June 9th, 2021 by Sarah Miles

Spring is often a popular time for getting jobs done around the house and garden and we tend to think of summer as more about relaxing and enjoying the fruits of our labour. While there should certainly be plenty of time for that, summer is a great time for some essential DIY jobs, and you will reap the benefits throughout the season and beyond.

Here are 5 essential DIY jobs that you should be looking to take care of this summer:

1. Outdoor Painting

Colour in the garden doesn’t have to just come from plants! Your furniture, sheds, and fencing all represent opportunities to bring vibrancy into your outdoor space – as well as give tired pieces a new lease of life. Warm, dry weather also helps the paint dry quickly so you get a better finish, less chance of fingerprints and smudges, and less time to wait before you can enjoy using them. Of course, you don’t want to be spending hours and hours with a paintbrush so why not invest in a paint sprayer to get everything done in a fraction of the time? They start at £37.99 and when you consider the time and effort you save, it’s a bit of a no brainer. They also give you a really even finish that is free of brush strokes and stray bristles and it’s perfect for uneven surfaces such as pebble dash.

MYLEK PRO-SPRAY 700W Paint Sprayer Kit - Includes 2 Paint Cups, Shoulder Strap & Extra Air Filter

Price: £59.99

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2. Indoor Painting

You may think that indoor decorating is more suited to winter when you’re stuck indoors anyway but there are many advantages to doing jobs like painting, tiling, and decorating inside the house in the summer. For a start, you get more hours of daylight so you can see what you’re doing much better – this is especially good when you’re doing jobs in the evenings after work. You have warmer weather and it’s easier to keep windows and doors open so paints, sealants, and grouts will all dry faster. Good ventilation also means that chemical smells from paints and glues will dissipate much faster (you can boost this further with the use of a fan or two), plus other family members can retreat to the garden to get away from the pungent aromas (and out from under your feet!).

3. Make Garden Furniture Fit for Purpose

Garden furniture will endure more wear and tear than indoor furniture due to it being outside in the elements – especially if you are not able to store it under cover over the winter. If yours is looking a bit faded, a bit rough, and a bit wobbly then you need to get it back up to scratch before you risk Auntie Enid toppling over at the family barbecue! As discussed in item 1, a lick of paint can transform furniture but also make sure it’s robust enough for people to use confidently. An electric drill/screwdriver is really handy for allowing you to secure all the screws and any loose elements plus if it’s cordless you can easily do all this out in the garden and enjoy some sunshine while you’re doing it!

MYLEK Black 18V Li-ion Cordless Drill 2 Speed MYCBMC with Drill Bit Set

Price: £55.00

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4. Organise the Garage/Shed

While most garages and sheds start out well organised with everything in its place, they can easily become dumping grounds where locating anything you actually need can be difficult and finding space for new items, almost impossible. Summer is the perfect time to get in there and sort it out as you can get things out into the garden where you can determine what’s to keep, what’s to bin, and what’s to recycle. You may even find long-forgotten bits of furniture, gardening equipment, or outdoor toys that you can make use of over the summer (you may be grateful for the paddling pool once you’ve done all the dirty work!). Once you have emptied it, this is your opportunity to create some calm from the chaos and set yourself up properly to keep it organised going forward. How about putting up some shelves or installing some racking to store things? You could even give it a lick of paint (another handy use for the paint sprayer!).

5. Clear out the Gutters and Drains

Quite possibly the least glamorous of all the jobs but nevertheless one that needs attending to – if you don’t want your garden get-togethers spoiled by smelly drains! Muck, debris, and leaves can all accumulate in gutters and drains over the winter leading to blockages and potentially even broken pipes and damp problems. Dry weather is the best time to attend to these types of jobs so that you’re not battling with the elements as well as the gunk!