Category: Top Tips

Wallpaper Removal

A word of warning upfront, if you have a wallpaper removal task ahead of you are in for a bit of work. Make sure you set aside a considerable amount of time for this project as you may run into tough spots and problem areas that will eat up a lot of time. Removing wallpaper however, while not a fun task, can be done quickly and easily if you are prepared.

First get the room ready. Remove everything from the room that can be removed. This includes furniture and rugs where possible. When the room is emptied cover the floor with a drop cloth in the area you will be working. This will aid in cleanup later.

  • Now get all of your tools together:
  • Goggles
  • Mask
  • Bucket
  • Sponge
  • Glue Dissolving Agent
  • Blunt Scraper
  • Sharp Scraper
  • Perforator

Goggles and a mask are on the list first for a good reason. You will have little pieces of who knows how old paper with who know what kind of glue on it flying and dripping all over the place. Wear the goggles and the mask whenever you are doing the least bit of work.

I can’t underestimate the importance of the perforator. They come in a couple styles and sizes. Get the one that is most appropriate to the amount of paper you have to remove. The perforator is pretty simple to use. With a slight amount of pressure you roll it around the wall and it makes little divots into the paper. Be careful not to press to hard as you do not want to dig into the wall itself.

Next is preparing your solution. The commercial products work well, but I have had good results with warm water and vinegar. If you are going to use the commercial products, be sure to follow their instructions as to mixture ratios. For the vinegar solution, 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water is sufficient for most glues. Add more vinegar if you are having difficulties.

Ok, so we are ready to start soaking the walls. Pick a spot, not to large, and get it thoroughly wet with your sponge and solution. Some people like to use a sprayer as well, but I find the sponge and a little pressure works better. Don’t be shy about wetting the wall. Your solution needs to soak through the paper and loosen the glue. You may have to repeat this step depending on your situation.

Now comes the scrapping. Use a blunt scrapper or even a putty knife to start with. You want to avoid nicking or gauging the wall underneath to save the trouble of filling later on. Use slow even strokes to remove the paper. If it is loose enough it will simply melt off the wall. If not, wet it again. If you continue to have trouble, you may have to switch to the sharp scrapper. Be very careful though, of your fingers and the wall!

Once all the paper if off, you may have to repeat this process to remove extra paper layers or even a glue layer that may be left behind. You want to get all the way down to the plaster or drywall. Then, smooth any nicks or holes smooth, clean up the mess and paint to suit. Oh, and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

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What to Put in a Gift Basket

Numerous shops sell pre-made present baskets with a good selection of fresh produce or flowers, but they normally likewise sell the baskets, so you can make a gift basket yourself if you want to. What would you put in your DIY gift basket? Here are a couple of ideas:

Among the best things to put in a present basket is fruit and sweets. They are not too expensive and it is a real treat for someone, especially if you get exotic fruits, and it in some way feels like it belongs in a basket, particularly a wooden one. You can even keep the fruit in the basket until you eat it, and it makes a nice ornamental option to a fruit bowl.

For children, a basket loaded with pick and mix will always be a real hit, especially if you know what their favourites are. This works particularly well if you have rather a lot of children or you have family members that do, as it can be an unique present for all of them and they can share the sweets out in between themselves.

Flowers are another fantastic thing to put in a gift basket, particularly ones you have grown and selected yourself, or discovered in the wild and it is much more personal that going to a flower shop, and typically prettier too.

Truly, though, the very best thing to do is to just learn what the person you are buying for loves. If they are a big fan of cheese, get an entire load of cheeses and fill a basket with them. If they like jam, do it with jam and so on. This way the person will be flattered that it is an unique basket just for them, and that you went to the time to put in that much thought and select the important things that entered it. And because it is a basketful of something they like, they are guaranteed to truly enjoy their present.

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Five Warning Signs You Need a New Roof

Property owners should also be able to identify any indications of problem well beforehand. What are five signs that a replacement roof might be needed?

Moisture and Mould


If you begin to notice that the interior of your house is extremely damp or that mould has actually begun to form on the ceilings or walls, this could be a sign that the roofing is failing to use defence from the components.

