Building DIY Gardening

There is a summary article about the Green Deal flagship Conservative policy here: Green deal will fail (new window) > The Green Deal is supposed to help regenerate old building stock, by giving loans for work such as insulation, etc. Unfortunately there are financial strictures based around a return of 6.9% which means works have to […]

Ecobuild the future at ExCeL, London Tue 5 to Thur 7 March 2013. This a great show and worth the effort of getting to Excel in London Docklands. It is an interesting venue. This is the best exhibition for sustainable design, construction and the built environment. There are many attractions including: Practical Installer Future Materials […]

Just did a quick bit of planing of a sticking door. I had the toolbox out to get some screws and there was the plane, moved by my wife. What a lovely thing. So I did a quick bit of planing, and now the downstairs toilet door shuts properly (which was embarrassing for all concerned). […]

Annual show approaches, for all DIY, self-build, refurbishment projects, and you can get free tickets, see link at end. Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September 2012. Lots on as usual. Well worth a visit especially as free (get your tickets before 14th September) Real life examples and talks about: Two storey extension Cottage extension, 2 […]

The SelfBuild and Design Show Don’t miss this show, on this weekend. Free tickets are still available from the link below. Are you about to start a refurb a building, or start a conversion or doing some remodeling? Learn all about renovating a home, and all house renovation and home design projects. Self-building – start […]

This show is on Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 September, at Westpoint, Exeter, UK. Various seminars are lined up with eco green build experts: Saturday 8th 11.30am Ross Stokes SelfBuild & Design Magazine A beginner’s guide to self build Simple introduction from someone who has built and renovated properties, and is also a journalist. 12.30pm […]

We have an old traditional Welsh dresser which is used for glassware and crockery. The drawers and cupboards in the lower half are very useful. However the furniture is made of a very dark wood. The overall appearance was always very dark and gloomy. We had various ideas – sell it; paint it; separate into […]

The handles on this G Plan unit were broken off, so they have been sent away to have FSC sustainable teak replacements made. In the mean time I have screwed these conkers from oak trees onto the doors, using the same screws that attached the original handles. This also stops the screws from getting lost. […]

If you are in an older property you will not be allowed by regulations to install the dreaded uPVC double glazing frames, which ire very ugly and low quality. Window frames should be wooden to match the old style property. See these photo images below to get an idea of what needs to be done. […]

The annual Grand Designs show, fronted by Kevin McCloud, is on again, in Birmingham NEC, very easy to get to for most people in the UK unlike London. Kevin is doing book signings so check that out on the website. I am interested in what happened to the Swindon eco estate, I think it has […]