2014
Half of home owners plan renovations, study shows
Christina Zhou More than half of Australian home owners plan to renovate in the next four years.
Living by design
By hook and by nail, it's a real display
David Adams Age-old savvy and modern systems can keep your favourite works in place.
Gardens spring to life
Cheryl Maddocks The new season brings with it an explosion of new colours and varieties.
DIY
Beyond the pale
Harriet Alexander Fifty shades of white? Choosing between options for neutral paints can be baffling.
Projects for handy home owners
DIY - Rooftop Gardens
Isobel King You only have to look at the number of new developments with expansive green roofs to see these outdoor areas, often sporting fabulous views, are finally being appreciated.
DIY Basics
Isobel King There are some tasks that even the most unmotivated DIYer should feel embarrassed to pay hard-earned money for.
DIY: Maintenance
Isobel King There’s a lot to be said for regular check-ups, which pick up minor problems before they turn into major ones.
DIY: Attic conversions
Isobel King If you’re craving extra storage or living space, an attic conversion could be a cost-effective solution.
DIY: Go green
Isobel King Climate change, the carbon tax, rocketing energy prices, unpredictable water supply, plain good sense… there are so many compelling reasons to “green” your home, it’s crazy not to.
DIY: Paint types
Isobel King If you thought choosing the right colours was hard, just wait till you get to the boggling array of different types of paint.
DIY for Renters
Isobel King and Sally Howes Just because you are renting doesn't mean you can't do any home DIY, it means you have to do clever DIY.
Renovating? There's an app for that
Toby Johnstone With apps for almost everything, renovating has never been easier. Here are 10 of the best.
The building and renovating expo
Chris Tolhurst Snap up tips and technology at the Building & Home Improvement Expo.
Pots and plans
Cheryl Maddocks A little creativity can have a stunning impact on a courtyard or balcony.
DIY: Decks
Isobel King Building a basic deck is something most experienced DIYers can easily pull off.
What not to DIY with plumbing and electrical
Isobel King With DIY electrical and plumbing work, it's more about what you can't do than what you can.
DIY: Renovation budget busters
Isobel King Renovating is costly, but inexperience can make the process a lot pricier and more stressful than it needs to be
Renovating in the fast lane
Joanne Brookfield Ten weeks to turn a house on the block into a showpiece? Just try doing it at home.
DIY: Flatpack kitchens
Isobel King Kitchens can be frighteningly expensive to update. Flatpacks can be a great money-saver but only if you get it all exactly right from start to finish.
DIY: Floating floors
Isobel King Floating floors can be a relatively cheap, quick and easy update for your floors, the trick to getting a great floor is, as usual, all in the preparation.
DIY safety
Sally Howes Don’t let your DIY project have you reaching for the first aid kit - or worse - ending up in hospital.
DIY: Second-hand building materials not second-rate
Peter Gotting and Sally Howes Recycled building products can not only give a new house character and charm, they can do both the environment and your wallet a favour.
DIY: Don't trip up on renovation red tape
Isobel King Put down the sledge hammer and saw! Have you cleared your plans with the right people?
DIY: Wallpaper
Isobel King Forget the flocked nightmares and twee florals of yesteryear, wallpapers are back with a seriously stylish makeover.
DIY: Asbestos
Isobel King Asbestos. The mere word is enough to strike fear into the heart of any renovator, but the good news is that it’s not all bad.
Vertical gardens
Growing up
Sarah Guest When space for greenery is limited, raise your sights and send your garden skyward.
DIY: Colour
Isobel King It’s the finishing touch that can make or break an exhaustive renovation: colour scheme.
DIY Top 10
Isobel King Serial renovators are full of sound advice for the novice and the first rule is: don't delude yourself you're a natural.
Asbestos, the outlawed fibre with a licence to kill
Ignorance, negligence and cover-ups led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Australians from asbestos-related diseases. When the building material was finally banned in Australia in 2003, too many people assumed it was a receding nightmare – that the real threat had died with one of its victims, the tireless campaigner Bernie Banton. They could not have been more wrong. Natalie O'Brien reports.
DIY: Toolkits
Isobel King Even the most basic repair job around the house requires some kind of implement, so a basic tool kit is a wise investment - how basic depends on both budget and how ambitious your plans are.
DIY: Working with timber at home
Isobel King Woodwork can be incredibly rewarding, learn some new skills and add unique touches to your home.
Liberals stall on illegal timbers
David Wroe, Canberra Push to ban import and use of illegally logged timbers faces further delay with the Coalition diverting legislation to its third parliamentary inquiry.
DIY kitchen renovation
Isobel King Even a basic kitchen renovation can horrifyingly expensive. Do plenty of research, be ruthlessly practical, get your hands dirty and you may not only survive the experience but end up with a beautiful new kitchen.
DIY: Get out into that garden
Isobel King Whether it's a tiny courtyard or a sprawling suburban block, Domain has some great tips on making the most of your outdoor space.
DIY: New windows
Isobel King For the experienced DIYer, installing a new window should be a comfortable weekend project.
