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After a long day at work, you get home and are ready to eat a comforting meal and put your feet up. However, when you get to the kitchen, something is not right – there is an extremely unpleasant smell coming from the sink. You’ve decided to run the tap for a while and the water is taking a good few minutes to drain plus, there is this strange gurgling sound… We’re afraid you have a blocked sink.

We know this is the last thing you wanted to worry about when you got home, but you’ll have to do something about it. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to tackle this problem.

1. Get out the plunger.

Guess what? This is the perfect moment to use that plunger that you thought you throwing out a couple of times because you haven’t used it since you’ve bought it. Dig it out from your appliances room and get to work.

Place the plunger over the plughole in your sink and cover with water to create an airtight seal. Grip the handle with both hands and pump it up and down – this will suck the air out of the pipe and force it back in. Fill the sink up and if it drains quickly, you know the blockage is clear!

If you don’t have a plunger and it’s too late to go to your nearest shop to get one, move on to the tips below.

2. Blast it with water.

A high-pressure blast of water might be able to push out whatever is blocking the sink. Simply take a 2-litre drink bottle and fill it with warm water. Tip it upside down and place the open end down the plughole. At the same time, quickly squeeze the bottle to force the water out of the bottle as fast as possible. 

3. Use a drain cleaner.

If the plunger and the water pressure didn’t work, it might mean that the blockage is dense and greasy. This means that you’ll need something to break it down.

There are many chemical drain cleaners which work wonders, however, if you don’t have any at home or have no time to go outside to purchase one, you might have to use some items which you’ll find in your kitchen cupboard.

• Baking soda and vinegar.

Add two teaspoons of baking soda to a cup of white vinegar, then pour the mixture down the plughole. Leave it for a few minutes and then flush the blockage with some hot water.

• Bleach and hot water.

Pour some bleach through the plughole at night before going to bed and then flush it with hot water in the morning.

4. Clear out the blockage by hand.

Be aware that you’ll have to get your hands dirty for this one plus, a tough stomach will definitely help. If you are not happy doing this job, give the Squad a call on 0800-0 12 12 12 and we’ll be there in a jiffy.

If none of the methods above have worked, you will have to dive into your kitchen cupboard and wrench off the U-bend of the sink to clear it out by hand.

Firstly, put on a pair of rubber gloves and put down some old towels and a bucket under the U-bend.

Then, use a wrench to slowly unscrew the threaded caps from each side of the U-bend.

Take the U-bend and any dismantled bits to another sink or outside tap. Clean them thoroughly. A wire coat hanger can also help to clean out the inside of the pipe.

Finally, re-attach the U-bend and run the tap to make sure everything you’ve just fitted is watertight.

Still have a blocked sink? Maybe it’s time to call a professional. Our London plumbers are experts at unblocking all plumbing fixtures, from unblocking basins, unblocking baths to unblocking showers and unblocking sinks. Call today on 0800-0 12 12 12 or request a free quote by filling our online form.

The post How to unblock a sink appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

Maybe you finally took some days off to renovate your house and decided that the wallpaper (which only looked good in the ‘70s and should have stayed there) in your living room has to go! However, you didn’t think much of it and started to peel it off, after all – how difficult can it really be?

Four hours later and you’re sitting on the floor staring at the wall and thinking “after all that scraping, peeling, how do I still have more than half of the wall with wallpaper?” We feel your pain. Take a deep breath and ring the Squad on 0800-0 12 12 12, we’ll take care of it, so you can actually enjoy your time off and relax.

If you are not ready to quit and want to tackle this job by yourself (good on you!), continue reading below as we explain the best ways to remove wallpaper. We’ve written all about “how to hang wallpaper” and “tips on how to hang wallpaper” but we’ve noticed that we haven’t covered how to remove wallpaper. With our instructions, we are certain that you will be able to remove your wallpaper as painlessly as possible.

Start with some prep work.

