My garage door is an absolute state… well it was until yesterday PM. To be fair, it was probably due for retirement BUT the current economic climate means that it’s all about preservation at the mo.

So after stripping it back to bare metal last week I got to work with the spray gun. Luckily for me the PFS 105E came with a very simple to understand/view DVD. Without it I would have probably avoided the instructions at all costs and ended up with a rainbow coloured door.

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The Bosch PDO Multi detects water pipes, metal or wooden sub structures and obviously electrical wiring. It’s also very easy to use and understand as it has a large (and clear) display with detection settings on it. The best feature is the red/green LED display for the drill hole marking shows when and where you can drill without danger and a very useful pencil holder!

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First of all, it’s what I might call ergonomically designed. It balances pretty well in the hand and is comparatively lightweight.

Secondly, it is pretty darn powerful for a cordless drill of this size.

Thirdly, Bosch as they always do - have produced a sturdy, robust and well designed product that will probably last an absolute age. Job done, no need to buy a new drill for the next hundred years then…

Forth, it’s compact and very easy to use. So it doubles up perfectly for heavy duty hammer drilling or light touch screwing work.

Lastly, (and most importantly for me) it holds it’s charge wonderfully well - using Lithium-Ion technology in the battery.

Other features include:

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Luxury bed maker, Vi-Spring, has launched a series of Centres of Excellence at Furniture Village stores across the UK. In relaxed and stylish surroundings, the joint initiative will showcase Vi-Spring’s uncompromising approach to sleep, which it believes can be truly life-changing.

The average adult spends 25 years in bed during a lifetime, so choosing the right bed is one of the most important purchasing decisions you can make. After all, your bed is the place you return to almost every night and should be chosen with care. In a busy and stressful shopping environment, it can be impossible to give this task the required attention. The Vi-Spring Centres of Excellence eliminate distractions, allowing customers to focus on selecting their perfect bed in peaceful calm. 

Designed exclusively for Furniture Village, the centres will feature chandeliers, subtle freestanding lighting and strand curtains to evoke a tranquil and opulent atmosphere. Experts will be on hand at every centre to provide advice on every aspect of Vi-Spring’s unparalleled bespoke service.

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Loft insulation

One of the easiest ways to reduce energy bills is to insulate the property’s roof as over a quarter of a home’s heat is lost through this - by insulating a loft you could save an annual sum of £155.

Walls

When completing an extension remember to insulate new walls as 33% of the entire building’s heat loss is through un-insulated walls. Cavity wall slabs are ideal for insulating extensions.

Doors and windows

Gaps around doors and windows are also a common cause of heat loss and account for about 20% of heat loss. Use foam or rubber seals to fill these costly gaps.

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One of my personal favourites is this Claremont Marble mantel shown with a Polished Adelaide fireplace.

Perfect for a high end, luxury finish.

Alternatively, Pienza (steel frame as per below) or Sienna and Firenza stone frames (Precision cut from solid Travertine, Limestone and Granite)
offer an ultra contemporary look.

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Although, we haven’t tested these products, they look stylish and include a range that has been extended from 6 and 8 foot doors to include 10 and 12 foot doors. 

This design appears high quality and features double glazing throughout with a solid wood core and an extra-thick, three millimetre real oak veneer. 

Prices range from £1,299 for a three panel door, you can bring the outdoors into your home.  Four options of three panels up to five (sizes available are 6ft, 8ft, 10ft and 12ft).  All the doors fold back completely and the 10ft option also has a French door feature, providing easy access for everyday use.  All the doors are reversible, meaning they can be fitted from left to right or right to left – a handy feature for this type of door. 

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This one from Starflight Ltd is pretty, contemporary and maybe a tad pricey - although worth it if you want a wow factor.

This glass one retails for £15,000.

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A series of weird and wacky calls for help have been posted on MyHammer - a UK trade and services portal – including one asking for a new pair of fangs and another looking for someone to send bananas to France. Not to mention the person hoping to find a HOUSEWIFE to RENT.

Here’s a list of the strangest ‘odd jobs’ posted on the website so far this summer…
Fangs – “I currently have two acrylic fang caps and would like copies made out of something stronger” With a request like this, who knows what vampire characters are lurking in the night!

Coffin – “Help! We need a miniature coffin made. Doesn’t have to be made of proper wood or anything, even MDF will do” We can only hope that this is a prop for a production…

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Here are basic top tips for anyone needing to use ladders:

•  Only use a ladder or step ladder in one position for a maximum of 30 minutes

•  Only use a ladder or step ladder for ‘light’ work - they are not suitable for strenuous or heavy work

•  Only use a ladder or step ladder where you can maintain three points of contact (hands and feet) at the working position

There are different ladders for different jobs and it is vital you have the right one:

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