Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

Patio slab pointing fails for a number of reasons – some simply to do with age, others relating to the method used for laying and pointing the slabs in the first place. Dry pointing (where a dry mortar mix has been used) has got a tendency to fair worse than a wet mortar mix, but if the slabs haven’t been laid properly in the first place, pointing doesn’t stand much of a chance anyway. read more »

Maintaining decking and keeping it in a good state of repair not only keeps it looking good, but also safe. Decks should really be cleaned down thoroughly at least once a year, and although you don’t necessarily need to re-coat with wood preserver annually, the more regularly you do it, the longer your deck will last. read more »

A simple way of making an outbuilding or shed more burglar proof is to fit a hasp and staple that can then be secured with a padlock. The example below shows fitting to a shed, as although sheds often come supplied with some form of bolt, a hasp and staple will add a further level of security. read more »

Paving slabs or concrete slabs are a good solid option for constructing a path. The technique below shows using a product called Slablayer which acts as the bedding layer for the path. Slablayer is basically an alternative to laying the slabs on a wet mortar bedding layer, and is becoming a very popular option for the DIY enthusiast, because of its ease of use. read more »

Having a compost heap and making compost is becoming an increasingly popular DIY activity. Why? Well it just makes so much sense for all the eco reasons, but also in terms of being a practical solution for getting rid of all manner of organic waste. It is also one of the easiest DIY projects that you can possibly do because there’s certainly no need to have any practical skills, and you can be up and running in half an hour – especially if you opt for one of the purpose made compost bins such as the one shown below. read more »