18 things not to say while DIYing

It’s one thing to stay on budget, but it’s another thing to buy inferior products. Like the old saying goes: You get what you pay for. We’ve heard countless tales of DIY home repair that has to be redone sooner than expected or even worse has to be hired out to fix.

Here are 10 expenses most people fail to allow for when planning an extension.

Gary Steinmetz was rushing to get done for the day, turned the corner and smashed his forehead into protruding timber. His baseball cap visor blocked his view and: WHAM! After a trip to the emergency room and a half-dozen stitches, he was more careful about leaving boards sticking out at head level and decided to wear his baseball cap backward.

Always make sure the electricity is off before doing any kind of electrical work. Use a non-contact voltage tester before touching any wires and avoid making common electrical mistakes.

Learn the 9 things electricians always do in their own homes.

We’ve heard plenty of ladder stories gone awry, like getting stranded on the roof after a ladder falls or hanging on to a gutter while help arrived. Do yourself a favour and use a roof harness while working on the roof or try a ladder stabiliser.

Ladder safety is an utmost concern when doing DIY work. More than 500,000 people a year are treated for ladder falls and more than 300 people die from ladder-related injuries, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Set up a ladder safely to prevent any fall.

Any DIYer knows measure twice, cut once but even the most experienced DIYer will tempt fate by rushing through something. Try letting technology take some of the guesswork out with a digital angle gauge or by finding the best tape measure around.

Learn how to get the measure of any DIY job, big or small.

You wonder why people have old cans of paint in their garage, well it’s better to be fully prepared than partially prepared. Make sure you have enough paint for your next job and make it easy with some of the best tips from pro painters.

That safety guard on a table saw and other saws is there for a reason. Your fingers will thank you in advance for using the guard properly.

See our guide to using a circular saw.

There are a number of stories out there about wheels falling off vehicles because the lug nuts weren’t tight enough. Make sure you know how to change a tyre properly to avoid any catastrophe on the road.

Always make sure to wear proper shoes or boots when doing DIY work or even mowing the lawn.