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Last Minute Jobs for Christmas

Harriet GoodacreHarriet Goodacre

December 04, 2017

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Everyone wants their home as close to perfection as possible over the festive period and a few last minute jobs can make the world of difference. We’ve put together some great hints and tips to get those jobs done quickly with stunning results so you can spend the run up to Christmas doing more important things like wrapping presents and eating chocolate!

Replacing Sealant

Silicone sealant can often be the first thing to wear in a bathroom if mould gets trapped underneath or it's discoloured the only way to rectify it is to replace it. This is not a time-consuming job and the benefits far out way the effort taken. You can purchase specific tools to remove silicone sealant but if you have a good sharp Stanley knife at home that will work just as well.

Put on some thick protective gloves and then slice through the sealant removing as much as you can, any remaining strands can be rubbed off with your fingers or some white spirit, just be careful not to scratch or damage the surface you are removing the sealant from. Once the sealant has been removed and the cleaned area has fully air dried, use a mastic gun to apply the new sealant.

Hold the tube length ways along the joint and squeeze the trigger whilst moving the tube to create an even trail of sealant. To tidy the edges, wet your finger and run it slowly along the silicone joint, pushing gently to create a concave finish. Tidy up any excess and once dried smarten the edges with your Stanley knife.
Sealant sink

Cleaning Grout

We all dread cleaning the shower and getting rid of the soap residue but regular cleaning might not always be enough. To give your grout a proper clean use a grout cleaner, following the manufacturers specifications apply it to your tiles and wait the specified time period and then give it a gentle scrub with an old toothbrush with small firm bristles. The gunk should fall away and your grout will gleam like new! Once it's dried, go over with a grout protector spray and this should stop a regular build up residue meaning less deep cleaning going forwards!

If your grout is looking particularly unruly or missing in parts then the best thing to do is replace the existing grout, purchasing a grout rake is the most efficient way of doing this job. When replacing your grout consider using a darker grout so it looks newer for longer and remember to use the grout protector for a lasting finish.
Grout Cleaning

Resealing Natural Stone

If you've made the investment of having natural stone in your home then you want to keep it protected and looking fantastic. It's advised to reseal your natural stone every 12-18 months but this can vary depending on the type of stone (and the wear and tear it's subject to!)

Start by cleaning your tiles with a PH neutral specialist cleaner and get rid of any grime, if you have any specific stains try a specialist stain remover for stone. You're then ready to reseal, ask one of our in-store specialists for the correct sealant and the number of coats require for your specific stone type. Once applied, you should avoid using household detergents as these will affect the effectiveness of the stone protector, stick to a neutral PH product like BAL's Microshield Plus.
Sealing Natural Stone

Tidying Up Outside

Winter is a great time to do a little DIY outside as the majority of shrubbery and flowers have died back making it easier to get around. A great little update is to tidy up the front garden, add an instant refresh with a new garden path and a lick of paint or varnish on the front door and your festive wreath will look magnificent.

Choose from a range of outdoor tiles with that all-important anti-slip to keep safe in icy weather, remember to choose a warmer December day to do these jobs otherwise the ground will be too hard to work with.
Revamping Outdoors

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