The problems with chimneys are many. As a structure it is constantly attacked by the forces of the weather, while at the same time being heated and cooled and attacked from within by chemicals formed by flue gases. It is no wonder then that they often require maintenance and even complete overhaul.

Perhaps the most common faults are leaning or cracked chimneystacks, support failure caused by other internal changes in the building and failure of the internal lining, or parging, of the chimney.

Leaning or cracked chimneys can be repaired and you can find experts in chimney repointing Birmingham, but the difficulty is dependent on the severity of the problem. If the lean is too great, perhaps more than 20mm per metre of chimney, it is advisable to have the whole stack rebuilt from below roof level. If the condition is better than this then the removal of cracked or decaying bricks and replacing with new bricks and mortar can provide a solution.

Vertical cracking can be caused by the expansion of the flue lining, and it is often best to replace the lining as part of any overhaul. This is described below.

Over the life of a home, internal modifications are made, and not always by an expert. A common problem is the removal of chimneybreasts, to make more room in older properties, without providing adequate support for the chimney above. The only real solution for this issue is the rebuilding of the chimneybreast or the installation of support beams. This is a job for the experts, as detailed calculations will be needed to ensure the correct beam is used.

When the lining of a chimney fails it can cause damage to internal decorations and, in some cases, result in chimney fires. Replacement linings can be installed.

Cast linings are relatively simple to install and usually the least expensive. A toughened rubber tube is inserted in the flue from top to bottom and inflated. An insulating, concrete mix containing pumice or vermiculite is then poured into the flue around the outside of the inflated tube. When the mix has set the tube is deflated and removed leaving a smooth cylindrical flue. However there are disadvantages. They are very dependant on the skill of the installer and should only be installed by experienced and trained contractors.

Rigid metal liners are usually used to reline large flues for wood burning stoves. They are stainless steel and installed in. Again the space around the liners is back-filled with vermiculite.

Flexible double skin liners are also made from stainless steel. The inner skin is smooth and the outer corrugated. They are simply installed by being pulled either up or down the flue on a rope and the ends are then fixed in position. Like solid, sectional liners, metal liners are reversible and do not involve the introduction of water into the structure. They involve less reduction in flue area than solid sectional liners and flexible metal liners can accommodate bends in the flue.

In order to ensure that any work on chimneys is carried out safely, it is advisable to use a specialist roofing and chimney contractor.

 One might assume that mankind would learn more about drains here, but in more modern times Western civilisation seems to have struggled to repeat these feats. Indeed in major cities such as London, it was not until the middle of the nineteenth century that Londoners finally tired of using the River Thames as a sewer, with the resulting disease and stench, and invested in a new and efficient network of tunnels.

Across the North Sea in the Netherlands, drainage has been critical to the nations survival for many centuries. The introduction of windmills to drain land and the building of dykes to channel water has allowed land use in areas that were swamps. Similar work has been undertaken as far away as the citrus growing areas of Florida and, of course, water management is a key tool in rice growing areas.

In Britain there have recently been a significant number of problems caused by flooding, mostly caused by high levels of rainfall and burst riverbanks. The root cause, however, is the building of homes on recognised flood plains. These areas may not have flooded for hundreds of years, but a combination of weather pattern change and reduction of natural ground drainage have reintroduced flooding. Considering how much of the land is now concrete or tarmac, it is perhaps unsurprising that heavy rain causes flooding and has knock on effects. A blocked drain Leicester can cause local rivers to overflow fifty or a hundred miles away.

For most of us, these floods are something we see on the television news, but there are areas of drainage technology that we should all understand – those in our own home. Many houses in the UK have a modern sewerage and waste water system connected to the main sewers by durable plastic piping. However, some older homes may still be connected by pottery or ceramic pipes. These heavier pipes are more fragile and easily cracked, often by ground movement or tree roots. Replacement or relining can be a messy and expensive business. Luckily, innovations in CCTV surveying mean that drains can be examined, and sometimes even relined, without the need for major earthworks.

