Cross Team Properties

This is a fun project for the indoor gardener who has little space for conventional flowerpots and window planters.

You will need:
Five x 2l PET bottles
Five x airline tubing connectors
Fishing line
Eight x plastic washers
S–shaped hook
Four x 3in diameter net cups
Hydroponic soil
Four x 1in sponge cubes
Airline tubing
Aquarium water pump
Six feet of flexible tubing
Silicone sealant
Drill, 1in whole saw, small drill bit
Cutter knife

Drill holes in the bottom of four of the PET bottles with the holesaw, cut a large oval in each bottle a third of the way from the bottom.

Using the small drill bit, drill two equidistant holes above the oval.  Drill a hole in each bottle cap.

Push the airline tubing connectors into the caps and glue in place with the silicone sealant.  Place a piece of sponge in each cap, screw onto the bottle, cut a short length of the airline tubing and attach to the ends of the connectors.

Assemble all the bottles so that the bottom is facing up and the cap is securely in the hole of the bottle below it.  Using the fishing line and washers, connect the bottles to each other, starting from the bottom.

Cut a hole in the side of the reservoir bottle large enough to fit the pump’s inlet.  Push some of the plastic hose through and glue in place using the sealant.  Connect the flexible tubing, hang the bottles by the s–hook and connect the last bottle to the reservoir by a piece of airline tubing.  Fill the reservoir and test for leaks.

When looking for a simple and affordable way to add the perfect finishing touch to home windows, most people today are turning to roller blinds.  These types of window blinds offer many benefits and are a nice way to add a touch of elegance and class to any room in the home.  Roller blinds are available in almost all different shades of colour, so even if your rooms are painted before the blinds are chosen, you can still get the perfect complement or contrast in roller blinds if you’re looking for them!

Roller blinds are very easy to use and install.  The blinds are operated by pulling a single cord to draw or drop the shade.  Roller blinds roll up and down with ease and are the most functional type of blinds available.  Once installed, the blinds can quickly be removed for cleaning.

Roller blinds are available in a variety of materials.  Most people assume that blinds are typically made from vinyl or aluminium, thus making them cheap.  However, roller blinds tend to be available in fabric as well, allowing homeowners to add a touch of softness to their rooms.  Roller blinds can be ordered in suede and leather to provide a unique look for drawing rooms, or they can be light-weight to provide light and airiness to rooms such as kitchens.  These types of blinds are also made to resist moisture, so they can be installed in bathrooms, too.  All in all, the benefits of roller blinds far overcome those of curtains: ease of installation and use, durable for years and great aesthetic value too!

Whether you live in a brand new house or an old one, you could have problems with doors sticking in their frames or on the floors. Sticking doors can be caused by a variety of factors, including a gradual build-up of paint after years of decorating, or even moisture getting into the wood and making it swell. How you deal with your problem depends on where the door is sticking: at the bottom, the top or along one of the edges.

Sticking on the Edge

If your door is sticking along one of the long sides, then you will have to remove it from its hinges to fix the problem. Once you have the removed door secured in a horizontal position, you can use a plane to remove a few layers of paint or a few wood shavings. Make sure you do not plane off too much by putting the door back on its hinges to check you have not left any gaps.

Sticking at the Top

To remove layers of paint or wood from the top of the door you do not have to take the door off its hinges, but if you are not used to using a plane it might be easier. Otherwise, prop the door securely open and use a stepladder to access the top for planing.

Sticking at the Bottom

If one of your internal doors has started sticking at the bottom, then it may have moved on its hinges. Tighten up the hinges if necessary or use thicker screws to lift the door more securely into position. Bathroom doors are more likely to stick at the bottom as they are more likely to get wet. To fix sticking bathroom doors, you can try drying out the wood in the hope that it will return to its normal size or remove the door from its hinges and remove a few layers with a plane.

A special material is used to prevent water from leaking past a tap’s spindle when the water is turned on.  It is a special sealant that is tightly packed around the spindle at the point where it passes through a gland in the headgear.  This packing is afterwards compressed by twisting a nut to create a watertight seal.

You can tell when the gland packing is no longer effective because you will see water leaking past the spindle and dripping beneath the tap’s head.  On many modern taps there are rubber O-seals that serve the same function as the packed gland.

After turning the tap off, remove the handle and the head cover.  Tighten the gland nut first to see if this will stop the leak, and if not then unscrew it and take out the old gland packing.  Use a string impregnated with graphite to replace the packing and press it well in with the blade of a screwdriver.

Replace the old gland nut and tighten it up, then reassemble the head cover and handle to the spindle.

If there are O-ring seals instead of glands, turn the water off and remove the headgear as before, then remove the circlip holding spindle to the headgear.  Then take the spindle from the headgear and push out the old O-ring seals before fitting new ones and reassembling the handle, spindle and head cover.

Be careful when prying out the circlip because it can be fragile and any dents might make the problem recur.

Regular maintenance of tools and equipment used in the course of do it yourself projects will ensure that they are ready for use the next time they are required.  Similarly, this also offers the greatest guarantee that the tools will last for a long period without needing to be replaced. 

Paintbrushes and Rollers

Immediately after use, clean paintbrushes and rollers in paint thinner or white spirit for oil-based paint and water for water-based paint.  If necessary, use a wire brush to separate the bristles during the cleaning process and thoroughly dry the bristles before storing them. 

Oil Moving Parts
 
The moving parts of tools and appliances can suffer wear if they are not taken care of properly, which may be as simple as the application of a lubricating oil.      

Sharpen Blades

Blades of tools, such as secateurs, will need to be sharpened on occasion for them to remain effective.  This can be undertaken with a file or a whetstone.   

