5 DIY jobs you can do without calling in the professionals
As soon as you buy your own property you can no longer rely on the landlord to make quick-fixes for you. All household issues are your responsibility and while it’s necessary to call in the professionals on some occasions – say if there’s a burst water pipe or a gas leak – there are many DIY jobs you can actually conquer yourself, including.
1. Fitting an interior door
I can’t possibly do that? You may be moaning, but in fact, fitting interior oak doors is not as bad as you may think. With a little concentration and plenty of patience you can complete one of the most satisfying jobs in the home improvement world – and be proud of yourself for doing so.
Not sure where to start? Then it’s worth researching all the best hints and tips and watching educational door installation videos to ensure you’re on the right track.
2. Fixing a leaking tap
The unrelenting drip, drip, drip sound of a leaking tap can be more than irritating (especially at night when the house is quiet), but this is usually easy to fix. There are many thorough how-do guides online, but before you start make sure you turn the water supply off at the mains and gather all the right equipment in once place so you can complete the project without getting in a muddle.
3. Painting a wall
If you’re looking to save money but still want to give your home a facelift – carry out all painting work yourself and avoid calling in the decorators. While climbing ladders and covering the walls in a colour of your choice can be somewhat tedious, it’s more than doable and will ensure you have cash in your pocket to spend on soft furnishings or other home improvement accessories.
Put your mind to it and you could even have a go at a feature wall. To do this, select one wall that you think could benefit from elaborate decorations before deciding upon a colour scheme. You can then either work freehand or use custom stencils, sponges and wall transfers to create something special.
4. Building flat-pack furniture
While it might be tempting to pay additional money to have furniture assembled for you – this isn’t actually necessary. Flat-packs come with extensive instructions, which might look confusing at first glance but start to make sense once you’ve laid out all the different parts and gathered your work tools. Flat-pack furniture is made in bulk and is designed to be rather logical to put together, but don’t give up if you can’t master it alone – simply ask for assistance from someone patient.
5. Deep cleaning
There are many professional cleaning companies out there, but why shell out money when you don’t have to? If your property is in need of a scrub down, start by doing the basics – hoovering, mopping, dusting and polishing – before perhaps hiring a steam cleaners to spruce up the floors and upholstery.
Love it or hate it, DIY saves money and can be surprisingly satisfying, so go ahead and give it ago.
