Latest news with #staircase
Times
9 hours ago
- General
- Times
How to treat your floors to prevent slipping
I have an industrial steel and concrete staircase in my house and I am replacing it with one made from tulipwood. It needs to be completely non-slip as I am a 73-year-old widow living alone and cannot risk falling on it. The staircase comes with a minimum finish, but the rest is up to me. I don't want to paint the staircase because I'd like the colour and grain of the wood to show. I have tried to find a seriously non-slip varnish but they do not seem to exist. The option I've been given is to use a clear varnish (I've bought Blackfriar Quick Drying Floor Varnish) and then spray it with a non-slip finish such as Rust-Oleum SuperGrip. Is there one product that would do the whole job? I have a limited budget and I don't want to pay twice for the two finishes if I don't need to. Many thanks for your French Your new tulipwood staircase sounds great, and I completely understand your concern. The good news is that there are products designed exactly for your situation. One we often recommend is Osmo Polyx-Oil Anti-Slip, which is a clear hardwax oil that protects the wood while allowing the natural grain and tone to shine through. It comes in two grades of slip resistance and is used widely on interior wooden stairs and floors. It's easy to apply, long-lasting and doesn't require a second product, so it should suit your budget better than the two-step option you mention. If you're looking for something even grippier, there's an industrial-grade product called Tuff Grip. However, it has a more textured finish and may obscure some of the wood's natural beauty, so it's a bit of a trade-off. I hope this helps, and I'd love to hear how the staircase turns out. • Read more expert advice on property, interiors and home improvement We have had the idea of covering our patio and part of the adjoining wall with blue and white tiles to give a bit of a Spanish feel. We're worried about slipping. What type of tile would be recommended?George Luke This sounds like a great plan. Look for textured porcelain tiles with an anti-slip rating of R11 or higher. Porcelain is tough, weather-resistant and ideal for outdoor use; ceramic tiles, while more affordable, are generally better suited to walls or sheltered areas because they're less durable in frost and heavy rain. Many tile suppliers sell decorative porcelain ranges inspired by Spanish or Mediterranean patterns, often with non-slip finishes. Natural stone can be a lovely option, but it's rare to find it in those vivid colours. A word of warning on installation: patios need proper sub-base preparation, a fall for drainage (to keep water away from the house) and a frost-proof adhesive. Getting this wrong leads to cracked or loose tiles, which can be costly to fix. It's well worth getting a professional to do the groundwork. I hope your patio turns out beautifully — and is Birch Reynardson is the co-founder of Adda Home Solutions • Are these bed bugs? Pest expert 'Bugman' Jones answers your questions What is the best way to clean the rubber seal on the washing machine door?Jean Mathieson Spray on a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar, leave for a few minutes, then clean off with a soft brush and wipe with a Taylor, Sussex Adding a handful of washing soda crystals to the 'drum clean' programme of my washing machine (Bosch) completely cleared the black staining on the rubber door seal. Good as new!Barby Witt I spray HG Mould Remover on some kitchen roll until it is soaked, then press the wad into the affected bits of the seal. Leave overnight. Ellie Wilson I wipe the seal with Dettol and dry it after each use. If you're not already doing so, leave the laundry drawer and door open after each wash to avoid trapping warm water, which encourages bacteria and mould growth. And keep the machine clean and disinfected with a hot (min 60C), empty maintenance wash every month and Dr Beckmann Washing Machine Cleaner to keep mould at bay and ensure the machine is running My washing machine engineer told me never to use liquid fabric Burrows What is the best way to remove fly dirt (poo) from my lovely white window frames? I can get the main spot off but it leaves a pale Challacombe How can I clean the inside of the 12ft high lantern light in our kitchen? Liz Graham Send tips and questions to homehelp@ Advice given without responsibility
The Sun
07-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I'm a single mum and wanted to give the stairs in my rented house a new look – I'm on a strict budget & did it for £35
SHE wanted to give her staircase a new look, but rents her home. So after getting permission from the landlord, Megan decided to get started on the makeover - which she managed to complete for just £35. 6 6 She began by leaving a strip down the middle of the stairs bare, and headed to her local IKEA to pick up some of their £2 Tiphede runners. When she got home, she got started by cleaning off the stairs, before she started attaching the rugs to the steps. After getting them in the perfect position, she used a heavy duty staple gun to attach them onto the stairs. And once she'd finished, the rugs looked like a perfect, professional and expensive stair runner. "Changing the stairs on my private rented property with permission from my landlord," Megan wrote over the top of the video. "Single mum on a budget style!" And she added in the caption: "I love it when a vision comes to life….now I just need to go accessory shopping. "This whole project has cost me around £35 in total. Now that's what you call DIY on a budget!" People in the comments section were quick to praise Megan for the transformation, with one writing: "Well done, looks amazing!" "It looks stunning! You've done amazing!" another added. "What is the tool your using to tack the runners in place babe?" "Thank you so much, it's been a long few days," Megan replied. "It's just a heavy duty staple gun." "Well worth the effort, looks great," a third praised. "That is amazing, fair play to you," someone else commented. "It's beautiful - ready for your next project." Home upgrades that add the most value to a house The best renovation to add value totally depends on your property, the local market and your potential buyers. Zoopla shared a list of upgrades that will instantly add value to your home. Loft conversion - increase of 15% Off-street parking - adds £50,000 to property price New kitchen - increase of 15% Garage conversion - increase of 15% Cellar or basement conversion - increase of 10-15% Open plan living space - increase of 3-5% New bathroom - increase of 3-5% "Gorgeous! Love this, well done!" another wrote. "I work in Ikea... that's great use of the Tiphede runner rug," someone else said. "It looks stunning," another added. "In the middle of doing our stairs - could you please tell me how you managed to get a neat line up your stairs for the paint? "I'm so close to chucking the brush!" To which Megan replied: "Masking tape but remove it whilst the paint is still wet". "I did something similar and I swear trying to keep them clean is a nightmare! It will be a daily task!" someone else commented. With Megan responding: "I have 5 children, I'm always cleaning anyway!" "Came out really nice..." another said. 6 6
