Get those jobs done with a little help from DIY guru Julia Gray. This week: how to make your home burglar-proof.
Top tips for... making your home burglar-proof
:: Ensure all your windows and doors are locked securely when you're out or on holiday, and hide the keys. Most window locks can be installed relatively easily by DIYers, but bear in mind that different types of window require different locks, so you may have to install more than one sort and some will be easier than others.
You may also want to fit more than one lock on the same window, such as catches on sash windows that stop them being opened from the outside, and key-operated locks that let you open them slightly for ventilation without unlocking them. Most house insurers will insist on a minimum standard of locks, and in certain places, such as downstairs windows.
:: Locks for external doors are generally less easy for DIYers to fit, but by no means impossible. BS3621 five-lever mortise deadlocks are required by most insurance companies, and if you're not confident that you can fit or change one correctly, get a locksmith to do it because you could compromise the security of the door. You can find one on www.problemsolved.co.uk, a network of tradespeople powered by recommendations and reviews from the public.
:: Make sure your letterbox is at least 40cm away from the door's locks, so thieves can't use it as a way in. Fitting a letterbox cage is straightforward to do and will increase the security of your front door, but don't, under any circumstances, attach your keys to it on a chain or piece of string. Keep your keys well away from the door, even when you're at home.
:: Apply anti-burglar paint to surfaces such as windowsills, walls, guttering, gates, railings and fences to keep intruders out. This special paint creates a permanently greasy surface that deters burglars and can even mark their hands.
:: Sheds, outbuildings and garages are often the first place opportunistic thieves look for a screwdriver or crowbar to use to break into your home, so make sure they're securely locked and fit new locks if necessary. If possible, store any DIY tools that burglars could use to break in to your home.
DIY news bulletin
:: Three Polycell products - Damp Seal, Stain Stop, and 3 in 1 Mould Killer - are now available in easy-to-use sponge tubes that work like shoe polish. The tubes are better than paint for small and medium-sized repairs because paint has a tendency to dry out in the tin, and easier to control than spray paint.
Polycell Stain Stop is a pigmented paint that conceals stains, such as water, grease, nicotine, crayons, rust and soot, on walls and ceilings and prevents them from reappearing.
Damp Seal is designed to seal patches of penetrating damp on interior walls and ceilings and stop them from showing through decoration.
The Mould Killer contains a fungicide that removes mould and prevents regrowth, making it ideal for preparing mould-prone areas before painting to give a better finish.
Prices start from around £4.99 for the Mould Killer 125ml tube and £6.99 for the Damp Seal and Stain Stop 125ml tubes. See www.polycell.co.uk for more details.
:: Most of us don't have amazing cityscape views from our homes, but we can with Digetex - and a little DIYing. The company has a library of stunning city views, including the Metro collection of New York images, which can be used on murals, wallpaper, canvases and blinds.
Their standard stock murals are 396cm x 240cm and cost £99. Roller blinds, murals and wallpaper can all be made to bespoke sizes. Find out more at www.digetex.com.
Ask the expert
Q: How do I fix skirting boards in and around corners?
A: To fit skirtings neatly in a corner, lay a length of board on the floor, profile side up. Put an off-cut of skirting vertically on one end, lining up the top and bottom of the two boards, and mark around the profile of the off-cut, then cut with a coping saw.
The second wall should be finished off with a square-ended board. As before, scribe the end of the first length on the third wall and continue this sequence to finish off the fourth wall.
For external corners, cut mitres to fit the corners, then glue and pin the mitred skirting boards in place.
Seasonal task
Late summer/early autumn is a good time to check that your central-heating system is working properly, rather than leaving it until you want to use it again in a couple of months. You can bleed your radiators yourself, but you will need a Gas Safe Register engineer to service or replace your boiler - DIYers should never deal with gas.
