Welcome to DIY Doctor's blog

We are pleased to announce the winner of our logo competition, but it is a low key affair.

If you braved the snow to visit us at the National Home Building and Renovating Show at the NEC in Birmingham last month, you may have entered our logo competition.

The winner came over from Chester, but he has asked us not to use his name in our publicity, and we always protect our customers privacy if they want to remain anonymous.

Can we simply say congratulations to Mr X from Chester, and we hope that you spend your £50 tool voucher wisely!

The most popular show by far was the “How to Skim Plaster” demonstration which drew crowds to the stage and the surrounding walkways, whenever Mike Edwards was presenting.

The top tips for plastering included practice first on a spare board, use the correct tools for the job, and keep everything clean as you set up and work. There is more information on how to Skim Plaster in our projects section and on our You Tube channel.

Tweet

Share via email

Mike Edwards from DIY Doctor will be on stage at the NEC for the National Home Building and Renovating Show this week. The show starts on Thursday and runs until Sunday.

There will be lots of seminars, shows, talks, experts and stands for you to visit if you can make it. We also have some free tickets to give away – and you can get these by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

They are printable tickets – so it’s not too late!

In the mean time here is a short video with a few DIY tips to get you in the mood for what you might see.

Our Demo team will will be off to set up for the show from tomorrow so wish us luck. It is always a mad scramble to get everything up and running in time for the show, and it is always incredible to watch the number of exhibitors getting in to build their stands while the hall team put in electrics and lay carpets, all at top speed to ensure the doors can open to the public on time.

We will keep you up to date on our progress and what is on at the show using twitter, so please follow us there @diydoctor.

Do also come and see us on the Tricks of the Trade stage where Mike will be talking about How to Skim Plaster, how to tile Bathrooms, and giving advice on avoiding cowboy builders.

Tweet

Share via email

What are you doing next weekend? Would you like to come to the National Homebuilding and Renovating Show at the Birmingham NEC?

Would you like FREE TICKETS to the show? Click on the banner above, fill in your details, you then get 2 free tickets for the show. You can share this link with your friends too.

We would love you to come and see us – we are presenting on the Tricks of The Trade Stage form the 21-24 March 2013.

Our daily demonstrations will follow this timetable for all four days, so come along and get some free practical help and advice:

DIY Doctor on the Tricks of the Trade stage

Mike Edwards will talk you through these popular topics:

11.00 – How to skim plaster your walls
This presentation takes you through preparing the wall for plastering, mixing and applying the plaster and finally how to get it flat and smooth. You will also find out how to mend holes in plasterboard.

12.30 – How to avoid cowboy builders
There is a lot of news in the media about ‘Cowboy Builders’ and how they ruin lives – but there is very little advice given to help you avoid them. This presentation will give advice on how to find reliable tradesmen and cover how to make sure that:
* you obtain accurate references
* your builder is adequately insured during the work
* you are covered against accidents
* the finished work is satisfactory
* follow-up snagging is completed

14.00 – How to skim plaster your walls
This presentation takes you through preparing the wall for plastering, mixing and applying the plaster and finally how to get it flat and smooth. You will also find out how to mend holes in plasterboard.

15.30 – How to tile your bathroom
Often the smallest room in the house but the most difficult to decorate! Learn how to get tiles to fit perfectly around the toilet, basin and bath with minimum wastage and maximum effect.

We hope you can make it, it promises to be a great show.

It is the UK’s biggest self – build and renovating event:

• Source new products and services
• Get specialist technical advice
• Talk to experts
• Get advice on planning permission
• Get legal advice to help finding the right architect or builder
• Have an expert review your plans
• Information on eco solutions & products
• Pick up essential tips from Homebuilding & Renovating magazine’s experts
• Be inspired by the wealth of ideas
• Discover the latest innovative new technologies on the Big Ideas Stage.

Have we got you interested? Don’t forget your free tickets (click on the banner at the top of the page).

See you there!

The DIY Doctor team

Tweet

Share via email

DIY Doctor was set up to help home improvers, self builders and DIY’ers by giving them the information they need to carry out projects, buy the correct materials for the job and buy or hire the correct tools.

These days it is packed full of information to help you do this and we are always pleased to hear that we are being used to good effect.

We even have a book, written by our MD which teaches not just ‘how to’ but why we do these tasks and projects the way we do. Find out more about the Teach Yourself book, Master Basic DIY

Below is an example of someone wanting to improve their customer experience for their employer – and we applaud him for his dedication to his job.

[address removed]
Hi,

I was wondering if you’d be able to offer me some advice.

I work in the tool-hire department of a builders merchant and it has become apparent recently that my knowledge of tools and specific projects within the built environment is lacking. I was wondering whether there are any forms of media, as well as the Teach Yourself book which I have just purchased before composing this mail, I could pursue to develope my knowledge?

Kind Regards,

Steven [surname removed]

[we replied]

Hi Steven

Our website was set up by our MD Mike Edwards because of very similar experiences in DIY ‘sheds’ when he was a builder. He realised that training of employees was not always thorough enough to give great customer satisfaction, and so the idea for DIY Doctor was born. www.diydoctor.org.uk

DIY Doctor has been trading since 2000, consists of some 23,000 pages, and receives an average of 80,000 unique viewers per week, so there should be everything you need to know on the site, and if not please feel free to suggest ideas for content.

You will also find lots of useful ‘how to’ and tool review videos on our Your Tube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDIYDoctor , and we have a forum for any specific questions you may have http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/forum.htm.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

All the best
Philippa Edwards
Marketing Communications Manager

It is great to know that our site is being used in this way.

Tweet

Share via email

Here’s a simple idea – only boil the water you need

It’s the brilliant pledge that our MD, Mike Edwards, has made for Climate Week. It is his contribution to the Great Green Climate Challenge which has been set by DIY Doctor, Be Energy Smart, and Green Reviews.

To make it easy he has stuck a piece of bright tape on his kettle and marked where 1 mug and 2 mugs of water come to, making it easy to only boil the water he needs! His pledge could save as much as 34 Kg of CO2 in a year!

What’s even better is, if you make a pledge for the Great Green Climate Challenge you will be entered into a draw to win a solar-powered DAB radio by Roberts. If you make two pledges you have two chances and so on…

For more details about the Tea Time Challenge click through to the DoNation site.

Do Nation is a great way of giving without costing you anything, but saving the earth. Here is a video showing you how.

So join us by going to the Great Green Climate challenge page on the DoNation website, and see what great ideas they have for you to reduce your carbon footprint.

Tweet

Share via email