The simplest method of all is to fit material such as folded plastic, paper, or specially cut pieces of wood between or underneath the offending floorboards. Although it may sound like a temporary measure, it may do the trick sufficiently well, and last for long enough, to not require anything more.

An additional option is to tighten the screws, or perhaps to replace any faulty or missing screws or nails which are holding down the floorboards. It may be that the screws or nails have loosened over time. A word of warning here, though – inserting new screws or nails where there were none before may be hazardous if there are electrical cables or water pipes directly below the floor.

In cases where one or more floorboards have become damaged beyond repair, it may be necessary to replace them altogether. Clearly this will work only if a replacement can be found that matches the rest of the floor. If no matching replacement can be found, one option is to replace it regardless and then paint or colour the entire floor in a different colour. Another option is to replace the entire floor using new floorboards, or to use the empty space for something else, such as placing furniture over it.

Fixing a loose floorboard can potentially lead to a larger DIY project, such as installing underfloor heating.

Sofa beds come in different shapes and sizes, from single beds that are chairs when folded, to double beds that are larger couches. Key to choosing the right sofa bed is not only the size and function of it during the daytime, but also how easy it is to unfold, how much space it contains to store bedding and pillows internally and the type of material it is made from. Leather sofa beds are stylish, while more basic fabric sofa beds can do the trick perfectly well for a relatively lower cost.

Sofa beds are sometimes known as futons, which is also a thin mattress mat originating in Japan. The sofa bed futon retains the thin mattress but this is part of a larger set that functions as a seat or couch when folded.

A common misconception about sofa beds is that they are difficult and aesthetically less than pleasing to the eye when in the chair or couch mode. Both are incorrect: sofa beds typically fold out easily and are often indistinguishable from regular chairs or couches when folded.

Buildings insurance may already have been arranged by the landlord if you own an apartment in a block of flats, for example, but normally when you take out a freehold mortgage you’ll be required, by the mortgage company, to take out a buildings insurance policy. This will cover the cost of rebuilding the house in the event of an unexpected disaster, because unexpected disasters do happen.

The buildings policy will probably cover fixed items such as fitted kitchens and garden sheds, but you must check for yourself by reading the policy.

A contents insurance policy covers movable possessions in the property and often some of them outside, though separate travel insurance arrangements will usually need to be made if you take things away on holiday with you.

Once you’ve found a suitable buildings or contents insurer you can drive the premiums down by reducing the level of cover, increasing your excess or taking them both out from the same insurer, which usually results in a discount.

Shop around for the buildings insurance and contents insurance policies that are right for you and take out the correct level of cover for the value of property and possessions you own; don’t pay for insurance you don’t need. This is the only way to save money, whilst being fully covered.

Designer radiators are making their way into homes everywhere. People are finding that a designer radiator is an inexpensive way to quickly add dash and style to a room, while increasing comfort and energy efficiency. Old radiators can be horribly inefficient, wasting your hard-earned money on inefficient heating. Today’s new designer radiators can heat your bathroom for much less money, in fact, many of them are programmable or can be installed with a programmable thermostat, which only turns on when you want it to.

Radiators by Reina, Lazzarini and others are so sleek and slim that you’ll gain floor space as well as warmth and comfort. In fact, many of the designer radiators can be mounted on the wall or in a corner and also hold towels. Imagine nice warm towels after your bath and a designer radiator to update the room.

Today’s designer radiators are much more reasonably priced than you might think. Compare the cost of an old, stodgy radiator to the sleek chrome or brushed metal designer models and you’ll see that for just a little more money you can purchase a radiator that has had attention to style incorporated into the design. 

When friends and relatives visit, they invariably use your bathroom, so why not treat them to a room that reflects you and your unique style? Take that old, inefficient radiator out and install a sleek, efficient designer radiator. You’ll wish you had done it sooner.

If there is a smaller area to heat (one to three rooms), an electric underfloor heating system costs less and is easier to install.  Additionally, they have a lower start-up cost than other types of heating systems.  However, you should be aware of the fact that the efficiency factor involved with the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity is considerably lower.

