Where or how can I learn basic DIY skills?

[freckles20]

We are on the midst of having a small extension built- new kitchen, small downstairs toilet and utility, separating open plan room into two separate rooms.

The entire process has been a nightmare. I've had to be really observant because so many things have been done wrong.

I have no DIY skills. But I feel I have more common sense and care about how a job is done much more than most of the tradesmen who have been involved in our build.

I'm not under any illusion that I could do big or very skilled tasks. But I'd love to be able to do some typical DIY stuff- painting, using a drill, filling gaps etc..

I don't know anyone whose happy to teach me. I am thinking that a hands on in-person class would be best but I can't find any. I have found various YouTube videos but I'm not sure if have the confidence to wield a power tool after just watching a video.

It is also so hard to work out things like what type of screws or fixings to use for different surfaces etc.. There doesn't seem to be anyone available to ask or advise in local diy stores. One even suggested I got myself a husband ffs.

So to get to the point- how can I learn these basic DIY skills so I don't have to wait weeks for a reluctant trader to come and do a half hearted job of something that I feel I shop do do myself like putting up a shelf, mirror, painting etc.?

I’m with you OP. I’d definitely sign up for classes ( preferably women only) if there were any locally.

Some local FE colleges do short courses for women - bricklaying, car maintenance etc.

I’ve just signed up to do a 2 day DIY home maintenance course at the Building Training centre near Croydon.

Lurking

Ask at your local library, they often have very detailed instruction books for D.I.Y. including the very basic things that they never tell you in the Screwfix catalogue. There used to be a massive Readers Digest DIY bible that taught me how to change a tap, replace the flush mechanism in the toilet, and lay tiles. Like a very detailed cookery book, but for home improvements.

Thats a great idea! As a practical woman I can't begin to imagine what it must be like not being able to do DIY and having to rely on trades. What a sexist pig telling you to get a DH, not every man is practical anyways.
Everything I know I have taught myself. YouTube really is your best friend. Lots of videos and research then some alcohol in the fridge to celebrate a job done (or to drown sorrows).
We all start with nothing. My toolbox is as big as DP now and between us we have most things. I do all our Joinery and tiling. Any job that requires precision. He is very good at anything that requires engineering. We make a great team.
Pick little jobs and work up. You can do it!!!

You tube. There's tons of videos showing how to do things - often using the specific tools/ equipment you have. So each time there's a particular job you'd like to tackle spend check out you tube videos. Sometimes there's differing ways to tackle it and you can choose the way you prefer.

YouTube and books can give you a basic idea but neither can explain where you are going wrong or answer questions. Its a great idea, wonder if there's something near me 🤔

Definitely you tube as suggested, it's all free and sometimes you have to watch a few to get a feel, but it's still worth it.
And the next is just practice to build your confidence and skills, keep trying jobs slightly above your comfort zone, and one day you'll find yourself building decking or raised beds, surrounded by drills, spirit levels, and bits of wood, and you'll wonder where it will end!
You'll mess it up a lot, and rue all the expensive materials you waste by cutting them wrongly, but when you look around at your work it'll be an amazing feeling.
Good luck!

Regards fixings. They have started to change to metric sizes which is confusing. You can Google imperial to metric sizes which helps. The inch or mm size (4.0=8 5.0=10 6.0=12)is the length and then the other number is the width of the screw. So 1 1/2 inch 8 is the same as a 40mm x 4.0...
Rough guide
4.0 (8) screw 5mm or 5.5mm drill bit. Red plug
5.0 (10) screw 5.5mm or 6mm bit red or brown plug depending on drill bit size
6.0 (12) screw 6mm bit. Brown plug.
Don't fix into plasterboard where possible. It is not strong. Where you can drill through and get a fixing in the brick behind and use a long screw (we have screws as long as 150mm (8inches) used in our house.
A little screw tray with various sizes would be helpful. Screw fix do a drill bit kit that has all sorts of types and sizes. With this you can do most jobs. Riobi do a good cheap drill that will do most jobs for you.

Try "she can" courses, lots of colleges near us do evening courses as well. Worth looking at your local adult education places.

You could always find a local handy/man or woman locally and pay them for time to teach you?