Before starting any type of peeling, scraping and asking yourself “why didn’t you just call the Handy Squad?”, you will have to prepare the room. This means, removing everything off the walls, moving or covering nearby furniture and covering the skirting boards.

Also, you will have to determine the type of wallpaper you have plus, whether your walls are plaster or drywall. Plaster is most commonly found in homes that were built more than 50 years ago, whilst drywall has been used in homes for the past 50 years or so. This is important to identify because drywall is more delicate than plaster, meaning you will have to be more careful when removing wallpaper.

To determine the type of wallpaper you have, use a putty knife to loosen a corner of the paper and try to peel it off. If you are one of the lucky ones with strippable wallpaper, it should just peel right off. If the wallpaper peels a bit but leaves a paper backing, then you have peelable wallpaper. If the paper doesn’t peel at all, means that you have a traditional wallpaper that will require some more work, water and a wallpaper stripper (don’t worry, you can do it).

Remove strippable wallpaper.

Step 1

Use a putty knife to loosen the corner of the paper. Use your hands to pull the paper from the wall. You should pull as close to the wall as you can to avoid tearing the paper (if the paper rips, lift another corner and start again). Repeat around the room.

Step 2

Once you’ve removed all the wallpaper, clean the walls with water and soap.

Remove peelable wallpaper.

Step 1.

Peelable wallpaper has a top layer which comes off just like strippable paper, simply loosen the corner with a putty knife and pull the paper off.

Step 2.

Once you’ve removed the top layer off, you’ll be left with the paper backing. To remove this layer, follow the directions below for removing traditional wallpaper.

Remove traditional wallpaper.

Step 1.

Mix hot water and the wallpaper stripper according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pour this solution into a spray bottle.

Step 2.

Apply the solution to the wall, letting it sit for several minutes.

Step 3.

Use a putty knife to peel off the paper. Work from top to bottom a section at a time. Once you’ve removed the paper from this section, move on to the next section.

Step 4.

Clean the wall with soap and water to remove any residue.

Still no luck? Try a wallpaper steamer.

A wallpaper steamer can be a godsend when your wallpaper seems to refuse to peel off no matter how much you scrape and spray. Simply follow the manufacturer’s directions and you will have a wallpaper free wall in no time.

If you don’t have time to remove your wallpaper or you simply don’t want to get your hands dirty – call the Handy Squad on 0800-0 12 12 12. Our London decorators will be able to remove your wallpaper and paint your walls after (if required). Let us know how we can help, and we’ll be happy to do so. Request a free quote by filling our online booking form.

The post How to remove wallpaper appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

In the kitchen, there are a lot of different items that need to be stored and kept tidy when they are not being used. This area of your home is certainly not the place you want to be filled with clutter and loose objects as it might be quite dangerous. There are many ways to optimise the space you’ve got in your kitchen, making it fully organised, thus tidier and neater.

Go big or go home.

If instead of working with the space you’ve got, you want to go all-out and have a full kitchen renovation, our team can give you an extra pair of hands. Our team can install new kitchen units, install new flooring and even redesign the whole area.

Less is more.

Have you been stacking and storing kitchen gadgets that you’ve only used once? The thought of “I might need that again someday” makes you not want to get rid of whatever that is. However, let’s be honest, you end up never using it again and it’s just wasting precious space in your kitchen. It’s time to declutter.

Decluttering might sound quite daunting to many but it’s actually not as bad as it sounds. There are some simple ways of decluttering your kitchen, including:

• Get rid of unused kitchen utensils. These can be given to charity shops or even sold for a quick buck (if still in good condition and working order).
• Throw away any expired food.
• If you have drawers filled with cooking magazines, maybe it’s time to pick your favourite recipes and add them all up in one folder.

Divide and conquer.

After going through your cupboard and drawers, you will be able to sort out the items you want to keep. Then, you can begin to think about how to store them. Drawer dividers and cutlery trays are very handy when organising drawers. They will keep you from spending ages rooting around a drawer full of knives to find your teaspoon.

Make it personal.

