Make light work of heavy DIY duties by following our top tips for new home owners

Planning

Changing plans half way through any home improvement project can be a costly mistake. Note down all the jobs which need to be done and prioritise. Think what could cause the most mess and get that done first. For example, re-wiring the electricity or carrying out damp treatment is best done before any decorating takes place.

Removing Artex ceilings

If you’ve bought an old house, you may notice the ceilings look like icing on a Christmas cake. This type of old-fashioned finish is deemed difficult to get rid of but you do have a couple of options. Firstly you can remove the whole ceiling put in new plasterboard and re-plaster or you could get a solution designed for removing Artex. You simply paint it on, leave for a while for the structure of the Artex to break down and once again scrape the Artex off. The above can be messy and most plasterers can in fact skim it for you.

Fixing a leaky tap

A leaking tap can cause damage to your property if left and can add to your water bill too. It’s relatively easy to fix. Firstly make sure you have turned your water off and have run all the water out of the tap in question. Put the plug in the sink hole so no components can escape down the piping. Remove the top lid off the tap and inside you will see a screw, unscrew this and pull the cartridge out of the tap casing. Go to your local hardware or home store to purchase a matching washer for the tap. Remove the old washer and attach the new one before re-building the tap.

Painting

Protect the room first with sufficient dust sheets, even if its an old room when you paint and gloss it can go everywhere. On furniture, windows and even on your feet! Secondly prepare your walls by cleaning them with sugar soap and then sanding down. Use a base coat first going around the borders and leave to dry. Make sure you have quality paint brushes and rollers for your top coat of paint to avoid brush strokes and don’t be tempted to put too much paint on to save time as it will drip. Finally remove the masking tape and use decorators caulk around the edges for a nice finishing seal.

Treat electricity with respect

If you aren’t completely confident in wiring up a new socket or installing appliances then don’t. Hire a qualified electrician instead.

Removing the kitchen

Avoid the term ‘ripping out’ your kitchen entirely. Plan the stages instead of rushing and it will relieve added stress. Remove all the appliances and furniture first but not the cooker if it is attached to a gas line. Remove the top cabinets first with an electric screwdriver. Turn the water off first before moving the worktops and lower cupboards, taking extra care around the plumbing so not to damage it.

Take extra precautions when removing the tiles by wearing protective clothing and goggles. You’ll need a bolster and hammer for this part. Dispose of all of the old units and tiles to create a complete blank canvas then plan the new kitchen meticulously to avoid going over budget.

To explore more ‘how to’ guides drafted by the Inspiring Interiors team, click here.