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Once you have your new bathroom installed, or perhaps you’re only replacing the old downlights, you’d probably want to know how to go about fitting your new bathroom downlights. If yes, then you’re not alone! This is a very common question amongst several homeowners and we wish to guide you through once and for all. However, it must be said that if you are not a competent DIYer or probably lack the confidence or skills to pull this off, then it’s advisable to hire a professional to get the best results and also save yourself some money and time.

Here are the list of the tools you’ll need to fit your bathroom downlights: Tape measure, chalk line or laser, pencil, pad saw, hand drill, hole saw and screw drivers.

✓ Measure the bathroom ceiling and mark out the central point of the light which will be where the downlights will be placed. Drill a small pilot hole here.

✓ Check above the ceiling to ensure that there’s no pipes, joists or wires in the way. It’s always a good practice to make sure that there’s sufficient room around where the downlight is to be installed in order to avoid placing it too close to a joist or any other obstacle. You should try as much as possible to maintain a 6 inch gap around the spot where the downlight is placed to make sure the fitting does not overheat.

✓ Use a hole saw or a plasterboard saw to make the cut out for the downlight. Check the downlight’s box for instruction on the size.

✓ Once you’ve been able to make a clean cut ceiling hole, pull through the wiring through the hole so that the downlight can be wired. Once done, then you can fit the downlight into the hole by holding the two springs back against the sides of the downlighter and push up into the hole.

How Much To Install A Gas Cooker?

Gas cooker is gradually becoming more and more popular in the UK, with several homeowners looking to have one installed in their various homes. Whether you’re planning remodelling, conversions or perhaps you own a new building, gas ( be it a natural gas or Liquid Petroleum Gas - LPG) is now the favourite mode of cooking ,heating as well as warming across the country.

The fact that it’s popular, however, is not an excuse to install a gas cooker by all means in order to reduce the cost. When it comes to gas cooker installation, adequate care must be taken to ensure costly errors which can lead to fire outbreaks and other dangers are avoided. Therefore, if you’re thinking about getting a gas cooker installed in your home, hiring a qualified gas cooker installation company would be your best bet.

Prior to the installation of your gas cooker, the gas plumber will confirm whether or not your home is connected to the mains gas supply. In the absence of a connection, you’ll have to request for a new service connection. Immediately the connection is available, the certified gas cooker installation company can then proceed to fit in the appliance.

However, for a free standing gas cooker, the measurement of the gas cooker’s dimension will be taken by the fitter as well as the available space for the installation in order to determine whether or not the gas cooker will fit in. After this, the next step would be to turn the gas cooker on its side and fit in the underpins. The gas pipe will then be connected to the manifold while also activating the gas and checking for possible leakages. Once done, the gas would be plugged into the outlet and a test will be conducted on the gas to ensure it’s running the way it should.

It’s usually best to use some kind of preventative pest control as well as reactive measures. Pest control professionals will be able to advise you on the best kinds of preventative measures to take. However, if you are unfortunate enough to experience large numbers of pests, then you need to contact a pest controller straight away.

How Much Is A Septic Tank?

If you’re living in the rural area, then you’d have a better idea of the septic tank concept and know that it’s installation is a very common job due to difficulty in accessing the mains sewage system. The system takes care of all the scum, sludge and waste water coming from the pipes all around the house in rooms like showers, sinks, toilets, laundry room and more. There are a lot of factors that you’ll have to consider as they all affect the price of replacing or installing a septic tank system. These influencing factors include the drainage systems, the underground or overground location, material, your location as well as labour.

However, generally, the average cost of material for a medium sized septic tank would typically cost within the range of £600 to about £800, while a large septic tank would be around £1000 to about £1,200. What’s more? The average cost to install a septic tank system with the material cost,labour cost and waste removal cost at heart normally ranges between £1,500 to about £2,000.

The material used is also a very common price determinant. Concrete happens to be the most common choice for many homeowners due to the fact that it’s very affordable and also durable ( can last u to 30 years). Generally, the cost for concrete septic tanks should range between £600 to £1,200.

Another pocket friendly option is plastic septic tanks because of its light material. Although, it’s made of plastic but they’re not vulnerable to cracks. They may, however, be affected by soil pressure in harsh conditions. They price usually ranges between £700 to £1,500.

Finally, the more expensive option which is the fibreglass which comes with a number of benefits. They won’t deteriorate or crack underground and can last up to 50 years. This type normally cost within the range of £1,000 to £2,000.

You don’t always need scaffolding to replace guttering. If your home is a bungalow, the tradespeople might only need a ladder to replace your guttering. It’s when your home is two storeys or more that scaffolding is more necessary.

