Welcome to My DIY Guide: Learn by Doing

I’m Lee, and like many DIY enthusiasts, I didn’t start with a ton of knowledge or experience. I took a 10-day plastering course at Gold Trowel Construction which was essential for getting the basics and messing up someone else’s walls before starting on your own. Let me tell you, it was worth every penny—I’ve made my money back in saved labour costs and I don’t care what other blogs say, you will not get the desired finish from watching a Youtube video. I’ve spent countless hours, days, and even weeks devouring YouTube tutorials and learning through trial and error for most of my jobs and I swear by Youtube, but plastering takes practice.

I tend to rush headlong into projects. Taking advice can be tricky, but when I get hands-on, I learn fast. I’m obsessed with figuring out how things work and pushing myself to master new skills. I’ll admit—tradesmen will often do a better job and get a finer finish in most cases, but the catch is sometimes time and cost take priority, and I’ve had my share of trades doing quick, shoddy work and expect high prices…plus I’m as tight as cramp and if I can do it myself I will.

These guides are for those who want to give it a go themselves. I’ll share my tips on where to learn, how to do things right, and highlight some great tradesmen I’ve come across. Plus, I’ll show you how to save money on materials and tools—what’s essential and what you can skip. Let’s get started on your next project!

Ready to get started on your DIY renovation?