TikTok is full of tempting quick DIY fixes, short sound bites, time-saving tricks, hacks and shortcuts. Everyone wants to save money, and why not? But with the average video lasting around 60 seconds, how much information can really be crammed into this short space of time that took a tradesperson years to learn?
Something simple might work, but for any serious DIY tasks, short-form video simply skips over too many of the important parts. And what about credibility? What makes them an expert? You really need to pick and choose what you watch before diving in.
There’s plenty of DIY tips on social media in general for home renovations that I think should be consigned to the bin. Here are a few of my personal pet hates, backed-up by others in the know.
1. Sock for painting spindles
I’ve seen this DIY advice/hack not just on TikTok, but across other platforms as well. Personally, I’m not a fan. It seems like a smart idea, but it definitely doesn't do a better job than a decent paintbrush or mini roller (for flat surfaces). I've tried it, and I won't ever be trying it again. It's no quicker, creates a mess, and the finish is no better.
Lucy Steele, senior brand manager and resident colour expert at Valspar Paint, agrees. “Socks absorb far more paint than a brush and releases it much less evenly, so you often end up using significantly more paint than you actually need.
“Not only does this create more mess," she confirms, "but it can also mean buying extra paint to finish the job, making what seems like a money-saving hack more expensive in the long run."
A sock doesn't give as much control over application either. “A sock tends to deposit paint in patches, and can push excess paint into grooves and decorative details," warns Lucy, which can easily lead to paint runs and a streaky finish.
Some might disagree, but I say avoid. Get a small trim brush such as this Harris Trade Fine Tip Emulsion & Gloss Paint Brush from Amazon instead and take your time. "Two light coats with a brush will always produce a smoother, more durable finish,” confirms Lucy.
On the other hand, one DIY trick that does seem to work for the Homebuilding & Renovating team is a tanning mitt. Brand director, Laura Crombie swears by this for painting fiddly areas, if want to try something else other than a paintbrush or roller.
Lucy Steele has a keen eye for the latest trends and a wealth of knowledge on colour selection, pairing, matching, and mixing. Lucy is a trusted voice within the interiors and decorating space.
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Don't bother painting your worktops, invest in this self adhesive vinyl to give your worktops a white, marble-effect makeover.
2. Safety last rather than safety first
Safety gear often seems to be an afterthought when tackling DIY tasks for a lot of TikTokers. Not sure why; I've seen people working with angle grinders, sparks everywhere. I've seen people trying to break up concrete with power tools. Wearing goggles? Of course not. At the most they may be wearing gloves.
Paul McFadyen, chairman and resident metals specialist at Metals4U, reinforces why this is never a good idea. "Angle grinders can be incredibly useful tools for renovation projects, but they need to be handled with extreme care, and often on TikTok we see people encouraging bad and extremely dangerous practices.
“If a disc catches or shatters while cutting, fragments can be projected at high speed, potentially causing serious injury," he warns.
"Before starting any job, make sure you're using the correct disc for the material, inspect it for signs of damage, wear appropriate PPE including gloves, eye, and hearing protection, and only take on work you feel confident carrying out safely," says Paul.
Paul started his career over 35 years ago working for Delta Metals plc. He spotted an opportunity to develop and build Metals4U and has never looked back.
3. Painting worktops is false economy
A quick and cheap refresh is very tempting. What you'll typically see on TikTok are before-and-after shots, not what it looks like 12 months down the line. Painting worktops is a short-term solution, even if done well. It's something you can do if selling your house and need an instant refresh, but it won't offer you a long-term solution.
For a start, laminate worktops are designed to be hard-wearing, so paint doesn't bond that well. Even if you are careful and rarely put hot pans on the surface, it will need regular cleaning. Kieran Nagle, a DIY expert on Airtasker, backs this up.
"Just using a kitchen day-to-day means paint can chip quite quickly. Those little chips and cracks can collect dirt and bacteria, which isn’t ideal on a surface where you're preparing food.
“However, if you really want to paint them, make sure you're using a product specifically designed for worktops," he continues, "rather than leftover paint from the shed.”
