Advice from the trade
RSS FeedStraight answers on electrics, plumbing, property maintenance and refurbishments for homeowners, landlords and letting agents across London and Essex. Written by the team at Positive Contractors in Chigwell: NICEIC Approved, Gas Safe registered, and around 25 years in the trade.
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Featured
LVT Flooring Installation: Why It's a Smart Choice for Homes and Rentals
Thinking about LVT (luxury vinyl tile) flooring? How it compares with real wood and laminate, why it suits rentals, kitchens and busy homes, and what a proper installation involves. Photos from a recent job.
Case Study: Replacing Loose and Damaged Tiles in a Shower Enclosure
Loose, cracked or hollow-sounding shower tiles? Why shower tiling fails, how we replaced a section of tiles inside an enclosure without a full bathroom refit, and how to stop water getting behind tiles.
Damp and Leak Investigation: Finding the Real Cause Before You Repair
Damp patches, peeling paint or blown plaster? How we investigate damp and leaks: condensation, penetrating damp, rising damp and plumbing leaks, using moisture meters to find the source before any repair.
Case Study: Jacksons Estate Agency Office Fit-Out, Wandsworth
A full office refit for Jacksons estate agents in Wandsworth: a new ceiling, LED downlights and wall lights, an illuminated sign, decorating and new flooring, all delivered by one team.
Case Study: 120-Port Comms Cabinet and Patch Panel Installation
A wall-mounted data cabinet with five 24-port Cat6 patch panels, every cable dressed, terminated, labelled and tested. See how a tidy comms cabinet is built during a commercial fit-out.
Garden Lighting Ideas and Installation: Patios, Pergolas and Outdoor Kitchens
Garden lighting ideas from real installations: LED strip lighting, tree uplighters, pergola lighting and heaters, and outdoor kitchen power. Plus what a safe, properly installed garden electrical system involves.
Case Study: Suspended Ceiling and LED Lighting for a Commercial Unit
How we transformed a bare industrial unit with a new suspended ceiling, LED panel lighting and fire alarm cabling, turning it into a bright, finished space for a private car collection.
Case Study: Deep Cleaning Mould From a Bath and Shower Area
Stained grout, mould in the corners and black seals around the bath screen. How we deep-cleaned a mouldy bath and shower area regrouted and resealed it, with before and after photos and tips to stop it coming back.
Case Study: Failed Shower Sealant, a Rotten Wall Corner and the Repair
Water escaping past old shower sealant had rusted the metal corner bead and blown the plaster beside the enclosure. How we stripped out the damage, rebuilt the corner, redecorated and resealed the shower tray.
Case Study: Resurfacing a Solid Oak Kitchen Worktop
Stained, dull or water-marked wooden worktops can usually be brought back rather than replaced. How we sanded back and re-oiled a solid oak kitchen worktop, and how to keep a wooden worktop looking good.
Case Study: Replacing a Rotten Bathroom Floor After a Long-Term Leak
A bathroom floor rotted through by years of hidden water: stripping out the rotten boards, laying a new plywood subfloor around the pipework, and finishing with large-format porcelain tiles. Before, during and after photos.
Case Study: Consumer Unit Upgrade After an EICR in Soho, London
How we replaced an old fuse board with a modern RCBO consumer unit after an EICR, with surge protection, a metal enclosure and every circuit individually protected. Photos from the job.
Signs Your House Needs Rewiring (and What a Rewire Involves)
Old cable, no RCDs, scorch marks or flickering lights? The warning signs your house needs rewiring, how an EICR confirms it, and what to expect from a full rewire.
Why Does My Electric Keep Tripping? Causes and What to Do
Fuse board keeps tripping? How to find the cause safely, when it's a faulty appliance, and when you need an electrician. Advice from NICEIC electricians in Chigwell, Essex.
Recent Posts
Underfloor Heating Not Working? How We Investigate Cold Rooms and Zone Faults
One room cold, or the whole underfloor heating system not warming up? How wet underfloor heating is controlled, the wiring centre, actuators, thermostats, manifold and pump faults we find, and how we trace them.
HIU Repairs: No Heating or Hot Water in a Flat on Communal Heating?
Live in a flat with communal or district heating? What a heat interface unit (HIU) does, the common faults behind no heating, lukewarm hot water and low pressure, what to check first, and who is responsible for repairs.
Bath Panel Replacement: A Solid, Tiled Panel With an Access Hatch
Cracked or flimsy plastic bath panel? Why a solid timber frame with a tiled finish lasts longer, and why every bath panel needs an access hatch for the waste and trap. Photos from a recent job.
Shower Tray Repairs: Slow Drains, Smells and Leaks Hiding Under the Tray
Shower draining slowly, smelling, or leaking into the room below? What builds up under shower trays and duckboards, how we clean and repair trays and wastes, and when a tray needs replacing.
Water-Damaged Wooden Floor Repairs: Find the Source, Then Fix the Floor
Dark stains, lifting or cupped boards on a wooden floor? How water damages timber flooring, why the leak must be found first, and how damaged boards are lifted, dried out and replaced to match.
Black Mould Around Windows: What Causes It and How to Stop It Coming Back
Black mould on window frames, reveals and sills? Why it's almost always condensation, how we investigate it, how to clean it safely, and the ventilation fixes that stop it returning. Advice for homeowners and landlords.