A Beginners Guide to DIY

A beginners guide to DIY

Are you a homeowner with a bit of spare time on your hands, looking to take that step into finally having a go at DIY? This week’s blog will give you some beginners top tips to get started in the world of DIY – and a few tips to give you a firm idea on what to avoid doing in DIY. 

Woodworking for beginners

If you're an experienced enough DIYer to try your hand at woodwork, there's a few tools that will come in handy depending on the task at hand. A mitre saw, for example, can be used for small and angled cuts, for the likes of skirting or floorboards, while a table saw or jigsaw will be required for longer cuts.  

A must do is to invest in a stable workbench for your work when cutting, as well as the right clamps to secure your timber as this will get you a more accurate finish, also will reduce the risk of injury. If you set it up on a solid, flat surface you’ll have plenty of room to manoeuvre the workspace.  

A few must haves are also ear defenders, goggles, and gloves to protect from ear damage, dust, and splinters. All protective equipment can be purchased right here in store along with the timber to get your woodworking journey started! 

A few things you might not have thought you could DIY…

People will commonly discard the idea of doing certain jobs themselves as they think it could go pear shaped if they had anyone other than a professional doing it, this is not the case. These DIY tasks go beyond installing a new shelf or building a cabinet, they are as follows: 

• Loft Insulation Install 

• Laying Laminate Flooring 

• Painting a cabinet/garage door  

• Adding coving 

Here is a great article we found telling you just how to complete these tasks all by yourself: 
(Easy DIY Projects to Help You Keep Busy During Lockdown | Homebuilding) 

Be careful of pipes and wires

Even the simplest DIY jobs can end in disaster if this factor is not considered. The contents of your walls are kept away from the naked eye for a reason, and we recommend it is kept that way… You can make an educated guess in some instances as to where pipes and electrical wires are likely to be based on the location of radiators, sinks, lights and switches, for example, but the safest bet is to invest in a good quality multi-detector, which can find pipes, wires and wall studs, saving you trouble somewhere along the line in your DIY journey. 

Invest in the right tools

Tools can be expensive but will typically last you years if used correctly. There is no use breaking the bank on a tool which you will never need to use, this is why knowing what you need is so important. Tools that serve multiple purposes are usually best, including adjustable spanners, wrenches and multitools. Vital hand tools you’ll need include a hand saw and hammer, crosshead and flathead screwdrivers, a crowbar, a utility knife and pliers. Your collection of power tools should include a cordless drill, impact driver, jigsaw, sander and nail gun. Not to mention the most important tools you’ll need, a tape measure, spirit measure and depending on the job, some ladders! 

Reuse and Recycle!

When most people think of recycling in DIY, their mind goes straight to materials such as timber or drywall. It is true that there are lots of way to repurpose scrap materials. Those 2x4s make great bonfire wood, or great fuel for your fire pit and that 2×2 scrap of drywall can be kept in reserve for future patch work. 

But when it comes to repurposing, consider your tools as well. A precision saw may cut true for a long time but eventually, all that wear and tear will mean that its lines aren’t as straight any longer. It will need to be replaced, but rather than throwing it away, why not use it as a rough framing saw? Eventually it can be downgraded again, to demolition use. 

We hope that these tips will set you in the right direction to begin your DIY journey, and if you are looking for any of the items mentioned above, give us a call! Our 7 stores across the north west may have these stocked, in the best brands on the market and if not, we can get them in for you!  

Email: sales@nwtt.co.uk 

Phone: 01942 720777