Thinking of attempting some DIY? DIY skills should always be encouraged, and the reality is if you don’t try, you will never be what you are capable of. But much like with anything else in life, you need to get the foundations down first before you start anything.
It’s all good and well being enthusiastic and going at repairs full speed ahead, but if you don’t know what you are doing or you haven’t prepared for the job at hand, then you are only setting yourself up for failure.
With this in mind, these tips can help you prepare for your new DIY venture to ensure that you are starting as you mean to go and you don’t make things an even bigger mess than they already are.
What Are Your Skills?
Do you have the skills and the capability to get the job done? If you are a first-timer, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t be attempting massive repairs or renovations like removing walls, but if you have some experience, do you have the skills necessary to get smaller tasks completed to a good standard? Sure, you can learn as you go along, but you need to be aware of your capabilities before starting so you can gauge how things might pan out once you start.
Tools
Do you have all of the tools required to do the job, and are they in your possession ready to use now? Again, if the answer is no, then the last thing you should be doing is attempting any repair or quick fix so as not to make matters worse. Check online or ask friends and family for the right tools for the job, and ensure you have them ready when you start to make things easier.
Is It Dangerous?
An important question should be a sign before any DIY attempt. This can include whether or not the work you are attempting to do will be dangerous to carry out or if the tools you need to use can put you at risk of harm. If so, you need to ensure you are using suitable safety equipment, or you can call the professionals to take over for you. This is especially important when working with gas or electricity appliances and supplies so you don’t cause further problems.
Do You Have The Right Equipment?
We discussed having the right tools for the job above, but you also need the correct repair kits, materials, and so on to help you carry out the repair properly, and you need to have it all to hand so you can grab it when you need it. Whether this means you need to look up the model number of your dishwasher before carrying out minor repairs to ensure it is the correct part or you have the right screws for hanging pictures on the wall or replacing trims in your home, make sure you know exactly what you need and have it ready to go.
Read The Instructions
Instructions for DIY are there for a reason, and glossing over them and using your initiative will only lead to disaster and more work that needs to be done. Make sure you have any instruction manuals to hand or even online tutorials in the absence of restrictions, so you have a guide to follow to help you move step by step. Using instructions isn’t a sign of weakness; in fact, it’s the opposite. It shows you are serious about learning what you need to do and doing an excellent job in the process.
Have The Time
The last thing you want to do is to attempt something only to be rushed and not have the time to complete it. Make sure, especially when trying something new for the first time that you have plenty of time to complete it without rushing, making mistakes, or overlooking something. Find out how long it should take, then allow yourself longer to get the job done so you can take your time and really make sure you’re doing things right.
Don’t Give Up
When it comes to DIY, giving up means you are left living with half-finished jobs that likely won’t look their best and aren’t any better than when you began. If you give up, you will probably need to suffer the consequences or call in the professionals to complete this. So take your time, don’t rush things, and go at your own pace to figure out what you must do and persevere until you get the result you have been working towards.
DIY defense comes easy to everyone, but the final result will largely depend on the work and prep you have put in beforehand.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.