Apart from this forum, where else do you go for DIY advice?

hemsk

I’m new here and about to start large project renovating our home. The lion’s share will be done by our builder but I am curious to know my own personal limits when it comes to DIY.

Since we moved in I’ve managed to fit bespoke shelves, plumb a dishwasher, fit a bespoke mounting frame for a baby gate, re-pin floorboards and more.

I’m leaving anything structural, electrical or gas related well alone, but so far my next tasks are to rehang two doors, a wooden gate in the garden and the other in the house.

I was hoping to get others take on their DIY journey. Apart from this Forum, what other sites or resources have you used to get help or advice?

snowcat75

Ultimate handyman is a good DIY forum.

But there are thousands of good websites and youtube videos showing you some the wrong and the right way to do it, loads of info out there and lots of alternative things most builders are not interested in.


Personally I went from someone who started doing a bit of decorating , then self built a house and finally converted an old brick barn to a dwelling. So most of us who start with a few basic skills can scale them up to whatever we want to do.

Alter_ego

DIYNOT is good

-taff

Youtube, but you do have to watch a few videos sometimes that are rubbish to find the good ones.
Woodworking for mere mortals is a good youtube wood channel.

akira181

youtube for the general stuff. Usually have to watch a couple of videos on the same thing to get a good idea of what needs to be done.

DIYnot or UK plumbers forum for more specific advice

Mistral001

Youtube is OK but I now have dusted off an old DIY manual which I bought years ago and now go to that first. I now only go to Youtube for something unusual that I cannot find in the manual. The manual has a good index and it takes seconds to find what you want.


A good DIY manual can be expensive, but you will usually be able to pick one up for about £3 in a charity shop.

hemsk

Mistral001 wrote: »

Youtube is OK but I now have dusted off an old DIY manual which I bought years ago and now go to that first. I now only go to Youtube for something unusual that I cannot find in the manual. The manual has a good index and it takes seconds to find what you want.


A good DIY manual can be expensive, but you will usually be able to pick one up for about £3 in a charity shop.

What's the name of the manual you use? I appreciate how useful it'd be to have something living next to my toolbox so I can look something up quickly.

hemsk

-taff wrote: »

Youtube, but you do have to watch a few videos sometimes that are rubbish to find the good ones.
Woodworking for mere mortals is a good youtube wood channel.

Yes, I especially like Steve's intro's! I find them hilarious. He's also good at inspiring confidence. I bought my first circular saw after seeing one of his videos about ripping boards.

snowcat75 wrote: »

Ultimate handyman is a good DIY forum.

But there are thousands of good websites and youtube videos showing you some the wrong and the right way to do it, loads of info out there and lots of alternative things most builders are not interested in.


Personally I went from someone who started doing a bit of decorating , then self built a house and finally converted an old brick barn to a dwelling. So most of us who start with a few basic skills can scale them up to whatever we want to do.

Wow that sounds like an amazing journey! Over the years what would you say was the main thing that helped you get through it?

Also what do you mean by "alternative things builders are not interested in"?

snowcat75

hemsk wrote: »

Wow that sounds like an amazing journey! Over the years what would you say was the main thing that helped you get through it?

Also what do you mean by "alternative things builders are not interested in"?

Without a doubt perseverance, there will be certain things your do that will end up looking like a pigs ear, that your have to swallow your pride and have another go.

People have mentioned books there always a good start and ideal for reference when your doing a job and far easier to have a quick look rather than having something electronic.


Builders will always do what's known to them understandably it makes pricing etc easy and they also tend to always use the same suppliers decent discount ease and often taken on the odd trip or two...… However there are better materials and sometimes techniques than what's on the shelf at the local Jewsons, per example I used gutters and downpipes and facias from industrial buildings in Germany , as they were far better, inexpensive and completely fitted in with building than anything the UK could offer..... Iv countless examples but the more you build the more you become interested and look at different construction methods and materials.

JJ_Egan

I tend to ask Screwfix .

elsien

My mother.
The fount of all knowledge on a day to day diy level.
With the local independent hardware store squarely in second place.