Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction

Efficient home heating is crucial for comfort and energy savings, especially during the colder months. Understanding the various heating systems, their maintenance, and tips for optimising their performance can make a significant difference in both your comfort and utility bills. Here’s a comprehensive guide on the basics of heating your home.

Roger is back with John, the nightmare heat pump owner, to see if Adam from @HeatGeek can help him.

Keeping brickwork and foundations dry is crucial to maintaining the structural integrity and longevity of your home.. It's damp season! Roger is back to look at Skill Builder viewer Helen's damp problem.

“Constructing Steel framed houses is not a new concept"... Roger spots a building project on his travels and wonders are steel-framed houses good news for both the householder and the construction company.

Noisy radiators can be a common issue in homes, often due to trapped air or the buildup of mineral deposits within the system. These noises can range from clanking or banging sounds to hissing or gurgling noises. But, this is a tough one, so Roger calls in the cavalry in the form of James Lawrence of Plumberparts.

Penetrating damp is a common issue in buildings where moisture infiltrates through walls, floors, or ceilings from the outside environment. It often manifests as damp patches, water stains, or peeling paint, particularly during wet weather. Roger looks at another damp problem featuring Skill Builder viewer Darren.

Roger looks at Kevin's strange water-filled room under his garden shed.

The kitchen sink basket, often referred to as the sink strainer or drain assembly, plays a crucial role in your kitchen plumbing. It catches food debris while allowing water to drain away, preventing clogs and ensuring smooth operation. Over time, these baskets can wear out, corrode, or become inefficient, necessitating a replacement. Replacing a kitchen sink basket is a relatively straightforward task that can be tackled with some basic tools and a little know-how. Here, Roger shows you how.

Roger and his dear old friend John Walls talk about their lives and growing up in the boomer generation.

Roger looks at how heat pumps are versatile systems for heating and cooling, offering energy-efficient alternatives to traditional HVAC systems. They operate by transferring heat, rather than generating it.

With their large expanses of glass, Conservatories are often subject to significant temperature fluctuations. Various methods exist to improve their warmth, ranging from glazing upgrades to heating solutions and insulation techniques.

Roger shows you how to fix your toilet when water is running into the pan.

The new FEIN VersaMAG system brings a new dimension of flexibility into the world of clamping.

Roger interviews an air source heat pump owner who has been heating his house with the system for 5 years.

Traditionally reliant on gas or electricity, the welding industry is now witnessing a groundbreaking innovation: water-powered welding equipment.

A comprehensive bench stone sharpening package. The SBS is 'The BIG BOSS'.

With climate change amplifying weather events, the UK is experiencing increased flooding. Adapting to this reality requires a comprehensive approach involving urban planning, infrastructural development, and community engagement.

This design choice can be both functional and aesthetic. For instance, an oblique roof might direct rainwater or snow to a particular side of a building, or it might be chosen simply for its unique and contemporary appearance.

When it comes to roofing, not all structures are created equal. Sometimes, the traditional square footprint just doesn’t cut it. Enter the oblique pitched roof, a solution to irregular property boundaries and a statement in architectural innovation.