If you want to handle the installation as a DIY underfloor heating project rather than having it done by professional contractors, electric systems are relatively easy to install.  In addition to this, they are still more energy-efficient than conventional forced-air heating systems.  You can “zone” individual rooms and install an underfloor heating thermostat so that one room can be heated independently of the others.  This will save you money on your monthly utility bills.

Another advantage of electric underfloor heating systems is that the floor height build-up can be as thin as 1 mm.  The electric cables required for the system are usually placed on an installation board, or they can be installed directly onto the carpet padding or on top of the sub flooring.

Measure the dimensions of your room carefully.  When you know exactly how much space you have available you’ll be better equipped to shop for beds. 

Once you know how big your room is, you can set out to find the perfect bed.  But remember that a bed is much more than just the frame and mattress.  Will you have space for a bed frame, headboard, and footboard?  Is the length too much for your room?  Can you incorporate additional furniture like a night table, mirror, dressing bench, or vanity in your space along with the bed?  Will you be able to get into and out of the bed?  If you’re shopping for bunk beds, trundle beds, sofa beds, or other alternative sleeping options, can your room accommodate the extra space that will be taken up with the bed is unfolded or opened up?

Now that you’ve measured your room and your bed, be sure you select a mattress that will fit the bed frame.  An ill-fitting mattress is uncomfortable to sleep on, wears unevenly, and won’t last as long as one that fits properly.  If you sleep with a partner, buy the largest bed and mattress combination that your room and your budget will allow to ensure that both sleepers are comfortable.

There is a range of different shaped shower trays on the market, which makes it easy for you to select one that will suit your own particular bathroom. You can choose from the traditional square shaped models all the way up to large rectangular models that give you much more space to move in.

If space is at a premium in your bathroom you will probably be restricted to a square model, but you might also consider getting one with one corner angled off. This makes a huge difference to the look and feel of the bathroom, while not affecting the actual size of the shower in any fundamental way. You can also buy walk in shower trays that are really at the top end of what’s available. They tend to be of a P shaped design to ensure that you can get in easily and have plenty of room to move around in. 

As you can see, the shower trays you can choose from are many and varied and of course you have different materials to consider. Whatever design you ultimately choose, the most important thing is to decide what will work best in your own bathroom.

Although you are not required to take out contents insurance, the lender couldn’t care less about your personal effects, so it would be unwise not to have cover in place. Thieves don’t leave a calling card and it would probably be the last you ever saw of that family heirloom or HDTV, Xbox or top-of-the-range home-theatre equipment. A ‘new-for-old’ contents policy will at least replace the gadgetry with the latest models, although the heirloom will probably, if you’re sensible, have been separately insured. This is normally the case with individual items above £1,000 or so.

Check the policy carefully before taking it out, to see what exactly is covered.

In the case of a good underfloor heating system, your floor will become an integral part of that system.  In fact, the floor will actually become part of the insulation and heat emitting process.  Heating from the floor up will allow for a more uniform temperature throughout a room and a more evenly heated home.

There are two main types of underfloor heating systems – electric and water based.  The way they work is almost identical except in where they get their heat from.  Obviously, wet underfloor heating systems work with warmed water whereas electric underfloor heating draws warmth from electric heating cables.

The water-based underfloor heating system is ideal for homes equipped with high-efficiency condensing boilers.  It is also suitable for use with heat pumps and solar water heaters.  Heat is generated by mixing the water in the underfloor heating system’s pipes with hot water from the boiler.  Electric underfloor heating systems draw warmth from the heating elements, mats, and cables.

Just remember, different underfloor heating kits are manufactured for different installation methods.  Always be sure that you read each system’s instructions carefully before actually tearing up your floor or making any plans.

Well, they are making a come back! The cast iron radiator can be a beautiful focal piece in any room nowadays – whether you want the traditional or contemporary look.

Check out the range of cast iron radiators available from our friends at the Radiator Centre.