How To Lay A Patio

Building a patio in your garden allows you to make far more use of the space. Patios are the ideal space for entertaining in good weather, and even when the weather is less pleasant, a patio can be used as a play space or just somewhere to sit outside with a coffee and a book. Patios add value to your house, and are not difficult to lay with some preparation and basic DIY skills.
Planning
The sky is the limit when it comes to patio design. A patio can range from a few slabs to a much larger paved area, and can be any shape. Patio slabs are available in a huge range of colours also, and before jumping in and buying the first slabs you see, take time to look round various different shops to see what is on offer, and look in magazines and on the internet for inspiration. Draw out plans on paper to get an idea of the size of project you are contemplating. For beginners, go for a simple design which will not involve too much cutting of slabs.
Purchasing 
Once you’ve decided on the dimensions of the patio, you can start to prepare the ground and get it level. A layer of hardcore will provide a good, solid base for laying the slabs on top of and will ensure the patio looks great for many years to come. Sand and cement will also be required to lay the slabs on top of. Staff in a DIY store will be able to help with quantities required and many also rent out equipment such as cement mixers and stone cutters.
Laying the Slabs
Once the area is levelled and the hardcore layer is down, the next stage is to mix up the sand and cement mix to put the slabs on. Mix up the mortar in small quantities so it does not have the chance to dry out before the slabs are laid. Once the mortar is down, it is time to get the slabs laid. Start in one corner and work in straight lines. Use a hammer to gently knock the slabs into place, and check with a spirit level that the patio is sloping very gently away from the house to help with drainage. As more slabs are laid, keep checking the alignment and the level so that they are all uniform.
Pointing
Once all of the slabs have been laid, the final step is to fill the gaps between the slabs with mortar. This is known as pointing. This should be done the day after the slabs have been laid, to give the mortar a chance to dry out. Press more mortar into the gaps between the stones using a trowel, then brush off any excess. After the pointing is completed, the patio should be left for at least 24 hours to make sure it dries out properly. In wet or cold weather, it may be better to cover the patio with a plastic sheet to protect it as it dries.
Finding A Patio Laying Specialist
If you'd rather leave it to the specialists, then Top Tradespeople can help you find and compare quotes from local paving and flagging tradesmen for free.  Use their free service to find and compare quotes quickly and easily.

Heating Options For Conservatories

Heating Options For Conservatories

The conservatory can be a heavenly place in the summer and a great room to banish the winter blues in the colder months - once it's heated properly. So, what are the best heating options for conservatories?

Underfloor Heating

This heating system is the most efficient and also provides a luxurious and comfortable feel that will delight you when you put your bare feet on it each morning. It also means you don't have to worry about the aesthetic impact of radiators. Underfloor heating merely requires a 13 amp socket and allows great heat and comfort on otherwise cold materials in winter, such as stone and tiles.

Hot Water Underfloor

This is similar to that of the Romans heating system and channels heat under your floor from your boiler. Of course, this is dependent on boiler capacity and you may need a new one if it is under powered. Hot water underfloor heating is very comfortable, however if something goes wrong can be expensive to fix.

Radiators

The traditional radiator can also be added to a conservatory. However, the main reason people wish to avoid them is because they aren't so pleasing to the eye. If you choose boiler based radiators, you will also need to have a boiler with the additional capacity to meet the needs of extra radiators. Electric radiators are of course a better and often more practical option in many homes for this reason.

Wood burning stoves

It's also possible to add a wood burning stove to your conservatory, however it can cause ventilation problems, so consult your stove specialist. You may also need to insert a number of additional safety precautions you wouldn't have to do if for instance you were adding a wood burning stove to a normal building. Additions, such as double insulated flues are often necessary and often cost a lot extra, so be aware.

How To Fit A Shower

How To Fit A Shower

How To Fit A Shower - Brief Guide

If you've ever been the victim of a sudden surge of hot or cold water when taking a shower with a traditional mains fed shower when an unsuspecting family member turns on another tap in the house, or flushes the loo whilst you're showering you will hopefully soon benefit from the luxury of constant temperature waterflow which comes from fitting a thermostatic shower, using our handy step by step guide to fitting a shower.