Big reno plans
DIY: Beware of the bathroom
Isobel King Even the most seasoned renovator will tell you, tackling a bathroom can be a saga.
DIY tiling: Bathrooms
Isobel King A coat of paint works wonders but new tiling can transform even the oldest, darkest and pokiest bathrooms.
DIY: Kitchen splashbacks
Pile on the tiles
GARY LAPERSONNE Give your kitchen a facelift with a mini makeover.
Bathroom DIY
Time and tiles
Andrea Jones Even the most dingy bathroom can be brightened up with quick, simple fixes.
Painting tips
The essential DIY painting guide
Isobel King It's one of the quickest ways to give a home a facelift, but painting like the pros requires patience, attention to detail, a steady hand and yes, tedious preparation.
TV DIY myths
Tricks of the tradies
Stephen Lacey Don't be fooled, that "quick DIY job" that looked so easy on TV will ruin your Christmas holiday break.
Girl power
More women are getting the home DIY bug
Alexa Moses The DIY boom has created a fight for the handywoman dollar.
Investment property DIY
A quick spruce-up can pay off
Jenny Brown The carefully considered revamp of an older unit can bring rental rewards.
Investment property DIY
Spend a little to maintain rental returns
Chris Tolhurst Landlords need to maintain at least good standards, if not better, for healthy rental returns.
Green DIY
Plenty of positives from greens on the side
David Adams Vertical gardens can be a striking space saver with environmental benefits.
Heritage and DIY
Renovating the golden oldies
David Adams Seek expert advice when restoring a heritage property.
In the garden
Outdoor rooms take over gardens
Kate Robertson Families now expect a lot more of their backyards and are spending more and more time in their outdoor rooms.
DIY costs
The Block unearths home truths about renovation spending
Simon Johanson Australians' addiction to TV renovation shows is well known, but now there's financial proof - we back it up with our wallets.
DIY costs
Beware the fool's gold of renovation
Louis Christopher After the most recent round of renovation reality shows, does anyone feel the desire to go off and renovate for vast riches?
Green DIY
Go with the grain
Jim Fogarty Check the source of timber carefully and stick with sustainable resources.
DIY dangers
Danger lurks beneath the boards
David Adams Careful planning can stop renovators becoming another asbestos statistic.
DIY tips
Dangers of starting renos before settlement
Kath Dolan Investors getting early access to start renovations need to know exactly what they can and can't do.
DIY dangers
DIY reality vs reality TV
Rachel Browne On the small screen, it all looks so easy. Simply knock out a few walls, pop in some new fittings and your house gets an instant boost in appearance and value.
TV DIY myths
DIY fever strikes after nights on the couch
Susan Wellings TV shows could be inspiring makeover madness.
DIY and your sanity
Even renovating has its funny moments... really
Richard Glover There is humour in the perilous business of home renovation, here are 25 reno rules to learn and follow.
Investment
Owners have appetite for destruction
Chris Tolhurst Rising costs build a strong case to detonate rather than renovate.
Renovations: stay put or move out?
Fran Cusworth DIY shows warn against it, but Fran Cusworth and family decided to stay put during renovations, and lived to tell the tale - just.
Stripping old wallpaper
DIY Don't despair if your old wallpaper is resisting your attempts to remove it, these tips could help.
Checklists:
Print these to plan, then keep your project on track
Vertical gardens
Learn what it takes to create a beautiful vertical garden.
Rooftop gardens
There are plenty of ways to make use of your roof and even more benefits. It can be expensive but there are good cheap options too.
Paint types DIY
Forget the challenges of choosing a colour, getting the right type of paint is what will make or break your project.
DIY for renters
There are plenty of things renters can do that won't upset their landlords and that they can take with them when they move too.
DIY Decks Checklist
Be well prepared for your decking project and you'll be enjoying the fruits of your labour in no time.
DIY basics checklist
Tick these basics off as you work through the list and your home will be in tip-top shape.
Electrical and Plumbing Checklist
Your life could depend on knowing what you can and can't DIY.
Budget busters checklist
There are lots of clever and surprising ways to save money on home improvements.
Flatpack kitchens
The pros and cons of flatpacks, made to measure or off the rack and more tips and advice.
Floating Floor Checklist
Tips on getting your floating floor down without a hitch.
Safety checklist
Successful DIY isn't just about just getting the job done. Be prepared, be careful and stay safe.
Red tape checklist
Put the hammer down and check if red tape has your plans tied up.
Wallpaper checklist
Give your walls a super-stylish makeover with wallpaper as it makes a glamorous comeback.
Timber safety checklist
DIY: Timber safety checklist
Kitchen reno checklist
DIY: Kitchen renovation checklist
Painter's Checklist
Be completely prepared for your next painting project.
Surviving renos is all in the planning
Renovating can do your head in but a psychologist who's been through it seven times has tips to cut stress.
Go with the grain
Check the source of timber carefully and stick with sustainable resources.
Changes that add value
Jane Burton Taylor investigates the renovations that can add value to your house.
More Domain DIY tips and info
Check out the full list of our DIY advice on the DIY home page.
