Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

Before wallpapering a room it is essential to prepare the walls so that they are in as good a condition as possible for hanging the wallpaper. If you need to strip the walls of their existing paper, see my guide ‘Stripping wallpaper‘. Fill any small holes in the walls with all-purpose interior filler. When dry, sand smooth and sand the remaining wall surfaces to remove any rough areas. The smoother you get the walls, the better the finish. If you are painting the ceiling and woodwork in the room, do this first, as it is much easier to wipe excess paste off painted surfaces than paint off wallpaper surfaces. read more »

It is always best to strip the existing wallpaper before repapering as it is often difficult to guarantee that the old wallpaper surface is sufficiently sound to accept a new layer. A steam stripper is the most efficient way of removing old wallcoverings. However, you can just use a bucket of warm water and a sponge to soak the paper before scraping it off. Take great care when using a steam stripper as you are effectively working with boiling water and steam. read more »

Staining wood is a great alternative to painting, whilst still providing an extremely hardwearing finish. Wood stains may be bought water-based or solvent-based, and many may be used inside and out – check the manufacturer’s guidelines. As with all decorative coatings, make sure you have good ventilation when applying. read more »

Fitting double-glazing film to your windows is a simple alternative to the much more expensive option of fitting UPVC or wood double-glazed windows and doors. Double-glazing film quite simply offers an insulating layer for draughty windows and therefore it also helps in saving on energy bills. Many people use this option just in the winter months because it is cheap and quick to apply, whilst still helping to keep the house warm. As far as DIY jobs go, it doesn’t get much easier. Double-glazing film is normally sold in kit form. read more »

Draught excluding isn’t confined to the edges of doors and windows, in fact two other places where draughts can be a problem are in the middle of a door – the letter box and the keyhole. Letter boxes have purpose made draught excluders that are simple to fit in place, and keyholes can be draught-proofed by fitting door escutcheons following the very simple procedure shown below. read more »