Different Types Of Thermostatic Mixer Showers

There are two main types of thermostatic mixer showers available, although there are many variations upon these two main categories of mixer showers - the first main type of thermostatic mixer shower is a surface-mounted mixer shower. Essentially, surface mounted mixer showers fit to the surface of the wall and so does the pipework - i.e the pipework is not embedded in the wall behind plasterwork or embedded in brickwork.

The second main type of mixer shower is a recessed mixer shower. Recessed mixer showers have their pipework recessed into the wall with plasterwork and tiling fitted between the pipework and the thermostatic shower itself.

Our step by step guide to fitting your thermostatic shower includes a complete list of the tools and materials you will need to carry out your DIY shower fitting project.

Tools Needed To Fit A Shower

Quality spirit level
Drill suitable for drilling tiles - i.e. tile drill
A spanner - adjustable spanner preferably
Measuring tape
Pencil for marking out
Pipe cutters suitable to cut copper pipe or plastic water pipe
Dust sheets to keep the area clean

Materials You Need To Fit A Shower

Shower shut-off valves / isolating valves
15mm plastic pipe
15mm copper pipe
A selection of tees and elbows in copper and plastic
Thermostatic mixer shower
Shower head for mixer showers
Fitting Your Shower

Where Will You Get Your Hot And Cold Water Supply From For Your Shower?

Before you start to fit your shower you will need to think about where you are going to bring the shower water supply from. You can choose to either bring the water supply from the bath below by tapping into the taps using plumbing tees and elbows or you can bring the water supply from a nearby shower cubicle. If you decide to bring the water supply from a shower cubicle you will normally find a suitable pipework tee point below the floorboards. If in doubt about where the pipework is running, switch on the water to your selected watersource (i.e. the taps to the bath or the shower cubicle) and trace the flow of water back to a suitable point to tee in, as the water is running through the pipework. Obviously the hot water pipe will be warm.

Turn off the water supply at the stopcock

Once you have identified where you are going to bring your new shower's water supply from, it's time to switch off the main water supply at the stopcock. Just in case there is water already in the pipework and to prevent water leakage, you should turn on all the taps to run off any remaining water which is still in the system.

Run the pipework to the shower

With the water turned off at the main stopcock and any remaining water emptied from the system, you can start running your pipework to the site of the new shower. You can use either plastic piping or copper piping to run the pipes to the shower. Plastic piping is easier for the DIY plumber to work with but you should be careful to avoid leaks in plastic piping by fitting pipe inserts between joints and fit copper fittings at the end of the pipework for increased leak prevention. Remember to fit isolating valves at the end of the pipework as near to the shower as possible without being intrusive or cosmetically unattractive. Isolating valves might very well come in handy if your shower or pipework springs a leak. With an additional water shut-off point near your shower you will not need to rely as much on the main water stopcock.

Flush the new pipework through

To avoid damaging thermostatic shower valves you should ensure that the pipework does not have any dirt or grit in it. Flush the pipework through to check this.

Measure where the shower valve will go

Hold the valve against the wall and check how much pipework length will be required to ensure the new thermostatic valve can fit flush.

Cut the hot and cold water outlet pipes to the right length
Once you have ascertained how much pipework is needed to fit the thermostatic shower valve you can cut the hot and cold water pipes for the shower using pipe cutters.

Make the holes for the thermostatic valve

Drill the holes in the wall to fit your thermostatic shower valve. If you are drilling into tiles ensure that your drill bit is suitable to work on tiling. Use a spirit level to fit any bracket or wall fitment flush to the wall to prevent problems when fitting the shower valve and to avoid damaging tiling or plasterwork.

Fit compression olives into each of the water inlets

For additional leakage prevention fit a compression olive and nip it up snugly.

Align the shower valve

Mark up the wall for the shower valve fitting taking care.

Fit the shower riser rail

Assess how high you want the shower riser rail. Use a spirit level to mark vertically up the wall from the valve position to the height you would like the shower head to be. If in doubt, for further assessment, stick masking tape to the wall vertically replacing the spirit level and take it to the point where the shower head will be. Step back and check that the shower head will be in the correct position using the masking tape as an indication of the shower riser rail. Once you are confident that the shower riser rail will be in the correct position, cut the shower riser rail and run the pipework up the riser rail.

