After you have fixed all your plasterboard and prepared the more complex areas, you are now ready to do your final preparation of your surfaces, including taping joints in plasterboard panels to ensure no cracking occurs. Here’s our guide on how it’s done correctly. Step 1. Apply the tape Take the tape and run it […]
Once you have your beading set in place and level, it’s time to apply your first coat of bonding plaster. This plaster goes on thick and is smoothed to leave a good surface for the top coat to adhere to. Use your feather edge to get the right finish. Here’s how to do it properly. […]
Once you’ve mixed up your bonding plaster correctly and cut the beads to size, it’s now time to fix them in place. Using a thick player of bonding plaster, you can secure and level up beading on external edges, providing a smooth edge and ideal surface for the top coat of finishing plaster. Here’s how […]
Once you’ve put beading around windows and boxed in areas, you can set them in place using a bonding mix. This is an undercoat, a thicker plaster for setting the beads and covering poor or undulating surfaces. This prepares the area for the topcoat or finishing plaster. Here’s how to do it and what you’ll […]
When you are finishing a room built with a timber or metal frame, the best way to create flat walls is using plasterboard. This provides a smooth surface to plaster or skim. Here’s our guide on how to measure, cut and fix the board, including what tools you’ll need to do the job correctly. Step […]
When you’re required to plaster around window edges, boxed-in pipes or other external edges, it is often difficult to get a good plaster finish. That’s why you need to measure, cut and fit beads. These will grip the wall and the plaster, giving smooth and neat corners every time. Here’s our guide on how to […]
Here’s our straightforward guide to plastic compression fitting, including what’s available, how to use them and why they’re a great choice for kitchen and bathroom plumbing jobs. Step 1. Styles of compression fitting Compression fittings come in various shapes and sizes. The one pictured is a standard straight 1 ½ to 1 ¼ inch reducer […]
Bath tubs, plus the water they hold, and the person taking a bath can be extremely heavy. That’s why you need to spread the weight evenly across the floor and the walls. Here’s a guide for what you need to know and how to safely fit your new tub. Step 1. Turn off the water […]
Here’s our straightforward guide to what you need to know about the different types of tap fittings you might encounter in the bathroom. We’ll show you what you need to know to fit each one correctly and successfully. Step 1. Basin taps Pictured is a basin tap, with a 15mm thread. Bath taps look very […]
Here’s our guide on how to make, solder and secure capillary joins for copper pipes. This will help you take on small plumbing jobs in the kitchen and bathroom, achieving perfect results every time. Step 1. End feed capillary demonstration We’ll be demonstrating an end feed capillary join, as you can see in the picture. […]
All sinks and baths have wastage pipes. However, because other material can often drain away too, it’s necessary to have a wastage trap to catch this debris and prevent it from blocking the pipes further down the system. Here’s a quick guide to the different kinds of wastage traps available. All of the following are […]
Fitting pipes around the bath brings the water to the taps from the water source. Connecting the pipes up correctly is an essential way of ensuring the water is delivered correctly and that the pipework looks neat and tidy. Step 1. How to use pipe clips Pipe clips, as seen in the picture, are attached […]