This flooding was due to a blocked drain as well as sump pump malfunction.
Example of a classic home design design in DC Metro

Our client was in the process of building a new house to their specification in Fraserburgh. The centrepiece? A contemporary, open-plan kitchen that not only serves as a functional space but also as an inviting hub for family gatherings. Opting for the Nolte SoftLack range, we integrated the Silver MatrixArt handleless trims, complemented by elegant integrated lighting. The main furniture showcases a soothing Sahara hue, contrasted smartly by the Lava accent. The 20mm Dekton Trilium worktop exudes sophistication, while the 40mm Nolte Platinum Bough Oak table adds a touch of warmth. We included a full suite of NEFF appliances: a single oven, combination microwave, induction hob, ceiling extraction, and a full-height fridge and freezer, meeting every culinary need. Special requests are what make a design truly personal. We incorporated a Blanco Subline undermounted sink in Alumetallic, a state-of-the-art Quooker Fusion Square Stainless Steel instant boiling water tap, and durable Pergo flooring. Notably, the elevated dishwasher was positioned conveniently beside the sink, based on the client's preference. The tall units were seamlessly integrated into the ceiling, complemented by an artful goal-post niche. Furthermore, the extractor finds its home within a stylish ceiling drop box, highlighted by a subtly lit stepped ledge. Dreaming of your own bespoke kitchen? Let us transform your vision into reality.

Let me start by saying this was by far the hardest job I’ve ever done and as you read on you will soon realise why. The customer called me out to quote on a Quarry tiled floor at a house in Danehill that was covered in concrete screed. She said it had always been there and she’s lived there for years always meaning to get it bought back to a state that she could live with. Undaunted by the state of the floor (see photo below) we agreed a price and fixed a date to do the work. For the next two days I spent all my time pouring neat Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up onto small areas and working it in with a metal scraper and wire brush. Once removed the resultant muck was rinsed and extracted using a wet vacuum, laborious work as you can imagine although I was kept entertained by playing the occasional game of fetch with a very keen Collie dog who seemed fascinated by the bloke sitting on his floor all day. After two days of this my hands were throbbing but I could see red quarry tile emerging. The final two hours on the second day were spent making good any areas under the washing machine and fridge and giving the floor a thorough rinse to remove any trace of cleaning product. The floor dried off overnight and I came back the third day to seal the tiles making sure that my canine companion had been sent next door first. To seal the floor I used six coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which really brought back the colour in the floor and gave it an amazingly shiny surface. Once sealed the floors transformation was complete and when the customer returned from work she was utterly speechless. I’d turned what looked like a building site into a stunning tiled floor.

I was contacted by a client in Kendal to see if I could help with their Black Flagstone basement floor. As you can see from the photographs it was in a bit of a state and the stone looked mostly White rather than Black. I carried out a site visit, to survey the floor and work out the best approach to restore its appearance. After testing a few different products and techniques I worked out an effective restoration plan and discussed this with the owner. Happy with my plan and costing’s we agreed a date to start the work. Being in the basement of the property had its challenges but it would mean we could work socially distanced from the owner. To restore the floors appearance, I started with a set of coarse wire (60 and 120 grit) brushes lubricated with Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a strong coatings remover. I had considered using milling pads on the tiles to reveal a new surface underneath but that does involve the use of an expensive set of coarse pads and given it was a basement the owners didn’t feel the extra expense would be justified. The wire grits work well on rough stone floors when attached to a weighted buffing machine and we add some Tile Doctor Remove and Go to the mix. Once clean the floor was rinsed with water and the slurry extracted using an industrial wet vacuum. After cleaning the floor, it looked transformed, some pointing was required so we carried this out after the main clean. The stone was left to dry out for a few days before returning to apply a sealer. For this floor I felt Tile Doctor X-Tra seal would be the best product and applied two coats. I chose X-Tra seal for this job as it ticks a lot of boxes, it’s a breathable oil-based resin sealer which being breathable will allow moisture to rise through the floor. Old floors like this don’t have a damp proof membrane so it is important to choose a sealer that can allow the floor to breath and not let damp build up under the floor where it can reach out to the walls and cause rising damp. I also chose X-Tra Seal as it has a great ability to bring out the colour of the darker stone due to its high oil content, the oil will deter salts from forming if efflorescence is an issue. This is a unique property of this sealer as we never know if efflorescent salts are going to form or not so having this in place as a sealer is a great plus for a Tile Doctor, it is new to the market and is already proving popular on floors like this and for protecting external stone. If the tiles are smooth Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal adds a bit of a sheen to the appearance of the stone however this stone was very rough, so we didn’t manage a shine, but the customer was happy with the matt finish and the slightly honed effect. The floor looked great and much more appealing making the space more attractive and likely to be used. For aftercare I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner which will clean the floor without impacting the sealer which can be a problem with many of the stronger products you find in supermarkets. Heidi Taylor South Cumbria Tile Doctor

