Home Improvement DIY Tips & Professional Advice

WEST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND, September 03, 2012 (Press-News.org) If you are retired or nearing retirement, you may be looking forward to spending more time relaxing at home. Retirement is the perfect time to take on many of the small household DIY jobs that you didn't have time for when working.

While there are many jobs that are perfect for DIY, it is advisable to seek the services of professional builders or painters & decorators for the larger jobs. This is both for your safety, and for the quality of final finish, if you don't have the required experience or equipment.

Below are some simply DIY home improvement ideas to inspire you, from leading over 50s advice website - 50PlusInfoBus - as well as some advice on when to call in the professionals.

Bedrooms: How to Make DIY Headboards

When it comes to bedrooms, one of the quickest ways of brightening up your room and adding some individual style is by creating a unique headboard for your bed. You can often pick up an old headboard or even a fire surround to use as a base for your creation, from a second hand furniture shop or car boot sale. A wooden board offers the opportunity to sand it down and re-varnish or repaint it. Alternatively, you could pick up some wadding or some high-density foam and some fabric of your choice, and re-upholster your headboard, hammering tacks into the back where they won't be seen. Stretch the fabric as tight as you can without the pattern distorting, for a smooth professional look - and et voila! You have a bespoke new headboard in your own style. Why not buy extra matching fabric to make scatter cushions for your bed, too?

Laying Carpet & Flooring: DIY Tips

If you feel confident laying your own carpet & flooring, you can save a lot of money on carpet fitters. Prepare the floor by ensuring it is even across the room, and giving it a good sweep and vacuum. Nail the strips around each wall with the tacks facing the wall, leaving a gap of 1/4 inch approx between the skirting & the gripper. Lay the underlay against the back of the gripper & cut it to the right length. Open the carpet out and arrange, with 5 - 10 cm excess on every edge for trimming in. Ensure the pile is directed at the main light source or window. Only begin cutting when you are sure there is enough carpet to meet every edge. Crease the carpet into the skirting, lift the surplus, and push the knife into the carpet at a 45-degree angle to cut. Secure the carpet to the gripper under tension, using a knee kicker, and tuck the carpet under the skirting with a blunt chisel.

You should call Builders in:
- When your home improvements require you to move the fuse box
- When any rewiring is involved
- When you need to move or change any part of the gas or central heating system
- When you make any structural changes (e.g. moving a load-bearing internal wall)

You should call the Painters & Decorators in:
- If a large area requires decoration, or any hard-to-reach places (such as high ceilings above the stairs
- If plastering is required and you do not have the right equipment or skills (it can often be more cost effective to get professional plasterer in than to buy all the equipment for a small job)
- If a large external area requires attention (e.g. the exterior of a house, especially where the house has two or more floors and you do not have the correct ladders and equipment)

Good luck with your home improvements!

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50PlusInfoBus is a leading over 50s advice website. Apart from offering advice and blogs for the elderly on things like pensions, healthcare, travel and insurance, the website also includes a local search with special offers and discounts for 50PlusInfoBus readers.