We’ve all experienced a DIY disaster before. They can be costly not only financially but also physically, and risking life and limb for a new shelf isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But there are crafty ways to avoid many common costly mistakes amateur DIY-ers make when venturing into the world of home improvements. From paint splattered throws to blood splattered toes; keep you and your home safe without forking out a fortune. Make your home improvements more 60 Minute Makeover than Texas Chainsaw Massacre with these top tips for avoiding DIY disasters.
If in Doubt, Start Small
Don’t run before you can walk. If you have a big job to tackle, make sure to start off with the small bits first. For beginners this is essential not only to save your home and your wallet from pricey mistakes, but also to help build your confidence to tackle larger tasks.
Whether it’s moving into a new home or giving a room a revamp, start by painting a wall, putting up a shelf or building flat pack furniture. They may not seem like the most challenging tasks, but they take minimal equipment and won’t bring your house down if it goes wrong!
There’s No Shame in Googling It
Diving head first into a new DIY task without reading the instructions is something many of us recognise as either a frustrating habit in others or a proud trait in ourselves. Many of us are infamous for avoiding reading instructions at all cost, but there is no shame in not knowing how to do something. In fact, two of the biggest DIY mistakes people make are not doing enough research, and diving head first into a job they don’t know how to do.
In the modern age of technology, it’s easier than ever to do that too. You don’t need to trawl through pages of black and white instructions in what seems to be a different language. With YouTube channels such as Make Magazine and DIY Creators, and many manufacturers offering free DIY videos on their website, there is no excuse not to do your research.
Get Good Quality Tools
Those of us who aren’t DIY wizards often have a small assortment of DIY tools and may be lacking in the right ones for the job. That’s right, the DIY disasters you’ve encountered before might have been completely out of your hands and may be the fault of poor quality tools. Make a list of the tools you need, and find the best makes/models by either asking the experts in store or visiting review and product testing sites such as Which?.
Top Tips
Shop Online: As well as being more likely to find what you want easily, you can save money on brands such as Black and Decker at some of the most popular DIY stores. Get money off best-selling tools at Homebase, Wickes and B&Q when you use online voucher codes.
Tool Hire: For one off DIY ventures, you don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds on quality equipment. As well as being a great site for saving money, Wickes offer the chance to hire out tools for a fraction of the price. They offer large equipment for tradesmen, but also everyday tools such as carpet cleaners and cordless drills.
Stop Bad Drips & Runaway Drills
The more you prep your home before starting your decorating adventure, the better the results will be. Whether it’s a small paint job or a big furniture fix, making sure both you and your home is ready can save you a fortune in time, money and potentially pain.
Prepare Your Home – Firstly, remove all objects you can from the room and covering the remaining objects with a drop cloth (don’t forget to tape around windows and doors!). Next, clean the walls thoroughly and use the right brush for your paint; for latex paint use a synthetic brush, and for oil based paint use a natural bristle brush.
Prepare Yourself – When using any tools or equipment from electric screwdrivers to ladders, always be aware of the safety precautions. From overheating tools to using your hand to hold down materials, follow a DIY safety guide before using any tools which can cause a lot of damage. Make sure to prepare for the whole job before starting, to avoid running out of space or tripping over awkward objects.
Call a Professional for Everyone’s Sake
The last step to avoiding DIY disasters is to who when you’ve been beaten. If the task is too much for you to tackle alone, or if it really is something which requires a professional; call one! If you end up doing more damage, then it will end up far costlier than calling in an expert in the first place. Chuck out the old yellow pages and search for experts in all fields with sites such as Rated People and Local Heroes.
Top Tips:
Trusted Traders: Make sure to avoid rouge traders by looking out for the TrustMark! This government backed scheme lets you know the traders who have passed quality tests.
Save Money: Check out local Facebook groups and ask friends and family for recommendations. You can get quick quotes and find someone to do the job you need.
From stories of students falling through roofs to DIY mistakes costing thousands, far too many of us have attempted to tackle a DIY task and ended up doing more bad than good. It can be tempting to tackle the seemingly simple home improvement jobs that need doing around the house, but make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. From knowing how to get the results you want to having the right tools, spending a little more time and money on preparation is key to getting perfectly painting walls or a beautifully even shelf which won’t end up crashing down in the middle of the night!
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Girl, I feel like you wrote this post for me. I’m what you call the a Pinterest fail. I try so many DIY projects from Pinterest and they rarely look right. Luckily, I’ve never hurt myself.
My stuff never looks like Pinterest LOL!