Useful guide
How to treat woodworm
A practical UK guide to identifying active woodworm in furniture and structural timbers, choosing the right treatment fluid, and applying it safely.
Read the woodworm treatment guide
The Sandwich HandymanGardens, electrics, repairsMaintenance visits
Practical maintenance visits for people who need several smaller jobs handled in one straightforward appointment.
What this covers
Useful guide
A practical UK guide to identifying active woodworm in furniture and structural timbers, choosing the right treatment fluid, and applying it safely.
Read the woodworm treatment guideUseful guide
A practical UK guide to lifting, re-bedding, and re-pointing a loose, rocking, or sunken patio slab so it sits flat, drains properly, and stays put.
Read the patio slab repair guideUseful guide
A practical UK guide to deep-cleaning a washing machine: running a hot maintenance wash, cleaning the seal and detergent drawer, clearing the pump filter, and preventing smells for good.
Read the washing machine cleaning guideUseful guide
A practical UK guide to repairing wet rot in timber: identifying the rot, cutting out soft wood, applying hardener, filling, and finishing so the repair holds long term.
Read the wet rot repair guideUseful guide
A practical UK guide to insulating a suspended timber floor: choosing mineral wool batts, fitting them between joists, and keeping underfloor ventilation intact.
Read the floor insulation guideUseful guide
A practical UK guide to patching and sealing a tarmac driveway: cleaning the surface, applying cold lay repair compound, compacting it, and finishing with a sealer coat.
Read the tarmac repair guideUseful guide
A practical UK guide to cleaning a polycarbonate or glass conservatory roof safely, including algae removal and treatments to keep it clear for longer.
Read the conservatory roof guideUseful guide
A practical UK guide to checking for asbestos safely, softening the textured ceiling, scraping back to a smooth base, and getting a finish ready for paint or lining paper.
Read the Artex removal guideUseful guide
A practical UK guide to cleaning uPVC frames, glass, rubber seals, and drainage channels with the right products to restore a bright, like-new finish.
Read the uPVC window guideUseful guide
Practical UK guidance on adjusting lockshield valves so every room warms up evenly, with step-by-step instructions for the 12°C flow-to-return method.
Read the radiator balancing guideUseful guide
Practical UK guidance on checking your system is gravity-fed, choosing a twin impeller pump, fitting a Surrey or Essex flange, positioning the pump, connecting hot and cold inlets, and wiring through a fused spur.
Read the shower pump guideUseful guide
Practical UK guidance on building regulations, hearth construction, chimney lining, flue connection, and carrying out the smoke test and first fire safely.
Read the log burner guideUseful guide
Practical UK guidance on assessing the stack safely, raking out failed mortar joints, mixing a lime pointing mix, repointing the brickwork, and repairing the haunching cap.
Read the chimney stack repair guideUseful guide
Practical UK guidance on identifying the tile type, setting up a roof ladder safely, lifting surrounding tiles, removing the damaged piece, and fitting the replacement.
Read the roof tile guideUseful guide
Practical UK guidance on removing old chimney flashings, cutting and dressing code 4 lead sheet, fitting step flashings and the front apron for a watertight, long-lasting finish.
Read the chimney flashing guideUseful guide
Practical guidance on locating the source of a leak, cleaning and drying the repair area, cutting back damaged felt, applying a bitumen compound patch, and checking the rest of the roof while you are up there.
Read the flat roof repair guideUseful guide
Practical guidance on measuring the run, setting the correct fall with a string line, fixing fascia brackets at the right spacing, fitting corners and stop ends, and connecting the downpipe.
Read the guttering installation guideUseful guide
Practical guidance on calculating quantities, understanding 1:2:3 mix ratios, loading the cement mixer in the right order, checking consistency with a squeeze test, and cleaning the drum straight after use.
Read the concrete mixing guideUseful guide
Practical guidance on preparing the masonry, applying PVA, mixing and laying a scratch coat, scoring for key, allowing to cure, and floating a smooth or textured finish coat.
Read the wall rendering guideUseful guide
Practical guidance on diagnosing magnetite sludge, connecting the hired machine, flushing the system and each radiator in turn, and dosing with corrosion inhibitor to finish.
Read the power flushing guideUseful guide
Practical guidance on levelling the shower tray, fixing wall profiles plumb, assembling the door frame, hanging the door, and sealing everything watertight before first use.
Read the shower enclosure guideUseful guide
Practical guidance on choosing valve positions, draining down the pipework, wall-fixing the rail, connecting compression fittings, and bleeding the rail after refilling.
Read the heated towel rail guideUseful guide
Practical UK guidance on planning the mat layout, laying the heating cable and floor sensor, tiling over the system, and wiring the thermostat for a warm tiled floor.
Read the underfloor heating guideUseful guide
Step-by-step guidance on locating the filling loop, topping up to the correct pressure, and knowing when a recurring pressure drop needs a heating engineer.
Read the boiler pressure guideUseful guide
Practical guidance on draining down, removing the old radiator, hanging the new one on existing brackets, reconnecting the valves, refilling the system, and bleeding.
Read the radiator replacement guideUseful guide
Practical guidance on checking existing insulation depth, laying the two-layer approach correctly, keeping eaves clear, and insulating the hatch and loft pipes.
Read the loft insulation guideUseful guide
Practical steps for choosing foam lagging, fitting straight runs neatly, handling bends and T-junctions, and insulating tanks to prevent burst pipes and heat loss.
Read the pipe lagging guideUseful guide
A practical guide to checking the valve pin, choosing a replacement thermostatic radiator valve head, and fitting it yourself without disturbing the pipe connections.
Read the TRV guideUseful guide
Practical steps for checking the wall, filling cracks, applying primer, and painting exterior render or brickwork for lasting weather protection.
Read the masonry paint guideUseful guide
Practical advice for cleaning patios, paths, decking, and driveways without damaging surfaces, joints, doors, vents, or electrics.
Read the pressure washing guideUseful guide
Simple checks for slow sinks, showers, baths, and outside drains, plus when it is better to stop and get help.
Read the drain guideUseful guide
Advice on measuring, checking for pipes and cables, and choosing fixings for plasterboard, masonry, dot-and-dab, studs, and tiles.
Read the picture and mirror guideUseful guide
A practical guide to replacing euro cylinders and setting up matching locks around the house where suitable.
Read the euro lock guideUseful guide
Practical steps for measuring, levelling brackets, and selecting secure fixings for different wall types above windows.
Read the curtain rail guideUseful guide
Practical steps for camera position, secure mounting, app setup, and getting useful alerts without constant false triggers.
Read the Eufy CCTV guideUseful guide
A practical guide to safe isolation checks and replacing a switch plate correctly, plus when to call a qualified electrician.
Read the light switch guideUseful guide
Safe, sensible checks before cleaning a heating filter, including cooling the system, isolating valves, cleaning sludge, and knowing when to stop.
Read the MagnaClean guideUseful guide
A safe, simple check using the Test button on the consumer unit, plus what to do if the RCD does not trip or reset.
Read the RCD guideUseful guide
Simple UK-focused guidance on when to prune, what to cut out first, and how to shape roses for healthier growth.
Read the rose pruning guide