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has a significant section on its website about drainage systems and you can learn more about drains here. This includes the changes proposed by DEFRA that would force local water and sewerage companies to take ownership of drainage systems at the point where they enter the network. This will, when adopted, reduce the number of nasty and expensive surprises that homeowners have faced when a pipe has needed repair by the water company.

Finally, be sure that you take advice from recognised experts before undertaking any work on your domestic drains. Blocked or damaged drains are still as much the potential cause of disease as they were in the nineteenth century.

Building on 40 years of flooring expertise, Amtico is a leading supplier of premium and resilient flooring solutions for a variety of domestic and commercial applications– which has necessitated the creation of a large portfolio of brands that are customised to satisfy unique flooring requirements.

Floors designed for different applications

The flagship Amtico collection for households combines natural material textures with the performance benefits of synthetic flooring, while Amtico Xtra features large scale formats of authentic finishes designed for impact and specifically developed for open plan spaces and commercial installations. Amtico Assura, offers enhanced slip-resistance technology and meets global R10 safety standards, providing greater foot stability in demanding environments such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Amtico Marine, specifically designed for marine applications offers unrivalled aesthetics, performance and ease of maintenance. In fact, it is first in its class to achieve the Wheelmark certification, issued by the Lloyds Register Verification, as well as meets internationally recognized European and US safety standards. The Spacia range of flooring solutions are a highly affordable collection of floors for everyday domestic and commercial use.

Standard and bespoke, contemporary and classic designs

Amtico flooring offers a mindboggling selection of more than 200 wood, stone and abstract products. As part of the standard and luxurious design offering, you have an array of different textures and colours to choose from, in modern and classic designs.

The standard range of natural wood finishes cover maple, cherry, rosewood, teak and oak among others; stone flooring options include marble, limestone, oyster, ceramic, shale and sandstone; while the abstract aqua, fibre, velvet and metal finish designs will inspire the designer in you.

However, if you want to personalise your interior decor with a customised Amtico flooring solution, our in-house team of designers will provide you with bespoke designs. To further help you realise a flooring theme or enhance the sophistication of your existing floors, Amtico offers a wide range of subtly designed trims, coordinating finishing touches and borders in diverse design styles and motifs.

Resilient and long-lasting floors

All Amtico flooring products have a special urethane coating on the surface, which makes these floors resistant to stains, scratches, dents and scuffs, as well as water and slip resistant

The non-porous construction of the vinyl laminates ensures enduring durability despite regular wear and tear, perfect appearance retention, colour-fastness, underfoot comfort, ease of cleaning and overall resilience, enabling you to enjoy a silent, warm underfoot experience for many years to come.

Quality commitment with 25-year residential warranty

As part of its commitment to superior quality all Amtico flooring solutions come with a 25-year residential warranty; whereas the Spacia collection is sold with a 20-year warranty. The warranty covers a free replacement for loss of floor pattern and fading of colour on the flooring, as a result of regular foot traffic.

To be eligible for the warranty coverage, you should have purchased your Amtico flooring from an Amtico-approved supplier who carries the ‘Amtico Internet Flooring Specialist’ logo.

However, it can be very satisfying cleaning upholstery and curtains yourself, so we will share with you some hints and tips so that you are able to complete the task. First of we’ll start off with the equipment that you will need in order to do it.

You should always have certain curtain and upholstery cleaning products in your home for those emergency spillages. Ensure that you have a good fabric cleaning product in the cupboard at all times for tough upholstery stains. This will allow you to deal with any emergency curtain or upholstery cleaning tasks before they soak in.

If a spillage occurs, you should use either a mild cleaning product and a colourfast cloth to dab the area. You should always work from the outside in to avoid spreading the stain. You should them allow this to dry and vacuum over the area if you can. If the stain remains, you may need to call in the expert curtain and upholstery cleaning quickly for any chance of removal.

