My disastrous D.I.Y. attempt! :(

[Admiral Huddy]

Last weekend I thought I’d do a spot of DIY. I’m pretty poor at DIY it has to be said but I’m ok if I take my time. The problem for me isn’t that I can’t do it, but I normally end up creating more work for myself than what I started with or injuring myself.. or both.

So, I try and give myself smaller, achievable tasks to do rather than taking on too much.

So on Saturday, attempted to complete boarding out of the loft, which I started last August. It was too hot then so I thought I’d wait until Winter.

Anyway, last week, I went out and bought the remaining packs I needed to finish the boarding, some screws etc. I did this midweek so I had plenty of time at the weekend.


So off I started, the first board had to be cut around a few pipes. So, I measured it out carefully cut and it fitted perfectly. \o/ .. Oh no wrong side of the board!! The next piece was a complete mess and the one after that I cut the end of the finger and bumped my head on the rafter when I lost my temper throwing the saw into the side, which broke a glass or something. Six pieces and an hour later, the first piece was in. It was plain sailing after that. However, my daughter shouted from downstairs, “Dad, the bath room lights don’t work”. Huh??

I had got so carried away, I boarded over the low-voltage light area. Luckily, the boards where easy enough to lift in that area. Mmm.. Electrics hehe.. I changed the light bulb.. nothing!.. I had a twist and fiddle and is I did, I managed somehow to put a big crack across the bathroom ceiling.. Damn’it.

Anyway, I’ll have to get an electrician and plasterer to sort that mess out..

Nearly done, I’m starting to chuck some old stuff out. On doing so, I carefully lowered the rubbish through the hatch. I was on my own as the whole household though it would be safer to vacate the area let alone the house. As I lowered one piece of 2x3, it feel on its end and bounced into the wall taking a large bit of plaster out.

Thankfully, at the end of the day, it was all done and no serious damage was done. I didn’t manage to escape uninjured, I have a big plaster on my finger, a sore head, a big scratch on my back where I didn’t crouch low enough and I’ve worn away my knee caps.

So one job has left me 3 new jobs:

Fix bathroom light
Fix bathroom ceiling
Fix landing wall and repaint.

Moral – pay someone!

[Dymetrie]

With that title this couldn't have failed to be anything but comedy gold

Should've given me a call though lad, I'm experienced in laying flooring in lofts (and I don't break stuff... Well... Not accidentally ).

[lostkat]

Awwwwww, poor Huddy *hugs*

[Dee]

Originally Posted by Admiral Huddy

Thankfully, at the end of the day, it was all done and no serious damage was done.

Erm, did you even READ your story? Bless

[Piggymon]

Aww Huddy dude

You silly doughnut

[Pickers]

Your story haunts me - I still have more board to do in the loft :/ and then I have to sort it. Only problem is, summer is too hot, winter is too cold!

[iCraig]

I'm sorry but I can't stop laughing... the mental images of you slowly destroying the house is too much for me to contain... my ribs are aching.

Pheww.. in all seriousness, unlucky, I can understand how hard DIY is to do, but it's worth it a lot of the time when you look back on job well done that you did yourself.

[Wossi]

Is your surname Griswald by any chance?

[Darrin]

Originally Posted by iCraig

but it's worth it a lot of the time when you look back on job well done that you did yourself.

Until you arrive at five years later and realise that the porch addition you made to the house has undermined the foundation and the entire front of the house is sinking. And the porch itself needs to be completely disassembled and put back together properly because you forgot to treat the lumber first (making the poor assumption that it was treated lumber in the first place).


I feel for you Huddy. I always get myself into messes when I try and do something myself. About the only thing I've done to this house that's gone 100% right was installing that front window. Just about everything else has involved some stranger coming into the house to correct some idiotic mistake I've made. You'd think at almost 40 years of age I'd have learned by now just to leave it to the experts, but my Scottish side always shows through and I try to skimp a few pennies here and there, generally costing myself more than if I'd gotten a pro to do the original job in the first place!!

[Del Lardo]

phear my paint skills