DIY jobs to do in September

This kitchen’s transformation features benchtops and cabinetry painted in Resene New Denim Blue, wall and shelves in Resene Rascal and ceiling, trim and facing wall in Resene Quarter Solitaire.

Spring is here! Longer days, warmer weather and the excitement of summer are right around the corner. September is a great time to paint, spend a weekend on a fun and creative DIY project with the kids and think about preparing your outdoor areas for all the al fresco entertaining in your future. Check out our picks below of some DIY jobs to do in September.

A view from the top

If you thought you were stuck with your old kitchen benchtops until you could afford a major renovation, good news! You can transform them simply and cost-effectively with the power of Resene paint and some clever preparation products, which will have them looking as good as new.

Start off with wet and dry sandpaper, then apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal pigmented sealer. After that, apply Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat followed by your chosen Resene topcoat – in this kitchen the paint used was Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel. Once your topcoat is completely dry, add a clear coat using Resene Uracryl 403 – it’s hardwearing, chemical resistant and water resistant, making it a great option for a benchtop.

Or you can get Resene Uracryl 403 tinted to a wide range of colours so you can apply your colour in this finish without the need to add a clear coat later.

Bench press

Flex your DIY skills and save yourself some money by building your own custom piece of outdoor furniture for spring entertaining and relaxing. This super cool bench seat is made using old 10-litre Resene plastic paint buckets as moulds to make two concrete bases. These are sealed with Resene Concrete Clear waterborne coating, then the piece of timber that sits on top is finished with Resene Furniture and Decking Oil. These products give it a very professional looking finish and the stylish, simple form means that it’ll work with almost any outdoor setting. Check out the step-by-step instructions here.

Bench seat finished in Resene Concrete Clear and Resene Furniture and Decking Oil, weatherboards painted in Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and deck stained with Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain in Resene Natural.

These blocks are stained in Resene Pickled Bean, Resene Tamarind, Resene Grey Green and Resene Natural. Styling by Leigh Stockton, image by Bryce Carleton.

Get stacked

This epic oversized DIY stacking set is a great way to get the kids involved in your next project. Once it’s built, it’ll hopefully keep them occupied playing outside – it will be the project that keeps on giving! It would also make a fantastic gift, so keep it in mind for Christmas.

You’ll need 54 pieces of 4×2 timber, 270mm in length, and some Resene Waterborne Woodsman testpots to stain them in any colours you like. Click here for step-by-step instructions.

Clean machine

They don’t call it spring cleaning for nothing. A deep clean around your home – inside and out – sets all your other renovation or maintenance projects up for success. A good place to start is washing your home’s exterior. Doing this once a year is a good way to extend the life of your paint. It helps prevent build-up of moss, lichen and mould but it also removes other damaging deposits like salt. Just apply the diluted Resene Paint Prep and Housewash solution with a soft broom then wash the surface off with lots of fresh water.

Top tip: As you clean, move away any items leaning against exterior cladding as they can trap moisture and cause rot.

Check out this article to find out which Resene cleaning products are right for your exterior jobs.

Lucky gate

Painting a timber gate at your place can really elevate the look of your outdoor area and significantly enhance the street appeal of your property, as well as protect the timber against the elements. Give it a good sand first, wipe off the sanding dust, then apply Resene Quick Dry to prime the timber. Once dry, paint it in the Resene colour of your choice – we used Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel in the colour Resene Mountain Mist.

Check out our step-by-step video here.

Use a soft bristle broom to clean your weatherboards with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash.

Gate painted in Resene Mountain Mist and retaining wall stained with Resene Waterborne Woodsman in Hackett Black.

September in the garden

Thanks to the warmer weather, your garden should be coming to life again! The Tui Garden Products’ website says that it’s time to start getting your patch in tip-top shape for it to thrive in the upcoming months.

Remove the last winter crops from your vege patch to make room for new season plants and plan where to plant new blooms to brighten up your outdoor space. Finish picking the last of the citrus crops and plant new season citrus trees for fresh fruit at your fingertips.

Vegetables to plant in Spring: beans, beetroot, broccoli, carrots, celery, lettuce, peas, potatoes, spinach, and spring onions.

Top tip: Keep an eye out for weeds. As soon as the soil warms up, everything – including weeds – will start to grow.

Need help with your September DIY projects? Visit your local Resene ColorShop for advice or use the free Ask a Resene Paint Expert service online.