Learn Practical DIY Skills With Confidence
Get hands-on with drills, saws, fixings and power tools while learning practical skills you can actually use around your home.
This Isn’t a Course Where You Just Watch
Our workshops are designed to give you genuine hands-on experience with the tools, materials and techniques used for everyday DIY.
We bring an entire practical workshop to venues across Northern Ireland. You’ll learn what different tools are for, how to use them safely and confidently, and how to choose the correct drill bits, screws and fixings for different jobs.
You’ll also complete practical tasks and projects yourself rather than simply watching demonstrations.
No previous DIY experience is needed.
What You’ll Actually Learn
From drills and fixings to powered saws and practical construction, you’ll get hands-on experience with a wide range of useful DIY skills.
Drills, Bits & Screws
Learn how to use combi drills, impact drills and SDS drills, understand different drill bits and learn which screwdriver bits belong with different types of screws.
Measuring, Marking & Hand Sawing
Learn how to measure and mark materials accurately before cutting, and develop confidence using a hand saw correctly.
Walls, Studs & Shelving
Build a stud wall, learn how to use a stud finder, understand how walls are constructed and practise fixing shelving securely.
Fixings & Wall Repairs
Understand how to select suitable fixings for different surfaces and learn practical techniques for repairing holes and damage in walls.
Power Tools
Get hands-on experience using a circular saw, nail gun, jigsaw, multitool and mitre saw in a supported practical environment.
Build Your Own Toolbox
Build a toolbox from raw materials while practising accurate measuring, cutting, fixing, assembly and finishing techniques.
Sanding & Finishing
Learn how to sand materials correctly and understand how proper preparation helps produce a cleaner, more professional finish.
Tool Confidence
Understand what different tools are designed to do, how to handle them correctly and how to approach practical DIY jobs with greater confidence.
Learn With Real Tools, Not Just Demonstrations
You’ll have the opportunity to become familiar with a broad selection of everyday and powered DIY tools during the course.
Perfect for Complete Beginners
You do not need to arrive knowing how to use power tools or having completed DIY projects before.
- People who want to become more independent with jobs around the home
- Complete beginners who want to learn in a supportive environment
- Anyone who feels nervous or unsure about using DIY or power tools
- People who want practical experience rather than simply watching online videos
- Anyone who wants to understand which tools, screws and fixings to use for different jobs
Practical, Friendly and Hands-On
The emphasis is on learning by doing in a supportive environment where questions are encouraged and everyone gets the opportunity to practise.
Small Groups
Smaller groups provide more opportunity for support, questions and practical learning.
Hands-On Practice
You’ll use the tools and practise the skills yourself rather than spending the entire course watching demonstrations.
No Experience Needed
The course is designed for beginners and assumes no previous DIY or power-tool experience.
Useful Skills
Learn practical techniques and knowledge that can help you approach jobs around your home with greater confidence.
We Bring the Workshop to You
Building It Better NI brings its practical workshop equipment to pop-up venues across Northern Ireland throughout the year. Browse our programme to find your next available course.
See What Our Customers Say
Read genuine feedback from people who have attended Building It Better NI courses.
Hear From Our Happy Customers
Emma Treacy
Cj Crawford
Fantastic value for money course, so much information and support, new skills and independence achieved in 1 weekend, could not recommend highly enough! Should be mandatory for everyone, thanks Sarah for an unbelievable experience, Caroline x
Grainne Farrell
Sarah was a wonderful teacher. She was so supportive and had a solution for any problems that arose. I learned that even if something goes wrong I can make it right. Already looking at booking into more courses! I am ready to conquer the wood!
Mittie 47
Attended DIY course in Derry recently. It was brilliant, I loved the practical approach and Michelle the instructor had an excellent way of presenting information, easy to follow and very knowledgable. All helped by a lovely group of fellow participants. Well spent few days, thank you.
Claire O'Neill
I’ve recently completed the electrics course with Sarah and the DIY course with Michelle. Both were brilliant and have given me so much confidence to just get stuck in. Being able to learn in a safe space of just women was great. I would highly recommend the courses and can’t wait to do more myself!
Start Building Your DIY Confidence
Browse our upcoming DIY courses and choose the date and location that works best for you.