Latest Articles - amosjoinery.co.uk

Two people examining ceramic tiles on a wooden board in a bright kitchen workspace.

Engineered quartz worktops, silicosis and the Australian ban: what it means for your kitchen

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

Quartz worktops continue to dominate kitchen showrooms, but a low-profile health controversy - and an abrupt ban in Australia -...

Man kneeling on wooden floor using an electric drill to fix a wall shelf in a bright living room.

Castorama deal: Black+Decker BDCDD12K-QW cordless drill driver under €55 with cashback

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

As winter draws nearer and lounges start to feel more seasonal, plenty of households are looking for practical kit that...

Green aircraft undergoing maintenance inside a large hangar with several workers and equipment.

Inside Boeing’s Everett Factory, the World’s Largest Industrial Building

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

When most people picture an aircraft factory, they imagine cavernous sheds and constant noise. In Everett, in the US state...

Man sorting pine nuts in a wicker basket on wooden pallets next to a lit stove in a cosy room.

Heating with Wooden Pallets as Pellet Prices Stay High: Safety, Costs and Rules

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

With heating costs refusing to come down and pellet prices swinging, a growing number of households are looking at something...

Young man using phone on bed in hotel room overlooking busy seaside pier and promenade at dusk

Decibels, Piers and Secondary Glazing: Sleeping Well at the British Seaside

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

Piers keep glowing long after dark, arcades flash and chirp, the breeze drags snatches of karaoke across the promenade, and...

Person repairing a gap in a wooden floor with filler, next to a brush, flashlight, and cloth.

Powdered Graphite Injection for Squeaky Wooden Floors

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

That high, sharp squeak underfoot can take a peaceful evening and turn it into a steady irritation that gradually frays...

Man installing wooden paneling on interior wall in bright, modern living room with parquet floor.

How Pole Wrap Can Quietly Transform Your Home

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

A single roll of ribbed wood veneer, a spare afternoon and a bit of confidence can subtly transform the feel...

Five workers in orange jackets inspecting floating solar panels on calm water with seagulls and desalination pods nearby.

China’s floating solar city is already generating power offshore

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

A sprawling raft of solar panels-covering an area comparable to several football pitches-now drifts well off China’s coastline, lashed together...

Man applying yellow varnish on paper using a brush on a wooden desk with cleaning supplies nearby

The Viral DIY Wood Hack: Why the “Magic Jar” Mix Can Ruin Furniture

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

The video opens like a tiny miracle. In a gloomy garage, a tired dresser covered in scratches suddenly takes on...

Person spray watering a vertical garden panel on a balcony with city buildings and a double-decker bus in the background.

Moss Walls: How UK Councils and Homes Are Cleaning City Air

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

Councils from Glasgow to London are adopting a low-key, green intervention: moss walls. They don’t blare, flash or nag; they...

Two men measuring a wooden fence and discussing plans on a suburban pavement.

The 12-inch fence debate: zoning, planning rules and a tiny move

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

All it took was a modest bit of DIY at home for it to balloon into a loud, delighted argument...

Hands adjusting a radiator thermostat near a window with a digital thermometer showing 18°C and 55% humidity

Mould in Winter: Keep Your Home at 18°C–21°C and Avoid 16°C

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

One wrong move, though, and mould takes over. Winter never turns up on its own. Alongside it come shorter daylight...

Two people sitting on a bench by a river with a modern cable-stayed bridge and city skyline at sunset.

Danjiang Bridge and the Art of Stepping Out of the View

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

Danjiang Bridge rises at the point where the Tamsui River spills into the Taiwan Strait, and it overturns a familiar...

Person applying oil from a dropper onto a cloth beside a wrench and a tool kit on a wooden bench.

How to Stop Tools Rusting in a Damp Garage

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

You heave the garage door open and a chill, slightly sour smell meets you. On the workbench, your old hammer...

Two architects reviewing blueprints near a large concrete structure in a rural area at sunset.

La Chapelle-Baloue water tower for 1 euro: a legal bargain in Creuse

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

A building for the price of a bread roll – and entirely above board: in the small commune of La...

Hands holding a dropper applying essential oil near a vintage pipe on a wooden table with plants and cloth.

How a Drop of Oil Can Quiet Noisy Radiators and Pipes This Winter

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

On the first truly chilly night of the year, my flat turns into something like a percussion practice space. The...

Man in high-visibility vest examining road plans by a neon green centre line and an orange traffic cone at sunset.

Semenyih’s 245-metre photoluminescent road markings trial in Malaysia

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

On a back road in a suburb of Kuala Lumpur, a short stretch of tarmac briefly looked like something out...

Technician explaining radiator repair to couple in living room during house visit on cold day.

The Little-Known Insulation Gap at Attic Edges That Inflates Heating Bills

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

A man in a woollen beanie stands squarely in the middle of an ordinary living room, pointing a small infrared...

Female engineer in yellow helmet and vest reading clipboard by high-speed train on railway tracks at sunset.

Longyan: How China cut a 7-hour rail journey to 90 minutes overnight

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

In the Longyan area, China has delivered in a matter of hours what would be a years-long mega construction site...

Hand reaching for a coffee mug on a wooden kitchen countertop with lemons on a cutting board.

Smoky Glass Kitchen Splashback: Why the Retro Look Is Back

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

If you hear “dark, tinted glass” in a kitchen, you might instantly picture those orange-brown built-in kitchens from the 1970s....

Scientist in lab coat interacting with a digital display of a glowing microorganism on glass panels outdoors.

ETH Zurich living building material: cyanobacteria hydrogel that captures CO₂

James H. Amos • August 25, 2026

A research team at ETH Zurich is developing a novel construction material that quite literally stays alive. Tiny microorganisms embedded...