DIY Weekend Jobs

Work with what you have

Don’t let your weekend’s go to waste

Let’s get real

There is a big difference between wanting to be a DIY’er or Homemaker and actually being one. Usually, the two things that interfere with this dream and the reality of it, is budget and time. While we don’t have a solution to the budget constraints (yet) we can help you with time management.

Time your to-do list.

One of the unspoken truths of having a space to make a home in, is that you’ll have a never-ending list of things that need doing around the place. Whether this is your list of dream projects (yay!) or a list of necessary maintenance items (less yay…), it’s still a list of things that need doing.

We have come up with trial and error, absolutely not scientifically proven, timeframes for some basic home improvement projects:

Take Note: These timelines are planned according to normal workload of two able bodied and dedicated adults with a basic level of DIY skill.

They do not take into account:

• The inevitable return trips to the hardware store because one of you refuses to write down the measurements of whatever it is you need.
• A very committed toddler who wants to help with everything.
• A needy pet who comes to investigate with sniffs and tail swipes.
• Phone calls from sisters/best friends.
• 45min bathroom breaks.
• Accidental naps.
• Breakdowns in communication between team members because of some assumed slight.
• An unplanned bout of “man flu”.
• One or both of you getting lost in a rabbit hole of reels and YouTube shorts.
• Interference from that one WhatsApp group chat.

A lick of paint

Paint a feature wall (approximately 8 hours drying time and seconds coats included)

This is a fun, high impact, low consequence DIY project. No construction, wiring or plumbing and as long as you stick to PVA even the cleanup can be quick. The only pitfalls can be – painting outside the lines because someone taped up wrong, or picking the wrong colour. Both of these are easy to fix.

If you have a Saturday free, this is a fun way to try your hand at home-personalisation and you can have a lot of fun without breaking the bank.

Paint a big-ish room (approximately 12-24 hours)

Same as with the feature wall, this can be a fun project without the stress of doing any permanent structural damage to your home. As long as you put down drop sheets, and take care to tape up neatly, there is no reason why you can’t finish this project over a weekend, and be proud of a job well done!

Paint your palisades (approximately 1 billion hours)

DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS unless you have an army of painters, unlimited supplies and about three years spare time. From personal experience we can tell you that for each palisade-upright that you sand down, prep and paint, six more will appear. You will never be finished.

If, however, you do attempt this, realistically, plan for about a week of prep and paint time. Depending on the length of your fence of course.

IF painting isn’t your idea of Homemaking, try your hand at landscaping.

Weed and prune, plant a new border (approximately 4 hours)

This is like painting a feature wall. High impact, low cost (depending on what plants you choose for the new border) and no special skills required.

If you have a morning off, the perfect place to spend it is in your garden. Even just one hour of dedicated “clean-up” like weeding and pruning can make a massive difference in how your garden is presented. Simply sweeping your pavers or aligning planters and pulling out any dead plants can already make a big impact

Establish a new medium sized garden bed (Approximately 12-24 hours)

This is a wonderfully rewarding weekend DIY project. Ensure that you have the plants, tools and soil additives you need, but also do some work on prepping the space where your new garden will be. Nothing breaks your speed like digging in your shovel just to realise the ground is solid rock. To make the most of your time and get the most joy from your project, invest some time and money before hand and get someone to help you stake out and prep the space. Then you can have all the fun over the weekend.

Trim dead wood from large shrubs and trees

With all the rain and windy weather we have had so far, chances are that some of the bigger shrubs and trees in your garden might need a proper trim to keep them safe. Any swaying, broken or overhanging branches should be cut and removed before they become a problem. Once again – be prepared. Whether this means you should hire the right power tools or call in extra help and expertise. Just be sure to work with a plan and stay safe.

Remove a dead tree stump from the ground (At least 12 hours, maybe a lifetime)

This is another one of those “painting palisades” situations. While the sawed-off stump of the tree that died a few months ago seems like an easy thing to remove – something you can do before the guests arrive…trust us. It is not!

For some reason, tree stumps seem to want to stay put. Probably all the growing that went in to establishing that root system. Either way – if you have a bothersome stump that you want to remove, you better have time and tools on your hands. Axes, pick axes, and even a chainsaw are invaluable. No matter how frustrating it gets, stay calm. Don’t be tempted to use explosives or do dangerous tricks involving ride on mowers, tractors, or HiLux’s with towbars. Good old fashioned elbow grease, a lot of water to soften the ground and the help of a good neighbour should do it. Eventually.

Don’t get stumped.

If the sun sets and the stump is still stuck, don’t be ashamed to give up, clean your hands and go to bed. The stump has won this one, and tomorrow you get to fight again.