How do I apply for planning permission?
What a householder application actually involves, what makes one succeed, and the sequence that stops you paying twice.
intermediate4 hr3 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 bleed a whole heating system properly?
Heating off, cold radiators, ground floor first — and topping the pressure back up afterwards.
beginner1 hr2 min readHow do I choose a vacuum cleaner and what actually matters in the specification?
Airflow rather than wattage, the floor head that suits your actual floors, and the four specification numbers that are worth reading against the several that are marketing.
beginner30 min7 min readHow do I choose insulation material?
Performance per thickness, moisture behaviour and cost — and why breathability decides it in an older house.
intermediate25 min2 min readHow do I clean a shower head properly?
Soaking does the work, not scrubbing — and the bag trick for heads that will not come off.
beginner30 min2 min readHow do I do a snagging list properly?
Inspecting room by room in a fixed order, writing defects in a form that cannot be argued with, and doing it while you still hold the final payment.
beginner2 hr4 min readHow do I find where mice are getting into the house?
A systematic survey of a house at rodent height, the real gap sizes involved, and the order to seal so you do not shut mice inside.
intermediate3 hr5 min readHow do I get more heat from the same radiators?
Bleeding, balancing, flow temperature and what is in front of them — four free changes before spending anything.
beginner1 hr2 min readHow do I get things level and straight?
Using a spirit level properly, and why levelling to the ceiling is usually the wrong reference.
beginner20 min2 min readHow do I gloss skirting boards neatly?
Skirting is glossed at floor level with a carpet on one side and a wall on the other, which is why it is fiddly. The order of work matters more than the brushwork.
beginner2 hr3 min readHow do I heat one room cheaply?
Which heater type costs least to run, why the answer is usually 'the one heating the smallest space', and the free measures first.
beginner30 min2 min readHow do I paint kitchen cupboards so it lasts?
Why kitchen paint fails, the degrease-abrade-prime sequence that stops it, and the cure time nobody allows for.
intermediate8 hr4 min readHow do I remove limescale?
How to shift limescale from taps, kettles, shower heads and toilets using acid, and which surfaces you must never use it on.
beginner40 min3 min readHow do I stop mould coming back in a bathroom?
Removing it is the easy part — the ventilation and habits that stop it returning are what actually matter.
beginner1 hr2 min readHow do I use a pressure washer safely?
Choosing the nozzle and distance for the surface, the things that must never be washed, and how injuries actually happen.
beginner1 hr4 min readHow do I use a stud finder properly?
Calibrate it, sweep slowly in both directions, and confirm by finding both edges.
beginner15 min2 min readHow do I work out how much material I need?
Area, volume and the wastage allowance that stops you making a second trip.
beginner20 min2 min readHow flat does my subfloor need to be?
Flatness and level are different things, and floating floors care about the first and not the second. Knowing how to measure it tells you whether you need to do anything at all.
beginner30 min3 min readHow many coats of paint do I actually need?
The number of coats is decided by the substrate, the colour change and the film thickness the paint needs to work — not by a rule of thumb.
beginner8 min4 min readIs my damp wall caused by the gutter?
Rainwater faults are one of the most common causes of a damp patch, and they are distinguishable from other causes by where the damp is and when it appears.
beginner30 min2 min readShould I lower my boiler's flow temperature?
Why a condensing boiler is more efficient at lower flow temperatures, how far to turn it down, and the houses where it does not work.
beginner20 min3 min readWhat certificate should I get after electrical work?
The three documents electricians issue, which one applies to which job, and the separate certificate that proves the work was notified.
beginner15 min3 min readWhat do I do if work was done without building regulations approval?
Why the problem always appears at sale, the three routes available, and what indemnity insurance does and does not do.
intermediate1 hr3 min readWhat do boiler error codes mean?
The common code categories, the two things you can safely check, and when repeated resetting becomes dangerous.
beginner20 min2 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.