Latest Articles - mastsystems.co.uk

Couple inspecting a damaged wall in a room under renovation, discussing repairs with clipboard and tools nearby.

Free Building Materials: The Hidden Risk for Homeowners

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

The skip lorry was still parked outside the neighbouring house when Marc spotted pallets of paving slabs, roof battens and...

Person installing a wooden wall-mounted shoe rack in a bright hallway with tools on the floor.

Make Shoe Storage from Wood Offcuts for a Safer Entrance Hall

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

Coming home with shopping, a bag or a child in your arms, then catching your foot on a trainer left...

Young man reviewing home renovation plans in rustic kitchen with open barn doors and stone walls.

He Bought a Barn for €45,000: Three Years Later, the Real Cost of Renovation

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

On Sunday mornings, in the small village he now calls home, Mathieu still opens the large wooden doors of his...

Woman sitting on a sofa enjoying mist from a white standing fan in a bright, cosy living room with open doors.

Lidl misting fan: a practical solution for summer heat in France

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

As summer heatwaves approach in France, Lidl is offering a misting fan designed to cool a room without any building...

Young man using a cordless drill to fix a wooden shelf bracket to a wall indoors.

This under-£30 screws, wall plugs and drill bits kit covers most home repairs

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

Tired of going to the hardware shop for every small DIY job? A kit costing under £30 claims to cover...

Person conducting a silverfish trap test on a cream wall using foil and a timer in a living room.

Damp Wall: The Aluminium Foil Test in 24 Hours

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

One morning, as you open the shutters in the spare bedroom, you spot a brown watermark that seems to have...

Person on ladder painting a beige wall light yellow in a cosy living room with pink sofas and a wooden table.

2027 Décor Trends: Five Colours Replacing Beige

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

On a Saturday morning, in a flat washed in slightly grey light, the ecru sofa can suddenly feel less reassuring...

Man using a drill and spirit level to install a wooden shelf on a wall in a bright room.

How to Secure a Wall Shelf Without It Falling

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

On Saturday morning, everything appears to be in perfect order: the shelf has just gone up, the books are neatly...

Woman cleaning a bathroom mirror with a turquoise cloth and spray bottle on the counter beside her.

Mirrors and windows: the professional method for a streak-free finish

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

Sometimes, all it takes is a late-afternoon shaft of sunlight to reveal what you would rather overlook: circular marks on...

Two middle-aged men discussing with clipboard and measuring tape in a garden path between houses.

Neighbour dispute: when a right of way becomes a problem

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

On a spring Saturday, Marc opens his gate, as he has done for fifteen years. His neighbour’s tyres crunch over...

Person adjusting a radiator thermostat in a cosy living room with a hot drink and an open notebook on the table.

Heating from 21 °C to 19 °C: how to cut your bill by 14 %

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

On a January Tuesday morning, the living room feels a little too quiet and the thermometer reads 21 °C. It...

Person repairing a kitchen tap washer over a stainless steel sink with tools and a plant nearby.

How to Fix a Leaking Tap in Three Minutes

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

It is 7.12 am, the coffee is brewing, the children are hunting for their things, and that steady little sound...

Woman adjusting wall-mounted air freshener above wooden sideboard in cosy, softly lit living room.

How Two Simple Changes Transformed an Old Sideboard in the Living Room

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

In this home, an old sideboard considered too dated has regained a central place in the living room after an...

Father and son using emergency survival kit at table lit by lanterns in a kitchen.

Power cut: 7 essential items for a 72-hour emergency kit

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

It is 7.12 pm. Rain is hammering against the windows when, without warning, everything goes off: the broadband router, the...

Man cleaning wall near window with cloth in bright room with air purifier and thermometer on wooden cabinet

Why a renovated home can become damp after building work

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

The living room had just been refurbished, the windows were brand new, and the white paint had finally created the...

Hands repairing a cracked ceramic mug with glue and powder on a wooden kitchen table.

Super Glue and Bicarbonate of Soda: The Simple Repair Trick

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

A chair leg splitting just before guests arrive, a drawer handle coming away in your hand, or a small plastic...

Young woman holding a measuring tape in front of a bathroom mirror with plants on the counter.

Transform Your Bathroom with an LED Strip Behind the Mirror

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

There is that moment, often in the morning, when you walk into the bathroom still half asleep and everything feels...

Family with young child in bright living room with solar panels visible through large window.

Solar heating without radiators: how solar panels can heat your home

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

You may already have piled up the throws, turned up the thermostat or shut every door to hold on to...

Hand cleaning a stainless steel frying pan with a white scrubber in a kitchen setting.

How to clean greasy frying pans with salt and olive oil

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

In France and elsewhere, greasy residue quickly builds up on frying pans, making everyday cleaning more difficult. Published on 10...

Young man sitting at a table reviewing documents and holding a credit card in a bright living room.

Landlord Repairs: Seven Costs Tenants Should Not Pay

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

The radiator that stays icy on the first morning of November, the black stain spreading above the bed, the toilet...

Man adjusting thermostat dial on white water heater in bright room near window.

Hot Water Cylinder Setting: Reduce Electricity Use Without Losing Comfort

Gareth Whitcombe • October 4, 2026

As winter approaches in France, a straightforward adjustment to the hot water cylinder can cut electricity use without compromising comfort....