invalidate your home insurance policy if you ever have to make a claim ÔÇô so keep up with the upkeep today!

Make a date with DIY!

diy-shows With the new year now well underway, thoughts are turning to all those home improvement projects put on hold over Christmas. If, like us, you have big DIY or building plans for 2015, you might be in need of a little inspiration ÔÇô and where better to get it than from the many home shows coming up!

Throughout the year, DIY Advice Online will be rounding up details of our favourite home, building and lifestyle events in the UK, starting with the winter months ahead. So get your diaries at the ready and start planning your year of DIY!

The Southern Home Show, Alexandra Palace, London

Start the year in style at the Southern Home Show, returning to the Ally Pally for the second time. Covering interior design, DIY, self building, renovation, energy efficiency and gardens, the show is a chance for visitors to take part in workshops and seminars, find products such as power tools, hand tools and building equipment and get tips from the experts. You can even bring along your plans and drawings to the advice area, whilst kids can get stuck in to their own DIY workshops!┬áJan 30 – Feb 1, ┬ú8 (children free),┬áhttp://www.southernhomeshow.co.uk

The Listed Property Show, Olympia London

If you live in a listed building, this oneÔÇÖs for you! Here you can chat to conservation officers, property regulations experts, planners and architects, as well as source specialist builders and suppliers of things such as windows, doors, paint and flooring. And donÔÇÖt worry if you live up north ÔÇô thereÔÇÖs another show in Harrogate in March!┬áFeb 14-15, free (register online),┬áhttp://lpoc.co.uk/property-show / @Listed_Property

The Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, Birmingham NEC

Ok, so itÔÇÖs not a home show exactly, but you might be surprised at the array of ideas you can glean for your home and garden here, not to mention inspiration for the outdoor lifestyle! Held during half term, this massive show is staged over several of the NECÔÇÖs huge halls and includes plenty of activities such as rock climbing, dog agility displays and discovery zones to keep the kids happy while you canvas opinion on essential outdoor style!┬áFeb 17-22, from ┬ú7 (children free),┬áww.caravancampingmotorhomeshow.co.uk / @CaravanCampShow

Wilton House Antiques Fair, Wiltshire

This independent and renowned annual fair is the one to visit if you like period pieces. From furniture, paintings, maps, silver, porcelain, glass, clocks and collectibles, your home will certainly stand out from the Ikea crowd if you invest in a unique antique or two. With more than 40 top class, vetted dealers setting up stall in the cloisters area inside the main house and in the old riding school, experienced buyers and novices alike are welcome.┬áFeb 27 – March 1, ┬ú5.50,┬áwww.wiltonhouse.co.uk

Ecobuild, Excel London

This trade event is the UKÔÇÖs largest built-environment show and is packed with interactive and innovative attractions, live demos and brand new products and techniques. Speakers in the Nature and Built Environment Hall include experts from conservation trusts, the British Bee KeepersÔÇÖ Association and the Grass Roof Company, whilst visitors can even earn a spot to pitch their eco retail solution to Marks & Spencer!┬áMarch 3-5, free (register online, no under 16s),┬áhttp://www.ecobuild.co.uk / @Ecobuild_Now

First Time Buyer Home Show, Business Design Centre, London

You can only dream of DIY if youÔÇÖre yet to put a foot on the property ladder, but this show can get you started. Home-owning hopefuls can get free advice from housing associations, lawyers, credit check firms and home builders, and although the experts on hand do tend to be a little London-centric, there is also information on first time buying outside the capital. TV property expert Nicki Chapman will chat to first-time buyers about their experiences, and thereÔÇÖs ┬ú5,000 towards a deposit up for grabs too!┬áMarch 7, free,┬áhttp://www.ftbhomeshow.com / @firsttimebuyer

Vintage Home Show, Victoria Baths, Manchester

Do you think kitsch is cool? If your style is old style, make a date with Discover VintageÔÇÖs next show, where thereÔÇÖll be 50 fabulous stalls selling everything from furniture and lighting to ceramics and textiles. With items from the 1930s to the ÔÇÿ70s, youÔÇÖll be sure to pick up timeless treasures to make your home the envy of the street!┬áMarch 15, free,┬áhttp://www.vintagehomeshow.co.uk / @VintageHomeShow

The Homebuilding & Renovating Show, Birmingham NEC

Whether youÔÇÖre planning to build your dream home, add an extension to your current property or remodel your garden, this show is a one-stop shop of advice and bright ideas. The show features thousands of products on display, more than 500 specialist businesses, a planning clinic and experts from Homebuilding and Renovating magazine on hand to answer questions. Visitors can also book a free one-to-one consultation with an impartial expert at The Advice Centre – but hurry, as these slots are extremely popular!┬áMarch 26-29, from ┬ú12 in advance,┬áwww.homebuildingshow.co.uk / @MyHomebuilding

Ideal Home Show, London

ItÔÇÖs hard to believe, but this year marks the 107^th Ideal Home Show! And, as befits the grand duchess of all home shows, the IHS has home improvement ideas, garden gadgets, terrific technology and heavenly homeware bursting from every room. Celeb experts include Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, money saving expert Martin Lewis, TV presenter and campaigner Katie Piper and gardening god Alan Titchmarsh, whilst there will be lots of food and drink-related attractions and even a catwalk and daily fashion shows! And with the show returning to its original home, where it was launched by the Daily Mail way back in 1908, itÔÇÖs sure to be one of the most special events yet.┬áMarch 20 – Apr 6, from ┬ú12 in advance, children free (ticket required),┬áhttp://www.idealhomeshow.co.uk / @ideal_home_show

Main photo: Steve Burden┬á

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Why DIY could cost you dear!

home-insurance What kind of DIY enthusiast are you? Do you do it yourself because you love fixing, painting and building things? Or is your enthusiasm more about the pounds youÔÇÖre saving by foregoing a professional job?

If itÔÇÖs the latter, the bad news is that your dates with DIY could end up costing you a lot more than you expect. This is because if the job goes wrong, the repairs might not be covered by your home insurance, leaving you facing a potentially hefty bill.

Home insurance covers the policyholder for events such as loss, damage or theft. But if the loss or damage is caused by the policyholder him or herself, the insurance company might not be so eager to pay out! If you have accidental damage cover or household emergencies cover included with your policy, you might assume that you can make a claim if your have-a-go handiwork proves less than happy. But DIY disasters are a real grey area, with many insurance companies rejecting claims for damage that the homeowner has caused.

The key to any claim is reading through your policy thoroughly and understanding which eventualities you are and arenÔÇÖt covered for. ItÔÇÖs likely that your insurance policy will extend to repairing a pipe if you accidentally hammer a nail through it, but not to bigger scenarios such as fixtures or furnishings ruined due to poor workmanship or damage caused to mechanical fittings or the structure of the property.

If you do DIY regularly, it could be worth having a chat with your insurer to find out what your policy entails and whether you can add extra cover to a basic policy to protect against small glitches. As a rule of thumb, however, it is always wise to leave mechanical and electrical jobs to the professionals. Not only is it highly unlikely youÔÇÖd be covered for damage whilst carrying out such jobs, they could prove risky! Always keep boilers and electricals maintained and serviced where appropriate; if you or an engineer has an accident working on poorly maintained equipment, it could be another reason for a claim to be withheld.

And whether you do it yourself or call in the experts, donÔÇÖt forget to notify your home insurers of major changes. Adding a kitchen extension or converting a garage to a spare bedroom might not seem relevant at the time but could make a big difference to your policy if you later have to make a claim.