6 Scary DIY Tasks You Can Do

Here are our top 6 ‘scary’ tasks that you CAN definitely do yourself:

1. Installing bathroom accessories onto tiles

DIY tool kit: Selleys Hold Up; bathroom accessories*; methylated spirits; cloth

Do your bathroom accessories need a refresh? Or perhaps they’ve fallen off and you’re due for an update?

Whatever the reason is, Selleys Hold Up makes the job super simple – no drilling required! Ensure surfaces are clean (sand surfaces, if required), apply Selleys Hold Up to the back of the accessory, position in place and press firmly against wall.

Clean any excess immediately with methylated spirits. Wait for at least 48 hours (longer in cooler or dry conditions) before using. 

*Ensure accessories have a flush back, not inset

2. Replacing old silicone

DIY tool kit: safety gear (eye protection and gloves); utility knife, Selleys Silicone Remover; Selleys Rapid Mould Killer; Selleys No Mould; caulking gun; methylated spirits; scraper; spatula; turps; detergent.

We know everyone finds this task daunting, but don’t worry, it’s simpler than you think.  In just a few steps, we’ll show you how to take your dirty, old or worse, mouldy silicone, from foul to fresh!

Before you begin, ensure the area is well-ventilated. Wearing safety gloves, slice through old silicone, scraping away as much as possible. For any stubborn silicone, spread a 5mm layer of Selleys Silicone Remover evenly over surface. Leave for 2 hours, use a scraper to remove silicone, then clean the area with methylated spirits.

Spray the area with Selleys Rapid Mould Killer. Leave for 2-3 minutes, then rinse with water or wipe well with a damp cloth. Allow to dry completely, using a fan or old towel. Once dry, apply  Selleys No Mould, ensuring sealant is pushed well into the joint. Tool with a spatula dipped in detergent and water within 5-10 mins of application. Clean up with turps before product skins.

3. Fixing a loose pool tile

DIY tool kit: Selleys MarineFlex; caulking gun; cloth

Do you know what it feels like to get to the end of a puzzle and be left with a missing piece? That’s what your pool must look like. Unfinished, forever a work-in-progress.  

Did you know you can actually fix it, without having to drain the pool?

Yep, even if it’s underwater. Using Selleys MarineFlex, you can just glue the tile back on. All you need to do is chip away as much of the old adhesive as possible, ensure it’s clean, apply MarineFlex to the back of tile, position in place and press down firmly. Remove excess with a cloth.

4. Patching a large hole

DIY tool kit: Selleys Spakfilla Rapid; 240grit sandpaper; sanding block; cloth; spatula; adhesive mesh patch; utility knife

Holey moley! If you can see deep into the void of your walls, you’ve got a problem. Luckily, it’s one you can fix and without much effort. So, before you get lost down the rabbit hole, try this clever cover up.

Clean around the hole, using a utility knife to remove any flaky or loose debris. Smooth over hole with sandpaper and wipe away dust. Cut adhesive mesh to fit over hole, allowing 20-30mm around outside edge of hole.

Peel away backing of adhesive mesh, centre over hole and press firmly onto wall. Using supplied spatula, gently press  Selleys Spakfilla Rapid over the mesh in a wiping motion from opposite directions, ensuring it covers the mesh and extend the filler 20-30mm past the edges of the mesh to ensure a feathered edge. Use a single downward stroke to remove excess product and let dry for at least 30 minutes.

Lightly sand the area and smooth over edges, then wipe away dust. Reapply  Selleys Spakfilla Rapid and leave to dry thoroughly – this may take up to a day – before sanding and painting.

5. Repairing a chipped tile

DIY tool kit: Selleys Knead It Aqua; utility knife; sandpaper with block; cloth; gloves; flexible spatula

Cracked or chipped tiles are a part of life. They’re bound to happen at some point, but depending on the extent of the damage, you may not need to replace the whole tile. For small chips or cracks, you can repair them with Selleys Knead It Aqua.

Clean the surface thoroughly. Using a utility knife, cut off a piece of Selleys Knead It Aqua (no less than 1.5cm). Wearing gloves, knead product together until the product is warm, soft and uniform in colour.

For cracks, using a flexible spatula, forcefully work the product into the surface. For chips, fill the gap and mould to fit. For a smooth appearance, remove excess product with a damp cloth before it hardens.  Allow to dry for 2-3 hours and sand to shape. 

6. Sealing leaking gutters

DIY tool kit: Selleys Storm Sealant; caulking gun; mineral turpentine; spatula, cloth 

A leaking gutter can go from 0 to 100, and if you don’t get on top of this small issue, you’ll have bigger problems to face later. But you’re in good hands, Selleys Storm Sealant can be applied directly to a leaking gutter – it can stop leaks in the rain in an instant! It’s suitable for use on PVC and Colorbond gutters*.

Clean gutter of any dirt, grease of grime. Fit Selleys Storm Sealant into a caulking gun and apply to joints or gaps. Smooth off with a spatula dipped in turps. While it forms an instant seal, do not disturb until cured (approx. 48hrs).

*Not suitable for plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene or plugging leaks subject to pressure.