In 2021, home renovation spending went up by 5% in Australia. Renovating can improve the resale value of your home but hiring someone to complete simple tasks around the house can get expensive. Luckily, there are tasks you can complete yourself, provided you have the right planning.
In this post, you’ll find innovative tips for successful DIY projects. You’ll also learn about the benefits of equipment hire Melbourne locals use for their renovations and how to plan your projects. Read on to find out more and become a DIY expert!
1. Plan Your Project Before You Start
One of the first mistakes people make when starting DIY projects is not planning beforehand. Without a plan, you could spend more on materials or equipment than is necessary and you increase the risk of making mistakes.
On the other hand, if you set out a plan you’ll be able to envision your work as a whole and identify potential problem areas. Follow these tips to start creating your DIY project plan:
- Make lists of the materials and equipment you need
- Create a spreadsheet of how much each item will cost
- Find stores that offer better deals on materials and tools
- Start with small tasks first such as fixing taps or replacing tiles
- Watch video tutorials on how to complete the tasks
When you’re done with your planning, start dividing your DIY tasks into manageable stages. You’ll then have a clear idea of what tasks need to be done first. Additionally, you’ll prioritise which materials need to be bought first.
Give yourself deadlines to complete each task to ensure you manage your time effectively. Without planning these details, your home may look like a building site for much longer than you think.
2. Always Wear Safety Gear
Whether you’re working on home renovations, art projects or building something new, you must wear safety gear at all times. In 2020, 335 people were rushed to hospitals due to injuries while doing DIY projects.
You can avoid injury and death if you wear the right equipment while working, such as:
- Safety gloves: When working with sharp tools you need gloves to protect your hands.
- Harness: If you’re working on a roof you’ll need a safety harness to prevent you from falling.
- Welding mask: Brightness from welding sparks can cause arc-eyes. A welding mask protects your face and eyes from sparks and burns.
- Safety goggles: If you’re cutting wood or metal, safety goggles can prevent shards or dust from going into the eyes.
- Hardhat: In an environment where there’s a risk of falling objects, you’ll need a hard hat to prevent injury to the head or face.
Different types of DIY projects may require other types of safety gear. For example, if you’re laying bricks you’ll need safety boots with hard toecaps. Make sure you have the right safety gear for the projects you’re working on.
3. Consider Hiring the Right Equipment
You can make short work of your DIY projects if you have the right equipment for the job. Why rig a safety harness to work on a roof when you can opt for cherry picker hire from a reputable company? With the right tools, you won’t run the risk of damaging property and you’ll complete tasks faster.
Furthermore, hiring equipment is cheaper than buying and you’ll have your pick of the latest machines on the market. When buying equipment you have to think about:
- Where you’ll store it
- Insurance for the machine or tools
- The risk of the machine breaking
- Not getting the machine you want because of the price
But if you hire equipment you can send it back to the company so you don’t have to worry about storage or paying insurance on the item.
4. Reuse or Recycle
For certain DIY projects, you can reuse or recycle what you have lying around the home. This will help you save thousands of dollars. There are many ways you can repurpose scrap materials. For example, you can use leftover drywall for patchwork, or use leftover bricks to build a firepit.
Some people even use strips from plastic bottles to create lampshades. You can use whole bottles for wall planters in your garden. See what you have lying around the home and use your creativity to build something new.
5. Keep Your Workspace Organised
You could make mistakes or injure yourself if your workspace isn’t organised. What’s more, a cluttered workspace can make you feel frustrated and you won’t enjoy the work. We recommend the following:
- Keeping your tools organised in a box
- Ensuring you have lots of floor space to move around and counter space to work on
- Removing clutter from the floor so you don’t trip over items
- Have all tools within arm’s reach
- Limit distractions by putting smartphones away
You can also create a workspace that’s supportive of the type of DIY projects you’re doing. For example, if you’re painting a piece of furniture, your paint bucket should be on the side of your dominant hand. Making your workspace functional will improve workflow.
Final Thoughts
DIY projects can be fun if you plan ahead, have the right tools and find ways to save on costs. Use this guide to help you with do-it-yourself renovations or even art projects. As you complete tasks you’ll learn more about what you’ll need for future DIY jobs. Soon you’ll feel and plan like a pro.d
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