Who needs the pros!

cats2012

Hi guys,

Just wanted to share how impressed I am at my OH for consistently saving us money by just giving things a go before picking up the phone to manufacturers etc.

On Sunday evening the heating element in our oven fused. We've only owned our own home for 2 months so were a bit shocked and unsure what to do. Spoke to the manufacturer who quoted the usual stupid price for a call out to fix it, so my OH just ordered the part off the internet (£40 inc delivery, branded part) and did it himself! When he text me a photo of the oven in pieces I was VERY nervous but he really did it and it all works perfectly!

A few months ago he did the same thing when the wing mirrors on his car were smashed in by some teenagers - had to take the whole car door practically off but replaced both for £50 parts rather than the £100 per mirror quoted by the garage.

So I'm just posting this to share that there are often other ways - don't panic and see if you know someone who could give it a go and might just manage it

Jaynne

Double thumbs up for DIY. With a bit of time care and googling you can do pretty much anything around the house.

In no particular order since getting our house a year ago we have done the following.

Painted every room and woodwork
Built numerous bits of furniture
Sanded and varnished our floorboards and stairs
Fitted a new kitchen inc the plumbing and tilling
Built a cupboard to fit the alcove in our living room
Fitted a few replacement lights
Replaced all the electrical sockets with flush fit chrome ones

Saved £thousands and you get a great sense of pride. Definitely worth giving things a shot as you'd be surprised at how well you can do things.

cats2012

I have been really surprised but in a good way, my Dad wasn't DIY-ish at all so I'm not used to it!

southcoastrgi

well done you :T:T

Leif

I agree. The only issue is time, and requiring a functioning bathroom/kitchen, which limits what one can do. But someone with reasonable manual dexterity and a few brain cells can do a lot of jobs themselves. I put up a small ceiling last week. It looks better than a slightly bigger one done by a pro. I also replaced the wooden frame round the top of the porch, which looked awful. The new one looks good. A few days ago I found a professionally installed light fitting has been screwed onto a skimmed plasterboard ceiling with no joist above, which was why it fell off. So I went into the loft, despite fear of heights and lofts, screwed a piece of wood to the side of a joist, then screwed the light fitting through the ceiling and into the wood. I also put up plaster coving in three rooms, completely repainted my house, put up curtain poles, hung doors, made some simple slatted shelves, and I will tile a small floor next week.

DIY is all about a) understanding what the problem is, b) finding out how to do the work properly and c) doing the work methodically. Sadly it is not always easy to find out how to do jobs, and some such as plastering are in general best left to the pros.

Lots of colleagues in previous companies fit their own bathrooms and kitchens. When asked why they say they want it done properly. To be honest I don't mind paying a trade to do a job if they do it well, and I must admit my kitchen was fitted beautifully, and the floor tiled well too. But the first bathroom fitters were thrown out, and Trading Standards are advising them to pay compensation.

grizzly1911

Leif wrote: »

DIY is all about a) understanding what the problem is, b) finding out how to do the work properly and c) doing the work methodically. Sadly it is not always easy to find out how to do jobs, and some such as plastering are in general best left to the pros.

Well done to us for doing some of these things.

When I do them for myself/friends/relatives I find I am far to picky. I guess it is because you know it is not 110% but there are many tricks I have learned from a pro to mitigate, cloaking strip and grab adhesive to name but two.

As you point out you do need a d.) appreciate when you cannot/shouldn't do it and seek professional advice particularly around electrics and gas as you don't want to kill yourself, family, friends or a subsequent purchaser.

cyclonebri1

My views have been changed by recent developments.
I always thought the best tool in the box was your favourite hammer, or a mate in the trade or just a trip to the library.
But now it's not, it's internet forums something like this 1 but likely a specialist 1.

There is simply nothing in the home that you cannot gain info on, now whether you can use that info safely is another issue ;)

cats2012

I completely agree with the "know your limits" part - we got a professional to do our plastering!

But it is amazing what you can find out when you look and the money saved can be such a help

SailorSam

Yes cats2012 plastering is one of the few things i think i'd get someone in to do.
With a bit of help from a library book and the Internet i believe ........ if someone else can do it, then i can do it just as well, even though i may take a lot longer.

grizzly1911

I must admit I always admire plasterers and the skill they have, smooth, square, wide open spaces.

Anything else I will have a go at.

alinwales

Fitting a kitchen. I had fitters do it in my house a few years ago, it was wonderful. Then we moved to a house where the owners did it themselves. It was (and still is) a bit on the slightly-below-adequate side... to the point they stuck formica strips over the joints in the worktop, and none of the cupboard doors line up top and bottom (though I know I can adjust these myself).

If I want a decent job done, I'd get my dad in, but he takes a ridiculaous amount of time to do anything as he's an old school perfectionist. still, he's lucky to have the time on his hands now, shame he lives too far away.
Otherwise, I'll try anything myself. A friend of mine installed an upstairs shower room - I was quitee impressed with that - stud walls, getting water upstairs and everything.