Why Do-It-Yourself?
DIY and home improvements are becoming increasingly popular all around the world. Why? Because why pay someone to do something that you can do yourself? According to Statista, home improvement industry sales in Canada generated 47.5 billion Canadian dollars in 2017, whilst in the United States, the industry generated sales in excess of 373 billion US dollars. Nowadays, there are the tools and the means that ensure everyday people can complete their own homely tasks and save money in the process. The internet has made it very easy to find help and guides on how to complete different DIY tasks and projects. A spokesperson from Toolswizard said, “We aren’t encouraging you to start taking out walls or doing plumbing jobs that you aren’t qualified or comfortable doing. But if there is something that you are capable of doing and want to save money then you should give it a go!”
10 apps you need to download before you DIY
There are a number of apps available to install that can assist you with your DIY projects. Whether you are a beginner and need a DIY guide or you are in need of a color matching app, there is something for everyone. These are our top 10 apps that you need to try for your next DIY project.
1. Handyman Calculator
The Handyman Calculator is free for Android users, whilst the closest app is Home Improvements Calcs for iOS users and costs $1.99.
Handyman Calculator has a whole range of calculations and conversion tools that are great for handymen, DIY enthusiasts, and anyone who is looking to successfully complete a DIY project. The app offers unit conversions, density calculators, arc length and rebar weight, and fractional calculators. So whatever your project you can work out the right measurements and get the right materials.
2. iHandy Carpenter
iHandy Carpenter is for iOS users and costs $1.99. This handy app provides you with surface level and bubble level bars to check flat surfaces. Another feature of this app is a plumb bob which allows you to check the verticality of walls.
It does this by using your iPhone or iPad’s built-in sensors. Another thing these sensors are able to detect with the iHandy Carpenter app is measure angles of up to 180 degrees. This app will help you get the correct measurements you need for your DIY project.
3. The Home Depot
Nothing is more frustrating than starting a DIY project only to realise you are missing essential materials or tools. This is why you need the Home Depot app.
The app is free for both Android and iPhone users and allows you to do all the usual things a shopping app has, but it also features other helpful tools. You can use the voice recognition to tell it what you need and it will add it to your shopping list. Another helpful tool that the Home Depot app has is you can scan barcodes of products that you already have but need to replace. This feature makes it particularly useful for when you run out of paint!
4. DIY Tip Genius
Looking for regular tips and tricks to improve your DIY skills? Then you need to download DIY Tip Genius. This app is brought to iOS and Android users by the Family Handyman magazine.
This app gives users tips, secrets, and how-to-guides. DIY Tip Genius also provides you with the tip of the day and lets you search for useful tips from experts about your specific project or home improvement.
5. WikiHow
Speaking of how-to-guides, you need to check out WikiHow. This app can be downloaded for free on both Android and iOS.
WikiHow offers a whole range of guides from DIY repairs to tech guides. The guides are thorough and offer images and/or videos, so that you can get on with your DIY project, even if you have never done it before. Users can browse and search different categories and bookmark how-to guides which are relevant for them and their specific projects.
6. TapPainter
TapPainter costs $2.99 and can help you plan what color to paint your rooms. The app allows you to simply take a photo of your room and upload it to the app, from there you can experiment with different colors to see which color looks best.
TapPainter is great for comparing the original photo with the edited one, so you can see the difference for yourself. You can also share the previews through email and Facebook, to see what your friends and family think.
7. DIY Craft Creative Ideas
If you have the desire to start doing your own DIY projects, but no idea where to start then you should check out DIY Craft Creative Ideas. This app has over 1,500 free craft ideas.
The app focuses on DIY crafts for the home, DIY using plastic bottles, and DIY storage ideas, so it is more of a home improvement app. But there are ideas which are added everyday, so you can always find new inspiration.
8. Houzz
If you want to improve your home, then you need Houzz, this app is used and loved by many because it offers a social network for people who want to discuss home improvements, architecture, and interior design.
Houzz lets you access hundreds of articles and join in on discussions. It also lets users look through photos of homes and interior designs, so that you can inspiration on where to take your next project.
9. iFixIt
iFixIt is available on both iPhone and Android and offers an app that shows users how to fix and repair things. For example, there are guides on how to fix household appliances, furniture, cars, and devices such as smartphones etc.
Users can browse categories, or search for their specific thing they want to fix. The iFixIt guides are comprehensive and explain the process of fixing things, diagnosing problems and how to replace or repair certain parts.
10. Photo Measures
Photo Measures allows you to take photos of a room and the app will tell you the measurements and angles of the room. This app is available on both Android and iPhone and costs $6.99.
This app also allows you to import and export photos in various sizes and aspect ratios, save photos in PDF or JPG formats, sort your photos by category, and zoom in for more detail.
Make DIY easier
As you can see, there are many apps that can help make your project that little bit easier. Don’t have time to complete all the DIY projects and tasks that need doing? Don’t worry, there’s an app for that too! Handy is an app for both Android and iOS users who want to look for local handymen. This useful app lets you find and book suitable handymen to fix your problems. It also covers cities in the US, Canada, and the UK.