Fit the shower head to the riser rail and test for leaks

The penultimate step to fitting your new shower is fixing the shower head at the top of the riser rail. Turn your new shower on and check the shower for leaks.

Checking The Shower Thermostat Works

Ensure that the thermostat kicks in by turning on the hot and cold water taps whilst checking that the temperature of your newly fitted shower stays constant as expected.

Your New Shower Is Fitted

A new thermostatic shower fitted. Enjoy your new shower!

Need A Plumber To Fit A Shower?

If you decide that fitting a shower is not for you why not use Top Tradespeople's free quotes service to find a local plumber.

Find a plumber to fit a shower

DIY Deal Hunter Is On His Way

We're scouring the web for all the best deals on DIY and will be bringing you a weekly update of the best offers out there on tiles, flooring, paint, lighting and more..

Some of the retailers we will be looking for deals from for Top Tradespeople visitors will be B & Q, Wickes, Bathroom City, Screwfix and more.

What To Expect From An Asbestos Survey

What To Expect From An Asbestos Survey


Asbestos inspection and surveys are an easy and simple way to find out whether there is materials containing asbestos in your new home, or even existing home. Asbestos surveys are carried out by a number of companies in the UK, however you should ensure any company adheres to ISO 17020 accreditation and also UKAS accredited. This means you are getting the best in surveys and all asbestos in a home should be identified.

UKAS , or the United Kingdom Accreditation Service to give it, its full title ensures asbestos surveys are carried out in the best possible manner and provides a badge for companies once they are happy this is happening.

Asbestos surveys are broken into two kinds of survey - management and refurbishment/demolition. The former is to protect those living/ working in the area from the dangers of the material and involves managing the threat. The latter is if you are looking to refurbish the area, or demolish the property.

So, what happens during an asbestos survey?

Initially the surveyor will visit a home, or a premises and then walk through it. This is so they can identify the areas where asbestos may be most likely to reside, such as in ceilings, floor tiles, pipe runs and other areas. This allows them to take notes and then create a plan for how they are going to approach the whole procedure. They will also ask questions about your property, whether you know if there is asbestos, or whether there are areas that are hard to access.

The surveyor will then decide on how he is going to do his survey and may leave and then come back at a later time. The surveyor will then walk from room, to room surveying the material in each room for asbestos. You should give them access to seldom used areas, such as risers, the loft, basement area and outside, as well as allow them to lift carpets and tiles.

What the Surveyor Does

Surveyors often then take photos of the room, as well as materials they consider may be dangerous. They may also sketch the room and in this sketch point out areas they think there are suspect materials. The surveyor may then take samples of the materials they deem suspect and bring them away to analyse and assess them for risk.

When the survey is completed, the surveyor sends off these samples and will have to wait for these returned. This often takes a few days. Afterwards a report will then be issued with information of where asbestos has been found in the home. It will also indicate the level of risk involved with the particular form of asbestos, allowing you to decide on what should be done with the area.

As not all asbestos is dangerous, this may mean you can leave the asbestos based material and not have to worry about it. In other cases, it may mean that it needs to be taken care of by a professional asbestos surveyor.

Best Way To Find Bathroom Fitters

Best Way To Find Bathroom Fitters


Are you frustrated by trying to find the right bathroom fitter or bathroom fitting tradesperson for your home improvement or bathroom fitting job?

Fed up with waiting in all day for so called tradesmen to turn up to give you a quote. Wasting your leisure time sitting around and they never turn up.

First of all, of course, you have to get them to answer the phone. Countless answer machines kick in when you come to contact the tradespeople. Spending hours poring over telephone directories or leafing through newspapers and of course all the good bathroom specialist tradespeople that your friends and family swear by are always booked up for months, or even years on end?

Why cant you get the right tradesperson you need when you need them?