Pre covid (I know a long time ago in a faraway place) B and Q used to hold how to do xyz Saturday morning tutorials. They may well do again? Or ask the college or just ask on Facebook - I bet an enterprising handyman may well think of it as another revenue stream to do basic classes at a village hall £10 per session per head - a good earner for a a class! Alternatively ask the local wi or u3a if they have any diy competent speakers or classes going on.

You tube is good for learning how to do things, but there’s no substitute for someone actually teaching you, you doing something and them showing you how and why it’s done that way. Also showing you where and how your going wrong and how to avoid it.

diy classes would be the best way to learn and grow confidence or for someone to let you work / help them as they work.

I second YouTube.
I plastered my (tiny) bathroom, it's not perfect, but you wouldn't really know I did it myself unless you looked VERY closely.

I've watched various others, but this was my proudest moment 😂

I'm really heartened by the supportive messages here- thank you!

Thank you also for the advice and tips.

I've googled local colleges and all the courses were in the daytimes when I need to be at work. B&Q no longer seem to offer classes. I'll keep looking though- and the idea of asking a local tradesperson to help is great.

I think I might have to get my head around having to make mistakes and allow for things going wrong as part of learning how to do these things.

Tradespeople where I live are like gold dust, waiting times are very very long, communication very poor, people aren't interested in small jobs and most disappointingly it feels like when someone finally comes they aren't bothered about doing a good job.

It would be so good to be able do the basics myself!

Part of it just trying to do the job. I’ll be the first to admit, our first diy jobs were horrendous - but we didn’t have the money to pay someone, so it was the readers digest guide to diy, and asking a lot of friends how they would do xyz, and then diving in. Basically if it was knackered already, we couldn’t make it much worse.
Today’s equivalent is likely to be a night or two day watching YouTube!!

you do get better with practice, practice means you gain knowledge or what to or not to do and confidence to try new things or… realise that electrics aren’t your forte and save like mad for a professional…

I learnt everything I needed to do up and maintain an old house from this: www.amazon.co.uk/Readers-Digest-DIY-Manual-Classic/dp/0276429338

The only things I don’t consider are major electrical work and gas stuff. I can plumb, glaze windows, rewire appliances and sockets, do simple carpentry, lay bricks and do tiling. I dug a big-ish pond, lined it with waterproof cement that I mixed myself. I’m rubbish at plastering.

@BadGranny we had the part-works in a binder version !!

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 , yes, mine was too!

There's a guy in Huddersfield who runs a 4-day plastering course, that looks really very good. I'd love to do it but my hands are buggered up atm.

I can decorate but I can't operate a drill. I have tried and tried, followed YouTube videos. It may be that I just don't have the physical strength but I'd like to learn some DIY. DH doesn't know any so it's down to me. Tradesmen won't come in for those little jobs like curtain rails. I have had a lifetime of trivial jobs undone.

There was a post on local (small market town) FB last week. Someone asking whether there would be any interest if she held classes for basic DIY, decorating including wallpapering and upcycling furniture. I think she got a huge response.

I'm signing up for DIY and upcycling😁

@WhizzFizz have you tried asking for a handyman on Facebook for say a half days work doing a big list of jobs, as opposed to asking someone to do one small job here and there? Plus, you may find it better to ask on a nearby village Facebook as opposed to a town Facebook. For some weird reason, they seem to be a better place to find trades/handymen.
Those classes sound ideal - have fun!

Has your drill got enough power? I struggle with my little one but have a hammer drill that goes through concrete like butter. So much easier when it has the power and because it's quick it's more accurate.

I'm with you OP! Just last night I decided to start researching drills. I am sick of letting small jobs build up until I have 'enough' to get a handyman over. I do a what I can myself but I don't have a drill. I've been intimidated possibly from when a handyman drilled into our wall and hit a water pipe and flooded the room, I would have had NO CLUE how to switch the water off to deal with the mistake.

I have a sander, I have worked a bit with wood and restored wooden furniture, I'd love to do more!

Not quite on a par with you lot but I bought a power jet spray and cleaned our filthy but huge patio and it was one of the most satisfying jobs I've ever done. It was like I got a new garden! Then the thing blew and now I don't know how to fix it :(