Ready-made kitchen furniture might not exactly suit your space the way you dreamt it would. However, custom-made furniture will. Of course, bespoke furniture may be on the more expensive side, but it will help you optimise your space to the maximum. Our carpenters in London are able to create custom-made shelves to help you do just this – optimise space.

Shelves are great pieces of furniture to have in your kitchen. They will take up less space than cupboards and are perfect to show off your favourite kitchen utensils and appliances. You can also place various other items on your shelves, such as spices and condiments, which can be easily reached when you are cooking your world-famous paella.

Size doesn’t matter.

Small kitchens can be decorated to appear larger than they actually are. Colour coordinating, plus using light and neutral colours will help expand the space, giving it the appearance of a larger room and making it look brighter, thus neater. You might be doubting your painting skills or you simply may not want to get your hands dirty with paint? Our London painters are ready to help.

Let there be light.

Keep your windows free of clutter to ensure as much light comes into the room as possible. The absence of clutter will visually create extra space and the additional light will ensure that your kitchen is well-lit, giving it a tidier appearance. In case your kitchen doesn’t have many windows, perhaps installing more lamps or other types of lighting could help immensely. If you need a professional for the job, simply call our electricians in London today.

Our team can help you with many tasks around the house or office. Request a free quote by filling out our online booking form or give our friendly team a call on 0800-0 12 12 12 and let us know how we can help.

The post Tips for optimising the space in your kitchen appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

The sound of “drip…drip…drip” is not the lullaby you want or need when lying in the comfort of your bed after a long day at work. If you find yourself in this predicament, it’s likely that your leaky tap is a result of a worn tap washer.

This article will help you change a faulty tap washer, but if you simply don’t have enough time to spare to do it yourself, our team of plumbers in London can assist with any of your plumbing needs. So if you’re in need of expert help to fix a leaking tap, install a waste disposal unit or unblock a sink, we’ve got someone for the job. Simply give our team a call on 0800 0 12 12 12 or request a quote by filling in our online booking form.

At the Handy Squad, we recommend that you seek assistance from a professional when undertaking any DIY work at your home or office. For further information, please read our disclaimer at the end of this article.

Materials:

• Towel
• Plug
• Flat-headed screwdriver
• Adjustable spanner
• Tap washer
• Wire wool

Instructions:

1. Protect your bath or basin

Before starting any work, you’ll want to pop the plug in to prevent losing any small objects – e.g. screws or a wedding ring. It’s also ideal to put a towel in your bath or basin to protect it, in the event that you accidentally drop any tools inside of it – all you want to do is replace your tap washer, not fork out for a whole new bath or basin.

 

2. Turn the water off

Whether you need to access your mains water supply or simply use your isolation valve, you’re going to need to ensure that the water is turned off. We recommend that you also run your kitchen tap to ensure that any remaining water is drawn out of your plumbing system.

 

3. Take the tap apart

Using a flat-headed screwdriver, you’re going to remove the top of the tap – it’s likely that you’ll find a screw attached to the tap head. After loosening the screw, remove the head of the tap and expose the valve. Now, undo the valve using your spanner.

Note: If you’re struggling to undo it, you can always hold the tap spout for some extra assistance.

 

4. Replace the washer

After removing the valve, you’ll be able to see the worn washer – the culprit of all your troubles – in the flesh. Loosen the screw that’s keeping the old tap washer in place and dispose of it before you switch it for a nice shiny new washer of the same size.

5. Reassemble the tap

Now you’ve got your new washer installed, you need to put your tap back together. Replace the screw that keeps the tap washer attached to the stem of the tap. Also, if you wish, you can then wipe the taps interior and exterior down with some wire wool to scrub off any built up limescale.

To reassemble the tap, you need to insert the valve back into the seat of the tap and tighten it using your spanner. Then you can place and secure the head of the tap over the valve by twisting the head clockwise.

 

6. Put the water back on

Finally, all you need to do is turn your mains water supply on or twist the valve underneath the sink before you’re seconds away from washing any grubby hands or filling up the bath to cool down after a hot day.

