I have written many books about all aspects of DIY and Home Improvement, and am a regular contributor to the Guardian newspaper. I have also run my own property renovation business for over 20 years. Please take full advantage of all this experience when tackling your next DIY project!
I am the author of the bestselling book DIY Know-how with
Show-how published by Dorling Kindersley. You’ll find it
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Zinsser BIN
Tags:kitchen, painting, preparation, treatments -
Buying screws
Tags:buying guide, fixings
Zinsser BIN
Zinsser BIN is a primer sealer that I feel outshines all ‘equivalent’ products on the market because it has so many applications, and can solve so many problems in all manner of decorating projects around your home. It has come across the pond from the US (along with so many other great decorating products!), and after I first became aware of it, maybe 10 or so years ago, it has become a stock item in my decorating supplies. In this guide I’ll explain a little more about what makes Zinsser BIN special, and a few areas of decorating where I find it to be an invaluable aid. Read more…
Buying screws
Buying screws for your next DIY project is not a job that should be taken lightly, as making the right choice will have you purring with satisfaction when every screw is driven home with ease. However, make the wrong choice and you’ll be screaming in frustration when screw heads snap off, or you just don’t seem to be able to get any purchase on the screws as you desperately try to force them into place. You’ll find more information about different screw types in my ‘Household fixing kit’ Read more…
Buying a cordless drill
Buying a cordless drill can be a daunting task, because there are so many options on the market, but ownership of one is a must if you do any sort of constructional DIY around the home. Even if the most you do is hang a few pictures, a cordless drill just makes life so much easier, in fact the only difficult thing about these tools is choosing which cordless drill to buy. At the bottom of this guide you’ll find my recommendations for the best cordless drill on the market, as well as a cheaper, budget option, which is still a great tool for more occasional DIY use. Read more…
Filling large holes in hollow walls
When you need to fill a large hole in a hollow wall (stud wall), the problem is that you can’t just use some patch plaster as it will simply disappear inside the wall as soon as you apply it. It therefore becomes necessary to actually patch in a piece of plasterboard which may then be filled over the top to provide a smooth finish. The thickness of plasterboard does vary and it is normally either 9.5mm or 12.5mm thick. Read more…
