Guides
Straight answers for real jobs
Every guide cites the regulator or standard it’s based on, and shows the date the rules were last checked.
Can I legally DIY it?
What electrical, plumbing, gas and waterproofing work you can legally do yourself, and what needs a licensed tradie.
Start hereWhat electrical, plumbing and gas work can you legally DIY in Australia? (2026)State-by-state: which home electrical, plumbing and gas jobs you can legally do yourself, which need a licensed tradie, and the few exceptions that catch people out.
Can I replace a power point myself in Australia?No. In every Australian state, replacing a power point (GPO) or light switch is licensed electrical work. Here's what each regulator says, and what you can do instead.
Can I install a ceiling fan or light fitting myself?Installing a ceiling fan, light fitting or downlight is licensed electrical work in every Australian state. What you can do yourself, and how to save on the call-out.
Can I install a dishwasher, oven or rangehood myself?Plug-in vs hardwired, water connection vs power: what Australian homeowners can legally do when installing a dishwasher, oven, cooktop or rangehood.
Can I replace a light switch myself in Australia?Swapping a light switch, even like-for-like, is licensed electrical work in every Australian state. What you can do yourself instead, and smart switch options.
Can I install a hardwired smoke alarm myself?Hardwired smoke alarms need a licensed electrician in every Australian state. Battery-only alarms, including 10-year sealed ones, you can fit yourself.
Changing a tap washer in Australia: how to do it, and is it legal DIY?How to change a tap washer in 5 steps (20 minutes, under $15), and whether it's legal DIY in your state. Whole taps usually need a plumber.
Can I replace the plug on an extension lead or appliance myself?In Queensland, replacing the plug on a lead is licensed electrical work. Other states don't clearly allow it either. The safe options for a damaged plug or cord.
What plumbing can I do myself in Queensland? The QBCC 'unregulated work' listQueensland has a clear list of plumbing jobs homeowners can do without a licence. The full QBCC list, what's not on it, and the penalties.
Can I replace a shower head myself? Rules by stateSwapping a screw-on shower head is legal DIY in Queensland, Victoria, WA and Tasmania. Where NSW and the other states stand, and how to do it in 10 minutes.
Can I replace a toilet myself in NSW (or anywhere in Australia)?Replacing a toilet suite is licensed plumbing work in every Australian state, including NSW. Here's what you can fix yourself inside the cistern, state by state.
Can I fix a running toilet myself? Cistern washers by stateA running toilet is usually a worn cistern washer. Queensland and WA let owners replace them; in other states it's plumber's work unless your regulator says otherwise.
Can I replace a hot water system myself?Replacing a hot water system is licensed plumbing in every Australian state, and gas units also need a licensed gasfitter. How to get it done quickly and priced right.
Can I install or move a gas appliance myself?Installing, moving or replacing a gas cooktop, heater or hot water unit needs a licensed gasfitter in every Australian state. What you can do with gas yourself.
Can I waterproof my own bathroom? The rules in NSW, QLD and VICWhether you can legally apply your own bathroom waterproofing in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, the value limits that change the answer, and what the code requires.
Bathroom renovation order of trades, and which steps you can DIYThe right order for a bathroom renovation in Australia, step by step, with which stages you can legally DIY and which need a licensed plumber or electrician.
Can I use a portable gas heater on a bayonet myself?Plugging a portable gas heater into an existing bayonet is what bayonets are for. Installing one is licensed gasfitting, and some states restrict unflued heaters.
Can I regrout tiles or replace shower silicone myself?Regrouting and replacing shower silicone is DIY-legal everywhere in Australia. How to do it properly, and the signs the waterproofing has failed instead.
Can I paint my own house in Australia? Licences, lead and strata rulesYes, you can paint your own home without a licence anywhere in Australia. When licences apply, plus lead paint, asbestos, strata and heritage rules to check.
UKWhat electrical work can I do myself in the UK? Part P explainedIn England you can replace sockets, switches and light fittings yourself. New circuits, consumer units and bathroom work must be notified. Part P in plain English.
What home jobs can you legally DIY in New South Wales? 23 jobs checkedWhich home jobs you can legally DIY in New South Wales, and which need a licensed electrician, plumber or gasfitter, with the official source for each.
What home jobs can you legally DIY in Queensland? 23 jobs checkedWhich home jobs you can legally DIY in Queensland, and which need a licensed electrician, plumber or gasfitter, with the official source for each.
