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 in the experts—become one yourself! This hands-on 2-day Home DIY workshop is designed to empower you with the essential skills and confidence to tackle basic household maintenance and repairs.

Whether you're finishing an old project or starting your DIY journey, you’ll gain practical experience using tools, working with various materials, and understanding how things work around the home. Join this course to learn how to fix, patch, drill, hang, tile, and more—with safety and efficiency.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Home DIY course, you should be able to:

• Follow general safety protocols for home DIY tasks
• Operate drills and drivers correctly and safely
• Select appropriate drill bits and fixings for various surfaces
• Understand the basic construction of timber-framed walls
• Hang a shelf using the correct tools and anchors
• Perform basic plumbing tasks, such as changing a washer
• Cut, glue, and grout ceramic tiles

Course content

What will be covered in this home DIY course?

Day 1

• Workshop safety and housekeeping
• Preparing your work area
• Introduction to common household materials (natural, manufactured, hazardous)
• What's in a basic DIY toolbox—and why
• Introduction to advanced tools
• Using drills and drivers
• Hands-on practice with cutting, drilling, and fixing into timber and masonry
• Create a tiled pot coaster (measuring, marking, gluing, tiling, and finishing)
• Waste clean-up and safe disposal
• Q&A session: Ask your instructor about your own projects

Day 2

• Grouting and finishing your tiled pot coaster
• Anatomy of a gyprock wall
• Identifying hidden hazards (electrical wiring, water pipes, gas lines)
• Using stud finders and other detection tools
• Exploring wall anchors for hanging shelves and fixtures
• Repairing minor and major wall damage
• Understanding S-bends and tap mechanisms
• Changing washers and fixing leaking taps
• Tips for DIY when you don’t have a home workshop
• Final Q&A session

Intended audience

Who is this home DIY course for?

This course is ideal for beginners and anyone wanting to gain essential home maintenance skills. Whether you're new to DIY or looking to build on your current knowledge, this workshop will provide a practical, confidence-building experience.

Course materials

What to bring to class

• Any drills or tools from home you'd like to learn with
• The following personal protective equipment (PPE):
  • Face mask
  • Safety glasses or goggles
  • Earmuffs or earplugs
  • Gloves

Course venue

• The Bower Reuse & Repair Centre Workshop
• Summer Hill: 7 Prospect Road, Summer Hill NSW 2131
• Redfern: 107 Redfern St, Redfern NSW 2016
• The entrance to the Bower workshop is at the rear of 107 Redfern Street and is opposite no. 23 Turner Street. You will see a hand-painted sign "The Bower Woodworks". If the door is locked, please press the doorbell on the left-hand side of the garage door. Please note, the doors for the venue at the rear will be open and not the front. If you have trouble locating the entrance or encounter any emergencies, please contact the workshop manager at 0422 840 471.
• Public transport is the best way to get to the workshop space. The space is located close to Redfern Train Station, a local transport hub.
• Most nearby parking is 2-hour-timed (including some paid parking on Redfern St) though it is untimed after 8 pm. Untimed parking is available on Pitt St between Phillip and Wellington St.

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
• Closed-in shoes are required—no sandals or heels
• Please do not wear necklaces or bracelets