Anyone taught themselves DIY or any good at DIY?

[whatdoesntkillyou]

There are numerous things that need doing in our home. We don't have the money to pay a builder to do these for us. I would love to know where to start with doing some stuff for myself [girl power smiley needed] but I have no DIY knowledge.

Is there a good website with step by step instructions for doing stuff? Some of it can't be that hard surely if I only had 'the knowledge'!!

For example we have an inside windowsill that has fallen apart and needs replacing, there are gaps around the front door that need filling because they let draughts in, I would like make some shelves to fit in an awkward shaped gap. Oh yes and my ultimate wish list item would be a fitted cabinets to go either side of my chimney breast (but think that may be beyond me).

So MNetters can anyone suggest a way of learning to do this stuff or can anyone inspire me with DIY stuff they have done themselves?

There are loads of DIY forums and lots of good vids on youtube.

We learnt by doing it, in fact we classed our last house (a stepping stone house) as a test as to what we could do or need a pro for in the next house. We gutted it from top to bottom, fitted bathrooms, tiled, laid laminate flooring, changed light fittings etc

Having the right tools is important, and the best way is to ask friends or their partners to help out and so you learn with their help rather than them doing it.

A few beers or a bottle of wine will normally suffice for a small job

We taught ourselves - I'm able to tackle very simple plumbing and I'm quite good at carpentry. I wouldn't tackle anything electrical. Sort of picked it up by renovating lots of places. Be prepared to get very dirty and frustrated.

youtube... there are so many helpful clips you can watch! This tip was passed on to my dh by friends who have bought and done up two rental properties .

Brilliant thank you. I hadn't thought of youtube so I will have a look.

Also try VideoJug. They do excellent recipes and suspect they prob do DIY as well.