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Practical projects to make your home the bestlooking in your street

There’s an old saying that you only get one chance to make a terrific first impression – and these simple projects to upgrade your front of house will ensure you do just that! A smart new fence, modernised porch and a lick of paint set the scene, then you can decorate using an array of gorgeous plants in new garden beds. Do the lot in one go or knock the jobs o one at a time as your budget allows.

If your porch tiles are in good nick but look a bit dated, you can freshen them up with new ma tiles laid straight over the top. Here’s how

STEP 1 Scrub existing tiles using an outdoor surface cleaner and stiff broom to remove dirt and mould. Rinse and leave to dry.

STEP 2 Use a paintbrush to apply a coat of primer to tiles. This will help adhesive stick to them. Leave to dry.

STEP 3 Set out tiling job by dry laying. Start with a full tile along front of porch and work your way towards the house to check the final cut there won’t be too narrow. Make tiles overhang front of porch by 10mm to allow for vertical tiles there. Use 3mm

tile spacers when laying out. Draw line of first row of tiles on porch. Lay to this and the rest should follow.

STEP 4 Mix tile adhesive in a bucket, using a mixer aached to your drill. Spread adhesive for first row using a 12mm notched trowel. Lay tiles following your drawn line, using tile spacers between them. STEP 5 Continue spreading out adhesive for subsequent rows and laying tiles. To stop adhesive from squirting out between tiles, use a small

trowel to make a furrow in adhesive at the joins between them.

STEP 6 To mark tiles for cuts where needed, hold each full tile against wall and mark where cut will be. Be sure to allow for grout line. Repeat for other side of full tile at other end of the cut. This will give you a neat fit if wall is out of square.

STEP 7 Cut tiles using a tile cuer. Align cuing line with wheel on the cuer, then score and snap tile.

STEP 8 Cut tiles to suit depth of vertical face at

front of porch. Bu er back of each tile with adhesive. STEP 9 Press tiles against porch, using tile spacers to keep a consistent gap to flat tiles on porch. Use heavy-duty tape to hold in position while adhesive sets. STEP 10 Once adhesive has set, apply grout to joins between tiles using a grout sponge. Make sure gaps are fully filled. Wipe off excess grout with a fine sponge, rinsing o en. When grout is dry, polish remaining grout haze off tiles with a dry cloth.

1 HAVE a house with good bones? just flesh them out! Nothing boosts street appeal like garden beds with a variety of plants, while fresh turf is like a new carpet. Update your colour scheme by painting the eaves and gu ers and doing the driveway in heavy-duty paving paint.

2 clever cover-up Hide the old wrought iron post supporting the portico and add a different material to the mix by boxing it in with timber decking boards.

4 make an entrance An appealing new gate and stepping stone path will guide your guests straight to the front door. Don’t forget house numbers for the postie!

3 sit it out The new fence makes the front garden more contained, upping the privacy factor so it becomes a great place to soak up the sun.

on the tiles A simple pa ern in subtle tones is an ideal backdrop to more striking decorations such as a cane bench and po ed succulents.

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