How do I check a gas engineer is really Gas Safe registered?
The two-minute check on the register itself, what the back of the card tells you that the front does not, and what to do if it does not add up.
beginner10 min3 min read
Home & DIY
Practical answers for repairs, cleaning, decorating and the household problems that turn up whether you planned for them or not. Written so you can start with what you already own.
2,154 guides
How do I compare builders' quotes properly?
Why the cheapest quote is usually the one that excludes the most, the nine lines that decide it, and the difference between a quote and an estimate.
beginner1 hr 30 min4 min readHow do I insulate a loft?
The most cost-effective insulation job in most houses — what depth to aim for, where not to insulate, and how to do it without wrecking the ceiling.
intermediate5 hr2 min readHow do I remove mould from painted walls?
Treating mould on painted plaster without spreading spores, and how to redecorate so it does not come back through.
beginner1 hr2 min readHow do I stop condensation?
Why windows and walls stream with water in winter, and the ventilation, heating and moisture changes that actually reduce it.
beginner30 min4 min readHow do I work safely at height?
Ladder angle, footing and the rule about reaching — plus knowing when a ladder is the wrong tool entirely.
beginner20 min2 min readWhat do I do if a pipe has frozen?
Turn the water off first, then thaw gently from the tap end back — and what to check once it flows again.
beginner1 hr2 min readWhat is the difference between planning permission and building regulations?
Two separate approval systems, run by different people, asking different questions — and why passing one says nothing whatever about the other.
beginner15 min4 min readWhat order should I spring clean a house in?
Top to bottom, dry before wet, and room by room — the sequence that means nothing gets cleaned twice.
beginner8 hr4 min readWhat safety equipment do I need for DIY?
The five things worth owning, what the ratings on masks and glasses actually mean, and where cheap is a bad decision.
beginner20 min3 min readWhat should I do if I suspect asbestos?
Where it is likely to be, what to do and not do, and how to get it identified properly.
beginner15 min2 min readWhat type of water system do I have — combi, cylinder or unvented?
The three UK domestic water systems, the five-minute check that tells you which one is in your house, and why almost every other plumbing answer depends on knowing.
beginner15 min5 min readWhy are there cracks in my walls?
Which cracks are normal, which are worth watching, and the specific features that mean get someone in.
beginner20 min3 min readWhy does my house feel cold even with the heating on?
Radiator balance, draughts, humidity and cold surfaces — the reasons a warm thermostat reading still feels cold.
beginner45 min3 min readWhy is my dishwasher leaving things dirty?
Filter, spray arms and loading — three causes in order of likelihood, and all three are free to fix.
beginner40 min3 min readWhy is my dishwasher not draining?
The drain path runs sump, filter, pump, hose, high loop, waste connection — check it in that order and an uncut waste spigot or a blocked filter accounts for most cases.
beginner45 min5 min readWhy is my paint patchy?
Absorbency, coverage and technique — the three causes, and how to tell which one you have.
beginner30 min2 min readWhy is my shower pressure weak?
Start with the shower head, because it is the cause more often than the system is.
beginner40 min3 min readHow do I reduce my heating costs?
The heating controls, settings and habits that cut costs without making a house cold.
beginner2 hr2 min readHow do I unblock a toilet?
How to clear a blocked toilet with a plunger or auger without flooding the bathroom, and what to do when the blockage is further down.
beginner30 min3 min readDoes my job need building regulations approval?
The four categories of work building control cares about, the exempt list, and why the answer is different in each UK nation.
beginner25 min3 min readHow do I clean my washing machine?
How to clear the smell from a washing machine and keep it clear — the drawer, the door seal, the filter and the maintenance wash, in the order that matters.
beginner1 hr 30 min3 min readHow do I know when a boiler needs replacing?
Age, repair cost and repeated faults — and the safety signs that mean stop using it immediately.
beginner25 min2 min readHow do I use a circular saw safely?
Understanding kickback, supporting the work so it cannot happen, and the setup that makes a circular saw accurate.
intermediate45 min4 min read
Going deeper: MaterialWorld
Material properties, comparisons and suitability — paints, fillers, sealants, timber, tile, insulation.
MaterialWorld is in development — GuideHQ covers the practical answers in the meantime.