Getting Stuck in Quick-Sand (DIY in general)

Member Name: Recon

Product:	DIY in general
Date:	06/03/08 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Make your own stuff! Cheaper normally, No workers to pay for, Proudness when you finish!

Disadvantages: Normally turns out disastrous, Quite hard, Takes time and precision...and patience

When it comes to DIY, I begin to cry. I just hate it and I make such a mess of everything I try to make or do! I am terrible at everything along the lines of painting, wallpapering and even putting together furniture with an instruction leaflet! I just can't hack it and I am sure most people can't. The thing is; I know what to do, but I just can't grapple actually doing it!

There are several types of DIY that many people will take part in everyday:

Painting
Decorating
Building

Personally, painting is my worst job. We have a garden wall, which we wanted to paint in a creamy colour, so I took up the job. I thought it wouldn't take long and wouldn't be too hard - never think this when it comes to painting! This wall was terrible and had leaves stuck to it all over and trees right next to it. How on earth could I paint a wall with such conditions? You can't possible paint an outside garden wall (rough texture) perfectly and not getting any of the plants painted without spending days on it. Turns out that I made a right disaster of the wall and the garden! Half the plants got painted, but the wall did look good in the end. The bad thing was that there was a hell of a lot of rain recently before painting the wall, and it created a huge quick-sand patch in the garden! This one patch where we were TRYING to grow some plants was like quick-sand and my feet went in over a foot deep! The terrible bit was when I actually dropped a plastic container full of paint onto this mushy soil and made a right mess! I totally messed up the garden, but luckily the paint washed away. The surrounding area where I painted was in a terrible state, but at least the wall got done!

Once I painted the floor in the lounge with a varnish. This was much easier apart from trying not to step in it! I did this to give it a glossy look as it was an old wooden floor. I didn't mind doing this for several reasons: It was inside and dry. I could watch TV whilst painting or listen to a music station and the atmosphere was pretty nice rather than getting trapped in quick-sand! This links onto decorating the lounge in general and other rooms. Decorating consists of painting but also generally decorating the place quite literally. Whether it is hanging paintings on the wall, stripping wallpaper and putting new strips on, it normally takes place when you first move into a house. I much prefer decorating as it is easier in general. I am not that bad at doing wallpaper. The hard bit is using that gooey stuff to chisel away all the old wallpaper, but once that is done, you are in for the easier bit! Sticking the new paper to the wall is pretty easy normally as long as you have a working bench to lay down paper and put glue on the back and stuff. I normally get the wallpaper on all lined up nicely.

When it comes to building, I am not too bad. Building can be anything from building the new garden shed to putting a house together! I have built countless things such as a little hatch for my tortoise/lizards and many more things. Ikea seems to be the main store that sells DIY products such as desks, sofas and much more furniture. They sell some great things at good prices but most of them need putting together yourself! They will come flat-packed in a box and you will have to use the instructions and equipment given to make whatever it is. I am not bad at this as you are given instructions, so it isn't the end of the world! It's annoying when you put wrong screws in, so be careful with this and put it together strongly or it will fall apart!

Overall, I kind of suck at DIY. Just take precautions for when you are going to DIY. Just remember to be careful and take your time when painting, and check the weather if it's outside painting! Decorating is not so bad, but take your time and precision makes perfect! Constructing is more fun and physical in a way, but it is important you put whatever you are making together very well, or it will collapse!

GO DIY!

Thanks for reading,

- Recon -

Summary: A great way to make your own things up but normally resulting in catastrophies for me!