Beginner's Guide to DIY & Home Repair: Essential DIY Techniques for the First Timer

PREFACE

WELCOME TO THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO DIY.

Being a homeowner is one of the most satisfying things that can happen to an adult. You’ve finally made it; you own your own pile of bricks and mortar. But now what!? A home is as big a responsibility as the family you put in it. It needs tender loving care and plenty of nurturing. So, learn how it works, know when it needs attention, and learn how to make it your own.

The knowledge you will gain from owning this book will not only give you a great understanding of how your home functions but will also provide you with the skills needed to make that house your home. Tackling small DIY jobs like putting up a shelf or wallpapering a room will give you so much satisfaction while keeping your bank account in the black.

Over the years I have lived in many different types of properties and having this knowledge behind me has allowed me to keep those homes in good condition and customize them to my own style. For me home improvement skills are some of the most important life skills we should possess. We all know how important it is to learn to cook a meal or do the washing, so why not put using a drill on that same list?

This book will guide you through the basics of how your home works, giving you confidence to know when things are going wrong and how to fix them when they do. You will also benefit from step by step projects to allow you to customize your own home. Perfect for any beginner and a must for any new homeowner.

—JO BEHARI

We hope that as a result of reading some of this book you will feel able to tackle that first long-awaited DIY job in your home that has taunted you for too long.

Even if the task is just tightening up some hinges or hanging a coat hook, that moment of standing back to admire your own handiwork is the payoff. Pleasure receptors in the brain kick in and reward you for all your planning and doing.

Besides the amazement that the house didn’t fall down as a result and the relief of not handing over hard-earned money to someone, there is a special relationship that starts to form with your home itself. That useful shelf you hung, or the room you painted (even with its imperfections) adds to a feeling of connection to your surroundings and develops a satisfaction and pride you can’t buy.

Since 2011, many more tools are now cordless and affordable. No more tripping over cables of circular saws, sanders, and drills. Designs are easier for smaller hands to use, with intuitive controls so you won’t be trying to find the manual before you begin.

Cordless power tools have become even more empowered. The batteries have upgraded from containing heavy nickel cadmium that took hours to charge and have been superseded with smaller, lighter, super-fast charging lithium-ion ones that keep their charge even when they aren’t being used so you have no excuse to put off that emergency job.

Let’s get going!

—ALISON WINFIELD-CHISLETT

INTRODUCTION

You are entering a world of scratch awls, claw hammers, and hacksaws—welcome to Beginner’s Guide to DIY & Home Repair. If you carry on a little further you might just pick up a skill or two, although you may already possess transferable skills you can use to transform your home. Like following a recipe to produce a fantastic dish, a successful do-it-yourself project is the result of thoughtful planning, putting together the right ingredients, using a method that works, keeping an eye on the clock, and adding a splash of flair.

NEWBIES ALLOWED

We hope that everyone can take something from these pages. If you are a complete novice, we hope you will be emboldened to give it a shot. And don’t be daunted by the tools. Think of electric drills as egg beaters on steroids and remember that sanding machines are just a cooler, coarser iron. It’s the correct tool if it gets the job done.

This book is intended for people with a range of abilities. By learning about tools and how to use them, you can then put these to use with the appropriate materials and techniques that will become skills when practiced over time. Plan starter projects in less-frequently used rooms if possible— practice might not make perfect, but it will do.

Remember this is DIY, not master crafts. You’ll never produce a dish from a famous chef to the same standard that they will, so don’t expect your DIY project to come out like that of a master carpenter. Even if you think you are ham-fisted, can burn hot water, and are a menace around the house, we hope you will gain courage and confidence. For those in possession of basic skills already, there are plenty of projects to increase your know-how and we think that even the hardened DIYer will find some tips to add to their repertoire.

WHAT’S IN THE BOOK

Whatever your ability now, this book provides a starting point. We have laid out the projects kind of like a recipe book and hinted at where the task fits in with abilities. So let’s talk symbols. You will see scattered throughout the book a number of DIY Hacks and Techniques boxes (see below for Symbols explained).

The first part of the book explains the value of good preparation, what to wear, and how to get yourself ready to DIY. It also outlines how your home works and what’s going on behind your walls. We give you a guided tour around a basic tool kit and tell you how to use it, and there is a pretty comprehensive discussion about materials—what to buy, what to look for. And we also give you an idea of when NOT to do it yourself; sometimes it’s just not worth all the hassle and it is better to employ a skilled contractor who really knows his or her way around thorny issues such as plumbing and electricity.

The second part of the book—the projects— includes a whole range of jobs and projects to try, from hanging stuff on walls to decorating and revamping your kitchen cupboards. Mainly, we show you how to beautify your home on a budget. To battle against a fear of loud tools, to struggle with new skills, and to suffer the thankless task of cleaning up afterward, the goal has to be worth it. For those with an inclination to climb ladders in the rain to clear out and fix gutters, there are other books with that information.

