Great ‘builders/decorators/handymen insider tips’ Hunt

ka7e

My OH is a builder and he always haggleswhen purchasing materials.
He works on his own and hasn't advertised in over 20 years - all his work is from recommendations. So ask around your family and friends for recommended tradesmen.
If you are shopping for materials at a builder's merchants etc, wear your scruffiest clothes (cement-spattered shoes are a bonus!) and ask for "trade prices" or "best" prices. If they ask you to open an account for discount say you always deal in cash.

Kay_Peel

Some of us are still clueless, even after reading the best DIY books - not naming any names. :whistle:

That's where VIDEO JUG comes in handy. Short videos of jobs like unblocking a toilet, fitting a cat-flap, putting up shelves and so on. You can suggest ideas for new videos, too.

Kay

Tiger_greeneyes

I've found some excellent tradesmen (and women!) by asking for recommendations from the trades I've already used - and been very happy with.

Also, if you're not very diy minded and need to get a professional in, read up about what you want doing, you're far less likely to be taken advantage of if you know your stuff. Also check out prices of materials online.

There's a house in the next road to me that needed restoration work. The family moved out and let the local college in to do the work. It was all done properly as the students were supervised by experts every inch of the way. The house looks stunning on the outside - I've not seen inside though!

toffeegirl

weekendwarrior wrote: »

The diy book is dead! I suppose they will still be purchased by people who will buy them for Christmas presents, buy spending money buying a book is hardly saving money.

Definitely disagree. Not everyone has access to the internet at home anyway..... plus, you can borrow a DIY book from the library (after you've used the internet there for free!!!) - so no need to buy one.

hollyblue wrote: »

That way when the builder comes round and starts spouting technical jargon I know what he means - I'm sure when they see a glazed look the price goes up!

Definitely agree. Its always good to be able to show any tradesperson / retailer that you know what you are talking about. When I had a builder round, I'd left my DIY manual lying around to show I had done my homework... He admitted to me that he had the same one in the van because it often helped explain stuff to clients - with the diagrams etc.

alancfc

I will be looking to get my bathroom done soon, whole new suite, tiled top to bottom, but I have floor tiles currently, and some tiles on the walls. Do I have to get a tiler AND a plumber? Or are there places who do everything? I'm stuck....help

david_hellier

Get your kitchen plans done by Magnet, Wickes or B&Q and take the computer generated print outs to other fitters for a quote.

Fulham_Mark

Here are some good money-saving tips for Do-it-your-selfers

1. Don't shop at the B&Q/Homebase Du-opoly.
The following online sites - screwfix and toolstation - offer similar DIY goods at up to 80% off. On a £50+ order I always save 40-50% on the similar order at B&Q. Sundries like screws, sandpaper etc are 90%+ cheaper. Their delivery record is superb and they always deliver next day.
Screwfix is now owned by B&Q who do not actively market the site - I wonder why!

2. Don't do-it-yourself!
Clever lighting and decking - DIYers dreams but so easy to mess up! I've wasted loads on the wrong lighting and some dodgy decking. It's really worth getting these from a dealer who has a lot of knowledge and can advise you. E.g. Mr-resistor if you live in West London.

3. Find your local timber merchants, glass merchants
Your local DIY chain may sell "wood" but this is usually old christmas trees (spruce) and will warp, bend, snap as soon as you get it home.
Timber merchants can feel intimidating but they aren't cowboys and will help you out. be careful about how measurements are quoted and remember that wood from each batch may be slightly different.
Glass - the glass for my latest batch of picture frames was £2 each. My 1.5m x 1m bathroom mirror cost £22 - bargain. DIY chain mirrors are often plastic.

4. Online discounts. Find a great site such as allposters.com, register but don't actually checkout the items you intend to buy...a few days later you'll start to get emails containing 20% off promotion codes

5. Ironically for a money-saving site, you will save money and do a better job by buying quality tools in my experience.

6. There's probably a perfect solution for your DIY problem out there, you just may not know about it. Get an Isaac Lord catalogue to discover some of the amazing things there are out there!

GiganticDays

I would second the suggestion of the Collins DIY manual, especially as WH Smiths were selling them at £5!

Is this offer still available? I've checked WHS's site and they have it for sale at £25

Flylady_Flower

weekendwarrior wrote: »

The diy book is dead! I suppose they will still be purchased by people who will buy them for Christmas presents, buy spending money buying a book is hardly saving money. You can get all the DIY information that you need here-

DIY Help

There is also support in the forum for when you get stuck Try ringing the publishers of the DIY books and asking them for a bit of advice

Hi, There is one book that's excellent (and not dead:eek:) and thats the B&Q DIY Book, which covers EVERYTHING! I know spending money on a book is a waste, but if you use it, it's not - and I can tell you, when you're working in the kitchen and your 'help' is on the computer in the bedroom, it's no help at all - and the book only costs £15, where as the ink to print out pages costs a fortune, so is money saving too.

Books are great, and if kids see you reading, they will read, rather than use the computer - loads of reasons to get books!

:dance:

marklgvickery

My first post, so please accept my apologies if I mess this one up.

If you are buying tools, plumbing, brackets, screws etc make sure you buy them from Screwfix. they are loads cheaper and usually you get them all the next working day. They used to do a deal whereby if you introduced a new customer to them and they then bought £50 worth of stuff you would get a £10 voucher. How’s that for a refer a friend scheme!!

Martin, keep up the good work.