DIY: do you know your dos and don’ts?

Emily Berryman — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:58:27 +0000

Ready to embark on your next project? Down tools until you have read our essential DIY hacks from home improvement guru James Gardner.

DIY is fast becoming the UK’s favourite sport, with the home improvement market now valued at £11.2 billion – and projected to reach a whopping £16.67 billion by 2033. But we are also a nation of unfinished projects and botched repairs. Need a few tips from the pros before picking up your drill and paintbrush? Read on, because these tricks may well save you money (and tears).

DO measure twice

The golden rule of DIY? Measure twice and cut once. “Whatever item you are cutting, always, always, measure twice and check your measurements are correct before any cutting,” says James. “You can’t stick bits back on if you have measured wrong – and while mistakes are bearable if it’s a £4 piece of batten, if it’s a £2,000 marble worktop, that’s a different story!”

DON’T go without gizmos

Our kitchens are overflowing with unused gadgets, but many of us shy away from investing in fix-it tools that will make our lives easier. “There’s always an ideal tool or product for the project you need to do. You can be sure that at one point some enterprising individual has done the job you’re doing, had an idea and invented a tool or product to do it better. Using the right item, especially for tricky jobs, can make the whole process easier and less stressful.”

DO tape up

Novice tilers can waste more tiles than they use – but this insider tip will save on slip-ups. “When drilling tiles, stick masking tape over the drilling point to prevent the bit slipping and causing damage to surrounding surfaces. Tiles, especially ceramic tiles, are very slippery, and starting a drill is tricky. The tape stops the bit from slipping everywhere before it breaks the tough, hard glazed surface.”

DON’T scrimp on essentials

That cheap-as-chips tool kit? Proceed with caution. “To get the best results, always purchase the best quality tools you can afford. Ultimately, you get what you pay with tools. Paying £15 for a drill as opposed to £200 may seem like an absolute bargain, but higher prices usually mean better quality, and often more power, more features, more battery life and the likes.”

DO prepare your drill

Knowing how far to drill is one of life’s great mysteries, but here’s another place a roll of tape can work wonders. “A good trick is to put tape around your drill bit at the correct depth your hole should be. Simply work out how deep the hole needs to be, and then use a tape measure to measure from the tip of the bit along the shaft and mark the point. Then using tape – insulation is best – wrap around the drill bit and stop drilling when you hit it!”

DON’T let your brushes dry out

Going through more paint brushes than Picasso? “It’s an age-old hack but remember to wrap any paint brushes in cling film or a plastic bag when finished for the day, if you still have work to do. Today’s modern water-based paints dry fast, and if your brush is left out in the air it will be solid by the morning. Cling film or a bag will stop this from happening, so you can start immediately the next day.”

DON’T leave the band

Painting can be a messy business, especially when your brushes do a vanishing act. But here’s a trick you will never forget. “Put a large elastic band around paint pots, so the band sits across the top of the pot when the lid is off. This allows you to rest brushes without submerging them, and the awful job of having to get all the excess paint off. But also when you do need to, you can scrape the brush over the band to clear paint off. The paint will simply drip back into the pot again – ta-da – no mess!”

DO allow for mistakes

Finally, do keep in mind the fact that DIY is a learning process. Handy people are created not born. “Mistakes are part of learning, so don’t be afraid to make them in the name of furthering your DIY skills,” finishes James. “It’s easy to beat yourself up after a disaster as it can then seem so obvious, especially if it’s a costly mistake, but no one is an expert straight away. Learning from your mistakes is a natural process!” www.diydoctor.org.uk

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