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Artex is a water based decorative surface coating is typically incorporated on both walls and ceilings so as to apply a pattern. During the peak of its popularity in the 1970’s, it was considered the height of fashion when it comes to interior wall designs however its major drawback remains the fact that it usually contains asbestos especially if it was manufactured before the laws governing the use of asbestos was changed in the year 2000. And asbestos, as we know it, can be deadly when disturbed and its fibres are inhaled.

If you have artex installed in your purchased property and you do not know when the artex walls were done, or perhaps you just want to change the aesthetic design of your home into something more modern and to your personal taste, then you may want to remove the existing artex from your property for good. If this is your wish then you’ve come to the right place.

To remove artex from your walls you can choose to do so using the steaming method or through the use of an external product.

Using the steaming method, you should know that it’ll be more labour intensive and time consuming. You need a lot of patience moving your steamer slow and steady because if left on a spot for too long can damage the wall behind the coating. Once the artex has been dampened with the steamer, you can then scrape them off with a handheld scraper.

A faster solution would be to use an external product to remove your artex.  For example, you can use X-Tex which is a water-based coating remover. All you need to do is paint the substance over your artex wall and leave to dry for about 30 to 60 minutes before peeling away the artex.

The cost of just the engineered wood flooringis from £18 to £73 per m2.

Your LPG storage tank should have a gauge that shows you how much fuel it has in it. Most LPG suppliers suggest that you arrange a fuel delivery when the level in your tank gets down to about 20%. Make regular checks, particularly in the winter when you will use more, so you know when levels are low.

Generally, 4-yard skips are basically designed for small clean or clear out projects or residential use. If you want to carry out a small renovation task or to clear out your home, you simply can not ignore the disposal of your unwanted waste. You’ll save yourself some time, money and potential accidents by hiring a 4-yard skip that will do the job effectively. We are all aware how time consuming it is making several trips to the local waste disposal centre.

When talking about the size of a 4-yard skip, it runs beyond its capacity. Skips of small sizes can be easily accommodated in not too large spaces which can be in the garden or driveway which saves you the stress and money of having to acquire skip hire permits.

If you’d like to know the the size of a 4 yard skip in metres, we’ve got you fully covered for both imperial and metric! The answer is provided below:

Imperial - Width 4’3, Height 3’2

Metric - Width 1.29m, Height 0.972m

It is, however, important to take note that when hiring a skip the measurement might be a bit tricky. The ‘4 yard’ term implies the capacity of the skip and not the length. The actual length of a 4 yard skip is only 6 feet or 2 yards. As a result, before you hire a skip, there’s the need to be clear as to the measurement you’re looking for. Otherwise, you might end up hiring the wrong skip and having to get another. Not good for your pocket, right? Well, that’s why we’ve provided this answer to help you in the best possible way! Click here to learn more about skips.

One of the major challenges faced by double gates is wind as this is always blowing over the gates and slamming them together anytime it passes by. So how do you tackle this? Since you can do only so little about the wind, the only option you have is to enforce or secure your double gates. This is quite simple if you have the adequate knowledge and skills, if not, we’d strongly recommend calling in a professional who can guarantee the best results the first time. In this post, we’re going to take your through the processes involved in securing a double gate to ensure your project turns out a success. Let’s take a look!

1. Hammer a pipe into the ground. Since this isn’t a heavy construction work, you need not worry about water finding its way into your basement. To do this, simply open the gate and stretch it to determine how far it can go. Once done, proceed to mark the place right below the gate’s edge. This is the spot where you will hammer in the metal pipe.
2. Install the lower bracket. With the pipe in place, the next thing is to have the lower bracket installed. Start by drilling some pilot holes if necessary, then screw the nails right into the wooden gate via the bracket’s holes.
3. Take measurements for the top bracket using the cane bolt. Once done with the lower bracket installation, you’ll have to bring out the cane bolt and attach it to the gate to give you an idea of where to place the top bracket - mark the spot using a pencil.
4. Install the top bracket. Start by removing the cane bolt and install the top bracket just as you’ve done with the lower bracket.
5. Install the cane bolt through both brackets.

• Have a step tread width of 900mm – if you don’t want them that wide, they should be no less than 760mm
• Add a central step riser to stairs wider than 900mm to prevent them buckling
• Add a step depth (the vertical distance between each step) of between 150 and 180mm if building your own riser, so the steps are at a comfortable depth

• Step treads (the actual step themselves)
• Step risers
• Coach screws
• Deck screws
• Saw
• Drill

1. Make sure the ground where you want to put your steps is level and firm. If it’s not, consider laying concrete or paving slabs to provide a secure surface for your steps to sit so they don’t sink.
2. Grab some joist off-cuts and cut them to the same width as your step treads. Attach them to the step risers at the top and bottom using countersunk coach screws.
3. Place the steps against the sub-frame of the deck; if you’ve put slabs down for support, make sure the steps sit in the middle of them. The longest edge of the stair riser should be on the slabs, and the short edge against the deck. Drill pilot holes through the step and sub-frame joist, then screw the step to the sub-frame with more coach screws.
4. After drilling pilot holes, screw the treads into the risers at each end with deck screws.
5. If you don’t want gaps between each stair, you can add joist off-cuts or deck boards. Measure the height and depth of the gap, then screw the off-cut or board into the step riser with two screws at each end.

As the summer months draw nearer, you get better accustomed to the ambient noise produced by your air conditioning system which is constantly in operation to keep your home cool and comfortable for both you and your loved ones. During this period, it’s absolutely normal to expect a spike in your energy bill and wish to know how you can limit the expenses without having to sacrifice your home’s temperature. In this guide, we’re going to consider some of the major ways you can save energy in your home without having to sacrifice your air conditioning system. Let’s take a look!

1. Reduce phantom loads. This is an electronic appliance that still makes use of energy even when turned off and not in operation. These phantom loads are actually everywhere in your home but you just don’t know that the television, toaster or even your phone’s charger continue to suck electricity when they’re not in use.
2. Incorporate more energy-efficient appliances. Before making a purchase, ensure that the appliance has the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Label as they use 10 to 15 percent less energy than their counterparts.
3. Change out your light bulbs. The older your incandescent light bulb gets, the more energy it consumes. You can cut cost by reglarly changing them out.
4. Install a programmable thermostat. With such a device, you can adjust your home’s temperature to your schedule and needs to cover for the time when you would not be home.
5. Use fan. A cooling fan can significantly lower the cost of running an AC system.
6. Seal all air leaks. Blocking all air leaks in your home is a great way to ensure energy is well maximized
7. Make your windows more efficient.
8. Enhance you insulation
9. Conduct a regular servicing of your AC unit
10. Setting the air conditioning temperature higher at night