Cross Team Properties

Flat-screen televisions are the new must-have gadgets in every home, and their size and design makes them ideal for fixing to the wall in living areas or bedrooms.  Not only does it look good, but it can be an excellent way to maximise limited space in smaller homes.  Fixing a flat-screen TV to the wall has, in recent years, become one of the most common DIY jobs, with many people unwilling to pay a professional for a seemingly simple task.  It is a simple job, as long as you prepare properly and follow the instructions which come with your own model.

Many flat-screen televisions come with wall brackets included, but if you have to buy them separately make sure they are big enough and strong enough to take the size and weight of your model.  The brackets will need to be attached securely to the wall using screws drilled into place, preferably with a power tool for extra security.  Make sure the holes are the exact depth required for your particular brackets, or they will be loose and unable to support the weight of the television.

Once the brackets have been taken care of and you are happy that the TV is securely in position, the next step is to get all the cables to the rear of the screen without leaving them trailing along the floor or up the wall. Once again, a power drill will be a handy tool here; drilling a hole somewhere discreet for the wires providing the power and satellite connection to go into the wall, and another one hidden behind the TV from which to emerge.

One of the main clues to the success of mosaic tiles in recent years is the ease with which they are applied. When you purchase mosaic tiles, they are pre-affixed onto a mesh sheet that keeps them set into position, ready to be adhered straight on to the wall, floor or other flat surface. This is a very efficient delivery method that enables you to tile large areas in double-quick time. Also, if the redesign of your bathroom is to include a pattern in the tiles, with mosaics you can buy sheets of tiles arranged in a predetermined sequence. This useful feature enables you to incorporate attractive patterns into your tiling if you want.

Tiling around tricky obstacles such as plug sockets and light switches is far easier with mosaic tiles. Large tiles can prove difficult to cut neatly to size. Curved surfaces are also more easily tiled using mosaic tiles that are able to follow contours more closely by virtue of their size.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most common places to use mosaic tiles, on walls, floors and surrounds. They are equally well suited to outdoor projects and are frequently used effectively in the lining of swimming pools and to decorate outdoor tabletops.

There is an outstanding range of colours available in mosaic tiles. For larger tiled surfaces there are neutral tones and shades available, but if you want something bold and bright then primary colours can also make a real impact. Glass and shimmering iridescent tiles are a pretty way of adding a border motif or splash of accent colour and can lend your bathroom a really sumptuous and exotic feel. Porcelain and ceramic mosaic tiles come in a variety of sizes and finishes, and the choice is so wide it is worth spending time on sourcing what you need, as prices can vary.

The use of classic roman blinds, or shades creates a very elegant type of window dressing.  Originally designed to block out strong sunlight, they are made from various materials, which cleverly form horizontal, folds or pleats at the bottom of the blind as it is pulled up.  On lowering, the blinds remain unrumpled, and hang neatly in the window space with no unsightly creases or bulges.  Because they hang completely flat when closed, they use minimal fabric, which is very economical. 

Roman blinds can even be made from split wood or bamboo, woven into a lightweight fabric which allows subtle light to filter into the room.  Roman blinds come in various styles, which are usually lowered or raised with a cord, though you can source cordless roman blinds which create a streamlined style that has no unsightly hanging cords.  Roman blinds can even be motorized for ultimate ease of operation. 

If you want your blinds to create depth, looped roman blinds are a very good choice.  Softly draping, they present the luxurious appeal of up market curtains with the practicality of a blind, as they fall into pretty folds.  Kits allow you to make your own roman blinds.  They come complete with a metal head rail which includes VelcroTM, roman blind tapes and rods, and a bottom bar, also with VelcroTM.  In various fabrics, the use of roman blinds allows you to choose texture and colour to suit the ambience of your interior décor.

There can be many different uses for trellis in the garden and a wide range of design ideas, to suit individual tastes, can be employed. It is possible to build your own trellis from a variety of different materials, including naturally found pieces of wood, willow branches and wire mesh. All you will need to make a triangular shaped trellis out of natural wood is the wood itself, some appropriately sized nails, a saw and a hammer.

You should select four long lengths of wood that are of equal size and lay them out on a flat surface, with one end of the lengths close together and the others end fanned out to the desired shape. Next, cut and attach cross-sections, spaced out evenly up the length of the trellis. It may be a good idea to begin by fixing the first and last pieces, in order to hold the correct shape.  Once the cross sections have been nailed into place, you can pick your trellis up and secure it in position as appropriate. It often looks nice to have trellis placed on either side of a doorway, with climbing plants growing up them.

If you wish to make a trellis to support a strong and vigorous plant, such as ivy, it may be better to use screws to secure all of the joints rather than nails, as they are considerably more secure.

There are a wide variety of climbing plants available for your garden and depending on which type of climber you purchase, the type of support used can vary considerably. There are three main types of climbing plant, clingers, tendrils and scramblers and each of these needs a different support to help it grow.

