10 Simple DIY Tasks

You don't have to be a professional or have a lot of experience to do home repairs. Fortunately, there is a wide variety of tools on the market that make DIY easier and more enjoyable. Here are 10 do-it-yourself tasks that you can do in just a few steps by following our Brycus tips:

1. Paint a wall

To change the look of your home or to delimit different areas in the same room, painting only one wall, and not all of them, is an easy, economical and simple solution.

To carry out this task you will only need a good roller and a paint that is the colour of your preference. Remember to cover the floor with paper or plastic so that no paint falls on it. Start by cleaning the walls to remove dust and dirt. Carefully paint the wall, let it dry and finish with another layer of paint.

2. Removing the friction from a door

There are multiple factors that can cause door rubbing, however, the most common are excess paint and deterioration of the hinges.

To solve this problem it is important to know the origin of the problem. If the problem is the hinges, it will be enough to replace them with new ones. If the friction is caused by excess paint or varnish, the solution will be to sand the area where the friction occurs to remove the imperfection that prevents the free movement of the door.

3. Decorating doors with self-adhesive vinyl

Self-adhesive films are used to change the appearance of walls and doors without the need to make a large investment. To decorate a door with adhesive vinyl and make it look original, you can choose one that is metallic or vibrant, like red or violet.

Self-adhesive vinyl are very easy to apply, you just have to start by cleaning the surface with a dry cloth, carefully sticking one edge of the vinyl and slowly removing the protective film so that there are no wrinkles or bubbles.

4. Change the sink tap

Changing the sink faucet for a new one is a quick and easy task, no need to call the plumber to do it. You only need to have the faucet you want to fit with its respective assembly kit and some DIY tools, such as a screwdriver and adjustable wrenches, at hand.

Start by closing the tap, then loosen the tap connections with an adjustable wrench. Loosen and remove the thread that fixes the tap to the sink, this as well as the previous ones are under the sink. From the top you remove the old tap and place the new one. Underneath the washbasin you put the thread of the new tap and its well adjusted connections. Open the stopcock and check that the new tap is working properly and that there are no water leaks.

5. Lubricate the door knob

Lubricating a doorknob to make it work better and smoother is an easy task that will take no more than a few minutes. All you need is a good screwdriver and some lubricating oil.

Start by removing the screws that secure the doorknob to the door. Remove the knob, clean it and apply a little oil to the internal mechanism of the knob. Re-attach the knob to the door by putting each screw in place.

6. Remove scratches from wooden furniture

If you have pets in your home, your wood furniture may have some scratches on the surface. Removing these marks that affect the appearance of your furniture is easier than it seems, you just need to have a sandpaper and varnish. 

If the scratches on your wood furniture are superficial, simply sand down the mark, clean and apply a little varnish. If they are deep marks, you can fill them with a little sawdust and glue, let them dry for several hours, sand them carefully and apply varnish. Discover our Do-it-yourself section by visiting our website.

7. Fitting anti-mosquito netting

Putting screens on your bedroom windows is the best way to prevent these pesky insects from stinging your family and guests. 

Make a wooden frame with the size of the window, it should look like you want to make a picture to cover it. Cut the mesh to the size of the wooden frame and secure it with nails or tape. Put 2 nails in the wall to hang the frame with mesh, this way you can remove the mosquito netting whenever you want.

8. Repairing cracks in the walls

When the walls have cracks they allow moisture to pass through, causing mould to appear and paint to peel. To prevent this from happening, there is nothing better than acting immediately and making the necessary repairs. To make the walls perfect, all you need is a spatula, putty, sandpaper, roller and paint.

Start by cleaning around the crack, put some putty on it and flatten it with the spatula. You should cover the entire crack and let it dry for several hours. When the putty is dry, remove any imperfections left with the sandpaper and clean it carefully. Finish by painting the wall with the roller and an anti-mildew paint.

9. Repairing a wooden chair

If a chair has a gap in one of its legs you can easily repair it without taking it to the carpenter.

To start the repair, you must remove the anti-slip protector from each of the legs and check how long each leg is. Once you know which leg has the defect, cut a piece of wood of the size you need to complete the difference in size and make all the legs the same size. Glue or nail the piece of wood to the leg of the chair. Sand and varnish. Replace the anti-slip pads.

10. Improve the lighting

Changing the lighting in your home will give you a different look immediately. You can put a ceiling light to illuminate more of a room, place a light bulb in the driveway or place small LED lamps in a hallway to provide low light levels.

The most important thing to take into account when making any change in the lighting, is to turn off the electricity, so you can work more comfortably and safely.

Discover our Do-It-Yourself section, learn about the wide variety of products we have available, and find the most fabulous Brycus tips that will help you improve the look of your home to create a pleasant and welcoming environment that suits your style a