DIY and Repair at Home
Weekend workshop
If you've been meaning to get a little handier around the house, put up that shelf, or repair that kitchen cupboard door, this is the course for you.
Open to complete beginners, this course will equip you with the skills and confidence needed to take on DIY, upcycling and alteration projects within your home. Come and join us at an immersive weekend workshop where we will look at a few common DIY tasks in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Want to gift this skill to someone? Vouchers available here
On the course, you’ll learn:
We aim to get you hands on with some of the most common and most useful tools out there to jump start your DIY journey, build your confidence and increase your knowledge.
You’ll gain the confidence and capability to start solving some of your own problems around the home, whatever they might be - fixing a kitchen cabinet, hanging that shelf/picture on the wall, replacing a leaking sink trap, tiling a surface or adapting furniture to better suit your needs.
You’ll learn:
To use a range of common household tools
About the materials, consumables and equipment required for many DIY projects
To work with different wall types and finishes, and specific fixings for each
In addition we will also take an in depth look at all things drills, demystifying that box of drill bits and screw driver heads and looking at all the bells and whistles, buttons and collars on a combi drill. We'll talk about wall construction methods and picking the right fixings for success when hanging shelves or pictures on different wall types.
We finish the weekend with an introduction to some plumbing basics, from the importance of locating your stop cock to the difference between compression and weld fittings and the anatomy of a tap.
Throughout the course of the weekend we aim to arm you with a variety of transferable skills that will hopefully leave you feeling better equipped to tackle any challenges that arise in the future!
What will you take away?
Over the course of the weekend you will make a tiled tray to take home with you. In order to do this we will introduce you to some carpentry skills in order to measure, mark and cut your base and rails. We’ll look at basic cabinetry and how to set up and use a pocket hole jig. You'll learn how to lay out, cut, set and grout our tilework.
You’ll also leave with connections to other DIYers, who you’ll be able to keep in touch with through a 12 month membership of our community app The Commonage.
What’s included?
The course fee of €380 covers tuition, the use of tools and materials, breakfast and lunch and refreshments provided by our resident chef.
Additional Information
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We will provide you with a loan of a hi-visibility vest for use when on-site.
For your own safety, no loose-fitting clothing or shorts are permitted, and you should wear long sleeves when in the workshop. The following safety gear is required and mandatory to participate in the course:
Protective gloves*
Safety glasses*
FFP2 Mask*
Goggles*
Ear defenders*
You may already have many of these items or want to pick them up yourself. These items are available in our optional Site & Safety Kit which also includes a high quality measuring tape and comes in a Common Knowledge tote bag. This is available to purchase as an add on to your course ticket.
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For more information about booking a course, accommodation options, and preparing for your course at Common Knowledge, see our FAQs page.
Staying at The Common Knowledge Centre
We now have a range of accommodation options on site to suit all budgets and needs. You can view available accommodation on our booking page.
Course Instructors
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Elaine McFerran
A self proclaimed eternal student, Elaine has been making and fixing things since a young age. Many varied experiences studying and working in the worlds of woodwork, architecture, cooking and organic growing have taught her much about sustainability. Teaching DIY and building skills, both at Common Knowledge and elsewhere, Elaine has found a real purpose in empowering others to learn new skills.
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Nico Bigatti
Nico’s first working experience after college was with a small carpentry business in Italy. Tired and a bit bored of the rural Italian lifestyle, and ‘triggered by a certain ferment, and the power of youth’ he moved to Dublin. When not with us, Nico teaches carpentry and furniture making at Solas, a social enterprise that aims to equip young people with skills and knowledge that will empower them to fulfill their personal potential. When he is, you’ll find him smiling somewhere on site at Build School where he is a Lead Instructor.
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Harrison Gardner
Harrison is an Australian eco-builder and sustainability designer. He has 15 years experience designing and managing the construction of conventional and passive buildings worldwide. His current focus is on constructing community spaces whilst teaching the core construction skills, principles and techniques needed to build more efficient, sustainable structures. Harrison is also Co-CEO of Common Knowledge and Lead Instructor on Build School.