Should I paint damp seal over a damp wall inside?
What damp-sealing paints and stain blockers actually do, the one job they are genuinely good at, and why using them on a wet wall makes the next repair bigger.
beginner20 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
Should I seal a dusty or chalky surface before gluing or sealing it?
An adhesive is only as strong as the layer it is stuck to — and on a friable surface that layer is loose dust, which is why the fixing comes away with a crust attached.
beginner20 min5 min readShould I seal a patio or block paving?
What a sealer does and does not do, which paving benefits, and the preparation and timing that decide whether it works.
beginner3 hr4 min readShould trickle vents be left open in winter?
What a trickle vent is sized to do, why closing it in cold weather is the wrong instinct, and the small number of times it is reasonable to shut one.
beginner10 min3 min readWhat are the parts of my roof called, and which ones fail?
A plain-language anatomy of a UK pitched roof from ridge to eaves, with the characteristic failure of each component, so you can describe what you are seeing and judge what it means.
beginner30 min4 min readWhat are the white crystals on my damp wall?
Telling harmless efflorescence from hygroscopic salt contamination, why a salted wall gets damper in muggy weather, and what each one actually needs.
beginner30 min3 min readWhat base does a hot tub need?
Working out the real load, what a slab, a deck or an existing patio has to provide, and the drainage and access details that are always left out.
advanced1 hr6 min readWhat do I do if I cannot reach under the pan to fit a toilet seat?
How a top-fix fitting works, when you have no choice but to use one, and why top-fix seats loosen more than bottom-fix ones and what to do about it.
beginner25 min4 min readWhat do the class ratings and markings on a ladder mean?
The old British class system, the current EN 131 professional and non-professional split, what the load rating actually includes, and how to read the label on a ladder you already own.
beginner15 min4 min readWhat does a window energy rating or U-value actually mean?
The three numbers on a window specification, which of them you should actually compare, and why the rating on the label may not describe the window you are being sold.
beginner15 min3 min readWhat does the central heating pump do, and why is mine hot and noisy?
What the pump actually does, what its speed setting changes, and how to read the difference between normal running noise, an air problem and a failing bearing.
intermediate20 min5 min readWhat height should bathroom fittings go at?
The rule that sets each fitting's position — basin, mirror, cabinet, riser rail, towel rail, roll holder — and the three constraints that override every preference.
beginner20 min4 min readWhat is CLS timber and what is it for?
The rounded-edge framing timber every merchant stocks, where it came from, what it is genuinely good at, and the two jobs it is quietly wrong for.
beginner8 min4 min readWhat is a cavity closer, and why do window reveals go damp?
The cavity has to be closed where a window or door interrupts it, and how it is closed decides whether the reveal is a cold bridge. Why black mould at the edge of a window is usually a construction detail rather than a lifestyle problem.
intermediate8 min4 min readWhat is a monobloc tap, and which basin tap should I choose?
Monobloc, pillar and three-hole taps explained, the pressure rating that decides whether a tap works on your system, and the tail type that decides how hard it is to fit.
beginner15 min4 min readWhat is a ring final circuit and how is it different from a radial?
How UK socket circuits are actually arranged, why the ring exists, how many sockets each type supports, and why a broken ring is dangerous without being visible.
beginner12 min4 min readWhat is a toggle fixing and when do I use one?
How a toggle differs from a plug, the weights each type carries, and why the hole size matters more than the screw.
beginner25 min4 min readWhat is construction adhesive, and when do I need it rather than grab adhesive?
Two cartridge products that look identical on the shelf: one is chosen for instant hold, the other for final strength, and they are not interchangeable.
beginner15 min5 min readWhat is shellac, and when should I use it?
The most useful problem-solving product in finishing: a barrier that sticks to almost anything and that almost anything will stick to. What it does and where it belongs.
intermediate20 min3 min readWhat is the best use for the space under the stairs?
Choosing between storage, a cloakroom, a desk or a utility, the depth and height zones that decide what fits, and the services that must stay accessible.
intermediate2 hr5 min readWhat is the difference between Pozidriv and Torx?
Telling the drive types apart, why a Phillips bit ruins a Pozidriv screw, and which to use for what.
beginner15 min3 min readWhat is the difference between countersunk, pan, flange and dome head screws?
Head shape decides whether a screw pulls itself into the material or stops on top of it — and picking the wrong one either splits the workpiece or leaves the head proud.
beginner10 min3 min readWhat should I check when buying a second-hand power tool?
The seven-minute inspection that separates a bargain from someone else's problem, and the two categories where used is a bad idea.
beginner20 min4 min readWhat should I do if my tap water looks wrong after a burst main?
Water that runs brown, cloudy or milky after mains work is usually disturbed sediment or air, and it clears. Knowing which colours are harmless and which mean stop is the useful part.
beginner20 min5 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.