Top 3... DIY
You'll really impress her when you decide to don the overalls and fix something yourself rather than paying someone else to do it. One of the things that separates man from woman is the fact that women break things while men fix them. The money you'll save by performing basic home maintance will get you a decent night out...with the lads. Here's Base London's guide to...DIY.
Wire a Plug... Because without it the Telly won't work
1. Unscrew the plug casing.
2. Make sure the wire filament is exposed (about 5-7mm).
3. The brown wire goes to the fuse.
4. The blue wire goes to the left.
5. The green and yellow (earth) wire goes to the top.
6. Fasten up the casing...et voila beautiful electricity.
How to Paint a Wall
Get the right amount of paint for the job - A 3.8 litre can of paint will cover around 3.5m2. Measure the length of all the walls, add them together and multiply it by the height, giving you the volume. You need enough paint for at least 2 coats.
Preparation
Masking - to get a straight edge and avoid painting parts you don't want to, cover them with masking tape. Make sure the tape is properly attached to prevent seeping behind. You may also need to cover any nearby furniture of flooring.
Primer - If the original colour is darker than the new colour you may need to use a primer. This helps to seal the wall and helps the paint take to the wall better.
Slap it On
Now you're ready to paint. Make sure the room is well ventilated, then open the can with a flat head screwdriver. Stir the paint well and pour into a painting tray. Dip the roller into the paint and roll backwards and forwards until evenly covered. Gently roll the roller back and forth on the wall to quickly leave an evenly covered wall. For hard to reach areas use a smaller paint brush, but never overload the brush. Depending on the previous colour and the primer you may only need one coat but a second coat will ensure a complete finish. Remove the tape...done!
Build a Brick Wall
1. Know your mortar strength, a strong wall that is exposed to the elements will need a stronger mix of about 1 part cement to 1/2 part lime and 4 parts sand, a sheltered wall would need 1 part cement, 1 part lime and 6 parts sand.
2. Mix the mortar on a flat surface pile up half the required sand, add the rest of the ingredients then the rest of the sand on top of that. Mix it all up using a spade, then make a hole in the middle of the mix and pour in some water.
3. Keep adding water and turning the mix until it has a buttery consistency, sloppy but able to hold its shape.
4. Now for the Bricks. Place a brick at each end of your wall and stretch a string between them to give you a guide to work too.
5. Using a trowel scoop up a load of mortar mix and spread it along the footing.
6. Grab another brick, apply mortar to one end and stick it next to the first one, with the indent on the brick facing upwards.
7. Keep checking the wall is straight using a spirit level, if it's a bit crooked give it a tap with the handle of the trowel.
8. The Bond. The bricks need to be off set from each other to avoid weakness in the wall. Every new layer should be that each brick is half way across the brick below.
