The first thing you should do, no matter what the job, is to chalk up a plan. Never go rushing into a project, thinking you can do it, only to discover, after starting, that you need an expert. So, what are the common fixes required on a house - and who's best for the job?
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Decorating
In many circumstances, decorating a room can be a DIY job. If you're painting one colour over another, this is relatively simple, but hanging wallpaper can be tricky. You'll need to strip the old wallpaper off first, using a steamer or water-sprayer to soak it. If you don't have the relevant tools tucked away in the shed, you will have to spend extra cash buying them.
The common problems with DIY decorating include untidy edges between the walls, skirting boards and ceiling if you don't have a steady hand. It's also possible you may end up with bubbles under the wallpaper, or creases if you don't smooth it out properly.
Hiring a professional may cost you a little more in labour charges, but it will probably save time, as they'll be able to work faster than you can. It may be better to hire a decorator for safety reasons if you're unfamiliar with the relevant tools.
A wallpaper scraper can cause a nasty cut and you can suffer serious injuries if you fall off a ladder while painting the ceiling. A professional knows how to deal with safety concerns and minimise the risks.
According to the trades site, bidvone.com, the average cost of a decorator is £16 an hour in the UK. While you may complete the job satisfactorily, a trained decorator will finish it with the "wow" factor, so weigh up the pros and cons before making a final decision.
Welding and metalwork
Working with metal is a specialised task that can be difficult for a DIY enthusiast who doesn't have the relevant training. Technical knowledge is required for some tasks, such as welding. It can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.
Use a trained metalworker for jobs such as welding a broken gate or greenhouse frame, constructing a bespoke bannister rail, building a safety rail for a balcony and installing metal beams for a garage or extension.
Today's metalworkers use computer programmes to complete detailed drawings for bespoke designs and to ensure the project is structurally sound. The cost of metalwork and welding varies, depending on where you are in the UK and how difficult the job is – between £200 and £600 per day.
Although this sounds expensive, it's cheaper than an amateur botching a job and having to spend hundreds of pounds calling in the experts to put it right afterwards. In addition, there's a risk of serious injury if a DIY enthusiast uses specialist welding gear and other tools, so it's really not worth taking a chance.
Extension/garage building
Building an extension, or a garage, isn't something an amateur should attempt. It's a job for a professional, both in practical terms and also due to the complex planning and building regulations. Builders will often offer a specialist package for a standard extension, taking care of the legal requirements, as well as drawing up the plans.
A good builder can work with you to create a design that will add space and value to your home. They will have the appropriate experience and skills to make sure the structure is safe and doesn't get damp. They will also have the specialist tools and machinery required and the skills to use them safely. While an amateur might own smaller tools and components for ordinary household jobs, building an extension is more complex.
According to diy-tips.co.uk, obtaining planning permission initially costs from £180, with a further £550 for an inspection. The cost of the building work varies, with the average being around £1,800 to £2,300 per m2, depending on where you live in the UK.
Kitchen renovations
The kitchen is known as the heart of the home and can make or break your property. If you have DIY skills, taking out old cabinets and installing new ones can normally be done without professional help, as long as you have the right tools for the job.
Normally, you can also install tiled or laminate flooring yourself, but if you're concerned you might make a mess, call an expert. When it comes to plumbing jobs, such as replacing taps, call a plumber, unless you know what you're doing, as the consequences could be disastrous.
The average cost of using a plumber's services in the UK is £40 per hour, although many of them have a set call-out fee as well - ensure you ask when you first ring if this is the case. This is a small price to pay, compared with the cost of cleaning up a flooded kitchen!
The other thing to remember when any home maintenance is being carried out is to protect your valuable items against dust, water, rubble, dirt and any other kind of damage. Avoid having to put in an insurance claim because paint was spilt on your tablet, or your iPhone went crashing to the floor when it fell out of your pocket during a DIY job.
Solent Plastics stocks a wide range of tool storage boxes, perfect for helping with DIY projects. Call 01794 514478 or email sales@solentplastics.co.uk for further details.