If at any point you feel like you need a second pair of hands, don’t hesitate to get in contact with our team. Just give us a call on 0800 0 12 12 12 or fill out our online booking form and we’ll be on the way to your London home in no time – all you need to do is look out for our unmissable yellow scooters.

 

Disclaimer

At the Handy Squad we strongly advise that you always take safety precautions into consideration when undertaking a DIY project. We also strongly suggest that you closely read and follow the instructions, that are provided by the manufacturer, of any building materials, products or tools you use for your projects.

Our aim is to provide you with clear and correct instructions, so that you can easily complete any DIY project you desire. However, please note that the information we provide should only be used as a guideline and that some information within the text may not be entirely accurate.

When using our articles for information and advice, please note that it is your own responsibility to determine whether you are capable of undertaking and executing the task you wish to complete.

Before starting a DIY task, it is essential that you inform yourself of any existing building, gas, water and electrical works regulations. If you were to have any further concerns, we recommend that you complete additional research and/or contact the necessary professional body.

We also strongly recommend that a qualified tradesperson completes the relevant safety tests and checks on any DIY work you have completed. 

The post How to change a tap washer appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

There is nothing worse than being comfortably tucked up in bed and the thought of someone breaking into your home popping into your head. So, to ensure that your front door is nice and secure and that you get a good night’s sleep, here are a few things you can do to improve your home security.

1. Have your own in-home Big Brother

Before we even get onto what you can do to your front door, there’s one way to deter an intruder from breaking into your home from the onset and that’s to install security cameras.

Having security cameras inside but more importantly outside of your home, will discourage burglars as they won’t want to risk getting caught on camera. You might even want to choose smart security cameras that can sync to your phone, meaning that no matter where you are you can keep an eye on your home.

2. Turn your home into Fort Knox

Choosing to install high security locks is imperative, as they provide the most suitable protection against the sneaky methods that intruders’ use to break into a home.

With that in mind, it’s important to do your research. Don’t just pick the first lock you find at your local hardware store.

Firstly, you need to make sure that you’re choosing a lock from a well-known and trusted brand as this’ll give you a peace of mind about the quality of their products. You’ll also need to find out which of their products are highly rated by other customers to make sure you’re getting value for your money.

We recommend buying a British Standards Lock as the British Standards Institution (BSI) establish the standards for the quality of goods and services across the UK. You can distinguish whether your lock of choice is a BSI approved lock or not by looking for the British Standard Kite Mark on the product.

When it comes to securing your front door, it’s the deadbolt within the lock that does all the hard work. With that in mind, you’ll need to make sure to choose a deadbolt that can withstand intense levels of force – especially in the event that an intruder may attempt to kick your front door down when breaking in.

Not sure how to work out how strong your deadbolt is? No worries. You can determine how effective the lock is going to be by finding out which metal it’s been made from and the quantity of metal used to make the lock.

For example, even if a lock has been composed of hardened steel it may be significantly hollow inside. This means that the empty space in the lock outweighs the amount of metal used which results in the lock being notably less robust than a thicker lock.

To ensure that your lock provides you with the maximum amount of security, we’d recommend you get it installed by a professional, which is why the Handy Squad have a team of experienced London locksmiths who can take the task off your hands and complete it efficiently to ensure your front door is secure in no time.

As well as this, having a first-rate door combined with high quality door furniture – the screws, strike plates and hinges – will help to improve the security of your front door significantly.

3. Catch them red handed

Now as long as you’re not attempting to sneak in after a late one, installing motion sensor lights seems like a good idea, right?

Well, having good lighting is crucial when it comes to improving the security of your front door as it acts as an alert for whoever is home. It also increases visibility for security cameras to capture intruders like a deer in headlights.

It’s also a good idea to make sure that any hedges or bushes you have are well-maintained to avoid making your front garden or drive overly dark and to also prevent obscuring any of your security cameras.