If you want to clean upholstery more thoroughly as more of a maintenance task, a great curtain and upholstery cleaning solution is two tablespoons of baking soda and two tablespoons of cornstarch with baby powder. You should sprinkle this over the upholstery that you want to clean, and then use the hose on your vacuum cleaner to remove the powder.

If you want to clean your upholstery such as settee, it may be wise to hire a steam cleaner, or find a domestic cleaner who does upholstery cleaning with steam cleaning machines. This helps to lift out any dirt and really works well to freshen up your curtains and upholstery.

Curtain cleaning is quite easy if the curtains are made of cotton or polyester, as you should simply be able to put them in the washing machine at 30 degrees. Washing at this temperature should avoid any colour runs and should also ensure that the fabric does not shrink. If the fabric is anything other than cotton or polyester, it is best to look online for the proper care instructions.

For upholstery cleaning of leather, you should use specialist leather cleaning products, as these have substances in them that are used to protect your leather and ensure that it lasts for a long time. If you’re uncertain, again it’s best to call in domestic cleaners for your upholstery and curtain cleaning.

For cleaning upholstery or curtains that have chewing gum stuck to them, the gum has to be frozen before it will come off without making too much mess. So you’ll need to get an ice cube or a bag of frozen peas, and place them on the gum til it freezes before pulling it off.

Whatever happens, if you are uncertain about the best way of cleaning upholstery and curtains in your home, don’t just guess as it could go horribly wrong. Instead, call the experts.

• ‘One-size-fits-all’ bin liners that swamp bathroom pedal bins and disappear inside kitchen waste bins
• Flimsy ‘economy’ bin liners that tear when removed from waste bins, depositing waste all over your clean floor
• ‘Handles’ that are impossible to tie when the liner is full of waste

You’ll be pleased to know that those days are over, because, for all Brabantia bins, there are bin liners that fit to perfection, with no unsightly overwrap.

You can purchase Brabantia bin liners in handy rolls for all sizes and types of household waste bins, from pedal bins and twin bins to touch and sensor bins. Brabantia have devised a unique colour code system, taking the hassle out of finding the right match. All Brabantia waste bins are colour-coded – just check the inside of the lid. When looking at the rolls of liners, you can spot the correct size and type you need for any Brabantia bin at a glance, from 3 litres right up to 50 litres capacity. Letters from A to H also help you identify the right type for your needs. Rolls come in quantities from 10 up to 240, so you need never be caught without again.

The convenience doesn’t end there. Ventilation holes make insertion simple. Removing your waste couldn’t be quicker or easier, thanks to the specially designed transport and sealing bands. There’s no need for string, clips or sticky tape. When you lift the full liner out, the tie tapes act like a drawstring, sealing in the waste and reducing unpleasant odours. As Brabantia bin liners are made from an extra-tough plastic, you won’t have to worry about the contents spilling out when in transit.

Or you might prefer Brabantia Smartfix bin liners, which are available in a flat pack designed like a tissue box, dispensing one individual liner at a time.

Compostable bin liners are now an essential item on every shopping list, but it’s not always easy to find good quality ones. You can rest assured that Brabantia compostable bin liners are very strong as well as completely biodegradable. Not only that, the packaging they come in is also completely biodegradable too, as it’s all made from the same starch base as the contents. Even the starch is sourced from renewable crops.

If you want, you can put the full liners onto your compost heap, as they have been specially designed for kitchen waste. Environmentally-friendly all round – what better way is there to keep kitchen waste bins of all sizes clean and odour-free?

Brabantia compostable bin liners are also available for twin pedal bins, designed for convenient separation of waste. Remember to change them regularly, definitely within ten days – and always allow hot waste to cool before depositing in kitchen waste bins.

Here are some tips on cement rendering Sheffield exterior walls.

