Proactive Projects for under $500

We all know that house renovation is an expensive pastime. Re-doing the kitchen or a bathroom can have you thinking about taking out a second mortgage, but there are loads of quick projects that you can do without breaking the bank which will still add value to the house. Read More...

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Best DIY books: Top 5 DIY books to choose from

Service Central has extensive articles featuring DIY guides, advice, pricing guides, news articles and more, but sometimes a good comprehensive book is needed. Here are the Top 5 DIY books. Read More...

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Replacing my fireplace - more destruction!

As I'd found the original Victorian hearth tiles under the horrible laminate flooring I decided that the only thing that would do in the living room was an original Victorian fireplace. This is how I put the new fireplace in - much easier than I thought! Read More...

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What kind of tradesperson installs dog and cat doors?

Dog and cat doors are a popular category for Service Central - all those pet lovers out there wanting to give their pets immediate gratification for their needs. And rightly so - we know how insistent they can be when they want to get out. But what kind of tradesperson do you need? Read More...

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Get a handyman to put together flat pack furniture or kitchen!

Flat pack furniture is synonymous with IKEA, the Swedish flat pack giant! And that's where it started, when an employee broke the legs off a table to fit it into his car and then re-assembled it at home. Whether you believe this story or not, flat pack furniture has taken the world by storm, and it's easy to see why. But what if you want the lowered cost of flat pack furniture without the frustration cost of putting it together? Read More...

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How to cut and fit skirting boards

Skirting boards are one of the weird things that you don't notice until you don't have any. Generally skirting boards are there to protect the bottom of the plaster and to hide any gap between the floor and the plaster, providing better insulation and protection from dust. Fitting skirting boards can be tricky and is something that the less experienced renovator might want to call in a carpenter to help with. Read More...

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What's the best kind of tradesperson to install new doors or windows?

When looking at installing new doors or windows, here are a few tips to decide what kind of business is best for your job. There are definite overlaps in the types of jobs that might come up, and therefore the kind of tradesperson that's the best for your job. Read More...

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8 tips on how to save water around the house

Guide to saving water around your home. Read More...

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10 Easy ways to Save money and help the environment

How to be eco-friendly whilst saving money through straight forward 10 tips. Simple things that you can start today. Read More...

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Pergola price: How much does a pergola cost to build?

Pergolas can be purchased 'out of the box' or made specifically for you to a unique design. How much do they cost? Read More...

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How to repair holes in plaster

Got a hole in your plaster wall that needs to be fixed? This simple guide will walk you through fixing big and small holes, as well as giving some quick advice on how to fix cracks in plaster Read More...

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Gutter clean pricing: How much does it cost to get your gutters cleaned?

Keeping your gutters in good condition and clean is an important part of home ownership, more so if you live in a wooded area or have trees overhanging your property. The cost of gutter cleaning varies from place to place, but we’re just aiming to give you a rough guide here, so that you feel confident when you’re getting quotes from a professional. Read More...

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How to unblock a sink drain

A DIY guide to unblocking your sink drain. Read More...

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How to fix a leaking tap

A DIY guide to how to fix a leaking tap. Read More...

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How to fit door handles

Door handles are finicky things to fit, but if you're careful you'll be fine! Read More...

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What to do before you call in a Handyman?

We all want to keep down the costs of work we need to contract out, so get yourself and your house organised before you get anyone in. It will cut down on cost as well as the stress of the job. Read More...

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What do you want – a tradesman or a handyman?

There are a plethora of fiddly little jobs around the house that need doing and that we’re not always confident of tackling ourselves. Cupboard doors that don’t quite shut properly, floorboards that creak, a crack in the wall where hanging a picture went wrong, the list is endless. In the good old days, our parents would have called up the local handyman, who made his living out of fixing these small tedious problems. Today things aren’t quite as straight forward. Read More...

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Service Central helps repair storm damaged Melbourne

Melbourne has turned to Service Central to help repair the damage done by the massive storms that hit the city this Labour Day weekend. Service Central's army of tradespeople have helped Melbournians repair their hail damaged homes, fix leaking roofs, and mop up all of the water left after the weekends deluge. Read on for the full details. Read More...

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Video: How to cut ceramic tile

A down to earth how to video on how to cut ceramic tile. Read More...

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Video: How to grout

A how to video from ask the builder on how to grout. Read More...

