Cut home improvement costs

You probably won’t need us to tell you that when you’ve got a home improvement project in the pipeline, hiring professionals can come at a princely cost. That’s precisely why these days, some of us prefer to roll our sleeves up and get the job done ourselves. Relying on good old DIY can cut your expenses dramatically but before we look more into that, here are our tips on how to stay safe when it’s time to put your home or office under the hammer.

Safety first…

Whether you’re looking to give your humble abode a seasonal makeover or if you think your workspace needs an interior design overhaul, it’s important to take all the necessary safety precautions. It’s reassuring to know that there are people on hand like Slater and Gordon injury lawyers if worse does come to worst but there are some simple steps you can take to dodge unnecessary #DIYDisasters in the first place.

Make sure the room is well ventilated – Digging out the old Dulux shade cards and picking out a brand new colour scheme is all part of the fun but paints, varnishes and other toxic substances can be harmful if breathed in. Make sure the space you’re working in is well ventilated with open doors, open windows and extractor fans where possible.
Ensure there is a fire extinguisher to hand – When working with highly flammable materials, heavy duty machinery and fabrics, it’s important to take fire risks seriously. Make sure you have easy access to a fire extinguisher just in case.
Wear protective gloves and glasses – Any respectable DIY store will have protective gloves and safety goggles readily available at a great price so take advantage of them. Don’t see these all-important accessories as an added cost; consider them a quick and easy way to prevent potentially irreversible damage to your skin, hands and eyesight.

So, why DIY?

The saying goes, ‘leave it to the professionals’ but what if we told you to cut them out of the equation totally for your next home improvement project? Okay we aren’t talking the big jobs like replacing a roof or rewiring the electrics here – we’re talking about a quick lick of paint or installing that new set of shelves you’ve been hankering after for months. Contracting out can be a hefty cost to bear so DIY can often seem like the more appealing option.

With video tutorials splashed all over the internet and handy how-to guides available at the click of a button, doing it yourself has never been so simple. Number crunchers have proved that taking the DIY route can almost half the cost of a project and provide you with much more substantial return on investment and sense of satisfaction to boot.