Whether you are looking to refresh or revamp, there is always a DIY project that can be done at home, or in the office.
Projects range from small scale undertakings such as paint jobs and fixing shelves for extra storage to building custom furniture and installing wales and ceilings. Here we take a look at
some possible projects and offer some tips to help your projects flourish.
General Tips
We begin with a series of general tips that are relevant to any DIY task that you undertake. They are simple but highly effective and will ensure that you get off on the right foot.
Plan Ahead – “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
Never has this been more true than in the world of DIY! Without adequate preparation you are likely to find yourself without the right tools, space and materials for the task in hand. Make sure that you plan ahead by measuring and costing your project before you begin. It is also useful to look at the availability of materials and the operating and delivery times of suppliers that you plan to use.
Be Realistic – Everyone wants to complete tasks in good time, and we all want our homes and offices to look nice. However, it is important to be realistic when taking on a DIY project. That means being realistic about the outcome and also about the amount of time that it is going to take to complete the project.
Don’t Cut Corners – This is probably the most important piece of advice you can take on board before a project. Whilst saving time and money in the short term may seem tempting, in the long run cutting corners will lead to degradation of the finished result.
Job Specific Tips
Now that we have covered the general tips, let’s take a look at some tips in relation to some of the common DIY projects undertaken at home in the office.
Installing a Suspended Ceiling
This is one of the more involved and intricate projects that you are likely to take on, but also one of the most transformative. Let’s take a look at some tips to ensure that your project goes to plan.
Tile Selection – It’s key to consider the type and shape of tile that you plan to use and suspended ceilings from ADA are available in all you may be searching for. Think about the frame that you are going to use and also the temperature and environment of the room that you are preparing the ceiling for. The tiles can be pretty delicate, so handle them with care.
Plan Ahead – Creating the frame for the ceiling can be tricky and time consuming, so it is key to plan it in advance of the installation of the ceiling.
New Heights – Marking out the height of the new ceiling accurately will be a key factor in the success of your suspended ceiling. Mark up the new height around the walls with a laser measure.
Lighting and Cabling – Suspended ceilings are great for hiding cable and lighting elements, and you don’t need to worry about being too neat with the cables. However, it is important to factor them into your plans from the beginning so that they do not provide you with any unwanted surprises along the way.
Laying Flooring
Laying a new floor – be it carpet, laminate or lino – is an easy and cost effective way to spruce up a room or office. Here are our top tips for making sure that your flooring project is successful.
Measure Accurately – Floor space can be difficult to measure as there are often corners and obstacles involved. Making sure that you get an accurate measurement before buying flooring is important because with inaccurate measurements you will end up with too little material – disaster strikes when you get to the end of the project and realise you are short! Or, too much material – not only have you wasted money, but you also have excess material to deal with once the project has finished. Drawing a plan, or using online planning software, will certainly help.
Pick the Right Underlay – There is a whole world of underlay out there to be considered. Make sure that you get the right type for your floor and the flooring that you intend to lay on top of it. Any good merchant will be able to give you advice with this.
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