Hi,
Very good question charlesey regarding cost; There are so many variables when it comes to cost. A great deal of excellent work can be done with just a few good quality tools; I started out over 40 years ago with a single speed Black & Decker 3/8" drill; hammer; tenon saw and a wood chisel; with these plus other hand tools like screwdrivers I installed my very first fitted kitchen from scratch. I bought 2" x 1" planed softwood and made the framework then I bought sheets of white Contiplas these at 8' long. I'll never forget the blisters on my hand as I cut the Contiplas using the very cheap tenon saw; I think I paid 80p for the saw and after each cut had to sharpen it.
It took ages to install the kitchen due to lack of money but I did succeed in the end and my lovely wife Bron thought the new kitchen was wonderful. For the work surfaces I used cheap chipboard with Formica glued on; I used two layers of chipboard with spacers allowing shallow drawers to be inserted; to cover the chip board rough edges I used rounded beading; our neighbours were amazed but to answer your question it doesn't have to cost a lot if you can get hold of offcuts of timber.
Below is a picture of our bathroom; I made and installed all the woodwork many years ago costing very little indeed; the timber I scrounged from where I worked; with bought timber where I couldn't scrounge; the ceiling beams were lengths of dirty timber that electric motors had been stacked on; I sanded them down and stained them Jacobean Dark Oak; the finish is polyurethane varnish. The panels are just WBP plywood again stained and varnished; I even designed and made the window frame.
I prefer our bathroom to modern all tiled bathrooms; I think it's much more friendly and welcoming; the whole bathroom cost very little in money but involved a lot of work which I actually enjoyed and still enjoy. Our neighbours spend a fortune getting tradespeople in to do every job and they never learn anything; Bron and I do all our own jobs saving a fortune.
May I suggest you browse the web for ideas; start off small then your skills will quickly develop; I hated woodwork at School but over the years and firstly out of necessity I I did my first home woodworking when I married Bron and now I love all aspects of woodworking.
Please yourself charlesey and don't let anyone put you off trying something new with their negative comments; do the very best in whatever you try and never quit however hard it becomes; you'll learn more from mistakes you make than what you already know.
Kind regards, Colin.
Our bathroom I made and installed many years ago costing very little indeed.
The hardest part is making a start; go ahead and make lots of silly mistakes; I did but little by little I became better. A bit of encouragement in the picture above and the picture below; the drawers are solid oak made from timber I had kicking around; I made these drawers a few years ago for Bron to store her card making materials. These are more advanced projects but if I can do them you will too if you really want to.
I can make anything these days after all I've had over 50 years in which to practice; this is our front room which I gave a comprehensive makeover to about four years ago; it still look gorgeous. If anyone tells you that you can't do it what they really mean is they can't do it and don't want you to succeeded; prove them wrong and enjoy doing so. Good luck.
