DIY: Best home projects for Easter long weekend

DIYers are the ‘modern day hunters and gatherers’ seeking to improve their homes and their villages but you need to know what you’re getting into.

Do-it-yourself is booming.

Over the last year we have evolved into a nation of DIY-ers, planning projects, picking up tools and investing in our homes to make life more comfortable for the unknown years ahead.

According to digital magazine app Readly, Aussie interest in DIY and craft projects soared by a staggering 822 per cent over the past year.

So for everyone not going camping or having a mini-break at the beach this coming Easter weekend, there’s a good chance that you, or one of your neighbours, is going to be tackling some home repairs or rejuvenation.

Easter is DIY heaven says Barry Dubois. Picture: Channel 10

DIY expert Barry DuBois, from Ten’s The Living Room, says data shows Easter is traditionally the busiest weekend of the year for hardware stores like Bunnings with tasks such as painting and redecorating at the top of the home improvement list.

So it’s worth planning and shopping ahead.

“I like to think of today’s DIY-ers as the modern day hunters and gatherers, who want to achieve something for their village, they want to make a difference at home, and they head off to the aisles of Bunnings or hardware stores, and bring back stuff to make,” he says.

He suggests homeowners keen to make the most of the few extra days may want to try projects such as

– painting a kid’s room

– making a hammock

– or installing a barbecue.

Trends have shifted since the start of the year, with the home office slipping as a leading trend.

Hipages chief customer officer Stuart Tucker says before any DIY is attempted you should always ask yourself: ‘Do I have the necessary tools and expertise?’

“Too many homeowners jump into DIY with little to no knowledge of what is required,” says Stuart.

“It’s usually uncovered halfway through that they don’t have the right tools, materials or expertise. Always do your research before you get started. If you’re unsure, call in an expert.”

DIY expert Matt Carman with daughters, Adeline and Lil. Picture Matt Turner.

THE DO-IT-YOURSELF FAMILY

It will be DIY-ers such as the Carmans embracing the extra time over the Easter weekend. When the Adelaide family bought a 1930s character home a few years ago, the footprint was what their family of six required space wise, and it was in a reasonable state, if a little dated. It had been in the same family for 30-40 years and while the internal dimensions were good, the closed-in floorplan didn’t suit what they needed for the next stage of life.

With four young daughters to look after, plus the cost of school fees, children’s activities and life in general, commissioning a major renovation however, wasn’t in the budget in the immediate future.

Matt, a plumber by trade, has a builder father to keep him on track, so he knew there were DIY projects he could easily handle.

But like many people with full-time jobs, he only has weekends to get stuck in — and that’s what he’s been doing for the past couple of years, slowly fixing, changing and updating small, and sometimes not-so-small, jobs around their home.

Matt Carman installing a lintel with his builder father

Things like digging holes to fix stormwater issues, taking the squeak out of old floorboards and installing garden irrigation are just some of the things that have kept him busy. He has screened off an outdoor utility area, painted fences and a shed, bricked up a doorway and knocked out another, Gyprocked walls, installed a television outside and remodelled the existing alfresco, piece by piece.

Currently, he’s halfway along in a new bathroom and laundry area, which were moved from the existing spots to make the internal layout flow better.

“I suggest you live in a house for a couple of years before you do anything as well,” says Matt.

“The first thing I did was to take the stormwater away, it used to run around all over and under the footings and as soon as you take that away the house needs to settle and that can take a couple of years.”

It’s sage advice. Having time to live in a home to see how the natural light affects it throughout the year, and importantly, where it needs more of it, was integral to future proofing their home, too.

Matt Carman dug a whole for stormwater and checked the depth by putting daughter Lil in the hole (done safely of course). Picture: Supplied

BEST DIY ADVICE

Plan it out

Soon after moving into their home, wife Marita set about drawing floorplans with their home wishlist.

This centred around creating more usable space for the family – and most were tasks Matt could DIY himself. There are plans for a homework zone for the kids, a home office, and moving a few walls to make the living area more open. A pool is also on the wishlist, so the washing line and a few trees have been moved to create space.

Do it in stages

Weekend DIY takes time and for those who like instantaneous results, it may not be the best path to go down. Matt says patience is a necessity and living in a constant stage of renovation is a reality.

Storage innovation. Picture: Matt Turner.

Barry says the best way to tackle a DIY project is with proper planning – preferably ahead of the weekend and not starting on Saturday morning with a little idea where to start as you wander down the hardware store aisles.

What to tackle

Matt called in his builder father to help with larger tasks, such as installing a lintel to support the roofline. Down the track, the family plans to pull out the existing kitchen and knock down a non-load bearing wall to create a new kitchen in what will be the open plan zone. Matt is realistic when it comes to tasks he shouldn’t attempt and knows when to call in the experts, leaving jobs such as the electrical, concrete and tiling to licensed professionals.

WHEN YOU CAN’T DIY EVERYTHING

Even keen DIY-ers like Matt Carman know their limit and he has hired tradies to do the electrical works, the tiling and the concrete slab. But he says you should always be around to oversee tradies work.

“Project manage trades to make sure you get the result you want,” he advises.

According to Hipages, homeowners spend $3.53 billion annually on hiring tradies to fix DIY gone wrong.

Keeping the tools safe and the mess out of the way. Picture: Matt Turner.

Always use a licenced professional for:

Plumbing work: Simple jobs such as unclogging a drain or fixing a leaky tap can be tackled by an amateur handyman without any issue, but large repairs should be done by an expert.

Electrical: Electrical work should never be attempted without the help of a licensed electrician. In some states you are required to use a licensed tradie to change your light bulbs!

Home extensions: Reality TV renovation shows have given people a false perception of the work involved and the potential for costly mistakes. Registered builders understand the process and how to keep a build on schedule with quality control in check, while maintaining safety standards.

Property damage: Damage may range from clogged drains to leaky roofs, so when considering whether to tackle a job yourself or bring in a professional, you’ll need to look at the scale of the job and the risks involved.

Asbestos removal: If you suspect your house has asbestos present you must hire a licensed asbestos removalist.

DIY PROJECT

Owner Matt Carman and his family of six.

The plan: To update a 1930s character home to create a better use of space from the home’s existing footprint.

DIY goals: To stay in keeping with the era of the home, while adding modern comforts. Progress report: Ongoing, weekend DIY projects.

Plastering work. Picture: Supplied

Project timeline

Completed:

● Diverted the stormwater and sewer to plan for a future swimming pool.
● Moved the clothesline.

● Added a screen to cover up an outdoor utility zone where rubbish bins are kept.

●Took the squeak out of old floorboards.

● Built wall niches.

● Revamped the alfresco.

● Blocked up a doorway, knocked out another.

● New walls Gyprocked and insulated.

● New ceiling and cavity doors installed.

● New square set windows.

TOP DIY TIPS

Matt Carman’s DIY tips:

● Invest in insect-proof lighting for outdoor or alfresco area. It’s money well spent.

● Measure out and measure again. Even though the measurements are on the box, with tiles, always open the box and check your tile length to make sure they are correct.

● Know what you want to order. I knew what Gyprock sheet sizes I wanted. Measure all spaces and draw rooms out before hand.the

Originally published as DIY: Best home projects for Easter long weekend