A complete index, by topic, of all the pages on
the diydata.com web site

• Angle grinder - the various features and what to look for
  
  
• Architrave - a step by step guide to fitting architrave around doors, windows and loft hatches.
  
  
• Basement conversions explained.
  
  
• Bathroom design
  
  
• Bathroom electrical installations - a guide to the zones
  
  
• Bench grinder - the various features and what to look for
  
  
• Books
  
  • Carpentry and woodworking books.
  • Construction books for home and garden.
  • Decorating.
  • Eco-friendly diy books.
    
  • Electrics books.
  • Garden Design.
  • Gardening books.
  • General diy books, electrics and plumbing.
  • Plumbing books.
  • Property development and investment books.
  
  
• Brickwork
  • - Calculating the number of bricks required
  • Building a garden wall
  • Checking as you build a wall
  • Foundations for a garden wall
  • Pointing styles and techniques
  • Repointing walls - a step by step guide.
  • Replacing bricks in cavity walls
    
    
• Brickwork Bonds
  
  • English bond wall
  • Flemish bond wall
  • Stretcher bond wall
    
  • Stretcher bond wall with piers
    
  • Stretcher bond piers
    
  
  
• Bricklayer's Tool Kit - the different tools used in bricklaying explained
  
  
• Building Regs
  
  • Building Regulations (England and Wales) - when do you need approval.
  • Building Regulations and electrics (Jan 2005 changes)
    
  • April 2002 changes to the regulations.
  • Building Regulations (England and Wales) - a list of the approved documents and links to them on the Planning Portal.
    
  • see also
    • Planning Permissions (England and Wales) - what you need permission for
      
    • Planning Permissions (England and Wales) - producing your own drawings
      
      
• Burglar Alarms - the different types of burglar alarm available for home use
  
  
• Catches - different types of cupboard catch explained
  
  
• DIY CCTV Systems – What to consider when buying cctv cameras, dvrs and systems
  
  
• Cement, concrete etc.
  
  
• Central heating - see plumbing
  
  
• Chasing cables and pipes into walls
  
  
• Check for winter - some checks around the house to avoid winter problems
  
  
• Circular Saw - the various features, what to look for, how to use and maintain
  
  
• Cladding - external timber and uPVC plank cladding explained
  
  
• Clamps - different types for different jobs
  
  
• Colour Wheel and how to use colours in decorating.
  
  
• Colour to overcome different decorating problems.
  
  
• Concealed Hinges – the choice of hinges for your kitchen cupboard
  
  
• Concrete
  
  • - Calculators for concrete volumes - squares, rectangles, circles and triangles. Metric calculator or Imperial calculator
  • - Calculators for working out the quantities of cement, sand, gravel or all-in ballast required for a volume. Metric calculator or Imperial calculator
  • Mixing concrete - a 'how to guide' for mixing concrete by hand, with a mixer or using ready mix
  • Planning concrete - the thickness, slope etc for different uses of concrete (paths, patios, driveways etc)
  
  
• Condensation - the causes of condensation
  
  
• Condensation - how to overcome condensation.
  
  
• Conservatories - building confidence in getting one installed
  
  
• Cordless angle grinder - the various features and what to look for
  
  
• Cordless Screwdrivers - the various features and options explained.
  
  
• Cornice and coving - the different materials and adhesives
  
  
• Cornice and coving - cutting the mitres for internal and external corners
  
  
• Preparing for putting up cornice/coving
  
  
• Putting up cornice/coving
  
  
• How to avoid cowboy builders and tradesmen
  
  
• Cupboard Stays - different types and how they work
  
  
• Dado rails - a step by step guide to putting up dado rails.
  
  
• Dish washer - guide to connecting dishwashers to the water supply and waste.
  
  
• Doors
  • Choosing a door
  • Fitting a door frame
  • Glazing doors
  • Hanging doors
  
  
  
• Garden drainage problems - a brief discussion
  
  
• Drawer runners - the options available explained
  
  
• Drills - hand and electric - different types and their uses
  
  
• Drill bits
  
  
• Dry rot - how to identify and treat
  
  
• Electric Drill - the features of electric hand drills
  
  
• Electric sanders - the different types available to reduce 'elbow grease' when sanding
  
  
• Electrics (relevant to United Kingdom)
  
  • DIY books - electrics
  • Replacing ceiling lighting rose
  • Downlights for effective lighting
    
