Ed Sheeran Fan Builds Decking For Just £10 Using Marketplace Freebies
- Kerrianne, 32, wanted to make her ‘horrible step’ by the back door more accessible
- She picked up pallets for free off Marketplace and paid £10 to have them delivered
- After six weeks of work she created a stunning wooden seating area for next to nothing
We all have an area of our home that bothers us, or that we wish looked better. Perhaps it’s a door that creaks too much, an unruly garden or a cluttered kitchen. However, it’s rare that we ever get around to fixing it. One money-saving mum has proven that change is possible, even with next to no budget and a busy lifestyle.
Kerrianne Gibbs, 32 from Bristol with three children aged 3, 8 and 10 who is a volunteer family support worker, told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘I’m a single mum of 3 and DIY massively helps as a relaxing hobby. I’ve always been a DIY fan - I moved around a lot before being settled in my current house, and everywhere I moved I liked to do something DIY related.
‘I built a corner seat in an old house using pallets, and this is probably what inspired me to create something on a larger scale here. The house has a horrible step by the back door that my son kept falling up. He has ADHD and he is very clumsy so we have been to A&E several times because of it.
‘I wanted to get rid of this hazard and also make use of the large dead space at the back of the house. I sat there looking at it, until I thought - right, I’m going to build decking. I had no particular design in mind, I made it up as I went along!
‘I wasn’t given a quote - I knew it would never be in my budget so I just set out to do it myself. I like to keep busy anyway, as do the kids. In fact, I’ve decorated the whole house on a budget using freebies and tips from Facebook groups.
‘Before I got started I Googled pallet decking and had a look at several images. Once I got a basic idea I started sourcing supplies. I got loads of pallets from Facebook Marketplace for free. The majority of them came from a builder on Marketplace who needed the space on site. I wanted the pallets, so it was the perfect exchange!
‘I paid him £10 to deliver them and had a good look through it all. There were at least 30 pallets. Some of them were in excellent condition and some weren’t, so I decided to save the scrap pallets for fires in the evenings.
‘The whole thing was done in around six weeks. I did bits when I could in between my volunteering work and looking after the kids. My mum was a massive help with childcare while I got on with the project on various occasions.
‘The hardest challenge was separating the pallets - my poor back! I had several hits with the hammer which resulted in several bumps and bruises. It was still worth it, though. That said, if I had to do this project again, I would source new pallets as that would definitely have made it easier. Sorting through what I could and couldn’t use was a nightmare. Plus, some of the older pallets weren’t as strong, so they would split or snap.
‘I’m very into music and singing so Ed Sheeran is a favourite celebrity of mine. His music is brilliant and his talent just amazes me! I had his music going when I was working on the project and it helped me get through some of the harder portions!
‘I still need to decide if I should varnish the wood and also apply some finishing touches to pretty it all up a little, but I am very happy with the end result. My friends and family have all been impressed when they’ve been to see it, and the best bit is there have been no more trips to A&E with my son!’
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘Kerrianne clearly has a talent for DIY - this decking project looks professional and I’m glad her son is no longer tripping up the back step! Here are my top tips to ensure your pallet decking project goes perfectly.
- ‘Plan out how big you want the decking to be before you purchase supplies. That way you’ll eliminate the risk of wastage.
- ‘Avoid building your decking in areas which regularly receive a lot of shade, as the wood will require more maintenance.
- ‘Make use of a guide marker or set square when cutting to ensure you don’t end up with wonky wood.
- ‘Avoid the risk of splinters by sanding down the ends of your wood after cutting it.
- ‘Use the correct safety equipment - that means wearing protective gloves, a dust mask and safety glasses.
- ‘Don’t be afraid to ask for help. This kind of job is much easier when you have a friend by your side.’
I love this. This has inspired me to try something similar myself. Great job