SYMBOLS EXPLAINED

DIY Hacks

These are simple tricks we’ve picked up over the years that will help you take shortcuts, to save money or time or both, or just make your life easier.

Techniques

Basic things you should learn as you go in order to effectively DIY are marked out by the paintbrush icon.

Hints

From us to you, these are our advice, to help you on your DIY journey.

ECO-FRIENDLY, TOO!

Where we can, we have suggested materials and methods that are kinder to our planet, and kinder to us, too. Because not everything can be recycled with no negative environmental impact yet, we have had to stick with more traditional products in some circumstances. We have encouraged the mantra of remake, reuse, and recycle. You can feel slightly smug when you breathe new life into an old wardrobe by adding a new shelf, and a tree somewhere will be thanking you for it, too!

AN ARGUMENT FOR BRAIN VS. BRAWN

Not all of us are endowed with big muscles and the stamina of a marathon runner, but not being buff isn’t a hindrance to successful DIY. There are several ways to compensate for lack of heave-ho.

•Let sharp, good-quality tools do the job. Power tools raised the bar and created a lot of equality as far as strength is concerned.

•Use sharp, good-quality drill bits. Let the drill bits work at their maximum ability.

•Replace blades in the jigsaw and sandpaper as soon as these become dull.

•Grip over-tightened nuts with long-handled pliers and use the extra power of the lever effect to aid you. Mechanics use wrench (spanner) sets because it’s the easiest way to loosen something. So should you.

•Use a cordless screwdriver when possible and a long screwdriver if you are using a manual variety. The extra length increases torque and provides more power.

•Loosen screws by spraying WD-40 into the screw. Scratch any hardened paint from the screw slot with a utility knife to maximize the effort.

•When lifting and carrying, carry smaller loads. As long as you get the load moved it doesn’t matter how many journeys you make. It’s a workout and cheaper than the gym.

•Support heavy stuff by using steps if you have a stepladder or a workbench to hold the other end in place. Use clamps and vises where you can.

illustration DIY HACK

•Screws and nails and drill bits need a place to live. A plastic box with separate compartments works well. Keep the different sizes separated so you don’t have to sort through every screw to find what you want.

•Alternatively, keep old glass jars (jam jars) and jewelry boxes for screws and nails— stick a nail through the top so you know what’s in each box before you open it.

•Anchors (wall plugs) and other small bits of stuff can be kept in a box or a bag to start off with (depending on how much you gather).

•If you invest in a toolbox , make sure it’s big and sturdy enough for you. A toolbox isn’t just great storage—you can also use it as a mini workbench, and you can stand and sit on it if you don’t have anything else around.

•Wedging and levers —you can lift heavy things using a lever made from a garden spade or long length of wood. Use a cold chisel or the claw of a hammer to inch under the heavy item and wedge in a long length of wood. Use the other end of the wood as a lever to lift.

•Take breaks . Don’t get discouraged by getting exhausted. A nice sit-down with a cup of coffee and a cookie provides a short break to raise blood sugar and plan the next stage.

•HALT —don’t do anything when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely , or Tired . Those strong emotions can help sabotage good work.

•Team up —two are stronger than one. Find a friend who has a project in mind and work together on each other’s jobs. Setbacks become challenges that you can talk over, and putting heads together can turn up a better creative solution.

—ALISON WINFIELD-CHISLETT

PART 1

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

The door closes. The keys are in your hands. You are finally in your own home. Maybe elation is arising or despair is descending. It can be overwhelming to look at a new home and not know where to begin to make your mark. Maybe every room needs some changing but you have to move in regardless. You may hate every color the previous occupant used. If money is tight, there may seem to be no budget to renovate. Whatever the reason, the desire to do everything may clash with a lack of confidence and the result is that nothing gets done. Once all your furniture is in place it can be easy to rationalize that it’s too late now, or to allow apathy to gain the upper hand. However, there is always something you can DIY to cheer things up.

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Brace yourself. You CAN do it. Choose small bits of work. However much that pattern offends, deciding to remove ALL the wallpaper from every room at the same time will invariably leave you exhausted and demotivated. Instead tackle one wall at a time. Set a goal to change one thing about one room every week.

There are several really easy quick fixes that will brighten up your home and help change that depressing space into a happy land. Even if your place is a dingy rental property, changing simple things that can be replaced at the end of the lease will make it seem more like a home. Have a look at the projects section for easy fixes to brighten up your mood and make you feel safe and secure.

GSI (GET SOMEONE IN) VS. DIY

Some jobs are simply not suitable for the DIY treatment, either because they are too complex and have safety issues, or because you just don’t have time. So if you are