  • Electric cables
  • Electric cables - 2004 changes to colours of cables
    
  • Electrical circuit protection explained - Fuses, MCBs, RCDs and RCBOs
    
  • Fuses - Electrical circuit protection explained
  • Ingress Protection - understanding IP classifications
  • Junction Boxes - The types available and their uses
    
  • Miniature Circuit Breakers - Electrical circuit protection explained
    
  • Residual Current Device - Electrical circuit protection explained
    
  • Residual Current Breaker with Overload protection - Electrical circuit protection explained
    
  • Two way/changeover lighting circuit
    
  • Understanding electric lighting circuits
    
  • Understanding ring circuits and other power circuits
    
    
• Energy efficiency:
  • 10 free ways to be more energy efficient
  • 8 low cost ways to be more energy efficient
    
    
• UPVC fascias, soffits and bargeboards
  
  
• Euro cylinder lock replacement - a step by step guide to removing and refitting a euro cylinder type lock
  
  
• Extractor fan - Choosing the right extractor fan for your bathroom
  
  
• Fencing
  
  • Board fencing - the posts and rails
  • Erecting a chain link fence
  • Erecting a wooden panel fence
    
  • Wooden fence posts
    
  
  
• Fireplace Design, Fireplace Installation & Fire Surround Options in the UK
  
  
• Fixings for different types of walls - how to make strong fixings to brick, block, stud, plasterboard, lathe and plaster, and dry lined walls
  
  
• Fixings for hollow walls and surfaces
  
  
• Fixings for solid walls
  
  
• Flat roofs
  
  • Laying a felt roof (three layer, cold adhesive)
    
  • Repairing Felt Roofs
    
    
• Floods - precautions for around the home
  
  
• Flooring
  
  • Floor soundproofing
    
  • Self-levelling floor compound for concrete/solid floors.
    
    
  • Timber Flooring:
    
    • Timber floor finishes - varnish, oils and waxes explained.
    • Removing old finishes - a guide to removing paint, varnish, oil wax and polishes from timber floorboards.
    • Sanding wooden floooring - a guide to applying stain to timber floorboards.
    • Staining wooden floors
      
    • Timber flooring - Solid or Engineered Timber Flooring? The Debate, which is better.
      
    • Varnishing wooden floorboards - a guide to varnishing timber floorboards.
      
      
  • Vinyl flooring:
    
    • Floor preparation
    • Planning to lay vinyl tiles
    • Calculating the number of floor tiles
    • Setting out
    • Laying the vinyl tiles
    • After care
      
  
  
• Garden gate plans from Buildeazy
  
  
• Gardening books.
  
  
• Garden Power Tools - hedge trimmers, chain saws etc.
  
  
• Gas installations etc.
  
  
• Glass
  • The different types of glass for use around the house
  • Using glass around the house
  • Removing broken glass from windows (single glazed)
  • Fitting new glass to windows (single glazed)
  
  
• Glossaries - terms and terminology explained:
  • Carpentry and woodworking
  • Decorating
  • Electrics
  • General Building
  • Plumbing
  • Roofing
  • Staircase
  
  
• Glues - all sorts explained
  
  • Natural Glues
  • Nonreactive synthetic glues
  • Reactive synthetic glues
    
    
• Granite worktops - a guide to selecting
  
  
• Maintaining rain water Guttering
  
  
• Guttering for rain water
  
  
• Hammers - various types and their uses
  
  
• Handsaws - various types and their uses
  
  
• Hinges - different types of hinge explained
  
  
• Hot air heat guns - for stripping paint and more
  
  
• How to change a rooms dimension using wall pictures
  
  
• How to use home decor accessories to create a new look in a room
  
  
• Imperial/metric conversions factors or quick look up tables
  
• Conversion Calculator
  
  
• Interior design - decorate your space with wall art
  
  
• Insulation
  
  • Loft Insulation - the materials and how to install them
    
  • Insulating water tanks and pipes
  • Insulating internal walls with boards
  • Insulating pitched roof spaces
    
    
• Interior wooden doors
  
  
• Kitchens
  
  • Kitchen Design
  • Kitchen granite worktops - a guide to selecting
    
  • Kitchen units - what's available in units and accessories
  • Kitchen updating - advice from the Federation of Master Builders
  • Under Cabinet Lighting in the kitchen - the options available, fluorescent, halogen and LED
    
    
• Ladders - types and choices
  
  
• Lighting in the home - type of light and bulbs explained
  
  
• Locks
  
  • Mortise Lock - a step by step guide to fitting a mortise lock.
    