Let us tell you why. Because the bathroom fitter or bathroom fitting tradesman or tradesperson or other tradeperson that your friends or family use is more often than not a sole trader, one man band business or at the very most he or she may have a couple of people who work for him or her. They have limited time and limited availability. They can only do a days work in a day because they have limited man hours available to do their bathroom fitting or bathroom fitter jobs.

What other options do you have?

At first sight it would appear that you only have two options

OPTION 1 - Wait Ages For A Bathroom Fitter

You can wait and keep trying to find a bathroom fitter or bathroom fitting tradesperson for a reasonable price.

This could take you an age, because as we mentioned above – most of the small independent one man band bathroom fitting tradespeople are booked up for months if you are relying on word of mouth recommendation.

You will also find that a lot of the ones that are really busy will not turn up to even quote for your job because they have got too many jobs to do already maybe even for your family and friends. They are spending all their time ‘doing’ the bathroom fitting jobs to go and look at new bathroom specialist jobs.

If they do turn up it could be weeks or months before they can get to you. Depending on the nature of your job – in this case – bathroom fitting or fitted bathroom or bathroom fitter – by the time the independent or sole trader bathroom fitter or fitted bathroom or bathroom fitter tradesperson has got round to you to do your job your bathroom fitting or fitted bathroom or bathroom fitter job could go from being an issue to a problem.

You might get lucky and get someone straight away who will charge a fair price for a fair job but over the long term you will find that a lot of the time you will be let down just trying to find independents yourself. You will find that you become more and more frustrated by the process – stressed even.

If you do find good tradespeople – hang on to them. They are like gold dust. But even then. It is still important to always get a few quotes from tradesmen for your jobs. Familiarity breeds contempt and if your tradesman thinks that you will pay whatever price he or she asks because you like them and have been using them for years they may at some point or another use it to their advantage. If they think that you are always a nailed on customer then they may start to overcharge you because you ‘like them’. Please note – not all tradespeople are like this – it is just always wise to be wary regarding quotes from any industry in which you are not an expert and this advice is supported by most consumer bodies. It is not just our opinion.

OPTION 2 - Use A Large Bathroom Fitting Company

You can go to a large national or regional bathroom company – they at least will have more bathroom tradespeople to carry out your bathroom job. However, what tends to happen is that when you contact a large regional or national bathroom company they just tend to use the very same self employed, sole trader bathroom tradespeople that you would use if you could only get to them to carry out your bathroom job.

However, they will usually mark up the labour because they are guaranteeing the job and of course they have the bathroom tradesman as their contact – (you don’t have them as your contact) by up to 100% - sometimes more. You pay more because they know a bathroom tradesperson, and you don’t. They subcontract your work to the bathroom fitter and charge you for it. In effect, you are getting the very same bathroom tradesman who you would get yourself if you could only find them using option 1. The problem is the independent sole trader bathroom tradespeople don’t tend to advertise because they are a one man band and can’t afford it – so they go off word of mouth advertising and their contacts in the building and construction industry who get them work. – but you are paying twice as much – sometimes more!

You pay the bathroom company who CAN afford to advertise (and charge you more) and they literally pay the sole trader bathroom tradespeople who CAN’T afford to advertise and either have to go off word of mouth advertising or they have to work as self employed subcontractors to bathroom companies like the one you would be paying. Please note: Some bathroom fitting, bathroom fitter or fitted bathroom companies are very good but you will usually pay more and this is not the cheap option.

To summarise. Your two options would appear to be – waste time or waste money.

THERE IS ANOTHER WAY – THIS COULD SAVE YOU HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF POUNDS ON YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT JOBS. THIS WAY YOU SAVE TIME AND SAVE MONEY RATHER THAN WASTING TIME AND WASTING MONEY

OPTION 3 - Use Our Top Tradespeople's free Bathroom Fitters Quotes Services

Simply post your job on the Top Tradespeople site for free and use their services to get up to 3 free quotes for your job from local bathroom tradespeople recommended by real customers just like you and with reviews.

These tradespeople are often the very same bathroom tradespeople that work as self employed subcontractors to bathroom companies – you are literally cutting out the middle man and saving hundreds of pounds on your home improvement jobs. How do I get guarantees that the bathroom job will be carried out to my satisfaction we hear you cry. At least if I go to a proper company who do bathroom jobs I will get a guarantee on the bathroom workmanship you may be thinking.

