Five Common Misconceptions About DIY

How often has someone told you to leave that job to the professionals? How about, you don’t know what you’re doing just leave it alone? There’s also the classic of “we’ll just call the guy to come fix it.”

Lots of people seem to think that DIY is this big scary thing that only people who have been properly trained in the art of home husbandry can carry out. The truth is, most DIY jobs are easier than they appear. To make this more obvious, we’re going to dispel some misconceptions:

#1 All You Need is WD40 and Duct Tape

The basic idea is that if it moves and it isn’t supposed to then duct tape will stop that, if it doesn’t move and it should then WD40 will get it going again.

It started out as a joke, but this is eerily accurate when it comes to temporary fixtures. You would actually be surprised by how well this does work on a handful of DIY tasks, but you always need to follow it up at a later date with a proper fix.

#2 DIY Will Save You a Fortune

Unfortunately this is a double edged sword. While carrying out your own work can save a small fortune on builder’s costs etc. if you mess it up or get carried away then it can end up costing you a fortune to complete. Putting down a new patio could end up in you re-doing the entire garden which will turn a smallish project into a large one.

That said, if you manage to do the task first time round and have it all working well then you’ll be in the green. The more you do DIY the better you’ll become and the more money you will save.

#3 Power Tools are Hard to Use

You’d be surprised by the amount of people who are scared off of power tools by the simple word ‘power’. This creates a whole heap of people who ask others to do simple things like putting up shelves because they are afraid they won’t be able to use power tools.

While the loud noises and sheer power can be daunting, power tools are relatively easy to use. A little bit of practice with one is the best way to learn and get over the fear of using these machines.

#4 The Cheapest is the Best

No. Since when has this ever been true? But people fall for it over and over again with the “oh look I can save £10” trick. Do you know why those tools, materials or services are cheaper? Because they are of a lower standard and therefore can afford to lower the price on it.

Forking out for slightly more expensive materials or tools will give you a much better finish and ensure the job is done to a high level. If you are going to hire in help then remember to find out exactly what they are doing and the materials they are using, rather than just finding the cheapest initial price.

#5 Every Job Only Takes a Few Days, Tops

Something that programmes like 60 Minute Make Over have brought into the world of DIY is that people don’t seem to realise that things take time. People start projects without having nearly enough time set aside for the task.

DIY projects can take days, weeks, months or even years! Obviously this is all dependent on what the project is, but it is always better to allocate too much time than too little. Try to set a realistic time frame for how long the project is going to set you, if unsure always give yourself more time.

Just remember, if you don’t know how to do something there are always helpful folks on YouTube who have put together videos for you! This is a wealth of information and can be great for anyone who isn’t quite sure what they are doing.