DIY can be a very enjoyable pursuit despite the occasional stress of trying to make a home improvement happen. There is that spell between deciding to do something and it being done which causes any DIYer some nervous moments. What if the project doesn’t come off as planned? What if the D in DIY goes from “do” to “damage”, or worse yet, “destroy”?
And yet, the more you do it yourself, the better you will become at it, the more money you will save, and the more satisfaction you’ll get from the process. So what we could all do with are some tips to make the renovation process simpler – and we’re going to give you some of those right now.
Preparing Surfaces Properly
A fresh coat of paint can make a wall, a door or a frame look like new, and can bring a fresh look to a room or a house that is showing signs of age. But there is often that moment where you stand back from a paint job and twig that something’s not right. It doesn’t look as impressive as it was in your head. An extra coat will usually sort this out, but it’s better if you can avoid that by preparing walls, wooden window frames or any other surface with a quick sanding before beginning to paint. Sanding roughs up the surface lets the paint take a better hold, and can often negate the need for touch-ups.
You Know The Drill – But Did You Know This?
There are multiple ways to adhere objects to your walls – you can hammer in nails to hold shelves or use command strips to attach pictures, for example. But it is better to firmly secure things by screwing them to the wall. A screw and a Rawl plug create a strong anchor point which will not fail. Many of us are concerned about drilling into a wall because one slip can cause damage that is hard to repair. A good idea if you want your drill to go straight and true is to place masking tape over the point where you will be drilling. This masks vibrations and reduces the risk of slipping. Then merely remove the tape and proceed.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
There may well be times that you need to cut wood to complete a DIY project – specific cases include building a planter or cutting flat-pack furniture down to fit into a space. You do not have the advantage that furniture wholesalers do, where they can machine-cut things within a millimetre and churn out multiple pieces of wood to an industry standard. You will need to measure the wood and cut it accurately with either a handsaw or a power tool.
This makes it all the more important that you get the cut right. Too long and you have to cut again. Too short and it’s worse news – you can’t suddenly make a piece of wood longer. It’s essential, then, to measure twice to make sure you have the right dimensions, then mark the line with a pencil and cut slowly to ensure a clean finish.
Clean the Space Before and After
We can all occasionally be guilty of the sin of hyperfocus. We want the job to be done. We want it done in the shortest amount of time and then we don’t want to have to think about it again. However, just getting your head down and going at it is not the most productive way to complete a job. Whatever it is you’re about to do, give yourself a minute. Is there anything in the way, anything cramping the space? Is the wall you are about to paint as clean as it can be? Are there cobwebs in the corner where you’re about to sand? Take a moment to remove all obstructions and make sure you can work without distraction for a better result.
The more you DIY, the better at it you will get and the more you can do to make your home not only prettier but also much more efficient. You will find that jobs go more smoothly, finishes are better, and you gain more confidence when you take the time to do a bit of groundwork. And the more you do that, the easier it will be to do it every time there is a job to be done around the house. In time, there will only be one meaning for the term “DIY”, and it will be uncomplicatedly positive.
