Beginner’s Guide to DIY & Home Repair

You are entering a world of scratch awls, claw hammers, and hacksaws—welcome to Beginner’s Guide to DIY & Home Repair. If you carry on a little further, you might just pick up a skill or two, although you may already possess transferable skills you can use to transform your home. Like following a recipe to produce a fantastic dish, a successful do-it-yourself project is the result of thoughtful planning, putting together the right ingredients, using a method that works, keeping an eye on the clock, and adding a splash of flair.

We hope that everyone can take something from these pages. If you are a complete novice, we hope you will be emboldened to give it a shot. And don’t be daunted by the tools. Think of electric drills as eggbeaters on steroids, and remember that sanding machines are just a cooler, coarser iron. It’s the correct tool if it gets the job done.

This is intended for people with a range of abilities. By learning about tools and how to use them, you can then put these to use with the appropriate materials and techniques that will become skills when practiced over time. Plan starter projects in less frequently used rooms if possible—practice might not make perfect, but it will do.

Remember this is DIY, not master crafts. You’ll never produce a dish from a famous chef to the same standard that they will, so don’t expect your DIY project to come out like that of a master carpenter. Even if you think you are ham-fisted, can burn hot water, and are a menace around the house, we hope you will gain courage and confidence. For those in possession of basic skills already, there are plenty of projects to increase your know-how, and we think that even the hardened DIYer will find some tips to add to their repertoire.

Whatever your ability now, this provides a starting point. We have laid out the projects kind of like a recipe and hinted at where the task fits in with abilities. So let’s talk symbols. You will see scattered throughout a number of DIY Hacks and Techniques boxes (see below for symbols explained).

The first part explains the value of good preparation, what to wear, and how to get yourself ready to DIY. It also outlines how your home works and what’s going on behind your walls. We give you a guided tour around a basic tool kit and tell you how to use it, and there is a pretty comprehensive discussion about materials—what to buy and what to look for. And we also give you an idea of when NOT to do it yourself; sometimes it’s just not worth all the hassle, and it is better to employ a skilled contractor who really knows his or her way around thorny issues such as plumbing and electricity.

The second part—the projects—includes a whole range of jobs and projects to try, from hanging stuff on walls to decorating and revamping your kitchen cupboards. Mainly, we show you how to beautify your home on a budget. To battle against a fear of loud tools, to struggle with new skills, and to suffer the thankless task of cleaning up afterward, the goal has to be worth it. For those with an inclination to climb ladders in the rain to clear out and fix gutters, there are other guides with that information.