DIY in the UK
If you have the time, the talent and the energy it can be enormously rewarding to improve your home through your own efforts. D.I.Y. is not the answer in every case however, especially when it comes to the more complex areas of house maintenance or improvement including plumbing and electrical works. If you are not trained in these very specialised areas then you must employ a tradesman who is – get recommendations from friends and ask for references. Books and web sites provide a valuable source of diy information. Your local college or community centre may run courses which will help you to develop your diy skills.
Some DIY jobs will be quick and relatively easy, putting up shelves for example, while others will be time consuming, complex and expensive, e.g. re-decorating. DIY disasters are easy to avoid with some thoughtful planning and preparation. Before you commence work do ensure that you have a realistic expectation of how long it will take and what you will need to finish the job successfully. Don't abandon a job half way through; the longer you leave it the harder it will be to pick it back up where you left off.
DIY is often cheaper than bringing in professionals because your time is free. There are areas where it is impossible to avoid expenditure however, the most important of which is ensuring your safety. At the simplest level this comes down to taking good care of your diy equipment. Buy good quality tools, keep tools in a safe place away from children, use an appropriate tool for the job – don't try to improvise. Ensure that you have appropriate safety gear for the project you are undertaking. If you are working with dust or paint then ensure you have a mask to filter out harmful particles before you breathe them in. A little common sense goes a long way in do it yourself works, follow instructions and if you are in any doubt at all stop and seek advice.
Bear in mind that significant alterations may require planning permission from your local authority and that building regulations will apply. Formulate a plan of works which will cover how you will continue to live in the house while the works are ongoing. Bad planning can lead to huge inconvenience and added expense for you and your family.