:: Condensation is a problem at this time of year and it can damage your decor. It happens when warm air inside the room meets the cold windowpane and forms droplets of water. With double and secondary glazing, condensation can get between the panes, which isn't good for the window frames, especially if they're made of wood.
:: To help to protect wooden frames, wipe off the condensation every morning - from both the glass and the frames - and open the windows. Even if you can only open them for a short time before going to work, this will clear the condensation quicker than not doing it.
:: With wooden frames, keep an eye out for damaged and deteriorating paintwork. If you spot chipped, cracked or bubbling paint, sand and clean the area, apply a little wood filler to blend the bare and painted wood, sand and clean when dry, and paint over with quick-drying wood primer/undercoat and then topcoat. Keeping the paintwork in good condition will help to protect the frames from the moisture.
:: Walls also get condensation on them, particularly in bay windows, in the kitchen, because of the steam generated by cooking, and in the bathroom, when you shower or bath. Having efficient extractor fans is important - if you don't have any, get a qualified electrician to fit them in your kitchen and bathroom - and, again, open the windows whenever possible.
:: Not ventilating a room that suffers from condensation can lead to mould on your walls, particularly behind curtains, beds, sofas, sideboards, etc. Scrub it off with a mould-cleaning liquid or spray and wait several weeks to see if the problem reoccurs. If the mould has marked the walls, give them a fresh coat of paint, but only if you're sure you've cracked the cause of the problem.
DIY news bulletin
:: You won't get far DIYing without a decent tape measure and they don't get much better than the latest one from Stanley.
The FatMax Xtreme has an impressive 32mm-wide high-visibility metal blade (showing both metric and imperial measurements), which is really easy to read and lock in place. The blade is coated with Mylar to make it up to 10 times more abrasion resistant than normal lacquered blades, and has an extra protective coating on the first 15.5cm to reduce the risk of it breaking.
The super-sized end hook has specially designed hook grabs, which work well. Measuring is easy, even if you don't have someone to hold the end hook, because the blade stays rigid.
Best of all, the FatMax Xtreme isn't heavy or bulky, and has a rubberised casing, so it's comfortable to hold and use. It also has a belt clip.
The FatMax Xtreme tape measure is available 5m, 8m and 10m lengths, priced from £24.52. To find out more, visit www.stanleytools.co.uk.
:: DIY chain B&Q has signed up TV property experts Kirstie Allsopp and George Clarke as part of its campaign to make home improvement easier for everyone.
Allsopp will be providing tips and advice to give customers more confidence when redecorating their homes, while Clarke, a qualified architect, will be advising customers on how to make more of the space they have at home.
"Reuse, recycle, redecorate!" says Allsopp. "We can all have a go. And that's the great thing about my B&Q partnership, inspiring and exciting everyone to have a go at doing it for themselves."
Allsopp and Clarke join Alan Titchmarsh, who's now into his second year working with B&Q to make gardening easier. Go to www.diy.com to find your nearest store.
Ask the expert...
Q: My chisels are blunt - can I sharpen them or do I need to buy some new ones?
A: No, buy a sharpening stone, available from DIY and hardware stores, instead. This has two sides, one rougher than the other, and enables you to sharpen all kinds of metal things. Wet the stone first and start sharpening on the coarse side, then finish off on the finer one.
Seasonal task...
It's noticeably lighter in the mornings and evenings, so you can get more DIY done. Remember, though, that decorating should only be done in good natural light or you will make mistakes.
