Basic DIY Skills...
Below are our articles on the subject of Basic DIY Skills. If you can't see what you are looking for our other categories are displayed on the left under 'Our Quick Links'...
Basics of Surface Preparation
In all aspects of DIY the quality of the final finish will always depend on the amount of preparation that you do. This is no less true with surface preparation...
Care of Decorating Tools
Decorating tools, as opposed to more general DIY tools, are beginning to become more disposable, but good quality tools can be made to last a lifetime if they are...
Cutting Straight Lines With Saws
Cutting straight lines in wood is one of those things that gets easier with practice but there are some hints and tips that can help you start off on the right foot....
Drilling Holes in Walls
Drilling holes in walls is a common task for many DIY jobs. But as many DIY experts will tell you, there are different types of wall and many things that go wrong....
Drilling Wood and Other Materials
Welcome to our guide to drilling holes in wood, metal and other materials that you will commonly encounter during DIY jobs. We will assume that you are using a power...
Looking After DIY Tools
Keeping tools in good condition, or replacing them before they go beyond the point of use, is definitely good practice. If you're anywhere like the age of the...
Marking Up and Measuring
There's an old adage used by craftsmen: measure twice, cut once and it's good advice for beginners too. To cut, drill and generally make things fit together there...
More Concrete Hints and Tips
In our Simple Concrete Mixing article we gave the minimum details you need to start working with cement around the house and garden. In this article we'll be giving...
Odd Sized Screws and Screwdrivers
It might be surprising to know that there are many more types of screws and screwdrivers than the classic slot head screw or the Phillips cross head screw. In fact,...
Power Tool Basics
Even if you are a DIY novice it's likely that you will already have some power tools in your tool kit. We'll cover some of the most basic power tools, giving buying...
Putting Together a Basic Toolkit for DIY
So you've moved into your first home and things aren't quite right. No problem, just a bit of paint here, some wallpaper there, maybe a few...
Simple Concrete Mixing
The idea of mixing concrete might be one that novice DIY fans might baulk at but it's worth putting some time into it as it's a valuable skill.
Being able...
The Basic Wrecking Tools
The time will come when every DIY person will have to reach for the wrecking tools. There's nothing more therapeutic than taking a bolster and lump hammer to a wall...
Tool Kit for Carpentry and Joinery
There’s a massive difference between basic DIY and being adept at carpentry and joinery but that shouldn’t stop beginners getting a decent toolkit together and...
Use the Right Screwdriver
Many DIY enthusiasts will be familiar with the sinking feeling as a screwdriver slips out. Or maybe you strip the head, it goes round and round without the screw...
Which Screw to Use Where and Why?
When you're starting out in DIY you are likely to think that the only thing you need to get right about a screw is the length, apart from that anything will do. But...
