Green Building Books

DIY and building books within the Green Building category. Click on a book for additional information.

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Home Maintenance: Winter

Home maintenance should be done during the winter months but obviously most of it is going to be inside. Some of the work will be to ensure that the home is well insulated against heat loss and bills are kept to a minimum.

Loft insulation needs to be checked and all pipework and tanks should be well insulated. Take special care with gatevalves and stopcocks. Make sure they can be turned off and on again in the event of an emergency. If you do suffer from a frozen pipe, warm the pipe gently with a hairdryer or a heat gun after opening the tap fed from the pipe. Burst pipes occur when the water expands when frozen so if there is a leak, thawing gently will reveal it sooner allowing you to mend it. Continue Reading »

Choosing a washing machine

How often do you use a machine? There is little point in buying a machine costing a thousand pound if you only use it once every two weeks. Ask yourself the following questions in order to get the best idea of what you need. Will it fit the space I have for it? Do I need a front loader or a top loader, How much can I afford?

  A front loading machine is designed to fit under a worktop or even form part of the work surface itself so it is usually a space saver. Generally a front loader will handle more washing than a top loader.

Look for the different programmes available from a machine. Various brands and models offer different programmes. Choose the ones to suit your lifestyle. Continue Reading »

Repair Squeaking floorboards

Fixing noisy, squeaking floorboards is a relatively simple job. There are several ways of curing the problem.

Brush chalk or talcum between tight-fitting boards that are rubbing against each other, or … Continue Reading »

Buying a tumble dryer

Most tumble dryers have vents leading from them which need to be fitted to a permanent vent outside, or at least a hose which is hung out of the window! These days condenser tumble dryers can be bought which remove the need for a vent pipe. The hot, wet air produced from the heat of the dryer is allowed to condense in the bottom of the machine and this water is then either emptied, or the machine is plumbed into a drain. Continue Reading »

Budget Kitchen Makeovers

Your kitchen may be the most popular room in your home, but one that is showing its age will not win over many guests. Old wallpaper, weathered cabinets and worn light fixtures can make a kitchen feel really dated.

Get our top tips for redoing your kitchen on any budget. Whether you’re ready for a £500 spruce-up or want to increase your home’s value by investing in a £2,000 update, you’ll find the ideas and instructions you need to turn your kitchen into the stylish, comfortable space you desire. Continue Reading »

Buying the right kitchen appliances

DIY Tools helps you make the right choices when buying kitchen appliances for your home…..What do I look for when I’m buying a dishwasher or a washing machine? Do I need a separate tumble dryer? What does the energy rating on my fridge mean?

Here are the answers to some of those questions: Continue Reading »

Buying a dishwasher

An interesting fact is that an average family spends up to 250 hours per year washing up! Why, we ask, when dishwashers are so simple to use. Obviously the dishwasher you need depends on the amount of washing up you do, so before you buy, take a few days just to see how much washing up there is after an average sitting.  Continue Reading »

Bleeding a radiator

Open vented system

For sealed systems, seek the services of a professional heating engineer

Cold radiator

If the top section of a radiator is cold when the heating is on, it is usually an indication that air has got into the system somewhere and has become trapped. Air in a radiator will rise to the top forming a pocket stopping the hot water from getting to that part. This can be released by bleeding the radiator, but remember to turn the heating off first. Continue Reading »

£500 Kitchen spruce up

You can do a lot to a kitchen without spending a lot of money. We explain how you can spruce up a kitchen with new countertops, paint and a few details–all for less than £500.

Begin the project with the idea that one of the quickest ways to improve the looks of the kitchen is to replace your old, damaged countertop. Total expense for the materials required for replacing the countertops - under £200.  Continue Reading »