You can find DIY advice everywhere but where and how do you get it? Well, I am sure you have seen DIY TV shows where the expert will show you how to do something or show you how a do-it-yourself book will tell you to do it. In fact the very people who are giving this DIY advice are often themselves guilty of not having followed DIY at all. Do they actually know what they are talking about? Well, not really but they have a degree of knowledge and probably some experience to back up their words.
Now there are some things you should never do when building a DIY project. Always remember there are two sides to a coin. One side saying it is easy and the other saying it is hard. So if you are to follow someone’s advice, make sure you understand what they are saying before you start doing anything.
A lot of advice you get is to use a screwdriver instead of a drill as this is easier to do. However the problem with this advice is that it is not always correct. We are not all born with the innate mechanical skills of a drill. There are plenty of cases where screws went right through, but it just didn’t look like it.
This is why I always recommend you get some good DIY books and plans for your project. Some will be good, some will not. You need to make sure you buy plans which have been created by professional DIYers not some little school kid with a book in his bedroom. The best DIY books will have step by step instructions with detailed pictures showing you exactly what needs to be done. They will also have videos which explain exactly what is needed to do the project. Other good advice is to find some good DIY forums where you can ask experienced people for advice.
The best DIY plans are usually fairly simple. But you have to check the details. Are you building a fence, caravan, shed or something totally different? Look at the size of the plans, the type of materials used, are they easy to find, will you find the extra bits and pieces, will you need a lot of equipment and tools? All these questions should be answered by the plans before you start. This will save you a lot of wasted time and money on materials and mistakes.
Even if you’re just building a storage shed look at the quality of the plans and the diagrams included. Make sure they are complete and provide clear detailed instructions. The plans should also include a materials list so you know what everything you need to buy is actually in the plans. If you get good quality plans they will also include detailed assembly diagrams. This will prevent you from making mistakes when putting the structure together.