4. Make sure you’re notified

 Securing your front door goes beyond making sure you’ve got the correct lock for your door or installing security cameras to capture any attempted break-ins, especially when you’re out of the city. The Handy Squad can install an intruder alarm at your London home to ensure that if you do have any intruders that the necessary people are notified – whether that just be yourself or the police.

There are various types of alarm systems to choose from including auto-dialler alarms, monitored alarms and smart alarms.

Smart alarms

Smart alarms detect unusual activity in your home and will notify you or a selected family member of the situation.

Auto-dialler alarms

You’ll need to install an auto-dialler alarm if you’re in the market for an alarm that automatically calls a specified number – either a chosen friend or an automated message can be selected – when your alarm goes off.

Monitored alarms

If you’d like your alarm to be connected to a monitoring centre that can contact the police for you – if necessary – monitored alarms are perfect for you.

If any of those options sound like something you’d like to be installed in your home, call our team today on 0800 0 12 12 12 and we can book you in for an intruder alarm installation appointment.

In the event of a break in

If you arrive home and your front door has been damaged, contact the police immediately using 999 and file a report – this way the incident is on record for any of your insurance claims. Also, make sure not to touch anything in your property as you may accidentally tamper with evidence.

If this has happened to you, we’re sorry to hear that. Please don’t hesitate to get in contact with our team who can make your home feel safe again, whether you’re in need of one our carpenters in London who can repair door frames and if necessary, undertake an emergency door replacement if the damage is irreparable. As well as this, our emergency locksmiths in London can repair door locks and even replace your old door lock with a better one. Simply give our team a call on 0800 0 12 12 12 or request a quote by filling in our online booking form.

 

Disclaimer

At the Handy Squad we strongly advise that you always take safety precautions into consideration when undertaking a DIY project. We also strongly suggest that you closely read and follow the instructions, that are provided by the manufacturer, of any building materials, products or tools you use for your projects.

Our aim is to provide you with clear and correct instructions, so that you can easily complete any DIY project you desire. However, please note that the information we provide should only be used as a guideline and that some information within the text may not be entirely accurate.

When using our articles for information and advice, please note that it is your own responsibility to determine whether you are capable of undertaking and executing the task you wish to complete.

Before starting a DIY task, it is essential that you inform yourself of any existing building, gas, water and electrical works regulations. If you were to have any further concerns, we recommend that you complete additional research and/or contact the necessary professional body.

We also strongly recommend that a qualified tradesperson completes the relevant safety tests and checks on any DIY work you have completed.

 

The post How to secure your front door appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

It’s June, which means the hot weather should be just around the corner (or we’d hope so!). As we all know, warm weather in England is a synonym of beer gardens and garden parties. You can start (or at least thinking of) pulling out the barbeque, dusting off the furniture and cleaning the patio. There are also a few other things you can do to get your garden ready for summer and all its glory.

1. Mow the lawn

It’s the obvious one, however, it’s probably one of the most important things to do when the weather starts getting better. Yes, mowing the lawn can be a tedious chore, but not only will it help prevent weeds from growing, it will also instantly make your garden look tidier. Additionally, you can use a trimmer around the edges and bases of any trees to neaten things up a bit.

If your lawn has patches where grass won’t seem to grow, then you may need re-seed those bare patches. If all fails, you can always buy artificial turf, which will reduce the overall maintenance time of your garden to a minimum.

2. Clean the Patio

Just like mowing the lawn, cleaning the patio has an instant impact on the look of your garden, making it appear immediately better than it did over the winter months. Depending on what your patio is made of (bricks, decking, slabs) a jet wash is usually a good option. This will remove any dirt and debris left on your patio and will make it look more visually appealing. If you do not own or want to purchase a jet washer, we offer various pressure washing services all around London.

You may find that weeds have grown, in which case you will need to remove them. You can pull them up from the roots to prevent them from returning or you can contact our team to get completely rid of them with our jet washers. Simply call 0800-0-12-12-12.

