a cartoon of Thomas Rowley fixing a DIY steam engine

Thomas Rowley's DIY Pages

Why Your Brickwork Is Cracking Above Windows (Hidden Lintel Problem)

Latest Posts

Blocked Air Bricks Cause Damp And Rot

The Hidden Cause of Damp and Rot in UK Homes Blocked air bricks are one of the most overlooked causes of damp and structural problems in UK homes. They’re small, easy to...

Condensation Destroying Loft Spaces

The Silent Problem Destroying UK Roofs Condensation in loft spaces is one of the most overlooked — and potentially damaging — problems in UK homes. Unlike a leaking roof...

Hazardous Damp Patches on Internal Walls: A Total Nightmare

The Most Common Causes in UK Homes Damp patches on internal walls are one of the most common — and most misunderstood — problems in UK homes. At first, it might look like...

Terrifying Damp Around Windows After Replacement: A Costly Disaster

What UK Homeowners Need to Know Replacing your windows should make your home warmer, quieter, and more energy efficient. For many homeowners, it does exactly that. But...

Brick Lintels Metal Coil Stock Serious Damage

A Hidden Problem Causing Serious Damage In recent years, metal coil stock lintels are a concerning issue that has begun to emerge in homes following window replacements —...

Spray Foam Insulation Damage Danger

Hidden Risks Every Homeowner Should Know. Spray foam insulation has, for years, been marketed as a modern solution for improving energy efficiency. It promises warmth...

Magic Infrared Thermometers Explained

Practical Uses, Accuracy, and What Buyers Really Need to Know Infrared thermometers have quietly become one of the most useful tools you can own — not just for...

Excellent Bubble Wrap Window Insulation for Cold Weather

Bubble wrap window insulation. Bubble wrap window insulation has been long used in greenhouses, workshops, off-grid cabins, and emergency housing, can significantly...

Styrocrete: The DIY Builder’s Excellent New Lightweight Powerhouse.

Styrocrete in use. If you’re searching for an innovative material that blends lightness, insulation, and versatility, look no further than styrocrete. This unique...

Check out my DIY TIPS PAGE for the small things which are too simple or small to become a post.

My DIY Pages offer many kinds of DIY projects.

As a value analysis engineer, I just loved to tinker with things, always looking to improve them. Even when I  didn’t succeed I had learned something and there’s a lot of fun to be had in just finding out what doesn’t work and why.

If your interest is DIY as a hobby, home improvement or living off-grid, or just plain DIY to save money, I’m covering everything I can think of with articles and how-to so come back soon to see what I’ve added.

Many I have built and tested over the years without recording the information as many were built before the internet began. Unless you wrote a book in those days, there was nowhere to write about DIY..

In all of this, remember that ELECTRICITY KILLS. Please be very careful when doing anything with electricity. Rule number one. If what you need to to do can be done with the electricity switched off, then switch it off. It takes only a second to turn the switch off but it takes only a second to turn YOUR switch off too. If you really MUST have the power on, wear rubber-soled shoes and keep one hand in your pocket. Lecture over.

I’m offering a lifetime of experience. Many DIY websites. are only looking for a way to advertise things to make money. Sure, I am offering affiliate goods too but I’ve used most of them, unlike others who have never even seen the stuff they advertise. Come with me and I’ll show you what I know. A lot more than some others.

Well there’s lots of DIY stuff to play around with and I will be adding more every week, from engineering to drinks.