Every large DIY outlet and tiling store appears to be in a constant state of sale. The cunning art of retail can blow a fragile budget to pieces. With your measurements in hand and a firm ideal of colour if you’re buying paper, paints, tiling and accessories, don’t allow yourself to be distracted.
1 Never buy paint colour for large areas of wall without having first tested the product. Paint up a large piece of lining paper or the wall itself in varying aspects of the room and let it dry before judging its success. If you’re having paint mixed to a shade, this is especially important as few emulsions come in under €10 a litre. Tile stores will always let you have a tile or two to put in situation before deciding.
2 If a tool is on offer, ensure it’s not being phased out as its accessories then become a nerve-mincing nightmare to track down. The once highly celebrated Dulux Paint Pod for example, is a decorating dinosaur but now ultra cheap for the unwary. Unless you’re happy to throw down €50 for this clever paint pump and never use it again, walk away.
3 If the supplier offers computer-aided CAD facilities, use these to your advantage to get room layouts nailed to the millimetre. Independent retailers are often willing to take a few euro off the total for a larger order, so never be afraid to ask. The worst that can happen is a polite "Nope, sorry, that’s it".
4 Bring smaller parts to be replaced to the store for comparison, and keep boxes of standard materials intact together with the purchase receipt until you’re sure you’re using them. Your supplier may let you return them or issue a credit note if they can. Weigh up just how capable you really are before starting any serious home improvement, as paying a professional to save you from rookie mistakes may be the greatest investment you can make.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, February 04, 2012