Well, whilst Top Tradespeople cannot guarantee your bathroom fitting job for you what we can do is give you an opportunity to read the reviews of the bathroom tradespeople that are registered on the site and want to quote for your job and also give you an opportunity to give a review of the bathroom tradesmen that you choose to carry out your bathroom job.

The tradespeople who want to quote on your job will know that you are going to review them so they also know by default that if they get a good review in turn future clients who go to get quotes from them for bathroom jobs will be able to look at all the previous reviews from people just like you that they have carried out bathroom jobs for. If the reviews are good, naturally they will win more of the quotes that they do for customers. If the reviews are poor they are going to get far fewer of the bathroom jobs that they quote for.

It won’t be long before they aren’t getting any of the bathroom jobs that they go after. A good review for your bathroom tradesperson is like money in the bank as naturally a good tradesperson with good reviews will get more of the jobs that they put in quotes for. A poor tradesperson will very likely get none of the bathroom jobs that they go for. A poor review is a warning from you to not touch this bathroom tradesperson. Posting a job is easy. Simply post your bathroom fitters job, get free quotes, pick the best and review them for all to see.

Problems With Not Using An Architect For Extensions | Top Trades People.co.uk

Problems With Not Using An Architect For Extensions | Top Trades People.co.uk


Adding a new extension to your house can create more living space, while also pushing up the home’s value. In such times, it is often the case that people decide to design the new living area themselves, or will contract someone they know who’s good with a pen, but not qualified to do so. Unfortunately, this can often turn into a disastrous decision and mean your new addition has a smorgasbord of faults.
Not using an architect for extensions to your home is something many often overlook.

Planning

One of the issues people often end up facing is that through building their own design, they don’t follow all the rules of planning permission, This can result in costly applications and sometimes if the building goes ahead and a problem is found, the taking down of a building as it doesn’t adhere to the prior given permission.

Design Issues

Architects are trained in the world of design of buildings and so are used to all the problems that can exist, that lay people may overlook. Architects will design your property’s extension and bear in mind any potential issues to do with your home, the extension and also outside factors.

Aesthetics

By using a professional person in this area, you will also end up with a better looking, more aesthetically attractive design than if you were to do it yourself. Architects, like fashion designers, keep up with all the current styles and know a thing or two in the aesthetic area and so can provide you with a beautiful extension, the likes of which you couldn’t have designed yourself.

How Much Does A Bathroom Cost

How Much Does A Bathroom Cost

The price of a bathroom can vary depending on the size of your bathroom, the labour involved and the type of bathroom you choose.
It’s always wise to contact a bathroom specialist, who will be able to give you advice and a quote for the job. Get some figures from several bathroom firms so you can how much it will cost.

Researching Costs Of A New Bathroom

So, if you’re wondering ‘how much does a new bathroom cost?’ there are several factors involved. You can save on costs if you can do some of the preparation work yourself, for example, the plastering. Doing your homework and researching bathroom suites for yourself can also help cut the costs as you may be able to do this more cheaply than the bathroom specialist. But make sure that they’re happy to fit the bath for you afterwards!

Split up The Bathroom Fitting Job

It’s also worth a shot to find separate contractors - if you do your figures correctly, this could be less expensive than getting one firm to do the whole job.

Average Costs of Bathrooms

The average cost of a bathroom is about £3,000. If you’re going to source the bathroom goods yourself, a basic bathroom suite can cost around £200. For an electric shower it’ll cost from £50 to £200, while a manual mixer shower can cost from £60 to £300. A power shower is the most expensive type of shower you can have, at £200 to £700. If you’re going to hire someone to install your bathroom suite for you, it should cost about £1,500 for the whole job.

Saving On A New Bathroom

You can save up to 70% of the cost of a new bathroom by doing all the work yourself - but you’ll have to be skilled at DIY, as is no job for an amateur. If you install it yourself, there’s a higher risk that you’ll have leaks and this can be a costly mistake to fix. There are also restrictions on the type of work you can do. Fitting an electric shower yourself, for example, goes against building regulations and you’ll need to hire a qualified electricianfor the job.

Finding A Bathroom Specialist

It’s best to contact a bathroom specialist, who’ll know what’s what when it comes to building regulations and price. Contact a few local tradesmen and find out how much it costs to fit a bathroom - get a couple of quotes from local bathroom fitters and you’ll be able to pick the best price.

How To Fit A Bath Panel

How To Fit A Bath Panel

If you’re unsure how to fit a bath panel, don’t worry - use our guide on how to fit a bath panel and you’ll be luxuriating in a bubble bath in no time at all! Alternatively, find a specialist bathroom fitter and that relaxing bath will be even closer than you think.

Step By Step Instruction For Fitting A Bath Panel

If you’re replacing an old bath panel, unscrew it from the bath frame and you should be able to pull it out easily. There are a few awkward bath panels that will have hidden fittings or brackets, so make sure that you unscrew these too.

Once you’ve removed the old bath panel, you’re ready to measure up for the new one. If you’re lucky, your bath panel will already fit your bath but in many cases, you’ll have to tailor the bath panel to your requirements.

Building A Bath Panel Frame

Before you do this, you should build a wooden frame for the bath panel. This will secure it in place and reinforce the bath panel against bumps and knocks in the future. Make sure the timber you use is strong enough to stabilise the bath panel - 50 x 25mm timber is ideal. If a wooden frame is not an option, then try to fix some timber along the floor at the bottom of the bath - that way, you’ll stop any movement to the bottom of the bath panel.

Remember, if DIY’s not your thing, get some competitive prices from your local bathroom tradesmen. It’ll be worth it in the long run and you’ll avoid any damage to your bathroom units or yourself!

Before you start to cut, make sure that cutting your bath panel will not damage its construction. Now measure the void underneath the bath and cut your bath panel to fit this space. A handy tip to keep in mind is to measure twice, cut once.

Tools Needed

A fine blade jigsaw or handsaw should be perfect for cutting your bath panel, and can tackle either acrylic or wood. Be careful not to damage your new bath panel by using excessive force!

If you’ve cut a wooden bath panel to size, be sure to add some PVA glue to the end where you cut, it will stop any water from seeping through.

Now you’re ready to secure the bath panel. Place it under the lip of the bath, then screw the panel onto the frame. Then it’s just a case of screwing the panels together. Mirror screws will give it a professional looking finish - just the touch to complete the perfect look for your bathroom.

Don't Fancy DIY?

If you’re worried about handling this DIY job yourself, call in a good bathroom fitter or other local tradesman who will ensure that your finished bathroom looks exactly the way you want it to.

HSBC Report Reveals New Policy On Property Sales

HSBC Report Reveals New Policy On Property Sales


New research by HSBC has revealed a new set of ‘rules’ that homeowners need to know in order to get the sold sign up in an unforgiving property market.

If you think that simply neutralising your walls and throwing down some beige carpet is an easy way to get your property sold then think again.

First on the list is de-cluttering. The survey finds that 93 % of home improvement experts believe this is important in giving your home the sell-appeal. They advise also on making sure the lawn is mowed and any paint chips are repaired prior to a viewing.

Conversely, 69 % of home owners are sticking to the old-fashioned myths like cleaning windows and displaying fresh flowers. Painting front doors and putting up new gates in the garden would be money and time better spent according to the HSBC Home Improvement Survey, but only one fifth of homeowners recognise this.

It seems that buyers are now a lot more discerning when looking for a new nest.

Here’s what vendors can do to minimise any uncertainties for would-be buyers:

De-clutter the home
Replace wall paper and get any chips in the wall fixed
Mow the lawn and spruce up the garden
Fences, walls and gates – consider mending, painting, varnishing if needs be.
First impressions last – paint or varnish your front door if required
Only one 1% of experts believe that a freshly washed car on the driveway and a new set of window boxes actually work, 2 % say cleaning windows and moving unsightly dustbins out of the way matters and no one in the survey believes that displaying a vase of freshly cut gladioli makes an ounce of difference.