DIY in Taunton

With the nights beginning to draw in,most of us think about getting the car ready for winter with MOTs and servicing but what about your home? Whether you are a home owner or a tenant, it's in your interest to block up those drafts, stop the dripping taps and make sure the insulation is up to scratch to keep down your fuel bills.

If you have bigger plans ,such as a new door, a wooden floor some tiling or even a new kitchen or a shed to store your garden tools, Wickes have a lot of seasonal bargains and Homebase.You may be planning a major project and need a skip ,some heavier tools and perhaps a carpet cleaner

 Some of the DIY fix its are obvious but I always think its a good idea to have a bit of a first aid kit to hand, which could save you a fortune in emergency call outs and possible personal injury.

A classic example happened to us the other night, we were adding an extra duvet to the bed and I managed to knock my glass of water over the extension lead which tripped the main fuse. Luckily I always keep a wind up torch to hand, they are not only more eco friendly but you don't  have that other worrry about whether the batteries have worn down.

There are lots of different ones on the market now, sold in DIY stores,camping shops and quite a few garages. I keep a small pocket sized one in by bag and in the house the ones that are more like a lantern as they stand up. We also have one of those monster rechargeable lantern torches for bigger jobs.

So the DIY first aid kit; aside from the major tool box my husband uses, I keep one in the house with basic stuff  that I use and that way we always now where the essentials can be found.

You can buy a basic tool box or fishing tackle box to keep your emergency tool kit in.

Most people would think about a hammer, a couple of types of screwdriver for the different screw heads and perhaps some good old duct tape which is a quick fix for a multitude of things and of course assorted screws, nails and drawing pins. Not everyone thinks to get a range of sizes, a pair of sturdy and needlenose pliers, a good stanley knife, scissors,masking tape, plumbers tape and spare washers.

 A  multipurpose sealant, extra strong glue and instant polyfilla of some kind , especially if you are moving;chips and chunks can happen, Even spot carpet cleaner,turps etc. string and needles and thread,

If you have a wood burner, check the fire cement around the chimney.

Try and keep a small can of paint around that matches what you have on the walls and make sure you have old cloths,

 keep old toothbrushes(invaluable) and vinegar. A lighter, matches and a couple of candles are handy too.

 Pop into the bookshop and pick up a book on stain removing with household ingredients.

For instance, I never use hairspray on my hair but it is great for getting biro ink out of things, and never be without bicarbonate of soda, that has multiple uses for cleaning and odour removal.  

Salt for your footpath in the ice,the larger DIY stores will have bags of rock salt, after last winter it may be wise to get a couple,the price will go up if it snows.

For gaps in your windowsills there is a foam you can squirt in that expands and fills and you will be surprsed what chewing gum can be used for ,a small hole in a window can feel like a force nine on the wrong day.

Don't forget to stock up light bulbs, they are like unions,one out all out!

A lot of this might seem like common sense, but have you ever been cut and caught out without a plaster? Same thing.

If DIY isn't your thing or it didn't got quite to plan,there are several  local experts who can bail you out both with the decorating and carpet cleaning