Does your orange tree drop its fruit before it reaches full size, or worse, does it drop flowers before the fruit starts to form? Trees photosynthesize to produce carbohydrates like sugar which they store as a source of energy. They can maintain a limited amount, which is used to drive the growth of new leaves, branches, roots and stem. Fruitfulness requires the tree to divert its limited energy sources away from these vital functions to the production of flowers, blossoms and fruits. Fruit development involves maturity followed by fertilization, growth, maturity and maturity. This process takes between 6-7 months in warmer climates, which requires a large number of tree energy sources as a result. Trees are able to manage their resources, and will also divert them to emergencies ... Fruit Drop and Crop Depression In regions where oranges produce one crop per year, they go through a series of growth stages as follows: Sprout formation and flower launching (mid-winter) Flowers and fruit set (early spring) Fruit growth - cell division (late spring to early summer) Fruit growth - cell proliferation (mid-summer to early autumn) Fruit ripening (autumn to late winter) The difference is in the regions where most citrus crops are produced year-round. In these cases, the different stages of development will take place simultaneously. The orange tree can handle its plant load well, and it will bear as much fruit as we can support. It is natural for all citrus trees to produce too little fruit and too little flowers in early spring to prevent overproduction. There is no need to worry too much about flowering, as an orange tree needs only 1% to 2% of flowers to produce a good crop, and sometimes even less than 1% is enough. If a tree is depressed because it does not get enough water in hot, dry weather, and if it dies of nitrogen starvation because it is not given enough fertilizer, fruit set will be very difficult in the spring. There may also be a small number of fruit losses in the summer under stressful conditions. Solution: Provide enough water, and water often in hot weather and strong winds. Orange feed with moderate fertilizer in early spring (September in Southern hemisphere, March in the Northern Hemisphere) Fruit Drop and Lack of Potassium Nutrient When orange trees are heavy, the decline in fruit can be exacerbated by low potassium levels. Potassium, also known as potash (represented by the chemical mark K on fertilizer labels meaning N-P-K or nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio) is a major macronutrient needed for flowering and fruit formation. Next to nitrogen, plants absorb more potassium than any other nutrient. Without potassium, the trees stop flowering and fruiting, which is what happens if they are not fed regularly. Before any smug horticulturist declares to you that potassium has no direct effect on flowering and fruit set, let me say that as a horticulturist and biochemist, plant chemistry, like the chemistry of all living things is complex, but some input it is necessary to produce certain results. , and the references I have made to the end of this article support what I am saying! Entering science, Potassium (K) is essential for water, nutrients and the movement of carbohydrates in plant tissues. It also activates enzymes that facilitate the synthesis of complex chemicals within the plant - such as starch, protein and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. The role of ATP is to transport the energy needed for all cellular metabolic activities to all living things, and in plants ATP production can regulate the level of photosynthesis. Potassium also helps regulate the opening and closing of stomata, holes or cavities under which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the atmosphere, and respiratory losses are controlled. It increases root growth which increases the absorption of nutrients and improves drought resistance, and increases resistance to frost, pests and diseases. High potassium levels produce similar maturity and fruit growth rate, as well as better nutritional quality, taste and range. Agricultural extension agencies suggest that large amounts of potash are needed in many crops, and that potassium deficiency or macronutrient deficiency leads to reduced crop growth and reduced yields, and that potassium levels not only affect yield, but fruit size, juice. quality and shelf life. Since potassium plays an important role in water regulation, deficiency can clearly increase the pressures associated with the declining fruit mentioned in the previous section. Solution: Make sure that the orange trees are fertilized with the right fertilizer as previously discussed. Extra potassium can be brought in using seaweed extract (which is not a fertilizer but contains a good amount of potassium), wood ash (used in small quantities only as it is very alkaline), or potash sulphate (potassium sulphate) - all this is guaranteed. as acceptable in a natural garden. Never use potassium chloride as it can be harmful to plants, it is a very inexpensive alternative to fertilizer manufacturers to save money! Even if there are sufficient levels of potassium in the soil, it may not be accessible to plants, unless we make some improvements.