The Great 'what are your easy MoneySaving DIY tips?' Hunt

Stooby2

puppy training pads are great to put under pipes in case any residual water comes out.

Old towels are cheaper, re-useable and washable.

Andy_Philpott

Years ago you used to be able to buy a tool made of aluminium with a scrolled edge to use as a paint guide to keep emulsion off of gloss paint around (for example) door frames - and of course vice versa.

Don't see these any more but a great substitute is a cut up Jacob's Crackers plastic box - especially the larger boxes. The box edge gives it rigidity and an advantage over the "proper" tool is that you can just throw it away afterwards instead of cleaning it.

whitewing

My tip is to call in the professional before we bodge it ourselves. Saves money, time and looks good. This only is MSE is you get a good recommendation from someone local. I would make savings elsewhere on things that I am good at.

Gastines2

As a serial property renovator,I have learnt to do many jobs myself but always use a qualified plumber and electrician.However you can save hundreds of pounds by doing the donkey work yourself. I do all the electricians chasing out and replastering for cable runs /sockets and switches etc.I run all the cables in trunking and he checks everything ,connects up and does the fuse board.Same with the plumber,i do all the stripping out of bathrooms,kitchens and old pipework,and take up floor boards or chase out concrete floors to suit pipe runs. This enables them to get straight on with their job,no delays.Also very important is they know they will get paid promptly!!!!! Luckily I am able to shop around and often buy ex-showroom kitchens/bathroom suites etc. An advantage of a cash trade card with T&P is that they will deliver your orders saving another headache.If you live in it while doing it up and it's your main residence,it is a nice way of getting out of the Mortgage worry as you have no capital gains tax liability. I wouldn't like to tell you how many times I have done it here and the same rule applies in France.

googler

When painting in a radically different colour from a previous finish, buy cheap paint in a colour close to the one selected for the final colour.

Use the cheap paint to cover the old colour in two or three coats, and then make the final coat the decent stuff in the desired colour.

blacke

When gloss-painting, wear surgical gloves and dispose them afterwards.

Or for a more environmentally friendly method...if you get paint of any type on your hands, use a mixture of olive oil and granulated sugar (as you would use soap) to get rid of the paint. It leaves your hands clean and soft!!!

Yes...it DOES work on gloss, and you aren't left with a lingering perfume of turps!!

ALSO...cling-film wrapped tightly on the painty brushes keeps them moist for next day, and saves lots of time.:j

Lexxi

I was told talc can stop squeaky floorboards

naked

If the kick boards to your kitchen units are rotten/missing/broken/chewed away by rats then a piece of leftover laminate floor cut to size will make a perfect replacement.

If the old ones don't have clips on the back you can salvage, you can buy clips from B&Q (and new legs if needed). Put glue on the clip, clip it onto the leg under the unit then push the laminate onto the clip. That way you make sure it's in the right place.


And not really a tip for saving money:
Lots of small tiles are easier to install than a few big tiles (although big tiles do look good)

oneunderpar

Use white emulsion paint as an interior undercoat on doors skirting etc. So when painting ceilings and walls just carry on to the undercoating dries really quick and can be rolled onto doors for a smoother finish

starrygazer

When sawing the bottom bit off doors so they clear a carpet, keep turning the door over on the saw bench so that you're always sawing new wood on the top. This is to stop the "ragging" that happens when the saw is cutting through wood on the lower surface. By continually turning the door over you should only ever be making cuts to the upper surface.