Personally, I never paint a laminate or wooden worktop. If I want a quick and relatively cheap worktop makeover, I always use self-adhesive vinyl such as this d-c-fix Walnut Self-adhesive Vinyl Wrap from B&Q. This is easy to apply, lasts longer, has plenty of design options and the end result always looks much better.
Kieran is a Tasker on Airtasker and a DIY expert with years of experience. He currently runs his own his own flat pack building company.
4. Tiling on top of tiles without checking if you should
Is this the worst advice I've seen on TikTok? No. If done correctly, it can be a real time-saver; I’ve tiled over tiles, but always followed some simple rules which is rarely the case on TikTok. A lot of TikTok videos focus on the aesthetic taking the view that it looks great, so all is good. No, it's not.
As Angelo Patrizi, founder of Nuova Home Improvements points out, “videos rarely talk about ensuring that the existing tiles have been properly assessed for their integrity or for being hollow or loose."
Too much weight on a surface and the harsh reality is that everything will come tumbling down. This is even more likely if working with a plasterboard sub-base.
“I've seen tiles peel off en masse in one year due to not being checked for what you were tiling onto," confirms Angelo.
In short, get it wrong, and you're heading for a DIY disaster, and an expensive one at that. Imagine a couple of months in, and the tiles start to fall off the wall. You can't replace them, as the same problem is going to happen again. You'll need to remove the remaining new tiles, remove the old tiles, re-plaster the walls, buy new tiles, and pay to get them installed. That's not going to be cheap.
And even if a wall is fit for purpose, there's rarely any mention of the effect of the double thickness. How will this affect doorways, doors, sockets, worktops and half-tiled walls? It can be hard to create a decent aesthetic and integrate the new surface well. Double-layer floors for example can lead to trimming the bottom of doors, which is very irritating, and you could fund under-counter kitchen appliances will struggle to fit under a countertop. Be warned if you're considering this technique in your home.
Angelo Patrizi runs Nuova Home Improvements, a hands-on renovation company based in Berkshire, UK. They specialise in full home renovations, extensions, loft conversions, kitchens and bathrooms.
5. Mixing plumbing materials the wrong way
Messing up painting a wall is a relatively easy fix, but botched plumbing can have serious and expensive consequences. I'm good with simple plumbing jobs such as replacing a tap or adding a new isolation valve like this Flat Faced Male Straight Isolating Valve from Toolstation. But I try to avoid anything more complicated before asking one of my plumbing mates; it's easy to make mistakes (as I know from experience).
"One of the biggest risks we’ve seen in the TikTok DIY community is people carrying out plumbing repairs and not understanding how different metals interact together,” expands Paul McFadyen.
“A common example is connecting older galvanised steel pipes directly to new copper pipework. This will solve the problem initially, but further down the line problems will lead to premature failure,” he warns.
If you are going to do any DIY plumbing, get expert advice before you start as generally, in classic TikTok fashion, all looks good to start, with little thought for the consequences.
“Seeking professional advice before making alterations can help avoid costly repairs and extend the lifespan of your plumbing system," advises Paul. You have been warned.
6. Confusing US advice with UK advice
It's easy to forget that there are no physical borders on social media platforms, so you can easily be watching content created in the USA. A lot of advice simply won't work, or work as well in the UK. There are distinct differences between construction methods, such as those required when building a house in the UK compared to America, so it makes sense that you check the location of the TikToker before you start following any DIY advice.
Angleo Patrizi points out a few of the more common issues to look out for. "As well as different types of building construction (timber frame vs masonry construction), there are different ways of insulating and protecting against damp, and different pipework standards.
"Something that would work fine on an American stud wall construction might not work well at all on a UK solid wall in a Victorian terrace, or a cavity wall."
Then there's terminology to think about, which can make everything more complicated. You probably know that drywall is plasterboard, but do you know what latex paint is? It's emulsion. What about baseboard? Skirting boards. All something to watch out for. And don't forget, the US use imperial measurements, not metric like the UK.
Whatever DIY project you're looking to tackle, as well as the right methods for the job, you also need to make sure have the right tools. Find out the tools I recommend for decorating, and if you're on a limited budget, these are the 5 budget power tools I'd always buy.
