A sliding door can offer a practical solution if you need more space in a room, but it's vital to have accurate measurements before you buy and fit your door. Follow these top tips to get it right.
:: Measure the door opening in more than one place. Measure horizontally across the top and bottom of the opening and then vertically on each side.
:: To get the tracks for the door the right size, subtract 3mm from the opening's top and bottom measurements. You'll need one track for the ceiling and one for the floor. Use a hacksaw to cut them, and cover your cutting line with masking tape so the blade is less likely to slip.
:: Mark the position of the screws for the top track on the ceiling, drill the holes and screw the track in place using butterfly screws. The floor track can be fixed with screws or tape. Remember to use an electric cable and pipe detector before drilling so you don't go through anything you shouldn't.
:: When installing the door, ensure the top guide is in the top track, with the bottom of the door slanting out at about a 15-degree angle, then lower the door's bottom wheels into the bottom track.
:: You can adjust the door with the screw on the top of the bottom wheels. Using a screwdriver, turn the screw clockwise to lower the door and anticlockwise to make it higher. Keep raising and lowering its sides until you're happy with its position. For more information, visit the DIY Advice Centre at www.homebase.co.uk.
DIY news bulletin
:: The Dulux dog is celebrating its 50th birthday this year and to mark the occasion, the current dog, Spud, will be out and about making public appearances all over the country.
Commemorative goodies include toy Old English sheepdogs, mugs, figurines and dog blankets and bowls. To find out more, including facts and figures about the Dulux dog over the years, go to www.dulux.co.uk/dog.
:: When you're painting bare wood, it's easy to forget to apply knotting solution to the knots first, but this can be a big mistake. Now there's a timesaving alternative - a new combined wood primer and undercoat from Ronseal that also seals the knots to prevent the resin in them from bleeding through and ruining your paintwork.
Said to be a world first, Ronseal KnotBLOCK Wood Primer & Undercoat can be applied to bare or previously painted interior wood and contains knot-blocking technology to create a barrier that wood resin can't penetrate.
The low-odour paint goes on easily and dries quickly, making it a pleasure to use. It costs £10.98 for 750ml or £24.98 for 2.5ltr. See www.ronseal.co.uk.
Ask the expert...
Q: How do I deal with flaking paint?
A: Paint often flakes with age, but if your paint isn't that old, there will be other causes. One of the most common is not preparing the surface properly, i.e. painting over things like dust, dirt and grease. Surfaces should be repaired and sanded (if necessary) and then cleaned thoroughly and allowed to dry before you start painting. If you live in a period property that hasn't been decorated for many years, flaking paint may be caused by distemper (an old-fashioned paint). To test for distemper, wet the surface with water and wait to see if the paint peels away - distemper will. Get as much of it off as you can with water and a scraper, then seal with a couple of coats of plaster sealer.
Seasonal task...
Insulating your home's loft isn't a particularly quick and easy DIY job, but topping up the insulation can be. Lots of lofts have some insulation, but it's often not enough. It should be 270mm deep for mineral wool (other materials may require different depths), so if you want to lag your loft properly without starting from scratch, lay new insulation on top of the existing stuff - and start to see your heating bills come down.
:: Please note this is a re-send of DIY DIY Column for those needing.
