DIY don'ts for lockdown

It's understandable that during lockdown, your first instinct would be making some DIY changes to your home - it's the best way to kill boredom, right? Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie's International Real Estate says, 'think twice about the quick-fix home hack - despite all the time you have on your hands''. One of the main reasons Greeff cautions against DIY home hacks is because what you do now, during lockdown, still has to work for you when lockdown is lifted. Many go into DIY blindly and they decide to tackle the first thing they see on YouTube or Pinterest, without giving any thought to the practicality of the task. To avoid DIY mishaps, take a look at the DIY don'ts below to find out what you should steer clear from - everything else is fair game.

Here's what NOT to do during lockdown:

1. Don't spend too much

That is the number one thing - make sure that if you are spending money at the moment, you're putting it in the right areas.

A DIY renovation might seem like a good idea at the time but it's best to go slowly before spending too much money upfront.

2. Don't go too hard, too soon

A lot of people are growing vegetable patches, which is great, not only for sustainable living but there is also nothing that feels better than getting out in the garden and getting some sunshine, but ask yourself if you can maintain that in the long run.

Once you get back into normal life, are you going to be able to keep an eye on it, to replant it? These are questions you need to ask yourself.

"The last thing you want is to spend money on garden beds with sleepers, all the seedlings and everything that goes into it like watering systems, only to have it sit there like a white elephant weeks later,'' says Greeff.

The best way is to start small with a couple of pots and do something very simple. Then, if or when you realise you love it, that's when you can start planning your bigger raised garden beds.

3. Don't buy on impulse

We are all feeling a bit bored and tired of looking at the same four walls - day in and day out and many are just going out to buy things to spruce up their space. But there are a few things you should ask yourself before buying that mantle trinket:

• Am I buying this knick-knack just for the next hour or will I still want it long term?
• Am I buying this because I love it or because you're saying ''I need a change because I am climbing the walls!''?

Making a drastic change can seem like a good idea at the time, but remember you'll have to live with it for a long time so make sure it's something that you love.

4. Don't make massive changes just because you're bored

You can move things around and change things - there is nothing wrong with that - it's just that when you start purchasing more ''stuff'' for the house, or knocking out a wall because you think it is a good idea at the time, that it becomes a problem.

"You need to be practical and make sure you are getting pieces and making changes you need, rather than just looking for something to do,'' says Greeff.

5. Don't go overboard with painting

Painting your home during lockdown is a great thing to do -but rather than going crazy and doing the whole house, do a room at a time.

Tips for DIY painting:

• Don't let your paint dry out
  • A half-empty can of paint will dry out. Drop golf balls into the paint can to fill the air space, or place plastic wrap under the lid, seal it tightly and store the paint upside down.

• Use the right primer
  • If you're painting a new drywall, use a water-based primer to hide imperfections and provide an even base before applying colour. If you're painting panelling, water-damaged or smoke-saturated walls, opt for an oil-based primer.

• Avoid lap marks
  • To avoid stripes caused by rolling over paint that's already starting to dry, keep a wet edge by painting the full height of the wall and then moving over slightly so you can overlap the last stroke with the next.

• Add texture if you want
  • If you want more texture on your wall, choose a roller with a longer, ¾" nap, which holds more paint. The nap is the fabric material covering the roller, and longer naps create more stippling on your wall because of the way their fibres distribute the paint.

• Don't wash your brushes or rollers
  • If you're using latex paint, there's no reason to clean your brushes or rollers if you don't finish your project in one day. Because cold temperatures keep latex paint from drying quickly, you can simply wrap your rollers or brushes in plastic bags or tin foil and put them in the refrigerator. (Be sure to let them fully warm back up before using them.)

• Fix up your problem tape
  • If you're using older tape, it can sometimes be difficult to peel off its roll without tearing or sticking. If your painter's tape continues to peel, microwave the whole roll for 10 seconds.

It's easy to succumb to the boredom during these times of quarantine but make sure that if you are wanting a change in your home, that that change is sustainable. DIY might not be your forte and if it isn't, rather find alternatives to fight the urge to clime the walls. Rather that, than having a DIY disaster on your hands.