Self Build & Home Improvement on the Increase

Interest in both self build and home improvement continues to grow, according to a recent survey from The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show. Twenty nine percent of visitors to the Show, held at the NEC in March, are currently involved in a self build project, compared to 20% in 2009, with 38% involved in a renovation project, compared to 34% in 2009. This homeowner confidence is mirrored by recent news from the Nationwide that house prices in the UK have risen by 10.5% in the year to the end of April.

Homeowners keen to improve, extend, renovate or even build their own home should visit The Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show, on at Sandown Park on 26 and 27 June. Visitors can pick up the latest in innovative products and services, inspirational design ideas, restoration tips, cost saving ideas and eco friendly solutions – all under one roof. Bring along your plans or drawings, meet with the experts and get great advice and information from the free seminars and masterclasses.

The Show is co-located with The Kitchen & Bathroom Show, the UK’s only dedicated kitchen and bathroom consumer show. Individual manufacturers and suppliers often not seen on the High Street, will inspire with bespoke designs, the latest technology and a fabulous array of colours and styles. New this year is The Kitchen & Bathroom Design Experience where visitors can bring along their room plans and get a one-to-one consultation with experts from The Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom Specialists Association (KBSA) and Essential Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom magazine.

The Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show and The Kitchen and Bathroom Show are on at Sandown Park on 26 and 27 June. The Shows feature over 150 exhibitors, 30 free seminars and masterclasses and the chance to Ask the Experts. For more information and tickets, visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk or www.kitchenandbathroomshow.co.uk. Tickets give entry to both Shows and are £5 in advance by calling 0844 5811377or £8 on the door (children under 16 go free).

The Top 5 guides @ www.diy-extra.co.uk

Diy Extra is growing all the time, with new guides and articles being added on an almost daily basis. Here are the top 5 guides from the last few days.

1. Central Heating Problems

2. Bending Copper Pipe

3. Building Metal-Framed Stud Walls

4. Removing a Cast-Iron Bath

5. How to Paint Walls and Ceilings

To see all of the latest guides, articles and features, visit www.diy-extra.co.uk now!

Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show 6th - 8th November

NORTHERN HOME SHOW PROMISES TO INSPIRE

Are you interested in picking up the latest in innovative products and services, inspirational design ideas, renovation tips and cost saving solutions for the home? Then look no further! The Homebuilding & Renovating Show, the UK’s only dedicated self-build and home improvement show, is coming to Harrogate from 6 to 8 November.

On at Harrogate International Centre, The Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show features over 210 exhibitors, 54 free seminars and masterclasses as well as the unique opportunity to get advice from the Experts. This really is a must-visit event.

Whether you are looking for land to build your own home, want to extend your property to create an open plan kitchen or are thinking about converting your loft or basement to create extra space, you will find the products, services, advice and information to help create your perfect home.

Want to find out more about how you can improve your home? Then attend How to Successfully Add Space and Value to your Home’, a free seminar at 11.30am every day. Concerned about your impact on the environment and want to do more? Learn more about reducing your carbon footprint by attending ‘How to Heat Your Home for Nothing: Dream or Reality?’ a free seminar at 1.30pm every day. Visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk to find out more about the other free seminars and the masterclasses that run on the three days of the Show.

If you’re still at the planning stage of your building project, then bring along your drawings, plans or just your ideas and speak to one of the many experts at the Show and get some great advice. Visit the Homebuilding & Renovating magazine stand where Michael Holmes, TV presenter and Editor-in-Chief of Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating magazines, will be heading up a team of experts specialising in renovating, design, planning, self-building and greener living.

The Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show is on at Harrogate International Centre from 6 to 8 November. The Show features over 210 exhibitors, 54 free seminars and masterclasses and the chance to Ask the Experts. For more information and tickets, visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk. Tickets are £5 in advance by calling

0844 5811377 or £8 on the door (children under 16 go free).

Tooled Up voucher codes for August...

Visit www.tooled-up.com and save money on tools this August.

£5 off order over £50 FVFFAUG9

£10 off orders over £100 TNFFAUG9

£20 off orders over £200 TWFFAUG9

Please note these voucher codes are valid for the month of August only, they will expire on 31ts August 2009.

Dremel Launches New Hobby Range

Easy and light to use, there are six innovative products: an engraver, a glue gun (with glitter sticks), a multi-tool, a project table and a butane torch, as well as the original Dremel 300 Series multi-tool.

