Great ‘builders/decorators/handymen insider tips’ Hunt

crossleydd42

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

And there is also another site like the above with a forum: go to: http://www.diynot.com/

uranawho_2

When using rollers over a few days, wrap them tightly in a plastic carrier bag rather than washing them! Keeps them 'wet' and saves a bit of time.

S

bern494

Hi
A fantastic way to save hundreds of pounds if you were looking to renew your Kitchen Units, Get them resprayed! I saved over £2000 after getting quotes for new units.
Bern

Poppycat

I also recommend the Collins DIY book 2007. I got it very cheap a fiver late lst year at WH Smiths

I also went last week to a trade paint supplier Dulux. I bought two tins of weathershield same price as B&Q and Wilkos is but its much better product as its trade paint. Also instead of using a stablishing solution decorator in trade shop told me to just water down PVA glue which is much cheaper.

I also got a 10% discount card for next time I go in and also Nectar points with all purchasers.

We bought some Professional ladders today triple size about 8 metres or something at B&Q. Ladders were dirty so we asked if we could get something knocked off (really dirty with cement) so we got 10% off plus 10% as we got MIL with us on Wed for OAP discount, so came to £80 for triple ladders which are Pro. Might be worth a try at your local B&Q

Poppycat

Yes we do that rollers and pads are a real pain to clean out

theoddjobman wrote: »

Small tip for the DIYer doing some painting at home.

Rather than clean out your gloss brush at the end of the day wrap the bristles tightly in cling film. It will keep well for approx 2 / 3 days

The brush also works better this way the next day too..

A professional decorator has a special box which has spirit fumes to keep the brushes live.

This way you clean them out at the end of the job.

misgrace

:eek:

Gorwel wrote: »

Here's just some of the DIY stuff I've bought recently from my local Quid Shop: Nails, screws, hooks, hammer, putty, woodfiller, frame sealant, paintstripper, turps,grout etc etc. They all seem to do the job so why pay more?

Whatever you do, dont buy the mini roller sets from the 'pound shops' (yellow handles).:eek:

I normally buy mine at the local DIY stores, as I use them a lot, but saw some in the 'pound shop', bargain I thought, 2 mini rollers with handles, plus 8 spare roller sleeves for £1.

On a job this week, rolling flush doors, started using one of the rollers, forunately I always stick loads of newspaper under the doors, and have a couple of small dust sheets around the surrounding area.

Started rolling the door, got half way, diped the roller into my tray again, picked it up and the sleeve fell off the handle :eek: luckily if fell on the dust sheets, so thought I would try another one, as maybe I didnt fix it on properly, nope, it wasnt me, the same thing happened again, so they went in the bin.:mad:

Ericthered_4

Some tips for buying.

1. Plan ahead and buy online. using companies like https://www.screwfix.com and www. toolstation.com will charge less than half the price of diy shops for fixings, plumbing fittings etc but beware they can be more expensive for some bits.

2. If buying timber get the prices from Wickes etc and then go to a builders merchant and ask them for a price. If they are dearer ask them for a discount below what you have seen it at.

3. If you are buying materials for your tradesman then make sure its all there when they start as there's nothing worse than waiting around for materials.

Hope this helps

kevinR_4

Many colleges (food, health & beauty) activley request members of public to visit and receive a cheap hair-cut or sample a new menu. All this is generally much less than if bought at a salon/resurant but of equal standard. Why not role this idea out to other courses? I have completed a bricklaying course and are currently part-way through an advanced plastering course in Walsall West mids, and would welcome anyone who visits requesting the use of my new skills. This would be a win-win situ as the trainer gets much required practise and the customer receives a service much less than from a proffesional company. Look at local gov. websites, give your local college a call and see what thier students can do for you!!

big_ste

Hmmm let me think a student with no experience in the real world doing a job in a real house etc.. Dont do it I've seen many a so called recent qualified trades person and generally dont know there derrier from there elbow.
In these training colledges its all a perfect scenario but as soon as something comes out of the norm they have not got a clue.
When you finish a apprenticship it is only then that you start to learn the real skills that is needed as you are then thinking for yourself instead of being on the coat-tails of a experienced man who keeps you from making mistakes.
Many so called tradesman nowadys have never formally trained or if they have its on a 6 week course (we have all seen the ad for skills train where the labourer is a electrician after a few weeks.. that one drives me mad)
I had a phone call from a local colledge wanting to find places for trainee electricians, apparently after 2 years at colledge not being any where near a real world situation all they need to do is get 1 years experience at a work placement and hey presto they are a electrician, gosh is'nt so easy, so after 1 year would you want them round your house charging £25/hour(i think not)
My advice is to go for recommended local people as a larger company you dont know who they will send, go for landlines not mobiles, as the smaller operator is likley to give a sh*t about what he is doing.
There is a lot of genuine good guys out there, always get a written quote listing the works to be undertaken, never pay up front, and dont be a agressive moron when negotiating price etc as this will just get backs up, treat a good tradesman as a good friend and you will get a lot back, as they will be able to recommend ways of saving money with other trades etc

iggie_2

Totally endorse previous comments regarding Screwfix & Toolstation, another good supplier is Wickes; although all their products are "own-brand" generally they are big-name manufactured and labelled for wickes sale. E.G. their varnish is from the company who's products 'do what it says on the tin'!!

With regard to employing trades, recommendation from previous clients is king, especially if you can view the work.

Just one other point, in this PC world in which we live, please be aware of the responsibility you have as an 'employer' for Health & Safety, both of those you employ and your neighbours/public who may be affected by the work. Check with your local Health & Safety Executive office for practical advice about what steps you should take, especially for extensions and the like.