Tradesperson expert reveals the most commonly asked questions – and how to unblock a toilet is top of the list!
Our homes may be our sanctuaries, but they can also pose a myriad of problems when things go wrong! While some issues obviously require the help of a professional, many smaller ones see Brits hitting the internet to solve the conundrum.
MyBuilder.com, the reliable way to hire tradespeople, has a long-running service called Ask a Tradesperson, and it has today revealed 10 of the most popular questions from those who visit their site for help. From how to unblock a toilet to how long to leave plaster to dry before painting it, there’s a real variation of common household conundrums.
Andy Simms, from MyBuilder.com, said that while many of these issues are common, for most people you won’t know the answer unless you have encountered the problem before.
“There are many mysteries when it comes to maintaining and decorating our homes – but the good news is that most of these questions can be easily answered. While many requests around home maintenance or problems seem “simple,” such as blocked loos or beeping smoke alarms, it can be tricky to know what to do if you haven’t dealt with the problem before.
“The majority of these questions can be answered online, but if you’re having doubts it’s always worth getting a professional in!”
The 10 common questions from MyBuilder.com’s Ask a Tradesperson include:
What does “97” mean on my smoke alarm?
While smoke alarms are super important and not to be neglected – on this occasion there’s no need to get a professional involved and please don’t call a tradesperson! The “97” is, in fact, an “LB” when you turn your alarm around. This stands for low battery, and all that needs to be done is to replace them with new ones!
How do I unblock a toilet?
Thankfully, it’s actually an easy problem (hopefully) to fix, with the help of a plunger, which costs just £5-10. Take the plunger and push it down and then up with increasing force, to allow the water to start going down and for whatever is blocking it to flow through. If this doesn’t work, the blockage may be deep into the drain and will require a professional.
How do I bleed my radiator?
To bleed the air out of the radiator, follow these steps. Firstly, switch it off and make sure it’s fully cooled, and grab a towel and bowl or container. Then, use your radiator key or a flat head screwdriver (even a coin would do!) to turn the valve at the side clockwise, until you hear a hissing sound. This is the air being released, and will be followed by water, at which point you can close the valve. Top tip – start with the rads on the lower floor first, then move upstairs.
How long do you leave plaster to dry before painting the walls?
This can take from a few days up to four weeks, depending on the area of plaster and the conditions in the room, such as heat and moisture. You will be able to tell once it’s ready as it will go from a dark brown colour to a salmon pink. Once the plaster is dry, mix up a “mist coat” (paint and water, roughly 30 per cent water and 70 per cent paint) to stop the paint later peeling when it dries – it does this as new plaster sucks moisture out of the paint too quickly. Apply two mist coats and then two full coats of paint once the mist coat has dried.
How do you change the doors on kitchen cupboards?
Changing the doors and handles can be a great way to refresh your kitchen without breaking the bank by replacing the whole kitchen. To do so, experts say start with measuring your doors, as they need to be 3mm smaller than the cabinet to be able to open. Then, remove the door hinges with a screwdriver (unscrew the bottom hinge first to better support the weight of the door). Next, mark and drill hinge holes on the new doors to match the originals. Fix the hinges onto the new doors and then reattach them to the cabinets, adjust the doors for a neat fit. Finally, measure and drill the holes for your handles on all the doors.
Should I use gloss or satinwood for skirting and doors?
What you need to consider when applying paint finishes are its appearance, durability and reflectiveness/sheen. Generally, the higher the sheen of paint, the more durable it will be, as higher sheen paints are often formulated with more resin or enamel, which creates a harder and more resistant surface. For skirting boards, which are prone to scuffs and bumps, experts recommend either gloss (high sheen) or satin (mid sheen).
What is the best combi boiler overall for value and reliability?
Consider the price, performance, reliability and life span. Experts say that Vaillant and Worcester Bosch are the brands for combi boilers. This is due to their small size, their lack of noise when running and their abilities as “air source boilers” meaning they can transfer heat from outside to inside to heat a home.
Can I move a stud wall?
The simple answer is technically yes, but the reality is that it will be difficult to unscrew the stud wall and move it somewhere else without damaging the surrounding walls and ceiling. Once it has been done, it will also need replastering and decorating, as will the area it was moved from. Doing so occasionally also requires building regulations in certain circumstances, so for this reason it is best to get a tradesperson to do it.
Can you lay new laminate flooring over old laminate flooring?
It’s not recommended. While it’s not so bad with some flat flooring (e.g. concrete and wood) ultimately it causes problems such as floor-raising, which will raise your doors and cause later problems with fitting appliances under fixed tops.
Can you tile over tiles or should you remove all of the old ones first?
Physically you can, but experts strongly recommend against it. Also, adding new tiles increases the weight on the wall or floor, which could cause damage.
If you have a question, visit the MyBuilder.com ask a tradesperson at https://www.mybuilder.com/questions
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