DIY disaster (just venting)

Indigo, do you have the strength in your arms and shoulders to use a paint-roller on an extendable pole?

If you do, it will be possible to paint the tops of the walls, and the ceiling from floor level.

To do the edges, I duct-taped a paint-brush to a long spar, as it is not really possible to use a roller along the edge of the ceiling or the tops of the wall.

Like Somerset Maugham, I never do anything I can pay someone to do.
(Let’s hope the money doesn’t run out…)

I used to DIY - plumbing, decorating, re- wiring, I'd try my hand at anything and that was before I discovered U tube. I even converted my own campervan.
And then I realised I was getting old...
Fortunately I have bred my own tradespeople. My son is painter and decorator, my grandson is an electrician, my DiL a gardener. I still haven't found a use for my film maker daughter but you never know when that particular skill will come in useful.

have you got a group of people , friends/acquaintances. where you can swap skills. So for example you might offer to make a meal, do some knitting or sewing, baby sit or sit with elderly person or offer to drive someone, so they pay the fuel but you provide chauffeur service door to door etc.

So if you wanted a room decorated, you would buy the paper paste etc etc, and then the person who is doing the job gives their skills. I organised a scheme some years back where we did sort of a voucher idea. So again it was the skills you offered and not the money or equipment.

So the way we did it was we had ,I think ,a group of 3 did the quoting thing. E.G You would like a jumper you have knitted sewn up properly. we might say that is worth 2 stars. You are happy to do wallpaper and someone wants a cloakroom decorated. They provide paper and paste you do the work. We award 3 stars for that. So we keep a list of everyone and they have their stars added or deducted, so you do not have to do a direct swap with the same person. It worked very well. People would look at the jobs that needed to be done, and would offer their skills for what they were good at. So I am quite a good knitter, but am a bit of a
perfectionist and hate poorly sewn up garments so was happy to get someone who was good at doing the sewing to finish it off. Result ? Happy people with jobs done cheaply but well, and that awful bit where you open the drawer and see that jumper still now sewn up is a thing of the past!

Still laughing, Moll! Are you by any chance related to Buster Keaton?

You have just reminded me to investigate (again) those platforms that enable you to reach the ceiling and tops of walls, to paint them. Our whole house needs a re-paint after giving up smoking and finding a tradesman is a nightmare - not to mention the cost. Think I can still manage to paint reasonably well. We shall see!!!

Piece of furniture in front of wall?

You can get some fancy looking cut out MDF panels now but the radiator cover is a good ideas as you end up with a useful shelf. Can you not tap the staples back out and restaple with smaller staples? You’ll be happy with it in the end I’m sure.

I've always done the decorating and DIY, too. I was quite shocked last year to find I couldn't hold the power drill steady anymore. When I tried to remove the bedroom door to paint it earlier this year it fell on my head, despite the fact I've been doing that for 30 years 😲 As you say, the spirit is willing....

Well, I'm wondering how you are coping without a radiator in the ensuite? Brrrrr!

We've got a towel rail
Oh, can't recommend it because you can see the wall behind the bars.

Back to the drawing board.

Take away radiator cover, put shower panel in place. They come in various sizes.

We had wet wall panels fitted in our bathroom as it meant we didn’t have to remove the wall tiles. DH and AS1 did it over one week end. These require limited maintenance, easy to clean and no more grout to clean.

Granny Moll,I have the perfect answer .
Put a large mirror there instead ; then you can admire yourself whilst showering!!

Gosh, often starting a small job escalates. If it were me, I’d gently tap the sharp ends over and repaint the front of the radiator cover so they don’t show.
I do know what you mean though. Our bath ( inherited with the house) has a shaped side panel which has now cracked. We cannot get a replacement that will fit. Other than replacing the whole bath which is in good condition, we have come up with a solution to replacing the sides.
I have a funny feeling it will end up a a saga like yours.

I've got a catalogue of DIY triumphs and disasters, very similar.

I always think it'll save me money, until I add up all its cost.

you are like me in my mind things go really well and look marvellous but when i do it in real life hmm well less said the better!

You can do it! Think of the slight disasters as practice for the thing of beauty you're about to create

You sound resourceful so this isn’t going to beat you. Go get it!!!

You are clearly a very practical and creative person and nothing can take that away from you.

I understand your feelings. I can't go up ladders anymore so repainting walls and ceilings is out. My living room is the same horrid yellow colour as when I moved in and I long to paint it blue. It is a daily source of misery for me.

I admire your ingenuity NonGrannyMoll. The radiator cover was a brilliant idea, OK it hasn't gone quite to plan but when you attach the fabric panel to the front using velcro (clever) I'm sure it will look great.

You're neither too old or decrepit. So you can't do what you used too but that doesn't mean you can't do anything at all.

A pic of the finished article would be good so I hope you post one when it's finished.

😆