This is an instantaneous thermostatic electric shower that’s designed to be easy to fit. It’s a modern-looking case, and it’s designed to cover over existing footprints of showers, so if you’re replacing an electric shower, then hopefully this will cover over all the screw holes; you won’t get involved in any retiling. But here’s the other thing; they make it …
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Welcome to Skill Builder, the resource for everyone involved in a building or renovation project. We provide practical guidance for all aspects of building renovation. We aim to give you plenty of hard information, as well as a good deal of inspiration. We recognise that the learning curve in building can be steep and relentless. As regular viewers of programmes …
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How do impact drivers work? Roger visits Triton and finds out how impact drivers manage to punch way above their weight. “Impact drivers seem to be the future – when you’re out on site you hear them everywhere. “Triton have got their 20V model out which as Steve Hewson, Triton’s product manager explains is particularly aimed at the trade buyer …
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I have just returned from a one week holiday in Cyprus. It was a cheap break and we weren’t expecting fantastic weather at that time of year but we stayed in a 5-star hotel with plenty of facilities and a good sea view. We would both have been quite happy to sit and read a few books but as it …
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Here Skill Builder tests two of Makita's LXT brushless tool prodcuts; the Makita LXT Brushless Drill DHP481 and the Impact Driver BTD129
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Hilti has launched its next generation TE 1000-AVR breaker, which has more demolition power and less vibration than its predecessor.
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Regulars will know I'm underwhelmed by the government’s Green Deal, and the way the Renewable heat incentive favours companies willing to cut the red tape required to become an approved contractor.
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I first took delivery of this cordless jigsaw over six months ago, so it has had some good use! A few years ago I would have said a cordless jig saw is a tool to get you out of trouble, rather than as a replacement for a corded one, but battery technology is now so advanced that you could use this as your only jig saw. I don't think you would find a job that it would not do as well as the corded version.
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My heart goes out to the people who bought homes in Oxley Woods. These modern style houses on the outskirt of Milton Keynes started life with such promise. For a start they were designed by a partnership that included Richard Rogers. They were bold, bright and beautiful, built from prefabricated panels with sleek lines and maintenance free exteriors. No more …
Read More »In this video Roger demonstrates how to use a fake brick effect render from Bostick. The system is applied in two easy steps, starting with a grey mortar undercoat. Once this is touch-dry it’s followed by a coloured face coat which is cut through with a specialised tool included in the pack to expose the grey mortar underneath, creating a …
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In this ten minute video, Roger shows us how to solder copper pipework and achieve leak-free plumbing that will last. “The first thing is cleaning the pipe. If you got a bit of tarnished pipe like some of this which I have just taken out of the shed, it really is no good, even with self-cleaning fluxes. That won’t polish …
Read More »Roger gives a few diamond core tips on using diamond cores to make holes for soil pipes and boiler flues including information on how to get the most our of your diamond core bit.
Read More »Roger Bisby provides a detailed installation of bifold doors guide for Quickslide bi-folding doors making a complex installation easy to understand. Roger talks through some of the key considerations and challenges for the installation of bi-folding doors. Quickslide Quickslide is a well-established business specialising in the manufacture of sliding sash windows, casement windows and doors, bi-folding- and sliding patio doors …
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Printing 3D concrete, simply load up the shape and dimensions of what you want to build and watch it chug away building up layer upon layer of concrete. If I had a pound for every time I have seen an invention that promised to revolutionise house building I would have at least £32.50 by now.
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Well, we can’t say they didn’t warn us about climate change; more rain, rising seas, extreme weather. The television is full of images of flooding homes and the miserable aftermath. People being interviewed say that they have never known it this bad. Houses that were once considered above the flood plain, are now being deluged and everyone is looking for someone to blame. Try Jeremy Clarkson.
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The recent incident of The Apollo Theatre ceiling collapse thankfully resulted in no deaths, though it appears there are some very serious injuries. No doubt even many of those lucky enough to have escaped unscathed will have nightmares and may hesitate to enter old buildings for a while. At the very least they will become habitual ceiling watchers from now on.
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Meanwhile back at my house, there are things that need doing. There are always things that need doing. My wife has a list as long as her arm and it never seems to get any shorter. A bloke I know told me a long time ago that you should never fix that sticking door, or whatever it is that your partner constantly complains about. His idea was that if you did that job, another one would be sitting in the holding bay ready to take its place. You would never be free, so the best strategy is to hold your ground against the onslaught.
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Rising damp is not usually baffling.. I have always been a sucker for a challenge. If someone tells me that they have a problem that nobody has been able to fix, I am there. Rising damp is not usually baffling but rising damp in a third floor flat is. Yes I do mean rising damp and not penetrating damp, the …
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I went to look at a shower tray leak today. It was the usual story, a leak around the tray. The water was pouring out. The householder had been trying to solve the problem for months. He had even renewed the grout and silicone on the bottom three courses of tiles and still the water poured out onto his lovely …
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Does one have to be brain dead in order to enjoy pointing? I have been re-pointing some brickwork this week. Despite having a shed full of various pointing guns I was doing it the old fashioned way with a hawk and a Marshalltown tuck pointer. The reason for using hand tools as opposed to the compressed air gun was simply …
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Skill Builder Guides & reviews for building and construction
