Home DIY: Basics Workshop

Do it yourself! Learn the skills and secrets of Home DIY with this workshop, as part of our Woodwork courses in Sydney!

Don’t call the experts; empower yourself to undertake your own DIY projects by unlocking the skills and secrets of Home DIY with this hands-on 2-day workshop.

In this workshop, you will learn how to safely and economically undertake several small maintenance tasks around the home.

Whether it’s an unfinished DIY project or if you’re looking to take on some basic home fixes yourself, this DIY course is for you.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this home DIY course, you will have gained the following competencies:

• General safety when carrying out home DIY
• The correct use of drills and drivers
• How to choose and use the right drill bits and fixings for a variety of applications
• Basic concepts of timber-framed wall construction
• How to hang a shelf
• Basic plumbing
• How to cut, glue and grout ceramic tiles

Course content

What will be covered in this home DIY course?

Day 1

• Safety and Housekeeping
• Work area preparation
• Introduction to and examination of different materials found in the home (natural, manufactured and hazardous)
• Basic DIY Toolbox contents and why
• Introduction to Advanced Tools
• Introduction to drills and drivers
• Practice in the use of the basic toolbox items
• Cutting, drilling, fixing into various materials (woods & masonry )
• Putting it all together to make a tiled pot coaster (measuring, marking, gluing, fixing, tiling and finishing)
• Clean-up and disposal of waste
• Question time (pick your instructor's brain about home projects)

Day 2

• Putting it all together to finish the tiled pot coaster (grouting)
• Anatomy of a gyprock wall
• Hidden hazards (power, water, gas)
• Detecting hidden items (studs, power)
• Examination of the various anchors available to hang things on walls
• Patching a damaged (minor and major) gyprock wall
• Anatomy of the S bend and taps
• Change a washer/fix a tap
• Solutions for working without a workshop
• Question time (pick your instructor's brain about home projects)

Intended audience

Who is this home DIY course for?

This DIY workshop is for anyone wanting to learn the basic safety and practical skills needed for home DIY, or wanting to build on their existing skills.

Course materials

What to bring to class

• Any drills or tools from home you would like to use

Please bring the following PPE:

• A face mask
• Safety glasses or googles
• Earmuffs or earplugs
• Gloves

Course venue

Redfern

The Bower Reuse & Repair Centre Workshop
107 Redfern Street, Redfern
(Entry via Turner Street (opposite of 23 Turner Street) from the rear of building)

The entrance to the Bower workshop is via Turner Street, which is at the rear of 107 Redfern Street and is almost opposite no. 25. You should find there a hand-painted sign "The Bower Woodworks". If you do find the door locked, please do not hesitate to press the doorbell on the left-hand side of the garage door. Please note, the doors for the venue will be open from 5:30 pm. If you have trouble locating the entrance or encounter any emergencies, please contact the workshop manager at 0422 840 471.

Public transport is the easiest way to get to the workshop. The space is located very close (300m) to Redfern Train Station, a local transport hub.

Most of the parking is 2-hour-timed (including some paid parking on Redfern St) though it clicks over to untimed at 8 pm, a good option if you can find a park there before 6 pm. The untimed parking is available on Pitt St between Phillip and Wellington St. Turn right from Turner St and head down Pitt St two block, untimed parking is on your right.

Additional information

Please note the following:

• Wear old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
• Preferably wear a hat or cap
• If you have long hair, please tie it back
• Wear closed-in shoes, no open-toe sandals or heels
• Please do not wear necklaces or bracelets