The most common clinging plants are Ivy and Virginia creeper and they use aerial roots in order to cling to nooks and crevices in walls, trees or fences, which is why they grow best against a solid structure. Tendril type climbers, on the other hand, thrive best on mesh, as they climb by sending out stems to ‘feel’ the environment and will wrap onto mesh, wire, string or tree branches. Scrambling climbers require full support, as they are not strong enough to cover large vertical areas. Without anything to grow up, they simply spread along the ground.

When helping younger climbers fix onto a trellis, it may be a good idea to tie the plant into position with twine to ensure that it grows in the required direction and is fully supported.

An offset is a set of two bends which effectively allow the pipe containing them to continue its run in the same direction but along a different parallel plane.  It is quite simple to achieve this if you follow a few simple rules.
First, take a measurement of the offset required.  Accurate preliminary measurements are the key to DIY success in many areas, and they save a great deal of trouble in the long run.

Use a pipe-bending machine to pull the first bend to an angle inside it.  This angle can be as small or as large as required, but it should not be too sharp or else there will not be enough room for the hook and the tube stop to sit on it when making the second bend.  An angle of approximately 30 degrees is usually adequate.

Next, reposition the pipe in the bending machine with the bend previously pulled pointing upwards.  Make sure that the pipe lies in the machine with the first offset in line with the roller’s direction, because if it is not, the second bend will be pulled in the wrong plane.  To measure the required distance of the offset you can then use a straight edge placed parallel to the angle of the first bend.

When this distance has been measured and the tube stop put in place, pull the pipe around until the correct angle is made along the new plane.

There is a bit of elementary electrical wiring involved in this rather simple, but effective, DIY job, so if you have any doubts in this area consult a professional electrician.

It is recommended that you get a qualified glazier to cut the necessary hole in the glass, as this can be the trickiest part. Measure up the window first and order a double-glazed unit or new pane of glass from a glass merchant and swap this for the old one.

It is always a good idea to mark up a plan of the pane on paper first in order to show the glass fitter exactly where you want a hole to be made and the precise diameter of it.

When fitting a window fan, always bear in mind that the fan housing is going to be bigger than the hole. This means that you will need to leave enough room around the hole to accommodate it.

When you are ready, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to fit and wire up the fan, which will come with all fittings included. Remember to switch off the electricity supply before starting on the wiring.

The most personal room in the house is undoubtedly the bathroom and as daunting as it may seem, with pipes running in grids within the walls, a DIY project need not be too challenging if you plan ahead.

Planning is a vital part of any home improvement scheme, especially if you are taking the project on yourself. It is never more important to plan properly then when you are refurbishing your bathroom, because it reflects your personal style. Do not feel that you have to get by without professional input, so be prepared to ask questions.

Accurate measuring is vital, so always double check. Take into account the position of windows and doors and whether they are to be moved. It is not always possible to foresee what is going to happen in the future, but always try to make provision for possible plumbing modifications.

Having completed the planning you can start looking for fittings. If you do this online first, you will soon get an idea of what is available. For example, the range of taps available is stunning; there are lever taps, waterfall taps, exotic cascade taps and more traditional taps.

A strong favourite in the bathroom is a relaxing shower. Water efficient and hygienic, a shower has become a must have for every modern bathroom. There are traditional mixer showers to update the existing showerhead or you could go all out and buy a thermostatic shower. The one you choose is dependent on your taste, budget and space. You should not miss taking a look at the body jet systems though, even if only to plan a future project.

You do not need to have huge garden to start growing your own vegetables, in fact technically you do not need a garden at all. There are so many ways to grow vegetables and due to their versatile and adaptable nature, no matter how big your growing area may be, there is sure to be something to suit your available space.

Many only have small gardens and those that live in flats have no garden at all. This lack of space is why people are put off growing vegetables, but this does not have to be the case. Here are some great ways to grow vegetables when you have little space:

•    Pots or containers – almost anything can be grown in a pot or container, which can be placed on a windowsill, in your conservatory or on a patio.

•    Raised beds – this is another great way to grow vegetables when you have little space or no suitable ground. 

•    Hanging baskets – you can grow strawberries, tomatoes and a range of herbs in them.

This is a fun, simple and inexpensive to make project that is reminiscent of a design created by Canadian artist and designer Tobias Wong.

To create this sun jar you need the following:
A decorative all-glass jar
Inexpensive outdoor LED solar lamp
Two AA batteries and case
Reusable adhesive
Coloured tracing paper
Glass frosting spray
Screwdriver
Cutter Knife

Start by disassembling the LED solar light, being careful to not damage the solar panel, light sensing diode or the circuitry.  Using the reusable adhesive, assemble the solar panel, battery case and associated circuitry in as compact a package as possible.  Ensure that the LED light and sensor diode are not obscured in any way and proceed to the next step.

Being careful to not damage or dislodge any part of your assembly, pop open the glass jar, fit the solar panel to the inside of the jar’s lid and hold it in place using the adhesive.  Cut your tracing paper to fit inside the jar or use glass frosting spray on the inside of the jar.  Close the lid and your sun jar is finished.