DIY Renovations: What you need to know before getting started
Asbestos, lead-based paint and dust are common hazards in older homes, and disturbing them can pose serious health risks.
Many types of work, like electrical and plumbing, must legally be done by licensed professionals, and major changes often require permits.
Beginners should start small, build their skills gradually, and budget carefully to avoid costly mistakes. For many of us, home is a work in progress. Whether it's giving a room a fresh coat of paint or building a new deck, DIY renovations are popular in Australia. 'There's this sort of culture that you can just get in and do it, and a lot of people will tackle DIY renovations themselves. I think that, as a trend, given the cost of construction at the moment, and the cost of hiring a builder, people are going to turn more to DIY renovations,' Kribashini Hannon says, an experienced building and development manager, DYI renovator, and founder of Build Play Live.
But while DIY projects can be rewarding, they also come with important safety and legal considerations.
Staying safe around asbestos and other hazards Before you start any project, big or small, safety should always come first. That means learning how to use tools properly, wearing protective gear and being aware of hidden dangers in your home.
One of the biggest risks? Asbestos. In Australia, one in three homes contains asbestos, a mineral that can cause cancer if disturbed and then inhaled.
If asbestos needs to be removed, you should engage a licensed asbestos removal contractor. Source: Getty / PixeloneStocker Asbestos can be found all around the home, including wet areas (bathroom, kitchen and laundry), eaves and wall sheeting. There are around 3,000 different building products that can contain asbestos, and homes built before 1990 are most at risk. Asbestos isn't necessarily dangerous if it's left alone. But cutting, drilling or breaking it can release tiny fibres into the air. 'If you're doing DIY work where you're drilling or cutting or breaking the sheeting or the asbestos-containing material, what can happen is that mechanical disturbance will disturb the material itself, causing the asbestos fibres to become really small. So we're talking about these microscopic fibres that will get into the air and ultimately get into your lungs because you'll breathe that in,' explains John Batty, member of the Asbestos Education Committee and EDP Consultants managing director. If asbestos removal is needed, Batty recommends playing it safe by hiring a licensed contractor. Other hazards to watch out for include lead-based paint , which is common in older homes, and dust.
Control the dust at the source as much you can and go get yourself a respirator or disposable mask. John Batty
"Ensure you're wearing that during any demolition works and ensure that you're washing your hands and face appropriately before you go and eat or drink, because you've got that risk of inadvertent ingestion,' Batty says.
Safety means wearing the right gear and knowing how to use the tools. Source: Getty / AleksandarNakic Renovating legally: Permits and licences Each state and territory in Australia has different rules around renovations, so it's important to check with your local council and building authority. Some types of work, like electrical or most plumbing jobs, must be done by licensed tradespeople. You'll need building and planning permits for big changes, like removing structural walls, building an extension or putting up a large deck. Skipping permits might seem like a way to save time and money, but it can backfire badly. Hannon says you could be fined, forced to undo the work, or even risk your family's safety.
'You don't want to encounter the risk of something failing,' she says. 'With DIY renovations, we'll see people who haven't done the waterproofing correctly or they haven't prepared their subfloor properly. Within a couple of years, you've got mould, you've got timber rot, and you're having to replace everything that you've done.'
If you're new to DIY, start small
Geneva Vanderzeil, a DIY expert who began her journey while renovating her Brisbane cottage, says DIY can be a great way to save money… but warns that costs can add up quickly.
It's easy to imagine that DIY home renovations are going to be really cheap because you're not paying someone else to do it, but things like materials, tool hire, delivery fees and waste disposal, all those things do add up. Geneva Vanderzeil If you're new to DIY, start with smaller, low-risk projects to build your skills.
'Buy a table and tile it, and learn how to do it first before you tackle the bathroom floor,' Hannon says.
Saving money is one reason why people try DIY, but the costs can mount. Source: Getty / Maskot No matter your skill level, there's a project out there for you. Vanderzeil encourages everyone to give DIY a go:
'You don't have to be a pro to get started with DIY. Mistakes are really part of the learning process and starting with smaller projects or starting with those painting projects, those simple projects, will really help you hone your skills and make you feel a lot more confident.'
Subscribe to or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia.
Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@sbs.com.au
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
16 minutes ago
- ABC News
Fears injured wildlife suffering with shortage of WA animal control agents
South West West Australian wildlife groups say a lack of qualified people to euthanase injured animals is causing needless suffering, with police forced to step in. Warning: This story contains details of animal injuries that some readers may find distressing. Wildlife care group FAWNA president Suzanne Strapp said animal control agents and volunteers accredited to legally destroy injured kangaroos by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) were in short supply. "In one case, one of our veteran carers reported a kangaroo with a broken leg, but when she went back the next day, the animal was still alive and foxes had eaten its tail," she said. "She said it was one of the most disturbing things she had seen in 40 years of [rehabilitating wildlife]." Ms Strapp said FAWNA did not have accredited agents who could destroy an animal, requiring the group to contact the Department's Wildcare Helpline. The volunteer-run helpline takes about 10,000 calls each year from members of the public who find sick or injured animals. For injured kangaroos, the helpline then contacts animal control agents to euthanase the animals. However, Ms Strapp said past experiences had taught them they needed to check on the animal the next day to make sure it had been euthanased. Australind Police Station Acting Officer in Charge Grant Earnshaw said officers were often the only people available after hours. "We mainly do it on the weekends or after hours because during the day, the rangers are the people who deal with it, however, they don't work 24/7 like we do," Sergeant Earnshaw said. Mr Earnshaw said officers had educated themselves on how best to destroy the animals. "It's not in formal training, but it's recognised obviously by staff that that's what we do regularly," he said. "There are photographs in the station of different animals like a cow, a horse, or a kangaroo with the best angles [to shoot at] to put an animal down." Margaret River Wildlife Management owner Michael Penrose was an animal control agent for 12 years. Mr Penrose said changes to firearm laws in June 2024 had made volunteering as an animal control agent (ACA) difficult. Stipulations about needing written permission from property owners to shoot kangaroos made him concerned that he would break the law if he euthanased an animal by the road. "Once new laws came in, we had to get permission from the property owner to be able to euthanase kangaroos on their property," Mr Penrose said. "We had to have the property owner's details, a written letter sent to confirm all the details were on the register, and that we were registered on the property to use that firearm." "It's not just myself, it's left every other ACA in the region frustrated." Mr Penrose said he had seen members of the public try to euthanase wildlife themselves and put the animal through unnecessary suffering as a result. "Trying to help the animal, people will use whatever blunt object they can to try and euthanase the animal from suffering," he said. "They could be charged with animal cruelty despite trying to euthanase it as quickly as possible." A DBCA spokesperson told the ABC the responsibility for managing injured wildlife was shared between government agencies, volunteers and land managers. There are 85 volunteer animal control agents registered with DCBA.
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Bird backpack and rocket set back
As a kid, you'd know there's lots of places to find new friends…. at school, in your sporting team, or in a concert band. But what about grown-ups, how do they make friends? Some grown-ups get together at a place called a Men's Shed. In the last 30 years, about 1200 Men's Sheds have opened throughout Australia. They're places men can come together to do woodwork, fix broken things like lawnmowers, or restore bikes for schoolkids. They're also places for men to make friends and support each other through tough times. Not too long ago, some women thought that they should have their own version of a Men's Shed, so they can work on woodwork and art projects and look out for each other too. There are now 60 women's sheds around Australia, including one that's just opened in the Queensland city of Cairns which is called a She Shed. There are plenty of women who want to create she sheds in their area, but finding a space to set up doesn't come cheap. So, there's a call for more government funding. Friendship, new skills and good support: it's amazing what you can find in a shed! Off the coast of Victoria is a place called Phillip Island. You might know it for its famed penguin population which brings 70,000 visitors to its shores every year. But - another bird scurrying around the island scrub might just steal the spotlight. This, my friends, is the bush stone-curlew. They're quiet creatures, and very well camouflaged by their bush surroundings, and they're wandering around Phillip Island for the first time in 40 years. These birds didn't leave by choice – they disappeared on the island after being hunted by foxes. The good news is that eight years ago, after a lot of work, scientists eradicated – or got rid of - all the foxes on Phillip Island. Now, researchers have reintroduced 12 bush-stone curlews, and they're giving them tiny backpacks. You got it! Inside each backpack is a GPS tracker. Researchers are using them to follow each of the curlew's movements and give them health checks every three months. Yep! So far, so good. The curlews are healthy and enjoying their brand-new predator-free home. Just a few weeks ago, over in Switzerland, there was a lot of dribbling happening. It wasn't a baby get-together, although there were a few tantrums! The world's best soccer teams faced off in the Women's European Championship. England and Spain made it through to the final, with the England Lionesses taking home the win! England's goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, was named