This blog is the result of over 20 years of working in building and renovations and a growing career in writing guides, columns and books.

Fox paint brushes

Posted in Buying Guides, Decorating Tool and Material Reviews on August 5th, 2014 by Julian Cassell – Be the first to comment

Fox paint brushes are a distinctive range of brushes on the market that are definitely making a few waves with both pros and DIY enthusiasts alike. Paint brushes are certainly an area of the DIY and home improvement market place that seems to continue growing, and keeping up with developments can be a time consuming occupation. Therefore when the nice people at Fox brushes asked me to take a little look at their range – how could I refuse! And my guide below should help you make up your mind on any potential purchase. read more »

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Redbacks

Posted in Buying Guides, Safety Buying Guides on May 20th, 2014 by Julian Cassell – Be the first to comment

Redbacks are a relatively new type of knee pad, which are certainly revolutionary in design, and therefore well worth reviewing to see if I think they’re a ‘must’ for the DIY market. Knee protection is often an area that is overlooked, or not considered essential, in both DIY and trade circles. However, for me, it’s always a necessity to wear knee pads when carrying out any DIY work - trust me, even if you’re not doing a flooring job, it’s amazing how often you find yourself on your knees – so let’s see if Redbacks are the answer to all our knee protection needs. read more »

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Zinsser 123

Posted in Buying Guides, Decorating Tool and Material Reviews on March 1st, 2014 by Julian Cassell – 1 Comment

Zinsser 123, or Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 to give it its full name, is a type of primer sealer that can help with all manner of DIY decorating jobs in your home. It’s slightly different in composition to my normal ‘go-to’ primer, Zinsser BIN, and in the guide below, I’ll explain why Zinsser 123 is sometimes the best choice when priming and sealing surfaces prior to decoration. read more »

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Painting a feature wall

Posted in 'How-to' Guides, Painting and Papering on January 13th, 2014 by Julian Cassell – Be the first to comment

Painting a feature wall in your home uses the same basic techniques employed for painting any wall. However, it’s worth taking into account a few little extra considerations, just to ensure you get a top quality finish. Feature walls are used to add an extra dimension, or a bit more impact to a room’s colour scheme. As a result, there is a tendency to use accent colours, which are often bolder, darker or even brighter than the paint colour applied to the other walls in the room.  read more »

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Rembrandt angular sash brushes

Posted in Buying Guides, Decorating Tool and Material Reviews on November 20th, 2013 by Julian Cassell – 2 Comments

Rembrandt angular sash brushes are synthetic bristled paint brushes designed for applying both oil-based and water-based paints. The angled design of the brush also lends itself to trying to provide the best and most accurate finish possible, when cutting in around the edges of walls, ceilings and indeed woodwork. Synthetic bristle brushes, as a category, have become the first choice for many tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts, especially when applying water-based paints such as emulsion for walls and ceilings, read more »

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