Internal Leaks


Make sure to look for any proof of leaks; particularly within the attic. Standing water is a sure-fire sign although more subtle indicators can include decaying wood. Attempt to identify the source of the leak and as constantly, contact among our representatives in order to discover the level of the problem.

A Bowed Peak


Peaked roofs will often begin to bow with time. This is a signal that their internal structure may have ended up being jeopardised. In terms of a flat roof, take a look at for any dips which could show that water has permeated past the waterproof surface area. As these concerns will just aggravate with time, it is finest that they are attended to faster instead of later.

Loose and/or Missing Out On Shingles


Shingles can end up being removed by the weather condition over time. Whether describing wind, ice or rain, damage can frequently take place. The concern is that missing out on shingles allow water to penetrate into the lower structure.

This is another sign that your roof might require to be replaced. If you notice that granules are appearing within your seamless gutters, this could be an indicator that the gritty surface area of the shingles is no longer supplying sufficient security.

Changing an old roofing system with a more recent model is an exceptional method to enjoy security from the weather throughout the year. Such an action will also increase the value of your home, so taking a proactive method is constantly wise.

Our team of local roofers at East Ham Roofing are capable of dealing with a variety of maintenance situations.

Top Tips on Hiring a Limousine

People have many different reasons for hiring a limo: Maybe you are planning to go to prom with a limo, you want to show up in class on your birthday party or maybe you just want to pick up your friends in style. When hiring a limousine there is plenty of choice on which company to pick and which limousine you should hire. Today we’ll go over all the top tips for hiring a limousine so that you find the right limousine for your event and to get the right price.

When picking a limousine hiring service

Check for references and reviews

This is so important. Positive or negative reviews can tell you a lot about the quality of the services of this company. So always look for a company with a lot of positive reviews to get the best experience there is. No one knows better how good a company is than former customers, they’ve been there and know what they are talking about. 


Look out for the number of years in business – Check if they are insured

There are some shady companies out there. Companies who don’t even insure their vehicles. When something were to happen during the ride and their not insured this could cause some trouble. So ask for proof of their insurance before hiring a limo there.

Companies that have existed for longer are more experienced than many new companies out there, so these are probably a better choice for hiring your limousine. This doesn’t mean that new companies can’t be good, but more experienced companies are usually better at what they do, that’s why they’ve been around for so long.

Beware of the deposit

It’s normal to have to make a deposit when hiring a limousine. Usually these deposits are between 20% and 50% of the total price. But beware when the deposit is above 50%, this is a sign of it being a scam. So avoid companies who ask for such a huge deposit

When picking your vehicle – See the vehicle in real life before hiring it

Of course pictures can tell you a lot about how the limo looks, but everyone can fake a picture. So it’s important to go check out your limousine in real life before hiring it. This way you can be sure that the limousine looks the way it looks in the picture and that it isn’t a very old picture for example.

Determine how many persons are coming

Limousines usually come in sizes for 6, 8 and 10 persons, so try to fill up the limousine you’re going to hire. You don’t want to be travelling with five persons in an 8 person limousine. Watch out for companies wanting you to order an extra stretch limo when you’re with a small group. You will have to pay for that extra space, and you don’t even need it.

Getting the right price – When possible hire on a weekday

Limousines are a lot cheaper during the week than they are in the weekend. Maybe your limousine is for an event and you don’t have a choice, but when you are flexible travel on a weekday. This will take a lot off the price, I promise.

Negotiate and ask a lot of questions

The price of a limousine is tricky. Obviously there is an hourly rate, but you have to pay a lot more than that. You’ll have to pay for the gasoline, possible for the chauffeur. And some companies will fill their limousine with bottles of champagne and charge you for that too. So interrogate many companies thoroughly so that you know exactly which one offers the right price. In case of the champagne, you could ask beforehand if you can bring your own drinks, this will save you money as well. These companies will charge you a lot more for the bottles than they actually cost

So that was all then, I bet that you are fully informed on what to do when you’re going to hire a limousine. All there is left for me to is wish you a lot of luck with picking out the right limousine for you.