Bank holiday weekends are a great time to get to grips with those difficult DIY projects you’ve been putting off. Research undertaken by Insulation Express examined the most common DIY jobs that homeowners were planning to tackle over the bank holiday weekend during the first Covid-19 lockdown – have you ticked them off your list yet? If not, here are a few hints and tips…

1. Regrout tiles

Freshening up the grout on your tiles will make a big difference to the overall look of your kitchen or bathroom. Whether you want to clean up your white grout and make it look brand new or choose a completely different colour to switch things up a bit, this is a great DIY task to do over the bank holiday weekend.

2. Remove mould from walls

Removing any mould that may have built up on your internal walls might feel like a job that you’d rather not to. However, it’s important to tackle this problem as soon as possible. Get yourself some mould cleaner, dilute in water and use a tough sponge to scrub at the mould. Allow to fully dry before deciding whether it needs another go at.

3. Change a light fixture

We’re all guilty of delaying changing a blown lightbulb, so this is the perfect opportunity to get these pesky DIY jobs done around the house. Or, if you fancy a change think about switching up your light fixture with a new easy-fit lamp shade to bring a different vibe to your space.

4. Make a fire pit

If you’re spending more time in the garden as of late, consider building your own fire pit ready for cosy summer nights. There are many in-depth how-to guides online but the basic premise is that you dig out a hole where you want the firepit to sit, fill it with gravel and lay paving stones around the edge to protect the perimeter.

5. Paint floorboards

Painting your floorboards is a pretty big task, so the perfect paint job to complete over a long weekend. You’ll need to remove all of the furniture, sand down the floorboards so that they are as even as possible, prime and go in with your paint! Depending on what kind of finish you want, they may require up to 3 coats.

6. Remove skirting boards

Have you been planning on replacing your skirting boards but haven’t had the time to remove the old ones? This is a job that should be done carefully and with the right tools. You’ll need a Stanley blade to start to loosen the tops of the skirting boards and a crowbar to pry them away from the walls. Also, be sure to remove any nails left in the wall with a set of pliers, trying to avoid any cracks or holes widening.

---

MORE DIY IDEAS

• Easy DIY: garden shed to modern outdoor office
• DIY SOS: Experts answer your biggest conundrums
• 5 home projects you should never DIY