Basic Home DIY Skills

This is a general introductory 5-week course for adults covering the safe practice of basic DIY skills, advice, and tips across key areas of household jobs and home improvement. Learners will also be advised when to contact qualified specialists. This course will give you the confidence needed for safe and enjoyable DIY!   

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Each week you will practise essential skills, pick up handy hints on home improvement, whilst also knowing when to contact qualified specialists. The following course outline provides examples of the topics covered (which may vary and be subject to change).

Weeks 1 & 2 Getting started

After a very brief overview of health & safety (learners will all be given a useful 'dos and don'ts' handout), you'll look at some straightforward safety checks in the home such as fuse boxes, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors. Learn to identify wall types, check for cablework zones. Using the correct tools for the job. Getting to grips with drills and drilling.  

Weeks 3 & 4 Basic Fixing and Fixture Jobs, Tiling, Patch plastering

Measuring accurately; checking levels, surfaces, angles; sawing; fixing types of wall plugs, screws, nails; etc.

Putting up shelves/blinds/curtains/bathroom cabinets/mirrors; hanging picture frames/notice boards; tiling & grouting; patch plastering; etc.

Guidance and practice on some basic techniques and troubleshooting.  

Week 5 General Plumbing/Drainage at home

Plumbing in washing machines/dishwashers; location of stop taps/isolation valves; toilet cisterns - basic troubleshooting; frost protection for outside taps; gutters/drains/water butts; etc.

No formal assessment to be undertaken other than ongoing support and guidance.

Students should equip themselves with: Tape Measure, Pencil, Notebook, Gloves, Safety Shoes/Boots. 

Most of the course will focus on practical tasks in the workshops.  

If you enjoyed this course, why not try one of our other very popular 5-week Basic Construction courses:

Basic Brickwork 

Basic Plastering

Basic Carpentry and Joinery

Basic Plumbing 

Please enrol online by clicking on the Enrol button above. If you are under 19 or haven’t lived in the UK for the last three years, please contact the college either in person or by phone on 01743 342333 between 9.00am-5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am-4.30pm on Friday to discuss your options further.

You will be required to pay any course fees at the time of enrolment, so please ensure that you have your payment method ready.