Steve Jenkins

Steve Jenkins

Steve Jenkins is a freelance content creator with over two decades of experience working in digital and print and was previously the DIY content editor for Homebuilding & Renovating.

He is a keen DIYer with over 20 years of experience in transforming and renovating the many homes he has lived in. He specialises in painting and decorating, but has a wide range of skills gleaned from working in the building trade for around 10 years and spending time at night school learning how to plaster and plumb.

He has fitted kitchens, tiled bathrooms and kitchens, laid many floors, built partition walls, plastered walls, plumbed in bathrooms, worked on loft conversions and much more. And when he's not sure how to tackle a DIY project he has a wide network of friends – including plumbers, gas engineers, tilers, carpenters, painters and decorators, electricians and builders – in the trade to call upon.

Latest articles by Steve Jenkins

woman crouched to ground painting wall with blue paint

If you don't have this product in your DIY kit you're missing out. We explain what sugar soap is and why it's a must-have

By Steve Jenkins, Sarah Harley last updated

Keen to clean dirt and grime from your walls without too much elbow grease? Why understanding what is sugar soap will be the best thing you read today

Paint
Close up of Dual RCD Consumer unit with a focus on the red main switch

Does your fuse box keep tripping? Find out why and how you can fix it

By Steve Jenkins published

Discover what could be causing your fuse box to trip and whether it's time to call in an electrician

DIY
Close up of chrome single switch light switch cover attached to back box with brown, blue and green/yellow wiring

Get expert advice on how to change a light switch cover to add a new look to any room

By Steve Jenkins published

Fed up with your boring old light switch cover? Discover how to swap out the old and introduce a smart new one

DIY
Yellow circular saw held by person in gloves using a guide rail to cut a sheet of plywood

6 ways to get straight cuts with a circular saw — including how to make your DIY guide

By Steve Jenkins published

Getting straight cuts with a circular saw isn’t always easy. Here we reveal a host of DIY and cost-effective solutions to ensure clean straight lines

How external blinds provide a perfect solution to keeping a home cool

By Steve Jenkins published

Sponsor Content Created With Kensington Blinds

Say goodbye to home-overheating by blocking the sun’s rays before they even reach the window

Windows & Doors
Drain snake, pipe wrench and plunger on stainless steel sink

Want to know how to unblock a sink without a plunger? Experts reveal five ways to get it done

By Steve Jenkins published

No plunger to hand? Here we look at the alternative options to unblock a sink without a plunger

DIY
White room with large window on left and dark painted feature wall with step ladder, paint pot and dust sheets on floor

How long does paint take to dry? Your guide to must-know drying times

By Steve Jenkins last updated

How long does paint take to dry? Too long to sit and watch, but knowing paint drying times is critical to getting a good-looking, long-lasting finish

Paint
Close-up of paintbrush with white paint on it on top of open tins of red, blue, green and white paint

How to choose the right type of paint for your next paint project and why it matters

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Our complete guide to types of paint will help you learn to distinguish your eggshell and emulsion from your satin and semi-gloss. Here's what you need to know

Paint
Whites painted floors, skirting boards and walls with contemporary furniture and plants

Experts reveal their pro techniques for painting floorboards to get an attractive, long-lasting finish

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Painting floorboards can give an original floor a new lease of life. Here, our expert offers his top tips and suggests the best floor paint for the job

Paint
Plasterer on raised platform applying grey stucco plaster to exterior block wall

What is Stucco plastering? Discover its benefits for a durable and attractive wall finish indoors and outdoors

By Steve Jenkins published

Find out what stucco plastering is, where it's used, what textures and finishes are available and how much it costs to add to your home

Young woman on ladder looking pensively at light coloured wall with rollered on mid blue paint

When it comes to eggshell vs satin paint, which one should you use? We help you decide what’s best

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Undecided on whether to use eggshell vs satin? Here we give you the lowdown on what they both have to offer

Paint
Single garage with grey concrete floor and plasterboard on walls and ceilings prepped for painting or plastering

Find out what you need to know to make plasterboarding a garage a success

By Steve Jenkins published

Plasterboarding a garage can transform it into a smarter, energy-efficient space that can be used all year round

Discover the secrets behind tiling an uneven wall to get a smooth professional finish

By Steve Jenkins published

Find out what you need to do to make sure a less than perfect surface is prepped and ready to tile

Walls & Ceilings
types of plaster plasterer at work

Types of plaster and plastering techniques you need to know when finishing off your home renovation

By Natasha Brinsmead, Steve Jenkins last updated

There are several different types of plaster, each with their own pros and cons –here we take a look at the main options for your internal walls

Walls & Ceilings
Man in white overalls, cap and light brown tee shirt rollering a wall with white paint

Pros reveal easy-to-follow techniques to stop paint peeling and keep it looking good for longer

By Steve Jenkins published

Discover the steps you need to take to ensure your paint won’t start peeling any time soon

Paint
Women using orange cordless drill to drill hole into white wall of living room with shelves and plants in background

Master drilling into plasterboard to prevent cracks and damage for clean holes

By Steve Jenkins published

Drilling into plasterboard sounds like a simple exercise, but it's not as straightforward as you think. Here we tell you how to get it right

DIY
Silver metal drill drilling into sheet metal with shards of swarf around the drill bit

Get expert insight into drilling into metal for clean, smooth and accurate holes

By Steve Jenkins published

Discover pro tips, techniques, and the essential tools required for drilling into different metals

DIY
Main in glasses with dark hair rubbing down wall ready for painting

How to repair peeling paint for a quick makeover and a fresh new finish

By Steve Jenkins published

Say goodbye to ugly, unwanted peeling paint with these smart tips on techniques and tools

DIY
The Best Reciprocating Saws guide

Get power, precision and performance with the 5 best reciprocating saws for DIYers

By Hugh Metcalf last updated

The best reciprocating saws are handy tools to have for use around your next build or DIY project. Here are 5 of the best

Tools
Hand holding skirting board and using a coping saw to scribe the end

Learn what a coping saw is and why it’s an essential for your DIY toolkit

By Steve Jenkins last updated

Discover the answer to what is a coping saw, find out what jobs it’s good for, what it can cut and which blades you need for different DIY projects

Tools
Hand with screwdriver removing screw from window handle on a white UPVC window

Quickly learn how to replace a window handle with advice from the pros

By Steve Jenkins published

Try these easy-to-follow steps to remove an old window handle and replace it with a new one

DIY
Single white plug socket with burn marks on bottom pins against a white wall

Does my house need rewiring? 7 signs that it could be time to call in an electrician

By Steve Jenkins published

Does my house need rewiring? The experts reveal what you need to look out for

Professionals
Wooden handled tenon saw laying on wooden background

What is a tenon saw used for, and how does it differ from other saw types? Here you’ll find the answers to six common questions

By Steve Jenkins last updated

You’ve heard the name but what is a tenon saw used for? We take a look at what a tenon saw is, what materials it can cut and reveal why it has a brass back

Tools
Silver spirit level on top of abstract pastel ceramic tiles with bar floor in background

Check out these expert tiling an uneven floor tips to make sure you get a flat and level surface

By Steve Jenkins published

Find out how to get rid of high points and low points on an uneven concrete or wooden floor to get it ready for tiling

Flooring
Women with ponytail and teal top using a mini roller to paint edge of wardrobe door white

How to paint wardrobe doors to give a fresh look to your bedroom

By Steve Jenkins published

Get expert advice on the paint, tools and techniques you’ll need to know to paint tired wardrobe doors

Paint
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives