Decorating Neath
Decorating your home gives it warmth, character and shows off your tastes and personality. If you need some advice on decorating, from painting and wallpapering to choosing home furnishings, read through the articles found here in this section.
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Wallpapering Problems Neath
A guide to common problems encountered when hanging wallpaper. If the wallpaper is tearing when you try to pick it up to apply to the wall, or even when it is attached to the wall, you have probably used too much paste or the paste is too thin. Thicken up the paste and apply less to stop this happening. If the paper is tearing whilst cutting, check that your scissors or knife is sharp.
Sealers and Primers Neath
A guide to the different sealers and primers you might need when decorating your home. Preparation is the key to any decorating job. You may be the best painter or decorator in the country, but if you do not prepare your surfaces well, the result will often be less than perfect. Different surfaces require different preparation, with many surfaces needing sealing or priming before you can apply a topcoat of paint.
Wallpapering Tools Neath
A guide to the tools needed for most household diy wallpapering jobs. Here is a list of tools for wallpaper installation, such as Smoothing Brush - Sometimes known as a paperhangers brush, a smoothing brush had stiff but soft bristles so it does not mark the paper as you brush out air bubbles. Make sure your smoothing brush is kept clean and dry.
Distemper Neath
A guide to recognising and dealing with distemper around your home. Distemper used to be a popular finish, and in older houses you are quite likely to come across it when renovating or redecorating. Distemper is chalk mixed with a glue and water. The problem with it is that if it gets wet it tends to come away from the surface it is on. This means, if you paint or wallpaper over it, all your hard work could peel straight back off again.
Cleaning Brushes and Rollers Neath
A DIY guide to the proper way to clean brushes, rollers and paint pads after use. When buying paint brushes and rollers you have to make a choice. Buy cheap brushes and rollers just for the job at hand and bin them when you finish, or pay a bit more for good quality equipment and look after it. It is a little known fact that paintbrushes actually improve the more they are used, as long as they are looked after.
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Applying Oil to Wood Neath
A DIY guide to applying an Oil finish to bare wood. Oil should be applied with a foam brush for best results, and these are available from most good DIY stores. Apply the first coat of oil to the wood, brushing in the direction of the grain. Try not to over brush (using too many small strokes) and do not stop halfway through the job or you may see lines appearing in the finish.
Applying Wax to Wood Neath
Wax, like oil, will change the colour of the wood it is applied to, and is avaliable in several shades. Test the wax on a small section of the wood which is hidden from normal view before applying to the main part of the wood.
Choosing the Correct Filler Neath
A guide to choosing the correct type of filler for different DIY jobs around the home. Read on and learn more.
Choosing Wood Finishes Neath
This guide will hopefully help you choose the right finish for the job at hand. Read on and learn more.
Cleaning Brushes and Rollers Neath
A DIY guide to the proper way to clean brushes, rollers and paint pads after use. When buying paint brushes and rollers you have to make a choice. Buy cheap brushes and rollers just for the job at hand and bin them when you finish, or pay a bit more for good quality equipment and look after it. It is a little known fact that paintbrushes actually improve the more they are used, as long as they are looked after.
Distemper Neath
A guide to recognising and dealing with distemper around your home. Distemper used to be a popular finish, and in older houses you are quite likely to come across it when renovating or redecorating. Distemper is chalk mixed with a glue and water. The problem with it is that if it gets wet it tends to come away from the surface it is on. This means, if you paint or wallpaper over it, all your hard work could peel straight back off again.
Exterior Masonry Paint Neath
Masonry paint comes in several different types, each of which is more or less suited to a particular application. Read on and learn more.
Fitting Coving Neath
A complete DIY guide to fitting the main four types of coving or conice. Coving, also sometimes known as Cornice or Crown Mouldings, serves two main purposes. The first is to conceal the join between wall and ceiling and the second is to add a decorative touch to the room. It is fairly simple to fit and can be tackled by even a new DIY-er.
Hanging Paper Borders Neath
A complete DIY guide to hanging paper borders correctly, to enhance the decor of a room. Read on and learn more.
Installing Custom Blinds Neath
A guide to installing custom window blinds. Instead of employing an expensive window blinds company to come out to your home and install a new set of horizontal blinds for you, you've decided to take the plunge and order online from a discount online retailer. As you wait for your new window coverings to arrive, you begin to doubt your abilities.
Painting Walls and Ceilings Neath
A complete guide to the best methods of painting walls and ceilings in your home. Read on and get more information.
Painting Window Frames Neath
You now need to consider the order of painting, which should always be started in the morning to allow time to dry. First you should paint the actual frame, starting with the areas which will be touched by the window as it closes.
Painting Wooden Mouldings Neath
Before painting any woodwork in your home, fill any holes and cracks with the appropriate filler and allow it to fully set before painting. Make sure the filler is sanded smooth and that any dust and dirt is removed from the wood before you start.
Papering a Ceiling Neath
A complete diy guide to applying wallpaper to a ceiling. We show you how to get the best results every time. Read on and learn more.
Renovating Fireplace Surrounds Neath
Rather than simply ripping out and replacing old or tired fireplace surrounds. Read on and get more information.
Sealers and Primers Neath
A guide to the different sealers and primers you might need when decorating your home. Preparation is the key to any decorating job. You may be the best painter or decorator in the country, but if you do not prepare your surfaces well, the result will often be less than perfect. Different surfaces require different preparation, with many surfaces needing sealing or priming before you can apply a topcoat of paint.
Stripping Paint Neath
A guide to effectivly and safely stripping paints using heat guns or chemicals. Stripping paint is a relatively easy task, as long as you take the time to work out the best method for each particular area. Flat areas of wood can be quickly stripped with a heat gun, whereas detailed areas are best stripped with chemical strippers.
Stripping Painted Metal Neath
If the base metal is showing signs of rust, paint it with a Rust Converter or Rust Inhibitor before cleaning well with a wire brush and washing with white spirit. Your metal surface is now ready to be primed with a Zinc Phosphate or Red Oxide Primer and then repainted.
Stripping Wallpaper Neath
A complete DIY guide to the best way to strip wallpaper and vinyl wallcoverings. Read on and learn more.
Types of Paint Neath
A guide to the different types of paint available, and their best uses around the home. Read on and learn more.
Using a Steam Stripper Neath
Make the room ready as you normally would for any decorating task. Put dust sheets down and wear old clothing. It is also a good idea to have some old rubber gloves to wear whilst using the stripper.
Wallpapering Neath
A complete guide to DIY wallpapering, paper hanging and more. Get everything ready that you will need for the job. Now measure the height of the room, add on about 100mm (4 inches) to trim at the top and bottom, and write the measurement somewhere you can easily see it (in case you forget). If you are using heavily patterned wallpaper, it is a good idea to allow slightly more at the top and bottom to give yourself a better degree of adjustment.
Wallpapering Problems Neath
A guide to common problems encountered when hanging wallpaper. If the wallpaper is tearing when you try to pick it up to apply to the wall, or even when it is attached to the wall, you have probably used too much paste or the paste is too thin. Thicken up the paste and apply less to stop this happening. If the paper is tearing whilst cutting, check that your scissors or knife is sharp.
Wallpapering Tools Neath
A guide to the tools needed for most household diy wallpapering jobs. Here is a list of tools for wallpaper installation, such as Smoothing Brush - Sometimes known as a paperhangers brush, a smoothing brush had stiff but soft bristles so it does not mark the paper as you brush out air bubbles. Make sure your smoothing brush is kept clean and dry.