  • Mortise Lock - changing the latch - a step by step guide to changing the latch on a mortise lock.
  • Rim Lock - an illustrated guide to fitting a rim lock
    
    
• Loft conversion - planning guide
  
  
• Loft hatch
  • Making the hole in the ceiling
  • Casing the access hole and making the cover
    
    
• Man made, wood based boards
  
  
• Nails
  
  • Nails - all the different types
  • Nail sizes - pennies to inches
  • Nail tips - points to note
  
  
• Paints and Painting
  
  • Colour Wheel and how to use colours in decorating
    
  • Paints for use around the house
  • Painting stone, brick and render
  • Painting ferrous metals surfaces
  • Painting timber surfaces
  • Paint finishes, the different types of problems, how to avoid and correct them
    
  • Painting flush wooden doors - a step by step illustrated guide
  • Painting tips
  • Painting wooden panel doors - a step by step illustrated guide
    
  • Painting wooden casement windows - a step by step illustrated guide
    
  • Painting wooden sash windows - a step by step illustrated guide
    
  • Preparing walls and ceilings - a guide to preparing for painting
    
  • Preparing wooden doors and windows - a guide to preparing for repainting
    
  • Stripping paint from wood - the options, advantages and drawbacks
  • Timber finishes, varnishes, stains and dyes
    
  • Using a paint roller - the technique explained.
    
    
• Partitions
  • Partitions - Plan before you build will save a lot of effort
  • Partition (sound proof) - building a partition to reduce noise
    
  • Stud Partition
    
    • The basic framework
      
    • Cladding with plasterboard
      
    • Finishing off
    • Tips on drylining - from the diydata forum
      
    
    
• Party Wall Act - an outline of the duties and responsibilies for neighbouring parties.
  
  
• Party Wall Act - a practical guide - a practical guide from a Party Wall Surveyor.
  
  
• Pests in and out the house and their control
  
  
• Picture rails - a step by step guide to putting up picture rails.
  
  
• Planning Permission
  
  • Planning Permissions (England and Wales) - what you need permission for
  • Planning Permissions (England and Wales) - changes October 2008.
    
    
  • Planning Permissions (England and Wales) - producing your own drawings
  • see also
    • Building Regulations (England and Wales) - when do you need approval.
      
    
    
• Plaster ceilings - the different types explained
  
  
• Plaster repairs:
  • Lath and plaster wall repairs - step by step guide to repairing holes in lath and plaster walls.
  • Plaster wall repairs (large) - step by step guide to repairing large areas in plastered walls.
  • Plaster wall repairs (small) - step by step guide to repairing cracks in plastered walls and external plaster corners.
  • Repairing large holes in stud walls or ceilings - step by step guide to repairing large holes in plasterboard stud partition walls and ceilings.
  • Repairing small holes in stud walls - step by step guide to repairing small holes in plasterboard stud partition walls.
    
    
• Plaster walls - lath & plaster, straight plaster, stud walling and dry lining construction explained.
  
  
• Plasterboard:
  • Types of plasterboard explained.
  • Cutting and fixing plasterboard - cutting straight line and cutouts, fixing with nails and screws.
  • Filling plasterboard joints - finishing the joints with tape and filler.
  • Finishing plasterboard corners with metal plasterboard corner strips.
    
    
• Plans (FREE woodworking plans)
  • For the Children - toys and things
  • For the bedroom
  • For the garden and outdoors
  • For the kitchen
  • For the workshop
  
  
  
• Plumbing
  
  • Air Admittance Valves explained.
    
    
  • Ball valves (as fitted to WC cisterns and water tanks):
    • Slide and Diaphragm ball valves explained.
    • Slider type ball valve washer replacement - an illustrated step by step guide.
      
      
  • Boiler systems - Conventional, Combi and System domestic boiler systems explained.
    
    
  • DIY books - plumbing
    
    
  • Copper pipe and connectors for household plumbing
    
    • bending copper pipes
      
    • cutting copper pipes
      
    • Compression fittings
      
    • using solder capillary fittings
      
      
  • Central Heating:
    • Balancing Radiators
    • Bleeding the system and radiators
    • Draining an Open Vent Centrol Heating System explained.
    • Fitting valves and plugs etc to radiators.
    • Fixing radiators to different types of wall.
      
    • Flushing, descaling and refilling an Open Vent Centrol Heating System explained.
    • Removing a radiator - how to remove a radiator.
      
