Learning the basics of DIY is crucial, especially if you are a homeowner and we’ve teamed up with Orbital Fasteners to give you some fantastic top tips. With the mortgage and bills to pay it is unlikely that you want to fork out extra cash to get things fixed and knowing how to do it yourself can save you a lot of money in the long run. DIY covers a huge amount of things, however I am going to talk through three top tips which you need to know to get started.

Measuring things carefully is a must. Getting the sizes wrong costs you more money than it should and wastes time. Take measurements more than once to ensure it is correct and you will only have to do the job once and buy one lot of materials. It may take more time than you hope, however patience is a must with DIY, especially when you are just getting started.

My second tip is to spend time preparing for the job. There aren’t many DIY jobs you can jump straight into without having to do a little work beforehand and making sure it is done properly by taking your time can save you a lot of problems later. Preparation jobs include things such as sanding and undercoats which both give a better finish.

My last tip is to be careful and stay safe when dangerous equipment and machinery is involved. Carelessness can cause serious accidents whilst doing DIY so it is essential you take your time and wear appropriate protective clothing such as gloves or masks. Also make sure you know how to use the tools correctly as being unsure can lead to the same disasters.

Basic DIY can be learnt by anyone and it certainly isn’t as complicated as it looks. Once you get the hang of it you will soon learn when it is appropriate to hire a professional to do a job for you and when you are capable of doing it yourself. You may even find yourself enjoying it!