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Video: Concreting Tips

An Australian video on diy concreting tips. Down to earth and very straight forward. Read More...

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Video: Paving Tips

An Australian video filled with quality paving tips. Read More...

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VIdeo: How to render a wall

An Australian video on how to render a wall. Read More...

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Video: How to fill gaps in brick mortar

A simple how to video for filling gaps in brick mortar. Read More...

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Video: How to replace a window screen

A video on how to replace a window screen. Read More...

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Video: Troubleshooting toilet problems

A down to earth video of common toilet problems and how to fix them. Read More...

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Video: How to install a towel rack

A straight forward video on how to install a towel rack. Read More...

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Video - Interior Painting Tips

A video on the secret to a successful paint job inside your home. Read More...

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Video: Tips for painting trim

Video tips on how to paint trim easily. Read More...

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Autumn checklist for your home

Summer has flown by and its already time to start thinking about having the last evening bbq's with friends and family and preparing for the cooler months ahead. Shortly the leaves will start changing colour and falling to the ground as the days grow shorter and shorter. With the right preparation you can relax in the full knowledge that your home is ready for Autumn. Read More...

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How to hang a door

An easy video guide to hanging a door around your home. Read More...

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How to install a shelf

An easy video guide to installing a shelf. Read More...

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How to fix a leaking tap

A video guide to how to fix a leaking tap. Read More...

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How to fix a toilet that won't flush

A video guide to how to fix a toilet that won't flush. You'll be back using that toilet again in no time. Read More...

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How to change a tap washer

A quick and easy video guide as to how to change a tap washer and put an end to those leaky taps around your home. Read More...

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Video: How to insulate your home

A DIY video guide to insulating your home. Read More...

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How to tile a wall

A video guide to tiling a wall. Read More...

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How to prepare for tiling

A video guide to what needs to be done before you start your tiling project. Read More...

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How to fix a squeaky floorboard

A quick video guide to how to fix that squeaky floorboard that's annoying you so much! Read More...

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How to drill safely

Drilling may sound easy, but dangers such as hitting a hidden electricity cable can lead to your end. Before drilling check out this video on how to drill safely. Read More...

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How to repair a small hole in plaster

A simple video guide on how to repair a small hole in a plaster wall. Read More...

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Questions to ask a Tradesperson

A tradesperson's answers to your questions can give you a good sense of whether you could work with him or her. Here's a list of questions to help you work out which tradesperson is best for you. Read More...

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DIY: Recoat your deck in a day

Bring your deck back to life in a day in just 3 easy steps. Read More...

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And the Top 10 Services for 2009 are ....

The results are in. Drum roll please ...... In 2009 Service Central generated 48,665 new jobs, read on to see which services were the most popular! Read More...

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Home Energy Guzzlers

A number of appliances around your home may be consuming too much energy, making your energy bills (and carbon footprint) higher than they should be! There are three main appliances that are responsible for the majority of people's energy costs, but with a few simple ideas you could notice big savings in your energy bills. Read More...

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Preparing for Christmas

Are you ready for Christmas? Hosting Christmas at your place can take months in preparation, especially if you're home isn't up to it. Is your kitchen big enough? Can your oven cook a Christmas meal for 20 people? Do you need a 2nd or even 3rd toilet? Is there somewhere for everyone to go outside? All these questions and more and addressed in this guide to preparing for Christmas. Read More...

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A Handyman's Guide to Childproofing your Home

Having children is the most rewarding experience but it is also world-changing. No longer can you leave your stairs, cupboards, oven, fridge, doors, etc unattended. Once your child starts crawling he/she will want to explore every single piece of your home. Children are unaware of the dangers of a live powerpoint or a hot tap and it is your responsibility to protect them from their own curiosity. Read More...

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9 Questions to ask before hiring a Handyman

Before hiring a handyman its important to ask for 3 quotes, ask to see a copy of their public liability insurance, ask to see all relevant qualifications and licences and ask for examples of handyman work they have done. However, to bring out some further insights we've developed a list of curlier questions that just might help you find out more about the handyman you're speaking to. Read More...

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Guide to Choosing a Handyman

Having a handyman on call is always a good idea. You never know when something may break down, or you need a little addition, or you may not have the expensive tools required to do something right. Its important to know how to choose the right handyman for your needs. Read More...