Home DIY

Just do it one job at a time, and take your time. I definitely think putting trim on is doable for a DIYer, and you shouldn't need many tools. I would watch lots of videos, start with small bits that won't be too visible, and again, take your time. Getting things neat and accurate takes an inordinate amount of time when you first do it. Youtube is great for stuff like this, and definitely watch a few videos - each one will usually have an extra tip to help keep you right.

Make a list of what jobs you want to do, figure out the tools and materials you need, and try and figure out how long they might take. It may not be worth the stress on top of an already stressful job. But it might also help you feel a bit more in control. Hopefully watching videos will give you an idea of what exactly is involved, and thus if you're prepared to give it a go or not.

Much obliged.

I think I shall ask for a quote for the repairs along with sanding and oiling. Depending on how expensive it is, I will take a view on whether I do the work myself. I reckon at least some of it will be DIY-able, but that's also the stuff that will be trivial for the pros.

Sounds like a reasonable plan. And you're definitely right about the DIYable/trivial for the pros aspect. It can be a bit galling when you're going out your mind trying to do something when you know a pro would do it super quickly.

Do you reckon this stuff is worth doing DIY?

I'm average at best at DIY and did all the beading in my place and it looks fine. Bit time consuming with lots of measuring and cutting (particularly round bay windows) but very achievable.

The most soul sapping part was neatly pinning it, I ended up getting a cheap nail gun which sped that up no end.

The most soul sapping part was neatly pinning it, I ended up getting a cheap nail gun which sped that up no end.

That's been my downfall, oftentimes I'm trying to nail into something that's fairly delicate or may contain an air gap, using a hammer and a punch is not the easy route.

Spirit levels ? Are they all of the same muchness. Lidl have a set of three going I was thinking to keep in the cupboard. I have a small 40cm Stanley* one already need something longer really

Edit: stabila not Stanley

I have never found a huge difference for diy jobs, I currently use a 6ft long one which is magnetic, which is handy for me, as I do stuff with metal, but pointless if you are mainly dealing with wood, and has the added bonus of often losing it as I have left it stuck to a metal beam somewhere. You can get fancy digital ones, to calculate drops, but I tend to do this with a laser level rather than a spirit. Other thing to look out for is does it have an easy way to hold. But all in all I suspect the lidl ones will be fine for DIY use.

You can easily test them once you do buy them (doesn't help in the lead up, but means it's easier to trust once they do).

Set on a surface that they give a "level" result for, flip them round, if still level then they're OK. If level one way round and not the other, bin it.

Stabila are good (although their cheap ones are a bit shit).

Bmi are decent too. But if you’re not using them daily it probably doesn’t matter too much (although I’m reluctant to recommend shit levels).

I like these ones (although whoever decided to put “true pro” on them needs fired).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stabila-19598-True-Pro-Spirit-Level/dp/B089CWPKMG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=stabila+level&qid=1604568006&sr=8-3

The best bit is that the rubber feet on either end are proud on one side so that when you hold the level against the wall, it holds in place, which makes marking lines much easier.

Having an LED light built into the spirit bubble is also super handy, as is having a peep hole on the bottom so you can see the bubble when the level is straight in front of you. Both those add to the cost tho!

Edit: this one has the LEDs but not the peep holes. I also really like having a handle on them.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stabila-17393-196-2-Spirit-Level/dp/B001V9XDZ8/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=stabila+level&qid=1604568006&sr=8-14

Having our bathroom re-done. My indulgence was a £1,000 architectural radiator / towel rail, which was supplied with these cheap plastic brackets. I remonstrated with the manufacturer, but they said they don’t make brackets. The only things I have found on the internet are equally cheap and plastic. Anyone come across Anything better? I’m seriously tempted to get some designed and manufactured in cnc alu.

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What sort of radiator did you go for?

What does a grands worth of radiator look like?

Yeah fuck edging sky high.
Good example here..
http://b-vds.co.uk/projects/hoxton-house/

.nevermind.

Like this, in bright red. Mine is still in a box.

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#noobalert

If I want to remove the pipe going left and end up with an elbow to the right, is it better to cut and block or fit a whole new right angle pipe? I think the pipes are glued in.

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Finished log store now. Cheers @andos for the nails.

It is the right size to fit a commercial fruit transport box so I can bring a box of wood from the barn to the house and it also fits the wheelie bin.

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Looks great, what are the shingles made from, cedar?

Cedar shingles indeed. Well spotted.

Top work.

I have those allen keys too. Out of curiosity do you ever open them?

These are the sorts of bathrooms people look back on in 20yrs and go; "OMG! Can you remember how awful that was? But in 2020 we thought it looked good." Then their grandkids go, "I can't believe our parents use to rip things like these out!"

Altho their parents probably ripped them out to make shanks from the tiles to use in hand-to-hand combat as resources became increasing scarce and violence increased.

Isn't that true with every single thing in the entire world ever?

Example: Art school kids now dressing like 90's scrotes.

I have my bug out bag so no need to rip out any tiles.

was thinking about this the other day looking at hideous patterned carpets...