Handyman: 2011 DIYer of the Year

Eric Badcock
WAITAKI

BARN BUILD

Erik Badcock of Oamaru, Waitaki, undertook to build a five metre high barn with recycled windows plus a mezzanine floor and a workshop bench and storage. All of the timber for the 10 x 7m barn had been purchased and work was about to begin when the council stipulated that treated pine needed to be used for the structure. Eric had bought untreated oregon pine but luckily the building inspectory allowed him to use the oregon as long as the base board was treated pine and the walls on both sides weren't lined. The $13,000 barn was built using a hammer, nails and a circular saw.

WHY IT WORKS 'All the blokes are envious when they see the barn. We now have room to park a second car and a ride-on mower, a storage space, workshop and potting area plus a toilet and handbasin.'

Malcolm Chiles
MANAWATU

TIMBER PLAYHOUSE

Malcolm Chiles of Palmerston North, Manawatu, built a playhouse that could be unbolted and restored to flat-packed proportions for relocation. 'I used 150 x 50mm floor joists and 75 x 50mm timber for the framing, and clad the playhouse in 7mm plywood with decorative battens on the outside,' Malcolm says. Two railway sleeper steps lead up to the playhouse. The roof is made from corrugated galvanised steel with a polycarbonate skylight. The treated pine posts supporting the house were concreted straight into the ground.

WHY IT WORKS 'It was as much fun to build as it is to use and at a cost of about $3000 it's a magical little place for children to play.'

Marie Davis
WELLINGTON

HOTHOUSE INSTALLATION

Marie Davis of Strathmore Park, Wellington, decided to build a hothouse using the space under a deck she had built previously. 'I used to have an aviary in the space before the deck was built and it always bugged me that there was a large empty space underneath.' Marie used timber for the floor, walls, latticed doors and window frames, ensuring she measured several times before cutting. Then she made the raised planter boxes for growing vegies and shelves for storing tools and supplies. 'I always have four weeks leave over January so I spent three of them building and planting everything.'

WHY IT WORKS Marie now picks a bounty of fresh produce every day with the cost of constructing the hothouse only $628. 'I get a kick every night when I go in there to water and sometimes just stand there to admire it all.'

Garry Hall
OTAGO

OUTDOOR ROOM

Garry Hall of Arrowtown, Otago, built his deck and entertainment area to enjoy the outdoors with some added atmosphere. 'I put down concrete pads for the kwila timber decking and made a seat from the same material.' Unfortunately when the electrician came to wire the lights Garry had misplaced the plan of where they ran and had to unscrew to boards to find the cables. Garry also added a few talking points like the ruin built to resemble a jail, the curved stone wall and a planter made from old irrigation pipe.

WHY IT WORKS 'The first gathering on the new deck was New Year's Eve and we loved hearing the comments from our friends about how it was like having another room. 'When they found out it cost $4583 several people asked if I couldbuild them a new deck too.'

Jimmy Posford
NELSON

PANELLED SPEAKER

Jimmy Posford of Matua, Nelson, found bits of old timber at the dump to build a panelled sub speaker as part of an ongoing entertainment system. 'The rimu, kouri and ash timber came from old drawers and some of them had about 20 coats of paint so stripping them back took awhile.' Jimmy cut and planed the timber into 3mm thick strips and used timber glue to attach them to a box made from plywood and fibreglass for the rounded corners to help the acoustics. It took four solid days working out of his parents' garage and using old tools he already had plus some bought overseas to complete the speaker box. Jimmy has also made a guitar using the same materials and he says that is sounds pretty good, just needs a few adjustments.

WHY IT WORKS 'All up it only cost me $6.50 so now I’ve got a couple of mates who want me to build them one but I need to get a shed.'

Grant Reidy
AUCKLAND

DECKING AREA

Grant Reidy of Maraetai, Auckland, needed a deck out the front of the house so he set about building a 23 square metre platform surrounded by a garden bed. 'First of all I secured the frame to the house with Dynabolts then set it in place with posts.' The main problem was in the assembly, getting the outside frame positioned and level the whole way around. The boards were set at 45 degrees and there are no joints in the decking to create a visual flow. 'The deck was built outside the kids' living room downstairs so they would have their own outdoor area as they grow older.'

WHY IT WORKS 'It cost $2574 and my wife and kids are rapt.'