The Dremel Hobby range can be used for all manner of arts, crafts, hobbies and modelwork - indeed its applications are limited only by the imagination of the user! Jewellery and card making is made easy; so is etching into plastic, metal and wood. Gift and seasonal decorations can be created in minutes instead of hours.
The dual-temperature Dremel Glue Gun claims more features than any other currently on the market. It has a large, secure foot and kick stand forextra stability that can be operated with one hand. The Glue Gun together with the new Glittersticks can be used for all sorts of gluing and decorative projects, such as scrap-booking, flower arranging, plus decorations on glass, wood and much more. The kit includes 12 regular DremelGlue Sticks and 12 colour Glittersticks which can be purchased separately, if required. SSP for the Glue Gun is £28.99 and £4.49 for the Glittersticks.

The Engraver is perfect for the creative hobbyist who wants a reliable tool to meet all their fine detailing needs. The Dremel Engraver's soft grip body and light, compact design provide comfortable use for precision engraving on all materials. Use the carbide tip for unhardened glass, soft plastics, leather and wood. Or switch to the diamond tip for engraving and decorating ceramics, hard plastics, metal and hardened glass. The kit also comes with creative templates to help you devise imaginative decorations. SSP £29.99

The Versatip is also an essential piece of kit for creative hobbyists. It is a gas butane torch with six interchangeable tips that make it suitable for a wide variety of applications. Think embossing, soldering, melting, hotcutting, welding, shrinking and even wood-burning (pyrography) - allowing for even the most detailed and intricate tasks to be carried out with ease. Powered by liquid butane gas, the Dremel Versatip is quick to heat up and fast to recharge - within 10 seconds - ensuring that it's always ready to use. SSP £33.99

The Stylus is a multitool that has maximum manoeuvrability. It is cordless, small and extremely lightweight with a focus on precision. This makes it the ideal tool for a wide range of creative projects like jewellery making, woodworking, engraving and all sorts of other crafts. It comes with a kit of 25 complementary high quality Dremel accessories and includes storage compartments for your projects' accessories. It is powered by 7.2Vlithium-ion technology. SSP £59.99

The Project Table is one of the smallest work tables on the market. Designed specifically for people working on detailed projects, it is compact, lightweight and high quality. Unlike standard project tables that are large and heavy, it can be used both indoors and out by the keen hobbyist and small-scale DIYer! SSP £26.99

With a unique design to improve ergonomics and increase comfort, the Dremel 300 Series multitool will prove its worth in carrying out any number of projects especially those that require precision and speed, such as woodworking. The powerful 125W motor optimises performance and its soft grip has been designed to reduce vibration and better handling of the tool. With 25 accessories (including a high speed cutter) to choose from and some added templates, the Dremel 300 Series caters for every creative project that requires carving, sanding, polishing, cutting and other tasks. SSP £44.99

Stockists for Dremel Hobby products will include Argos and Homebase. For more info, visit the Dremel website http://www.dremel.co.uk/.

Homebuilding & Renovating Show at Sandown Park

Are you interested in picking up the latest in innovative products and services, inspirational design ideas, renovation tips and cost saving solutions for the home? Then look no further! The Homebuilding & Renovating Show, the UK’s only dedicated self-build and home improvement show, is coming to the South of England.

On at Sandown Park on 27 and 28 June The Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show features over 150 exhibitors, 36 free seminars and masterclasses as well as the unique opportunity to get advice from the Experts. This really is a must-visit event.

Whether you are looking for land to build your own home, want to extend your property to create an open plan kitchen or are thinking about converting your loft or basement to create extra space you will find the products, services, advice and information to help create your perfect home.

What to find out more about how you can improve your home? Then attend ‘How to extend and improve your home cost-effectively’, a free seminar at 11am on both days. Concerned about your impact on the environment and want to do more? Learn more about reducing your carbon footprint by attending ‘Zero-Energy Homes: can you really heat your home for free?’ a free seminar at 1.30pm on both days. Visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk to find out more about the other free seminars and the masterclasses that run on both days of the Show.

If you’re still at the planning stage of your building project then bring along your drawings, plans or just your ideas and speak to one of the many experts at the Show and get some great advice. Visit the Homebuilding & Renovating magazine stand where Michael Holmes, TV presenter and editor in Chief of Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating magazines, will be heading up a team of experts specialising in renovating, design, planning, self-building, and greener living.