Proper Storage
 
Avoid leaving tools out to be exposed to the atmosphere for prolonged periods.  Instead, store them in cool, dark place that is not prone to damp or moisture.

Bleeding a radiator is easy to do, but it must be done correctly.  When a radiator is hot at the bottom but cold at the top, it needs bleeding.

First, you should switch off the central heating to stop more air from being sucked into the system.  You also need a receptacle such as a bowl to place under the valve to collect any liquid that may be released.

If you do not have a radiator key, buy one at your local DIY shop.  The radiator has a valve on top with a tiny square shaft in the centre.  Using the radiator key turn the shaft carefully until you hear that air is being released.

If you place your hand on the top of the radiator as the air is being released, you will feel it start to heat up.  As soon as water starts to leak out of the radiator, use the key to tighten the shaft in the valve.  If you have a sealed system, be sure to check the pressure after bleeding, and top up the pressure if needed.

If the square shaft in the valve has a slot cut into it, it will usually be possible to bleed your radiator with a small screwdriver instead of a key.

Roman blinds and austrian blinds are probably the two easiest blinds to make oneself from scratch at home. Using reasonably inexpensive and widely available components these two types of blind are simple and quick to make. Instructions on how to make roman and austrian blinds can be found on many websites and in home improvement books and magazines.

Roman blinds are hung from a batten securely attached to the top of the window. Usually lightweight to medium-weight material is used, and the blinds are also lined if the blinds are going to be used to eliminate light. Roman blinds lie flat widthways and are not gathered in any way. Metal or wooden rods, called dowels, are sewn into the back of the blind and plastic eyelets are attached level with the rods through which nylon cord is threaded from the bottom. The nylon cord comes out of the top of the blind and is attached in a figure of eight shape around a cleat screwed to the wall when the blind is raised. On account of the rigidity of the rods the blind material should fold into neat overlapping pleats when raised.

Austrian blinds are even easier to make as they are hung like traditional curtains on an ordinary curtain track. There is more material used to make austrian blinds as they are gathered widthways and lengthways, so generally lightweight material is used. Blind tape is sewn vertically onto the back of the blind, at the edges and in the middle. Nylon cord is threaded through the loops in the tape from the bottom, and pulled out of the top of the blind. When it is pulled to raise the curtain, and secured to a cleat at the side of the window, it causes attractive scallop-shaped folds in the blind. The blind material is always longer than the window so that even when the blind is lowered it maintains scalloped folds.

More and more homeowners are going green in their homes, and this includes floor coverings.  Synthetic carpet with rubber backing is not eco-friendly to produce and is quite complex to recycle.  Natural floor coverings have been around for ages, and these materials are currently being rediscovered by environmentally conscious homeowners.

Sisal matting is made from fibres of the agave plant that are woven tightly together.  Sisal is both antistatic and antibacterial, and is very hardwearing.  Sisal is not suitable for use in the bathroom or the kitchen.

Seagrass matting is made using several different types of seagrass, and is naturally antistatic.  It is also stain resistant because it is so tightly woven and coiled.  It can be a little slippery and so is not suitable for use in areas that get damp, or in high traffic areas such as hallways.

Cork comes from the bark of the cork tree, and is usually made into tiles.  This natural material provides added insulation as well as soundproofing.  Additionally, cork will not collect dust. 

Jute flooring is woven from the fibres of the stalks of the jute or cocherous plant.  This natural flooring is good for most parts of the home because it is soft and warm.  However, it is also absorbent and so not suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.

Bamboo flooring is a popular option because it is one of the cheaper types of natural flooring available.  It is moisture resistant and hardwearing, and so is very suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.  Unlike wood, bamboo does not warp.  Bamboo grows very fast and is highly sustainable.

In order to make sure your natural flooring is one hundred per cent green, you will need to make certain there is no synthetic glue or sealant used when it is installed. 

There is a wide range of bathroom suites available that will enable you to improve the look of your bathroom.  As the bathroom is one of the most important rooms within the home, you will need to select a bathroom suite that not only offers style but also comfort.  Whether you are looking for a traditional suite or wish to create a completely new look for your bathroom, you are sure to find the ideal bathroom suite amongst the many styles available.

The majority of suites consist of a sink bath and toilet, with some offering extra items such as a bathroom cabinet or bidet.  Suites are available in a number of different styles and colours, enabling you to easily find something that suits your taste.  As well as selecting something stylish, you will also need to think about practicality.  For example, some suites include walk-in Aqualisa showers, which offer more convenience for those who have difficulty climbing in and out of a bath.

Exploring the many styles of bathroom suites available will enable you to find something that not only suits your needs but also your budget.

When preparing for your new kitchen you will have had to remove the old one.  Many items in the old one, such as plates and cutlery and electrical appliances such as your toaster, will go back into the new one.  However, fixtures and fittings, such as cabinets and work surfaces, will need to be disposed of correctly. 

A Skip

Many people choose to hire a skip when doing such large DIY jobs.  Skips are great because you can fill them with all of your rubbish and the skip hire company will then simply remove the whole skip.  Additionally, they will take care of anything that can be recycled.  When hiring a skip be sure to hire from a well known reputable company.  A reputable company will ensure that everything is recycled or disposed of in the correct way. 

Skips are placed on your driveway.  However, if your house does not have a driveway you will have to put it on the road outside of your house.  The skip company will then ask the local council for a permit to place the skip on the road.

Let your neighbours know that you are having a skip delivered.  The truck will be large and you do not want to cause them any unnecessary stress or hassle.

Disposing of it Yourself

If you do not want to hire a skip you could opt to dispose of the old kitchen yourself by taking it to the local tip .  Be sure to recycle when you can.