      
  • Central Heating design
    
    • Centrol Heating Boiler controls explained. Room Thermostats (Roomstats), Timers and Programmers, Thermostatic Radiator Valves
    • Choosing radiators/emitters for water central heating
      
    • Limiting factors in water central heating systems
      
    • Sizing building thermal loses
      
      • Example of calculating thermal loses (Imperial)
      
      
    • Sizing for domestic hot water storage
      
    • Sizing pipework
    • U- values - the overall coefficient of heat transmission values of some common building materials/methods
    
    
  • Central Heating explained (water)
    
    • Boiler configurations
      
    • Boiler to radiator pipework arrangements
      
    
    
  • Central Heating - Underfloor heating - the basic water and electric systems and the advantages/drawbacks explained.
    
    
  • Ceramic taps explained - how they work and their advantages/disadvantages.
    
  • Dish washer - guide to connecting dishwashers to the water supply and waste.
    
    
  • Immersion water heaters:
    • Adjusting the thermostat
    • Replacing the thermostat
      
      
  • Push on plumbing connectors and plastic pipe for household plumbing
    
    
  • Showers
    • Choosing showers - the different types explained
    • Gravity fed showers - the system explained
    • Instantaneous Electric Showers - the systems explained
    • Power showers - the different types explained
      
    • Power Showers - points to consider when buying and installing
      
      
  • Taps
    
    • Curing dripping taps - fitting replacement seats and washers
    • Connecting taps to the water pipes
    • Fixing and connecting mono-bloc (single hole) mixer taps
    • Fixing taps to baths, basins and sinks
      
    • Regrinding a tap seat
    • Replacing a tap washer
    • Replacing a Supatap washer
      
      
  • Toilets
    • Cistern - modern direct action (syphon) lavatory cistern
    • Cistern - modern flap flush valve lavatory cistern - how they work
    • Cistern - old style Burlington Bell type lavatory cistern
    • Common problems with lavatory cisterns
    • Replacing a flap valve in a direct action cistern
      
      
  • Washing machines - guide to connecting washing machines to the water supply and waste
    
    
  • Waste disposal units - the basics and how to fit waste disposal units to sinks.
    
    
  • Waste fittings:
    • Bath - Illustrated guide to the various types of waste water fittings for baths
    • Hand basin - Illustrated guide to the various types of waste water fittings for hand basins
    • Sink - Illustrated guide to the various types of waste water fittings for sinks
      
      
  • Waste pipe
    • Making waste pipe connections to household drains
    • Waste pipes and connectors - the different types explained
      
      
  • Waste traps - the different types of water waste traps explained
    
    
• Power Washers - the options explained
  
  
• Roofing
  
  
  • Using Corrugated Roof Sheeting
    
  • Laying a felt roof (three layer, cold adhesive)
    
  • Repairing Felt Roofs
    
  • Felting and battening - a step by step guide to putting on the felt and battens for a slate or tile roof
  • Glossary of roofing terms
    
  • Pitched roofs - cut and truss roofs explained
    
  • Repairing plain tile roofs - a guide to the practical aspects of repairing plain tile roofs
  • Repairing slate roofs - a guide to the practical aspects of repairing slate roofs
  • Replacing ridge tiles - a guide to replacing loose and dislodged ridge tiles on the roof
  • Using interlocking tiles - a guide to the practical aspects of roofing with interlocking tiles with side overlaps
  • Using ridge tiles - a guide to the practical aspects of fixing ridge tiles to slate and tile roofs
  • Using plain roofing tiles - a guide to the practical aspects of roofing using plain tiles
  • Using slates - a guide to the practical aspects of roofing with slates
    
    
• Router cutters - different types, material and uses
  
  
• Routers - the various features, what to look for, how to maintain
  
  
• Safety for the do it yourself person
  
  
• Sandpaper & glasspaper - types and their uses
  
  
• Screwdrivers - cordless - the various features and options explained.
  
  
• Sealants - types explained
  
  
• Self-build - advice from the Federation of Master Builders
  
  
• Shelving
  
  • Types of shelving to choose.
  • Fitting long shelving with brackets - an illustrated step by step guide.
  • Fitting short shelving with brackets - an illustrated step by step guide.
  • Fitting shelving to an alcove - a step by step guide.
  • Fitting shelving to a corner - a step by step guide.
  • Materials explained - solid timber, chipwood, mdf, blockboard, plywood etc.
    
    
• Skirting board - a step by step guide to cutting and fitting skirting board.
  
