Home Improvement

Home improvement is the process of renovating or making additions to a home and covers all aspects of the house including fixtures and fittings. 


Careers in home improvement can include working as a local tradesman or as part of a company providing specific home improvements.


Career as a Painter & Decorator - click here

Career as a Wall & Floor Tiles - click here

Career as a Plasterer - click here

Career as a Carpet Fitter - click here

Career as a Kitchen & Bathroom Fitter - click here

Career as a Window Fitter - click here


The resources we provide on this page are linked to our Mobile Construction Classroom teaching.  The links to videos and existing websites are provided recognising their ownership and responsibility for the content.
Resources to Support Learning
Home Improvement

Home improvement is usually undertaken to repair or improve safety in the home or to improve comfort or energy saving.  It can include a whole range of jobs:

  • Fixing a shelf or curtain rail
  • Putting up coat hooks/picture fixings
  • Fixing hinges to doors
  • Remove airlocks and balance a radiator system
  • Change washers and ball valves
  • Install a simple light fitting
  • Tile to splashback
  • Install draught exclusion
  • Lag pipes

Of course today home improvement has become very popular through a whole range of TV shows and easy access to DIY shops which allow us all to buy the materials needed.  Knowing how to approach a project safely is important to ensure a successful outcome.


Bigger projects like the installation of a new kitchen, laying of a carpet, installation of double glazed windows etc will often involve specialist trades.

Tools & Materials
In reality home improvement will use all the tools and materials that have been introduced in our resources on plumbing, electrics, joinery and brickwork.  Some of the tools and materials that will not have been covered in these resources include:

Plastering Tools - including mask and dust sheet, mixer and bucket, trowels and spatulas, plastering hawk to hold the plaster whilst working:


Carpet Fitting Tools - bolster to tuck carpet under edges, pile roller to improve the look of joints in carpet and a stanley knife for cutting.


Ratiator Key - for opening the valves to bleed air out of the system:


Draft Exclusion - self adhesive tape or brush fittings:

                                       

Hooks for different uses around the home:

   

Hinges for hanging doors and in kitchen cabinets:

    

Tiling requires a range of tools for marking, cutting, spacing, fixing and grouting the tiles:


Remember you will need to think about what PPE you will need for the work you are doing, find out more here

Techniques
Here are some links to videos which demonstrate some simple home improvement techniques:

How to put up a shelf - click here

Tiling a splashback - click here

Installing a light fitting - click here

Bleeding a radiator to remove an airlock - click here

Installing draft exclusion to a door - click here

How to hang a picture - click here

Fitting a carpet - click here

How to plaster a wall patch - click here

How to paint a wall - click here