You might not need full scaffolding for a simple two-storey home. Guttering specialists use scaffold towers, which are the platforms you see underneath the scaffolding, where the installation is relatively straightforward. You might need scaffolding to replace guttering when there are obstructions to towers being used – for example, if you have a conservatory or the ground is very uneven. It's more likely that specialist roofline companies will use scaffold towers when necessary. Sole traders that replace guttering as part of their services may be comfortable using sturdy ladders.

There’s no legal requirement to say that you must have scaffolding when fitting guttering, but it is a good idea when working on homes rather than bungalows. If you’re unsure whether you need full scaffolding for your gutter replacement project, get a few quotes from reputable businesses of different sizes. If you’ve been quoted by one company that you need full scaffolding whereas everyone else says that only towers are needed, it’s likely that the job is perfectly safe to carry out with just towers.

As a homeowner, your home is your haven where you can control things and add more value, however that doesn’t give you the license to go around digging up your driveway as you deem fit. Replacing your old driveway with a new one comes with its own unique set of rules which are put in place to ensure that your personal preferences doesn’t pose long term issues such as flooding or poor visibility on any adjoining road. You should however note that it’s not every time you would need a planing permission for your driveway.

Below are the circumstances whereby you’ll need to submit an application before commencing your driveway paving project.

• In the event whereby you are to pave a driveway of over 5 square metres and/or a permeable surface is not available for its drainage. If the later is not available, there’ll be an increase in the flood risk. As a result, there’s the need to take into account permeable paving for your project.

• In the event whereby you’re changing the visibility on your road. These situations include removal of trees, gates or walls and the like. So far your changes negatively affects drivers’ visibility, you’ll need a planning permission.

• In the situations whereby you need to include a drop kerb. You may plan to add in a drop kerb if you’re thinking about expanding your driveway. Therefore, since residents can’t change the roads or pavements at their first fanciful impulse you’ll need to consult your local council before submitting your application.

• In the situation whereby its a listed building. Planning decisions are also greatly affected by the need to protect historic building. So if your building is a listed one, you’d have to submit an application before making changes.

Are you interested in tips on how you can plan out your bedroom? Well, you’re at the right place! When it comes to planning out a bedroom, there’s a need to create the right balance between function and style. This may seem easy, but its very probable to get lost half way through the task. However, since we spend a great third of our lives sleeping, it’s simply a no brainer to invest a little time and effort so as to make sure the room is worth the while. In order to help you plan a harmonious space you’ll love spending time in, we’ve put together these plan-to-perfection bedroom ideas. Let’s take a look!

• Make the bed a priority. Being a dominant feature in the room, the bed commands a lot of attention. As such, a lot of thought must go into setting it up. You should try to get creative with the setting in order to make sure the bed has a strong influence on the overall look of your room.
• Choose a streamlined storage. For a relaxing and comfy space, the less clutter the better. Here, you can put into consideration customized built in furniture which helps you inject orderliness and putting every inch of space to use.
• Make use of a comfy underfoot. On a chilly night, stepping onto a soft carpet with bare feet is always a great way to kick start a good night rest. You can opt for wool due to its bounce and natural warmth.
• Ensure that your windows are adaptable. Go for a flexible set up and privacy during the day time with underlined curtains featuring sheer voile panels alongside a blackout blind for daytime.
• Layer the light. Dimmable low energy LED ceiling spots around the edges of the room and directed to wash over the walls and curtains are perfect background light.
• Create a relaxing mood. This is essential for every bedroom as it’s meant to be a quiet zone.

How Much Does A Boiler Repair Cost?

An annual service for your boiler might not seem important and may be easy to postpone to another day, but when it happens to breakdown due to lack of adequate attention, this can be quite painful and also costly.

Before you start thinking about the cost of repairing your boiler, the first thing you’ll need to confirm is whether or not your boiler is still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. You’d be amazed some warranties can last for as long as 12 years, if yours is still on then you can save yourself a huge amount of of money on your boiler repair. As a result, it’s always crucial to keep the details of your warranty somewhere safe, so you can read them from time to time. You never can tell when the rainy day will come!

Most boiler warranties will require your to get your boiler serviced on an annual basis by a licensed and qualified technician. The cost of an annual boiler service is affected by the time of the year you wish to get it done. When boilers are less useful during the summer months, an annual service is usually relatively cheap when compared to the cold months. Around this period, a boiler service will normally cost within the range of £100 to £150, however for a more accurate quote it’s advisable to contact a couple of professionals and compare their quotes.

The cost of getting a boiler repaired will be affected by a couple of factors including your boiler’s make, the age of the boiler as well as your location and how urgent you need it done. If you have a dead boiler, the cost will typically range from £96 to £348 and a boiler displaying a fault code will cost within the range of £90 to £275. Generally, repairing a boiler will cost within the range of £90 to £400 based on the several factors stated above.