How do I fix scratches in laminate flooring?
What can genuinely be repaired, the wax and marker options, and when a board swap is the only real answer.
beginner30 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 fix something securely into plasterboard?
Finding the studs first, then choosing the right fixing for the weight when there is no stud where you need one.
beginner30 min2 min readHow do I get a smooth finish on a painted door?
The order that avoids lap marks, why brush marks are usually a paint problem, and the between-coat step that does most of the work.
beginner4 hr3 min readHow do I get rid of an old appliance safely and legally?
Retailer take-back, council collection and the recycling centre are the three legitimate routes, plus the specific extra rules that apply to fridges, freezers, gas appliances and anything holding your data.
beginner40 min6 min readHow do I hang a garden gate?
Setting the hanging post, choosing which way it swings, and getting the clearances right so the gate still closes in winter.
intermediate2 hr 30 min4 min readHow do I install a run of shelving?
Fitting a multi-shelf run level and square, choosing bracket spacing that stops shelves sagging, and load ratings.
intermediate3 hr2 min readHow do I join two floors of different heights?
The profile you need depends on the height difference and whether both floors move. Getting the fixing method right matters as much as choosing the strip.
beginner40 min3 min readHow do I make a home safer for a small child?
The changes that address the most common serious injuries to young children at home, in rough order of risk.
beginner3 hr3 min readHow do I make a room work as an office and something else?
Separating the two uses visually and mentally, so neither ruins the other.
beginner1 hr 30 min2 min readHow do I make my home more secure?
The physical and behavioural changes that actually deter burglary, ordered by effect per pound spent.
beginner2 hr2 min readHow do I match an existing paint colour?
Taking a sample the shop can actually scan, why the match will still not be perfect, and the finish that matters as much as the colour.
beginner1 hr4 min readHow do I measure a multipoint lock so the replacement fits?
The six dimensions every supplier will ask for, where each is taken from, and why two locks with the same length can still be completely different parts.
intermediate25 min5 min readHow do I measure for and fit a replacement toilet seat?
The three measurements that decide what fits, how to pick a shape that does not overhang, and getting a new seat on without cracking anything.
beginner30 min4 min readHow do I mix concrete by hand?
The ratios for common jobs, the slump test, and why adding extra water is the mistake that halves the strength.
intermediate1 hr 30 min4 min readHow do I mix mortar correctly?
Getting the ratio right for the job, why old lime-mortared walls need a weaker mix, and judging consistency.
intermediate45 min4 min readHow do I paint a textured or artex ceiling?
The asbestos question first, then the roller nap and the wet edge that get paint into the texture without twenty coats.
intermediate5 hr5 min readHow do I paint rusty metal so the rust does not come back?
Rust does not stop under paint. Why coatings fail on ferrous metal, the three honest routes to a sound surface, and how to build a system that lasts on railings, gates and metal windows.
intermediate1 hr 30 min5 min readHow do I paint woodwork properly?
How to get a smooth finish on skirting, doors and frames — the sanding, priming and brushwork that separates a good job from a streaky one.
intermediate5 hr2 min readHow do I plumb in a dishwasher?
Cold fill, the isolating valve, the waste connection and the high loop — and the differences from a washing machine that catch people out.
intermediate1 hr 30 min3 min readHow do I prepare a house I am leaving empty in winter?
The insurance conditions, the heating decision, and the checks that prevent a small problem becoming a flooded house.
beginner1 hr2 min readHow do I save time cleaning?
The ordering rules and habits that cut cleaning time roughly in half — dwell time, top-down order, and the difference between tidying and cleaning.
beginner20 min2 min readHow do I tell what my wall is made of before I drill it?
Tapping, a bradawl, and the colour of the dust — the quick tests that tell you whether you are drilling brick, block, plasterboard or lath before you commit.
beginner10 min3 min readHow do I use a nail gun safely?
Sequential versus contact firing, setting the depth, and the double-fire that causes most injuries.
intermediate35 min3 min readHow do I use a random orbital sander properly?
Working through the grits, letting the tool float, and why swirl marks come from pressure rather than the paper.
beginner40 min3 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.