3. Purchase some plants

Whether you already own some or have never cared for a plant in your life, purchasing plants is a great way to make your garden look livelier and more colourful. Plants can be used as ornaments around the garden by using pots in different colours and sizes. There are many types of plants to choose from, including bright red flowers, leafy green plants or even some small trees.

4. Garden Furniture

The most important garden furniture to have would be some form of seating. Whether you just want to sit and read a good book or have some guests over, seating is key. If you have old furniture then that’s great, even if it’s looking a bit shabby. Sand it down and maybe give it a lick of paint to have it looking as good as new. Too much of a hassle? Our team can also pressure wash garden furniture to bring it back to life.

If you are planning on buying new furniture, think about whether you have a specific colour scheme in your garden. Minimalistic colours are usually the best to go for as they won’t draw too much attention away from your plants, but still become the centrepiece of your garden.

 

A garden table to match your seating is another important purchase if you haven’t already got one. Whether it’s for eating a meal at or just to put down your drink, it’s another thing that will bring your garden together. Again, you don’t necessarily have to go out and buy a brand new one, you can spruce up your old table and make it look as great as when you bought it.

If you do not feel you have the time to liven up your furniture, then you can contact our handymen in London who will give you a second pair of hands with your furniture. We can treat wooden furniture and even repaint furniture. In case you’ve bought some new garden flat pack furniture, call our team to assemble your flat pack furniture.

5. Lighting for your garden

Lighting is a lovely touch that can make your garden seem that much more interesting. Solar powered fairy lights are a great idea, you can get some to go along the edge of your fence or across a wall of your house, depending on what works for you. Fairy lights create a cosy ambience in your garden and if they are solar powered it also means that you don’t have to worry about changing the batteries or finding some way of wiring them into your home.

You may need to get some stronger lights if you are planning on staying in your newly refreshed garden later into the night. Some wall lights may be what you need. These can be solar powered as well, or you can get ones that require wiring in. If you do not know where to begin then our team of London electricians are more than happy to help.

If you don’t have enough time in your hands to give your garden the spruce-up it needs, then don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know what it is we can assist you with. Whether it be pressure washing, installing outdoor lighting or assembling your garden furniture, the Squad is always happy to help.

The post How to get your garden summer-ready appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

Have you just renovated your bedroom and are looking to install floating shelves in order to have more storage space? Maybe you simply want to fit new shelves to showcase your family pictures, whether this means your kids photos, photos of you and your partner or even photos with you and your pet cockroach. No matter what you want to display on your floating shelves, this article will help you know how to actually put them up.

Step 1

Firstly, you’ll have to either purchase a pre-made floating shelf kit or make your own floating shelf from scratch. A pre-made kit will come complete with all the necessary fixings and instructions on how to put the shelf up, however, if you do choose to create your own shelf, you won’t have any limitations in terms of size or colour. Perhaps making a shelf seems like too much work for you, but for our London carpenters, it will be like a walk in the park. So, if you are looking for a custom-made shelf contact our team on 0800-0-12-12-12.

Step 2 

Before drilling anything to the wall, you’ll have to double-check what’s behind it with a pipe, cable and stud detector. These electronic devices will let you know if there are any pipes, cables or studs on the wall. This is a very important step which mustn’t be ignored in any circumstance.

Step 3

Hold the bracket against the wall and use a spirit level to ensure that the bracket is straight. Then, mark the fixing hole positions with a pencil.

Step 4

Start by slowly drilling your marked fixing hole positions and increase the speed as the drill bit bites into the surface. Continue drilling until you reach your required depth. Use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum any dust from inside the hole and fit your wall plugs.

Step 5

Place the bracket against the wall and start by fastening the screws. Slide the floating shelf on the bracket and hold the spirit level to ensure that it’s level. And that’s it – you’ve put up a floating shelf.

If for any reason you’ve weren’t able to install your floating shelf or you simply don’t have enough time to do so, our team of highly-experienced handymen in London will be able to help out. Request a free quote today by filling our online form or call us on 0800-0-12-12-12.

The post How to put up a floating shelf appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.