  
• Sliding Wardrobe Doors - How to fit DIY sliding wardrobe doors between uneven walls
  
  
• Smoke alarms - different types and their features
  
  
• Solving the problems of an irregularly sized bedroom - design ideas for small and large bedrooms
  
  
• Sound Proofing
  
  • Background to soundproofing your property - why and how to soundproof
  • Floor soundproofing
  • Noises from your neighbour and how to soundproof party walls
  • Partition (sound proof) - building a partition to reduce noise
  • Suspended Ceiling to improve sound proofing
    
  • Suspended Ceiling to improve sound proofing (alternative method)
  
  
• Solar energy - design, install and use
• A simple solar panel
• Solar energy - Why install thermal solar panels ?
  
  
• Spanners and wrenches - the different types and uses explained.
  
  
• Staircases explained will illustrations and glossary plus repairing staircases.
  
  
• Stucco/Rendering mixes
  
• Stucco - uses and application
  
  
• Suspended Ceiling to improve sound proofing.
  
  
• Telephone sockets - adding some around the house.
  
  
• Tiling
  
  • Ceramic tiles - basic styles - The basic shapes and tile types explained
  • Estimating wall tiles - A guide to working out how many tiles are required for a tiling job
  • Estimating tile finishing strip - A guide to working out how many finishing strips are required for a tiling job and how to cut it to get the most out of it
  • Preparing surfaces for ceramic wall tiles - A guide to preparing the surface whether wallpaper, paint, tile or timber
  • Setting out ceramic wall tiles - A guide to making the job look professional
  • Fixing ceramic wall tiles - A guide to fixing ceramic wall tiles
  • Cutting ceramic tiles - A guide to cutting ceramic wall tiles
  • Grouting wall tiles - A guide
  • Tiling tools - the different tools required for wall and floor tiling explained.
    
    
    
• Timber joints - simple
  
  • Box joints
    
  • Frame joints
    
  • Mortise and tenon joints
    
  
  
• Timber rot - dry and wet - how to identify and treat
  
  
• Tools:
  • Bricklayer's Tool Kit - the different tools used in bricklaying explained.
  • Circular Saw - the various features, what to look for, how to use and maintain
  • Clamps - different types available for different jobs
  • Cordless Screwdrivers - the various features and options explained.
  • Drills - hand and electric - different types and their uses
  • Drill bits - different types for different jobs
  • Electric Drill - the features of electric hand drills
  • Garden Power Tools - hedge trimmers, chain saws etc.
  • Hammers - various types and their uses
  • Handsaws - various types and their uses
  • Hot air heat guns - for stripping paint and more
  • Ladders - types and choices
  • Router cutters - different types, material and uses
  • Routers - the various features, what to look for, how to maintain
  • Sandpaper & glasspaper - types and their uses.
  • Screwdrivers - cordless - the various features and options explained.
  • Spanners and wrenches - the different types and uses explained.
  • Tiling tools - the different tools required for wall and floor tiling explained.
  
  
  
• Underfloor heating - the basic water and electric systems and the advantages/drawbacks explained.
  
  
• Vinyl flooring
  
  
  • Floor preparation
  • Planning to lay vinyl tiles
  • Calculating the number of floor tiles
  • Setting out
  • Laying the vinyl tiles
  • After care
    
  
  
• Wall chaser - the various features and what to look for
  
  
• Wall Fixings for hollow walls and surfaces
  
  
• Wall Fixings for solid walls
  
  
• Wallpapering
  
  • Types of Wallpaper - the different types explained.
  • Symbols on labels - the symbols on wallpaper labels explained.
  • How many rolls? - Calulate how many rools of wall paper you will require.
  • Stripping wallpaper - a step by step guide to stripping different types of wall paper.
  • Preparing different surfaces for hanging wallpaper - new and old plasterboard and plaster walls etc.
  • Cutting and pasting wallpaper - a guide to setting out the start lines, cutting and pasting the wallpaper.
  • Hanging wallpaper - a step by step guide to hanging wallpaper.
  • Hanging wallpaper around architrave.
  • Hanging wallpaper around electrical fittings.
  • Hanging wallpaper around a recess at door and window surrounds.
    
    
• Washing machines - guide to connecting washing machines to the water supply and waste.
  
  
• wetNfix - repairs for wall plugs
  
  
• Wet timber rot - how to identify and treat
  
  
• Windows
  
  • Sash windows - the basics
  • Sash windows - renewing sash cords
    
    
• Winter checks - some checks around the house to avoid winter problems
  
  
• Wood screws - the basics
  
  
• Wood screw clearance and pilot hole sizes
  
  
• Worktops, Granite - a guide to selecting
  
  
• Woodworking Plans (FREE)
  • For the bedroom
  • For the garden
  • For the kitchen
  • For the workshop