DIY with Craig Phillips

Craig Phillips’ Monthly D IY

Welcome Lifestyle Readers...

Fitting a wall basket hanging bracket

Hi Lifestyle readers, I hope you’re all keeping safe and well during the lockdown. It’s been a trying time for all and I feel terrible for the thousands of people and families directly affected by this pandemic.

Although things have looked a bit better in recent weeks, with the easing of some restrictions, it looks like the coronavirus will be with us for a good while longer, which throws the Herculean efforts of our brave healthcare professionals and care workers into even sharper relief.

They’re saving so many lives, so I’d like to take this opportunity to let them know how much everyone in the Phillips family appreciates their incredible work.

The lockdown has cut back some of my activity but I’ve tried to do my bit. I always make a point of remembering the Hillsborough disaster, so, although the annual Run for the 96 fun-run couldn’t take place on Stanley Park, we did it virtually to raise funds for the Hillsborough Support Family Group.

You may have also noticed that it’s 20 years since a certain TV show first aired, so I’ve been busy doing a few interviews. It’s good to see Davina McCall will host Big Brother when it returns to Channel 4 to show two decades’ worth of best bits. A nice bit of nostalgia is maybe good right now and I think it helps to remember how big the mental health challenges are at the moment - and not only for our doctors and nurses.

Being locked down is no walk in the park. Prolonged isolation can lead to all manner of issues and mental health charities have seen an increase in demand for their services from people suffering with anxiety, depression and other disorders.

The weather has, by and large, been helpful though and a lot of us have found refuge in our gardens, which has been shown by experts to boost mental health and wellbeing.

Like many, we’ve spent as much time as we can relaxing outdoors and seeing what we can grow for ourselves. So, I thought I’d sign-off this month with a tip that might help you with your garden.

Thanks for all your ongoing support. Please stay safe and stay strong. We’re all in this together. All the best,

Craig

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Hanging a garden basket can add aesthetic appeal to the exterior of your home or garden, brightening things up for spring and summer.

Start with a spirit level and pencil, marking where you want the bracket to go. Place your spirit level along the side and mark both holes (some larger brackets require three). Take your hammer action drill driver and ensure the hammer action setting is in place.

Top tip: drill into the centre of the brick, as opposed to the mortar between them, to make it stronger.

Using a masonry bit, drill two holes. Tap in 2 rawl plugs with a hammer so they are flush to the brick, place your bracket back over the prepared area and using 2 50mm screws, drive in through the bracket holes, firmly securing the bracket to the wall.

You’re now ready to hook your basket on and start planting. Alternatively, the same brackets are ideal for hanging bird feeders.

Craig is the brand ambassador for innovative paint spraying brand Wagner. Supporting a range of industry, trade and DIY customers Wagner use coating technology to provide a range of practical and easy to use products that work on almost every material. For more information about Wagner visit www.wagner-group.com/uk

Tools & Materials

Spirit level Pencil Safety specs 18V drill driver with hammer action 6mm masonry rawl plugs (brown) Claw hammer 6mm wood drill bit 6mm masonry drill bit Wall hanging bracket