Get those jobs done with a little help from DIY guru Julia Gray. This week: how to make your tongue-and-groove panelling look great.
Top tips for...fixing tongue-and-groove panelling
:: One method of fixing tongue-and-groove panelling is metal clips. They fit into the groove and leave a small tongue through which you bang a pin into one of the battens of wood you've fixed to the wall. For this method, you need to plane the tongue off the first board you're fixing and put that edge against the left-hand wall. The next board along will conceal the clips.
:: Another option is secret nailing. This involves driving panel pins through the tongue at an angle. To prevent the tongue from splitting, you need to pre-drill the holes for the pins. Bang the pins in using a pin hammer and then a fine pin punch for the final 5mm or so. The pins should sit just below the surface of the wood.
:: To cut a piece of tongue and groove, score with a craft knife and metal ruler, before cutting with a hand saw - or a jigsaw with a fine blade. The cut should be at least a couple of centimetres in from the end of the board. If your design calls for angles, use a combination square for 45 degrees angles and a protractor and adjustable bevel for other ones. Smooth off all cut ends with fine sandpaper and wipe clean.
:: Once you've finished fixing the tongue and groove, fill the pin holes with a little wood filler for a good finish. Once the filler's dry, sand and wipe clean. If you're planning to varnish the tongue and groove, use a wood filler that's the same or a very similar colour.
:: If the tongue and groove is in your bathroom or kitchen, you need to paint or varnish it as soon as possible to prevent stains and water damage. Choosing a product suitable for exterior or kitchen and bathroom use is advisable for maximum protection.
DIY news bulletin
:: If you're looking for a DIY and design book, check out A Girl's Guide To Decorating, a hands-on decorating manual from interior stylist Abigail Ahern. Covering the fundamentals of home design - space, colour, light, texture and finishing touches - the book is full of low-cost ideas and more than 150 colour photos.
You'll learn how to transform key elements of your home, whether it's customising a piece of furniture, adapting a junk-shop find or giving tired walls a facelift. Step-by-step instructions guide you through the projects and there's a handy reference section on basic tools and tips. A Girl's Guide To Decorating is published by Quadrille Publishing and costs £16.99.
:: B&Q has launched a new Student Gift Card, designed to make the big move to university easier. The idea is that the student's parents top up the card with anything from £1 to £1,000 and the student spends the money at B&Q on household essentials - from homewares and DIY materials to furniture and storage solutions.
The card has two parts: one for the student to spend and the other for parents to top up. It is available from all B&Q stores nationwide.
Ask the expert
Q: My metal bath has seen better days - can I restore it?
A: You can buy kits to repair chips and scratches in metal baths, but in my experience it's not easy to get a good finish with the special paint you use to disguise the repair. Re-enamelling a metal bath is a better way to restore it, though you will need to get an expert to do this for you. New metal baths are relatively cheap to buy if you feel yours is beyond repair. However, restoring an existing bath is much cheaper than buying a new one.
Seasonal task
If your home has metal guttering, give it a coat or two of paint while the weather's nice to prepare it for winter. Also, you can check for blockages while you're doing this. Make sure you use a good-quality exterior paint suitable for metal, and prepare the guttering before you start painting it. If your home is a listed building, or if you live in a conservation area or other restricted location, you will probably have to keep the guttering the same colour. However, if you are unsure, your local council's conservation officer will be able to advise you.
