The most stressful DIY task has to be...

[TheDailyWail]

Putting sealant round the bath. Y'see once done you're stuck with it.

I prepared;
removed old sealant - check
Filled bath - check
Wore gloves - check
Masked the area - check

So why have I got sealant everywhere? This particular sealant was quite easy to remove. (phew)

Anyway, my blood pressure's returned to normal.

Any other tasks I should avoid?

[UrsulaBuffay]

glossing

[thighslapper]

wallpapering a ceiling...divorce foder that defo....

[GentleOtter]

I weep with you, DailyWail, I really do.

Can I add removing old grouting and removing mosaic tiles, reattaching the buggers, regrouting and resealing and there is still a leak.

[TheDailyWail]

Ursula- use eggshell paint. Much much better!

[TheDailyWail]

Thighslapper; what you need is a leaky ceiling to claim off your insurance.

Eek gentleotter! Yep - that would just about take the biscuit.

[PigletJohn]

doing any job when there is a person watching you and telling you how it should be done.

[GrendelsMum]

Any job where you do it on your own, and your DH and DFiL then come in and look at it, and then very kindly refrain from comment.

[OsbegaEthelwulf]

Agree 100% on sealants; I am trying to remove the complete bodge jobs previous occupiers did on the bath. They have put about three layers of outdoor sealant over the grout and it's gone over the tiles and bath. I CANNOT get it off/out and I want to cry

[QuintessentialOldMoo]

Levelling the soil with heavy plank, and then seeding your own lawn. Then keep the kids, and the neighbours cats, and foxes and squirrels off it, for a few weeks, until you have a green and healthy lawn, and then STILL keep the kids away from it for a few more weeks.......

[HarrietJones]

Dealing with workmen!

[limePy]

One trick I use is to put two strips of masking tape down so that they do not cover the join between the wall and bath but so that they will take up the excess sealant. When the sealant is try just pull up the masking tape firmly, just don't do it before the sealant is dry!

Gives you some nice clean lines and helps it look tidy.

[TheDailyWail]

sooz - that's a good tip! I'm thinking of doing the kitchen.

Quint - all the soil taken for the foundations of our extenstion was placed at the back of the garden so there's another jib for us to do soon.

Oh and yes! Trying to get builders back to rectify small problems is blinking hard. I feel a bit if a wally leaving my fifteenth message on my builders answer-phone.

[Ooopsadaisy]

Hanging doors is the worst thing I've ever attempted.

We've ripped out bathrooms and kitchens in our time and moved plumbing and all sorts of wires. We've laid floors and quarry tiles. We've reseeded lawns and built internal walls.

But hanging doors?

I'd rather tongue-snog a baboon's arse.

[GrendelsMum]

Oh no, you're right, Oopsadaisy. I think that the only thing I wouldn't try again is hanging doors. It was just dreadful.

[Fizzylemonade]

dailywail don't wear gloves, have a small bowl of water with washing up liquid in it to dip your finger in. This stops the the sealant from sticking to your finger. Press firmly so that the sealant goes into the nice gap between the masking tape lines.

When you have finished pull the masking tape up immediately as you can sometimes get a little ridge at the edges of the sealant, re-dip your finger and smooth this out.

I asked advice on this from the guy who fitted my kitchen. I have now done this loads on newly fitted bathroom/ en-suite, kitchen in new house etc.

Use sealant remover to get sealant off. I have unibond stuff, it sort of makes cured sealant all gooey again. Messy but worth it. Don't forget to clean up with white spirit or whatever is recommended on the sealant remover tube. Otherwise new sealant won't stick!

Personally I hate painting banister rails and spindles.

[DisparityCausesInstability]

Hanging pictures/shelves and getting them completely straight and lined up.

[OsbegaEthelwulf]

right...the most CRAPPEST JOB EVER HAS TO BE washing out rollers after painting!!!!ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[TheDailyWail]

Osbega - throw 'em away