Latest Articles - mastsystems.co.uk

Person using electric drill to make hole on wall marked with blue tape in living room.

Masking Tape: the Simple Trick for Accurate Drilling

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

The tiles are already in place, the wall has just been painted, and only a shelf remains to be fixed....

Person kneeling on a rug, sorting recyclables like plastic bottles and paper into a wicker basket in a living room.

The one-basket hack that reclaims an hour a day

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

It is 8.12 am. Your coffee is cooling on the worktop, a sock is lying by the sofa, and the...

Person installing a modern white basin sink on a wooden countertop in a bright bathroom.

Why an Undermount Basin Is Giving Way to Countertop and Wall-Hung Basins

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

The traditional undermount basin, fitted beneath the worktop, is increasingly sharing bathroom space with countertop designs and wall-hung versions. These...

Person repairing a white boiler on the floor near a window with tools and a glass of water nearby.

Water heater descaling: how water hardness affects maintenance in France

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

According to an article from the specialist website on which this report is based, maintaining a hot-water cylinder - particularly...

Person vacuuming carpet near sofa in bright living room with shelves and TV unit.

Dirt Behind Furniture: Four Places to Include in Your Cleaning Routine

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Some parts of the home fall outside your line of sight during cleaning and can therefore go for weeks without...

Woman adjusting sheer curtains on tall windows in elegant beige living room with parquet flooring and wooden table.

How to Dress Large Windows in French Period Flats Without Losing Natural Light

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

In period flats in France, large windows are a real asset… provided the natural light is not wasted. Rooms with...

Hands removing a leaking toilet seat lid with water dripping, next to a toolbox and repair instructions.

Leaking toilet: the under-£5 seal to check before calling a plumber

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

It is 2.17 am, the flat is quiet, yet a faint trickle is still whispering through the toilet. You turn...

Young man packing fresh vegetables into airtight containers in a well-lit modern kitchen.

Plastic or Glass: Which Container Is Best for Leftovers?

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

It is 10 pm, the kitchen is nearly tidy and there is a generous serving of gratin, the last of...

Man and woman in overalls examining a wall outdoors with architectural plans and coins on a table.

A House Built After Nine Years with 7 Tonnes of Recycled Plastic

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

At first, there was nothing remarkable about the plot: bare ground, a few tall weeds, a worn-out fence and the...

Person mopping wooden floor with spray bottle of lemon cleaner and a bucket nearby in bright room

Homemade mixture for a sticky kitchen floor

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

At 7 pm, dinner has just finished, and the faint sound beneath your socks gives it away: the kitchen floor...

Oil rig workers in orange safety gear gathered on a platform near an offshore oil rig at sunset.

Talos Energy’s Deep-Sea Oil Discovery in the Gulf of Mexico

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Fresh reports of a new deep-sea oil discovery are attracting attention from both the general public and experienced energy-industry professionals....

Person using a paint roller to paint the wooden interior wall of a shed with gardening tools hanging nearby.

How to Make a Vertical PVC Tool Holder for Gardening Tools

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Whenever Júlia needed pruning shears, a spade or a rake, she would usually begin by searching around the garden. The...

Pilot in flight suit holding helmet beside fighter jets on runway with documents and tablet on trolley.

Brazilian Air Force says R$ 1.45 billion 2026 Budget freeze threatens operations

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has told the Ministry of Defence that the R$ 1.45 billion freeze in the 2026...

Woman adjusting beige roller blinds on large windows in a modern living room with neutral decor.

Screen Fabric: The Discreet Hotel Blind That Keeps Living Rooms Cooler

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

By 5 pm, the living room already feels like a greenhouse. Sunlight pounds through the patio doors, the fan merely...

Pregnant woman holding a water bottle in a sunlit kitchen with baby scan photo and child in the background.

BPA and autism: what the latest study really found

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

A recently published study has attracted considerable media coverage over whether plastics could have a role in the development of...

Person organising a wooden drawer with socks, food boxes, scissors, and tape in a neat grid layout.

How to Make a Drawer Organiser Using Recycled Boxes

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Turning boxes that would otherwise be thrown away into a drawer organiser is an easy way to give household materials...

Young scientist in lab coat examining a glowing volcanic rock with a volcano visible through the window.

Extinct volcanoes may reveal new rare earth deposits

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Extinct volcanoes are difficult to investigate because we cannot observe them erupting. By applying a distinctive experimental method, we recreated...

Person applying adhesive with a trowel to a bathroom wall for tile installation or repair.

How to Apply Microcement Over Old Bathroom Tiles Without Demolition

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Transforming old tiles without dealing with the usual demolition mess has become a practical choice in residential decoration. Applying microcement...

Scientist in white lab coat examining green plant samples in a beaker in a bright laboratory by the sea.

Plastic Pollution May Be Driving Harmful Algal Blooms

Gareth Whitcombe • October 3, 2026

Harmful algal blooms – ranging from poisonous “red tides” to expansive green surface scums – are appearing ever more often...

Person using a screwdriver to install a metal plate on a wooden door frame with screws on a nearby step stool.

Reinforce Your Strike Plate With Longer Screws

Gareth Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

When you come home one evening with arms full of shopping, you rarely think about the door behind which you...

Person in pajamas opening curtains in a sunlit bedroom with a bed, plant, and humidifier.

Bedroom Humidity: The Level Not to Exceed and the Daily Habit

Gareth Whitcombe • October 2, 2026

A bedroom that is too damp can harm sleep and respiratory health. In France, one simple daily habit is often...