• Before you start, you’ll need to ensure that you have a clean surface to work on. Scrub down the wall with a weak bleach solution to remove mould, remove any plants growing on it, and hose it down to remove any dust and dirt that could stop the render from adhering. It’s best to apply render in fine weather, as if it rains too soon after you apply it, it will just be washed away.
• Keep your equipment as close to the work as possible. You’ll now need to mix your render mortar. The first coat is known as the undercoat. If you are applying rendering to hard or non-porous materials, the mixture should be one part cement to a half part lime to four and a half parts sharp sand. For blockwork and other bricks, the mixture should be one part cement to one part lime to six parts sharp sand.
• Put half of your materials into your mixer dry, and run until they are combined. Now add water slowly. Add the rest of your materials along with the water. Blockwork will require a slightly stiffer mix than bricks. You should be aiming for a rendering mixture with a thick creamy consistency.
• Dampen the wall a little before you start. Load up a hawk (carrying board) with the rendering mortar, and apply it to the wall in a slight arc, using a trowel. Use the straight edge to level off the render. You can section the wall using battens to make it easier to apply the render. It’s traditional to scratch the surface in a diamond pattern using the point of the trowel, although some professional plasterers use an over-sized comb tool instead. The undercoat should then be left for around a week so that it can cure thoroughly.
• After a week, you will need to apply a topcoat to finish off your rendering. The topcoat mix for blockwork should be one part cement to two parts lime to nine parts sand. However, if you live in an area where your walls have high exposure to the elements, then change this mix to one part cement to one part lime to six parts sand. For strong brickwork, the mix should be one part cement to one part lime to six parts sand. Mix as with the undercoat, and apply the render to a depth of around 6mm.
• You can choose from several finishes for rendering. For a pebbledash finish, increase the topcoat to 10mm, and then dash the stones into the soft render. You can push them in firmly using a trowel. For a smooth float finish, you simply rub over the render with a wooden float.

For more information, please visit the FPDC website here http://www.fpdc.org/.

If you are installing a new aerial, make sure that all of the connections are firmly in place, including the one on the back of your television.  In the event of your aerial suddenly ceasing to function, check all of the connections and make sure nothing has changed.  If you have an outside aerial, it may have shifted slightly and pulled a wire loose, so check these connections as well.   Check all the outdoor connections for corrosion and clean them if necessary.  Greasing connections can help protect them from the elements, but only do this if you are sure you will not affect the performance of the aerial.

The outdoor aerial should always be orientated in the direction of the nearest television transmitter, so make sure it has not moved in the wind.  In particular, if you live in a high wind area, fix the aerial firmly to the chimney or side of the house using stainless steel screws which will not corrode. Indoor aerials should only be used where the signal strength from the transmitter is sufficient to be able to cope with potential interference from other domestic appliances and computers.

If your outdoor aerial has become bent or the components are worn, it may be time to buy a new aerial.  If you purchase a new aerial and it does not work, you should check that it is the correct kind of aerial. For example, have you purchased an analogue aerial when you have a digital television? Most aerials come with full installation instructions and advice.  They will be clearly labelled as to whether they are analogue or digital.  Most stores have customer advice personnel who can help, but if you are purchasing an aerial on line you may need to do some research to find out what type of aerial you need.

There will be professional aerial installers in Sheffield, or your own area if you do not want to attempt the installation yourself.  Look in the local directory for tradesmen who specialise in the repair and maintenance of aerials.  When you move home, probably one of the first things you want to do is make sure that the television is working, not least to keep the kids quiet while you get things organised. You may be lucky enough to just plug the aerial into the socket and it works straight away, but if not, further investigation will be required.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Max Jennings runs his own business fitting aerials in Birmingham and writes extensively for the web. For more information, you may want to visit the RDI-LB website or the CAI website.

If your business works heavily with industry for example, your employees might be bringing in tar, smoke, chemicals, pollen, fungi or a whole host of other pollutants on a daily basis and these can quickly find themselves trapped in carpets.

The reason why this can be unsanitary is that entrapped dirt which has become so saturated in carpets can increase the level of bacteria in these areas, which can lead to a higher risk of allergies, asthma, eczema and rhinitis. This can make you or your employees’ lives hell if they are particularly sensitive to any of these conditions. When anyone in your business starts complaining about these conditions becoming aggravated, especially when at work, you know it’s time to get the carpets professionally cleaned.

