Practical projects and tips for the backyard DIY fanatic
How to Hang A Door Backyard Blitz builder, Scott Cam, demonstrated how to hang a door when the doorframe is not square. In a perfect world, hanging a door would be a simple matter. You’d buy a door the right size from a hardware store or building supplier, take...
Scott Cam demonstrated how easy it is to change the washer on a leaky household tap. (Note: In some parts of Australia it is illegal to change tap washers – you must call in a licensed plumber to do the job. Check with the water supply authority in your own...
Mosaic Stepping Stones Rita Hill showed how to turn a boring concrete paver into a beautiful piece of garden artwork. You will need: ready made concrete stepping stones Bondcrete (1/2 litre does one stepping stone) old plates, tiles, glass tiles or mosaic tiles old...
Rita Hill used special porcelain paints to jazz up some plain white serving platters. You will need: ceramic platters methylated spirits Pébéo Porcelaine paints paintbrushes (soft taklon or sable) Pébéo Porcelaine outliner or felt tip pen a soft lead pencil Clean...
Scott Cam demonstrated how to turn a secondhand door into a dining table. Scott’s table is cheap, easy to make and it looks great! Measurements Door: 2100 x 850 x 40mm Framework: 1800 x 450 x 810mm Table: 850mm high Timber Sizes 4 x legs 100 x 100mm –...
Scott Cam showed how easy it is to install a shade sail in the garden. You can have your sails custom-made, or buy them ready-made. Most shade sails are designed to suit a specific area, so they will vary in size, shape and number. Several small sails may look better,...
Backyard Blitz builder, Scott Cam, was helping out at home when a floorboard gave way beneath his foot! Floorboards often fail because of damp rot or termite attack. However, in this case the floorboard had become loose and slipped off the joist underneath. Scott said...
Scott Cam demonstrated how to fix a leaking toilet by either replacing the perished washers or installing a new cistern outlet valve. What to do Turn the water off at the tap just beside the pan. Flush the toilet to drain the cistern. Unscrew the button on top of the...
Floor cubes or ottomans are great for kids and adults alike. In bright colours they’re fun in a playroom, while in stylish tones they’re the perfect footrest for the lounge room. You will need Cardboard to cut the templates. About 1.5m fabric for a 50 x 50...
Laurie Seaman is a retired civil engineer who spent most of his life designing bridges all over the world. He lives in a sandstone house built by his grandfather in 1918, when there were only four other houses on the hill overlooking Palm Beach and Pittwater. Today...