player of the match. She made two saves in the penalty shootout, which secured the win for her team. Hannah was born with an eye condition called strabismus, which means she doesn't have depth perception. Depth perception is how your eyes can work out how far away objects are and the distance between them. Hannah has said that if she pours a glass of water, she always needs to hold the glass in one hand. If she doesn't, the water won't pour into the glass, but spill on her feet. Having had strabismus her whole life, Hannah was told that she should not play soccer. That's right. As a goalie, Hannah's job is to stop balls from reaching the goal behind her, so she needs to know exactly when to leap and save the goal. Hannah had some operations to fix her vision but still finds depth perception hard. As we know though, she's worked hard and never given up, and that commitment has helped score her team the Euro win. Over the years of News Time, you've heard plenty of stories about rockets blasting off into space and you'd know it takes a lot of work to get to lift-off. Recently, in Queensland, a company attempted to launch an Australian-made orbital rocket. That's a spacecraft with no crew on board, designed to stay in space for at least one orbit. People travelled from far and wide to watch the rocket launch from a distance. The countdown began, a big blast took place and plumes of smoke shot into the air. The rocket lifted off from home soil, but only stayed in the air for 14 seconds. Then it crashed down to earth. Even though the rocket didn't quite launch, the company that built it said they were happy with the launch attempt, it was a major step forward for Australia's space industry and they're not giving up on their space dream. If you've been to Sydney Harbour recently, maybe cruising around on a ferry, you might have noticed a bit of extra colour splashed around the edges of the water. Goldy yellow, as well as green, red and grey concrete squares. They've been stuck on to seawalls right around the harbour, at different tide heights. Researchers from Macquarie University had been thinking about how animals see the world, and how sea creatures see their surroundings. They realised that around the Harbour there was a lot of bland grey seawalls, and that most shorelines have the colours yellow, green, red mixed with grey. The researchers set to work in their own backyards making coloured tiles that they hoped would help sea life. It didn't cost much money to make the tiles at all, and the experiment worked. Algae and barnacles have grown on the tiles, and fish have enjoyed chowing down. Scientists have discovered that green algae and barnacles were most likely to grow on red tiles, and brown algae chose to grow on green tiles. The team are now placing more tiles on concrete walls around Botany Bay in Sydney's south to revive marine life there. Well done, scientists on a truly fishy finding!
ABC News
5 hours ago
- ABC News
Donated 80-year-old letters from home to POW fill a gap in the Australian War Memorial's collection
For almost three years, John Franklin's family wrote him letters, not knowing if he was dead or alive. After the private in the Australian Army became a Japanese prisoner of war during WW2, his family back home in Bowral, NSW, refused to give up hope that their beloved boy would come home. Now, 80 years after they were written, 31 letters and telegrams sent by the Franklin family have been donated to the Australian War Memorial (AWM). Mr Franklin's niece, Rae-Maree Curtis, said she talked about the war with her uncle but only read the letters after his death. She has kept reading them for the 13 years they have been in her possession, and they still bring her to tears. "The letters reveal the agony of war," she said. The earliest letter to John was written by his father William in 1942, with no certainty that his son was alive, yet he apologised for missing John's birthday and suggested celebrating another time. "Every time I'm knitting a pair of socks I think of you, and I know you haven't any," his mother wrote in another letter. In 1943, the Japanese limited all telegrams to just 25 words. The Franklin family tried to condense all family news into fewer and fewer words. Private Franklin was one of around 2,500 out of more than 20,000 Australian POWs taken by the Japanese back to Japan to keep industry operating during the war. He worked in the Kawasaki shipbuilding factory — now better known for motorcycles — and coal mines. Around one-third of the total letters sent by the family made it to Private Franklin because the Japanese blocked correspondence and would not send the others on. Finally, in 1945, the family received a letter from John. "I feel as though I've been born and am starting life all over again. I feel pretty guilty for the worry I must have caused you, but everything is OK now. Don't try and send money or anything — but I'd give a fortune for a letter … I wish you could see me here puffing on a big cigar after a snack of donuts and coffee," he wrote. AWM director Matt Anderson said reading the letters was like "eavesdropping on an intensely personal relationship". "Through this gift — through these stories — he's telling the story of a prisoner … but through these stories he's reminding us to think of all of them — their hopes and dreams and what became of them when they came home." Mr Anderson said it was "very unusual" to have letters from family members to prisoners during the war. "Often, if soldiers kept a diary, they had to keep that diary hidden," he said. He was struck by the economy of words in the letters. "What would you say if you had 25 words to convey to your family everything you want to tell them?" he said. "They're a time capsule. "The most important thing we can do is to preserve them from this point onwards." The letters will now go through a process of conservation, curation, preservation, and digitisation as they are added to the AWM's private records collection. Curator Bryce Abraham is not aware of any other letters in the collection relating to soldiers at the Kawasaki factory. "It's really quite unique."