The benefits of professional carpet cleaning

Choosing to have your carpet cleaning done professionally is a great idea because the experts in carpet cleaning will be able to accurately determine what the underlying cause of the problem is. They will be able to assess how dirty the carpets truly are and use the right products accordingly, to maximum results.  A professional carpet cleaning company will have a wide range of carpet cleaning chemicals, machines along with equipment and accessories to ensure that your carpet is left looking brand new.

A professional carpet clean will also retain the quality of the carpet – and it shouldn’t lose any material quality or colour either. Another advantage of going to a carpet cleaning specialist is that they will have experience in using the correct products and solutions on carpets. This may sound trivial, but too much solution or adding too much water to the carpet can encourage other problems such as mildew and mould to grow. The danger is that those who decide to DIY carpet clean will use too much detergent solution or water, believing the carpet isn’t cleaning unless they see some foaming.

Many carpet cleaning experts for example, will use certain techniques – one of which is dry extraction, which is effectively a process to control moisture. This procedure cleans the carpet, whilst still leaving it dry. Cleaning professionals will use a machine with two counter-revolving brushes which can move the cleaning products through the carpet to effectively dissolve dirt, whilst reabsorbing it, leaving the carpet dry.  Some carpet cleaning companies will use a carbonated cleaning solution for deep cleaning into the carpet fibres whilst allowing for minimal wetting. After vacuum drying, the carpet will look as good as new.

For more information, why not visit the NCCA website.

Yes, it is possible – but it is important to be aware of the required tasks involved in properly clean a property so it can be re-let. Consider the following cleaning tasks extracted from the checklist drawn up by a London-based professional cleaning company’s end of tenancy cleaning routine – bear in mind these are just some of the tasks undertaken in one room, the bathroom:

• Wall tiles degreased, cleaned and polished (mould growth, if any, removed from between grout).
• Bath, basin, taps, shower and fittings to be cleaned, de-scaled, dried and polished.
• All soap and shampoo etc to be removed.
• Mirrors to be cleaned and polished.
• Floors to be washed and sanitised. If carpet, floor to be vacuumed.

Detail/Time Required

The above list highlights the detailed attention required in an end of tenancy clean. Also, be aware that some cleaning tasks are time consuming and potentially messy, such as cleaning an oven with grease and burnt-on food deposits. There are oven cleaning companies specialising in this one task. Even properly cleaning a stainless steel sink and drainer takes time and the appropriate cleaning materials.

Costs

The cost of using a professional cleaning company for an end of tenancy clean needs to be balanced against the cost of the materials if doing it yourself. Aswell as various cleaning supplies to deal with the array of cleaning applications – steel, wood, carpeting, porcelain, fabrics, upholstery and glass being just a selection of surfaces to clean – you may also be hiring cleaning equipment such as wet and dry vacuums and carpet cleaners. These all need to be factored into your calculations – not to mention cloths, mops, sponges, dusters, brushes and so forth.

End of tenancy cleaning rates will vary, but as a guide one Nottinghamshire-based company would undertake an end of tenancy clean on a small two-bedroom terraced property for around £200 (including a deep carpet clean).

Hiring a carpet cleaning machine from a well-known national chain DIY store for one day and buying a supply of detergent, pre-cleaner and some spot and stain remover would cost around £50.

Safety and Damage

When using cleaning materials – especially carpet cleaning chemicals – be aware of potential causes of damage. Using the wrong cleaner on surfaces, especially carpets, can result in expensive damage. Professional end of tenancy cleaners should offer insurance against this, and a satisfaction guarantee of their work.

Conclusion

Fully assess the amount of cleaning work required. Also, compare your materials cost against a professional end of tenancy clean – the difference may not be as much as you think. Finally, ask yourself if you have the time: ultimately, this may be the deciding factor.

About the author: Pat Sinclair has been running a very successful Cleaners in Birmingham.  For more information on handy cleaning tips click here.