Roger follows Dan on another roof construction project. This one didn’t exactly go to plan.
Read More »Crooked Builder Stole £50K — What Happened Next?
Roger has a chat with Rajiv, who has had a nightmare experience with a rogue trader who took thousands of pounds from him and another family member and did not deliver the extension job promised, yet another cowboy builder case!
Read More »Watch This Before Waterproofing Your Basement
Roger looks at the challenges presented when waterproofing a basement. Rubi Kasuto — Back To Basement: https://www.backtobasement.co.uk We’ll be visiting Back To Basement to see Rubi’s basement conversions and look at concrete waterproofing, sump pumps and treating wet basement walls and flooding.
Read More »Plasterboard — Why All The Colours?
Why are there so many different types of plasterboard? Roger explains.
Read More »Why Is Your New Light Fitting Tripping?
Roger explains the reason why your new light fitting could be tripping. Image credit: http://www.lightwiring.co.uk
Read More »Parapet Walls — Are They A Good Idea?
Roger looks at the pros and cons of parapet walls. Check out the Steve Roofer channel and London Flat Roofing. https://www.youtube.com/SteveRoofer https://londonflatroofing.co.uk
Read More »Where’s James? Surprising News – Extension #39
James has some big news that has surprised everybody in the Skill Builder team.
Read More »2 Very Common Shower Problems — SOLVED
Roger encounters two very familiar old problems in one location.
Read More »Spray Foam Insulation — The Ugly Truth?
Roger explains the pros and cons of having spray foam insulation in your house. Spray foam insulation explained by the Which? Team. Also called spray polyurethane foam (SPF), it is an alternative to traditional building insulation. It’s versatile and can be used to insulate your roof, loft, walls and floor, helping to retain warmth and reduce energy costs. PROS AND …
Read More »5 Cheap Heated Jackets — Do They Work?
We test a selection of budget heated jackets that will keep you warm this winter.
Read More »Is It Cheaper to Leave Your Heating on Constantly?
Should you be running your heating constantly or are you better off using your timer? Roger gives us his money-saving advice to reduce your fuel bills this winter. Energy myth-busting with Money Saving Expert: The energy market is in crisis. There are no cheap energy deals due to record wholesale prices (what providers pay), so using less is the best …
Read More »Tool Theft Fight Back — Home Office Responds
HOME OFFICE RESPONSE The Government is tackling acquisitive crime as a priority and is committed to reducing the ability for criminals to profit from stolen goods. The Beating Crime Plan, published in July 2021, sets out the Government’s strategy for cutting crime, protecting the law-abiding majority and making neighbourhoods safe. The Government is aware of the significant impact the theft …
Read More »Leaking Roof That Wasn’t Leaking
Roger inspects another new build nightmare and talks to Reg about the disruption and huge cost of his ongoing leaking roof problem.
Read More »Heat Pump Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know
Roger Joins Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 to Discuss Air Source Heat Pumps https://skill-builder.uk/bbc-radio-2-on-air-source-heat-pumps Heat pump manufacturers installation instruction manuals 🔗 Daikin: https://bit.ly/3FeTwVB 🔗 AeroMax: https://bit.ly/3K7p17U 🔗 Grant: https://bit.ly/3rdQpbo USING AN AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP FOR HEATING Heat pumps work best when there’s less of a difference between the inside and outside temperatures. In much the same way that …
Read More »What is Multifoil Insulation? — With Byron Lawson
Byron Lawson from SuperFOIL explains the benefits of multifoil insulation. 🔗 https://www.superfoil.co.uk Multifoils explained — FAQ from PBC Today So how does multifoil insulation work? It’s not magic but multifoil insulation controls the three mechanisms of heat transfer; radiation, conduction and convection. The low emissivity outer layers reflect up to 95% of infra-red radiation back into the house and prevent …
Read More »How To Install a Ground Source Heat Pump
Sponsored by Worcester Bosch Heat Pumps 🔗 https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/heat-pumps What are the basic workings of a heat pump? A heat pump is a relatively new technology in the UK although they are widely used in Scandinavia and many parts of Europe where there is an abundance of renewably sourced electricity. A heat pump takes energy from outside and transfers it into …
Read More »The Crazy Cost of Going Cordless?
The next time you are considering buying a new power tool you are very likely to go for a cordless tool. That is not me reading your mind, it is what all those sales and marketing people have been drip-feeding us in our sleep. It may well be true that a cordless is the best choice but as I am …
Read More »Would You Live In This House?
Dan Cox completes work on the Kentish oast house project. Check out Dan’s Roofing Square: https://www.essential-carpenter-tools.co.uk SHOPPING LINKS 🛒 Tracer AMK1 Deep Pencil Marker: https://amzn.to/3nlVsEr 🛒 Makita GN900SE Gas Nailer: https://amzn.to/3DggA6y 🛒 Dead On Steel Milled Hammer: https://amzn.to/2QSzQ6B 🛒 Swanson 7-inch Speed Square: https://amzn.to/3jigG5M __________________________ More info on oast houses: The Hop Farm Country Park at Beltring. 🔗 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hop_Farm The …
Read More »Building An Oast House – Part 2
Dan Cox continues his work on the Kentish oast house project. Check out Dan’s Roofing Square: https://www.essential-carpenter-tools.co.uk __________________________ More info on oast houses: The Hop Farm Country Park at Beltring. 🔗 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hop_Farm The story behind those weird oast house buildings all over Kent and Sussex 🔗 https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/full-story-behind-those-weird-3887160 A history and description of English Oast houses 🔗 http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Oast-Houses Enjoy a nice …
Read More »Building An Oast House – Part 1
Skill Builder meets Grand Designs as Roger Bisby joins Dan Cox on his exciting Kentish oast house project. What is an oast house? An oast, oast house or hop kiln is a building designed for kilning (drying) hops as part of the brewing process. They can be found in most hop-growing (and former hop-growing) areas and are often good examples …
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