As an added bonus, your ticket will give you free entry to the co-located Kitchen & Bathroom Show, the UK’s only dedicated kitchen and bathroom event that will help you transform your kitchen from sad to sensational or your bathroom to a spa retreat. Meet over 60 individual kitchen manufacturers and suppliers, often not seen on the High Street, who will inspire with bespoke designs and state of the art technology.

The Southern Homebuilding & Renovating Show is on at Sandown Park on 27 and 28 June. The Show features over 150 exhibitors, 36 free seminars and masterclasses and the chance to Ask the Experts. For more information and tickets, visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk. Tickets are £5 in advance by calling 0871 945 4547 or £8 on the door (children under 16 go free).

Dremel's Handy Little Driver...

Most people will know the Dremel Multitool, that endlessly useful little gadget for sharpening, cutting, drilling, polishing, etc. I had one when they first appeared on the market and the amount of things I found to do with it verged on the amazing. Over the last several years, the company has expanded their product range with new versions of the multitool, as well as glue guns, engravers, soldering kits and more.

Well now that range has expanded even further with the new Dremel Driver:

The new Dremel Driver offers precision, control and power. Targeted at anyone doing drill/driving work in a variety of detailed applications, including medium and light duty DIY, it measures just 12.5cm and has a T-handle design and precision variable speed trigger.

It's ideal for DIY tasks such as mounting pictures on a wall, installing a lock set, mounting cabinet hardware, installing lighting fixtures, putting lights on a deck and assembling flat-pack furniture - there are even two IKEA bits included in the kit for assembling flat-packs! It's just as useful when working on the car or bike.

The Driver is also perfect for hobbies: working on electronics such as PCs and circuit boards or RC products in cars, boats and planes; installing and repairing audio/video products; model work; miniature ship building; and many other applications.

Powered by a 7.2V Lithium Ion battery, the Dremel Driver has a variable speed of 0-300 RPM - with an electronic brake so it stops exactly when you want for maximum precision. The magnetic bit holder holds the hexagonal shank bits firmly in place for better control. The Dremel Driver comes complete with a charger, eight long precision driver bits and detachable storage to keep the bits close at hand.

It provides superior balance compared to the standard pistol-grip design and fits your hand like a glove. As the most compact cordless screwdriver on the market, it gets you closer to the work, allowing access into tight areas where other screwdrivers won't fit. In fact it's even small enough to store in your pocket or work pouch.

It has a linear RPM 'ramp-up' for extreme accuracy, especially at low RPM, and provides superior control when starting. Thanks to its lithium ion battery it weighs a mere 430 grams. It also has Longlife Electronic Cell Protection, safeguarding the battery from burn out, overheating and full depletion - there's no 'memory effect' so it's always ready for cordless, precise drill driving.

The price is easy on the pocket too. It costs £55.78 from DIY stores or online at: http://www.dremel-direct.com/.

Hopefully we will be getting our hands on a Dremel Driver very soon, and reviewing it in the Product Reviews section (coming soon!) over on http://www.diy-extra.co.uk/

Eastern Homebuilding & Renovating Show - May 30th/31st

Would-be renovators and self-builders should see 2009 as an excellent time to start a building project. For renovators and self-builders in the East of England, the re-launch of The Eastern Homebuilding & Renovating Show, on at exec Peterborough on 30 and 31 May, means the best advice and information is now available to help make the most of their homes.

The recent success of The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show clearly indicates that many homeowners are looking to build their way out of the recession. There could well be an increase in the 20,000 each year who currently achieve this goal as they take advantage of the availability of more plots and contractors as well as competitive pricing. Homeowners looking to improve rather than move could also take advantage of keen prices in the current economic climate to make significant savings on their budgets if they plan carefully, shop around and do their homework.

Whether you are renovating, extending, building or wanting to make the most of your home, now is a great time to visit The Eastern Homebuilding & Renovating Show. Re-launched by popular demand and housed in the fabulous new facilities at exec Peterborough, the Show offers over 80 exhibitors, 36 free seminars and masterclasses over the two days as well as the opportunity to ‘Ask the Experts’.

Bring your plans, outline drawings or just your ideas and speak to one of the many experts at the Show. Michael Holmes, TV presenter and editor in Chief of Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating magazines, will be heading up a team of experts specialising in renovating, design, planning, self-building, and greener living.

The Eastern Homebuilding & Renovating Show is on at exec Peterborough on 30 and 31 May. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/.
Tickets are £5 in advance by calling 0871 945 4547 or £8 on the door.