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
What you’ll learn
Come and learn the skills you need to make basic improvements and repairs to your home in an inclusive weekend workshop with the Common Knowledge team. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of how to work with different materials while we introduce you to some of the most common tools you will need to tackle various jobs safely. Throughout the weekend we will aim to cover:
Creating shelves: Within this we take a deep dive into timber and all the variations in materials that fall under this umbrella. We’ll cover measuring, marking and cutting with accuracy, both with hand tools and power tools.
Pocket hole jig: This cabinet making tool makes joinery approachable to all. We’ll look at setting it up and using it to marry two pieces of material together at a perfect right angle.
Drills 101: We will spend time getting to grips with drills, understanding the differences between drilling and driving, all the bells and whistles and various settings, and how to know which bit is right for the job.
Shelf hanging: The key to success in hanging anything heavy on a wall relies on a few key factors. We’ll give you some tips and tricks on working out what your walls are made of, and picking which fixing method is right. We’ll talk about the differences between masonry and stud partition walls and show you how to keep things level and plumb.
Basic plumbing repairs: Whether it’s finding your stopcock, replacing a washer in a dripping tap, or clearing out a blocked u-bend under your sink, we aim to demystify some of the most common basic plumbing queries to help you feel confident to understand how they work, and tackle the small jobs that come up regularly.
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 leave with a timber shelf and brackets that you have made yourself. In order to do this we will introduce you to some essential carpentry skills in order to measure, mark all of your components. We’ll look at basic cabinetry and how to set up and use a pocket hole jig.
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.
What previous participants said…
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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Cian Corcoran
Cian is a designer, maker and co-founder of Designgoat Studio. Most of his studio days are filled with designing interiors for private and commercial clients. His workshop days are spent designing and fabricating bespoke pieces to fit into said interiors. He grew up in a house that was always under construction and learned from his Dad at an early age how to both fix and cause problems. Cian is now passing on these skills to his own children in the renovation of their stone cottage in East Clare. He believes that confidence is the key to being able to learn and implement new skills, something he hopes to pass on to all Common Knowledge course participants.
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Zack Halliday
Zack has been residing in Ireland since 2018. He purchased a 7-acre holding and embarked on an agricultural journey focusing on regenerative principles to improve soil health and increase biodiversity. With a small homestead in Co Clare, Zack and his family are dedicated to regenerating heavy clay soils using diverse animal inputs and perennial food systems. Zack has hands-on experience in building and designing structures, and he has actively supported reforestation initiatives by planting 4000 native trees in Ireland. His passion for sustainable agriculture and love for nature have been the driving forces behind his journey.