| Cement render |
Place 4 nails in the end of a scrap of timber to run through the first coat of render in a squiggly snake pattern before applying the subsequent render coat. Allow the first coat to set before applying subsequent coats. Use a slightly weaker render for additional coats to lessen the likelihood of the render crazing. Finish with a fine sponge once the render has changed from wet to damp in a circular hand movements or use other trowels for different finishes.
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| Chisel Sharpening |
Only sharpen the bevel side of a chisel and not the flat side. The full bevel sharpened gives the best cutting in my opinion. |
| Hanging doors |
Wedge the base of the door and fix the top hinge first before fixing lower hinges. Dont over tighten screws until all of the screws are in. |
| Hanging heavy fittings |
For most driers, handrails, grabrails, toilet paper holders, soap dishes, etc it is best to place a timber nogging between the studs before sheeting with linings to take the fixings of the fittings. This is not possible if linings are already installed. Check the fixing requirements of fittings before building their support. |
| Installing screws |
Place a small amount of soap scrapped from a block of soap by the point of the screw before installing the screw in timber. |
| Locks |
Squirt graphite powder into locks to lubricate the tumblers and mechanism. Use graphite whenever locks get sticky. Eventually the lock will need opening for cleaning old powder, dirt, etc. Do not use oil for locks unless recommended by the manufacturer. |
| Nailing |
Pre drill nail holes near the ends of timber or in hardwood to stop splitting of the timber and bending of the nails. |
| Plasterboarding |
-Try using a fine sponge to smooth the second setting coat before applying the finish coat of plaster. This should reduce the amount of sanding needed in the top coat.
-When mixing plaster powder place in a container like a plastic ice cream container and fully immerse in a bucket of water carefully so that none of the powder comes out of the ice cream container. Once all of the bubbles have stopped coming to the surface your plaster will be beautifully mixed with no stirring required.
-When installing plasterboard ceilings use a timber cross, cross braced, to support the plasterboard while fixing the other end. You may also need extra support to the middle of the sheet depending upon length.
-To fill large holes place an offcut of plasterboard in the hole with cornice cement on the outside face. Place a flat headed nail through the offcut and pull forwards as the cornice cement dries (usually quickly). Then apply base and top coats to the plasterboard hole to build the hole up to the thickness of the top sheet. For smaller holes use squashed up Al Foil and place in the hole below the top of the sheet and plaster smooth over the Al Foil.
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| Plumb with light |
When installing an item that has to pass through a ceiling fix a torch in a straight line along a level, set level plumb and fix through the centre of the light shadow aligned with the item to plumb. Alternatively use a plumb bob for greater accuracy. |
| Putty |
Cover the top of left over putty, in the pot, with water to stop it drying out. Top up the water over time. Eventually though it will dry out in the pot. |
| Removing old screws |
Remove (scrape or carefull chemical removal) old paint from around the screw and the screw slot(s) place screw driver in slot and hit firmly with a hammer. Then try to unscrew again. Also applying a small amount of heat, not enough to damage the surrounds, may also loosen the screw. |
Skirtings (internal
corners) |
Mitre the cut and then file out the back of the cut to sit over the adjacent skirting. The adjacent skirting can be cut with square end cut neat into its space. File or grind out carefully to create a <1mm amount of timber to sit over the adjacent skirting |
| Square the building |
Check that the diagonals of a rectilinear shape are the same dimension to verify the building is square. Adjust the sides if the diagonals are not square. |
| Stirring paint |
Stirring paint is best done with a broad piece of timber about 50mm wide. Make a figure 8 with the stirring action and ensure the bottom of the tin is stirred. |