What home jobs can you legally DIY in Tasmania? 23 jobs checkedWhich home jobs you can legally DIY in Tasmania, and which need a licensed electrician, plumber or gasfitter, with the official source for each.
What home jobs can you legally DIY in Victoria? 23 jobs checkedWhich home jobs you can legally DIY in Victoria, and which need a licensed electrician, plumber or gasfitter, with the official source for each.
What home jobs can you legally DIY in Western Australia? 23 jobs checkedWhich home jobs you can legally DIY in Western Australia, and which need a licensed electrician, plumber or gasfitter, with the official source for each.
NZWhat electrical and plumbing work can a homeowner do in New Zealand?New Zealand's homeowner exemption lets owner-occupiers replace switches, sockets and light fittings. What needs an inspector, and the plumbing, gas and drain rules.Do I need council approval?
Decks, sheds, fences, retaining walls and pergolas: the size and height limits for building without approval.
Start hereDo you need council approval? Decks, sheds, fences, retaining walls and pergolas by stateSize and height limits for building a deck, shed, fence, retaining wall or pergola without approval in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA and SA, and what cancels them.
Do I need council approval for a deck in NSW? The exempt development rulesIn NSW you can build a deck without approval if it's under 25 m², no more than 1 m above ground and meets setback rules. The full exempt-development checklist.
How big a shed can you build without council approval? Limits by stateThe maximum garden shed size you can build without approval in NSW (20 m²), VIC, QLD and WA (10 m²), plus height and boundary limits and the myths to avoid.
How high can a fence be without council approval? Limits by stateMaximum fence heights without approval in NSW, VIC, QLD and WA, front vs side and rear fences, corner blocks, masonry and heritage rules.
What happens if you build without council approval? (And how to fix it)Built a shed, deck or pergola without approval? What councils actually do in NSW, QLD and VIC, what it means when you sell, and how to put it right.
How high can a retaining wall be without council approval?Retaining wall height limits without approval: 600 mm in NSW, 1 m in Queensland and SA, and boundary rules in Victoria, plus when you need an engineer.What do I need to buy?
Exact materials lists and quantities for common DIY jobs, in Australian sizes.
Start hereDIY materials lists: how to work out exactly what to buy (Australian sizes)How to calculate materials for common DIY jobs, garden beds, paving and more, using Australian product sizes, with worked examples and the formulas behind them.
How many sleepers for a raised garden bed? Australian sizes and a full materials listWork out how many sleepers, screws and cubic metres of soil you need for a raised garden bed, using standard Australian 200 × 50 mm sleepers, with worked examples.
How much road base and sand do I need for pavers? (per m², with a worked example)Paving a path or patio in Australia: how deep to dig, how much road base and bedding sand per square metre, and how to convert it to tonnes, with a 10 m² example.
Deck joist spacing in Australia: 400, 450 or 500 mm?The maximum deck joist spacing for hardwood, treated pine and composite boards from AS 1684, plus 45° boards, gaps, clearance and where to find spans.What do you need to tile a bathroom floor? Full materials and tools listEverything you need to tile a bathroom floor in Australia, tiles, adhesive, grout, membrane, silicone and tools, with quantities per square metre.Materials list for a DIY timber deck (Australia): boards, joists, screwsWhat to buy for a DIY timber deck in Australia: decking boards per m², joists, bearers, posts, screws, brackets and oil, with the maths for your deck size.DIY how-to guides
Step-by-step fixes for the jobs every home needs: what to buy, which tools, how long it takes, and when to call a pro.
Start hereDIY how-to guides: step-by-step fixes for Australian homesStep-by-step DIY guides for common home repairs in Australia: what to buy, which tools you need, how long it takes, and which steps legally need a licensed tradie.How to patch a hole in plasterboard (small, medium and large holes)Fix any hole in a plasterboard wall: dents, screw holes, doorknob holes and big breaks. The right method for each size, what to buy, which tools, and drying times.
How to get rid of mould in the bathroom (and stop it coming back)Remove bathroom mould from ceilings, grout and silicone the way Australian health authorities recommend, then fix the moisture that causes it so it stays gone.
How to unblock a sink, shower or toilet, and when it's a plumber's jobClear a blocked sink, shower, basin or toilet safely: what you can legally do yourself in Australia, what to never pour down the drain, and signs it's a sewer problem.
Renovating before selling: what adds value, what's DIY, and what you must fix firstGetting a house ready to sell in Australia: the cheap jobs that make the biggest difference, which are DIY-legal, and the compliance items that can hold up a sale.How to fix a dripping tap (and whether you're allowed to in your state)Stop a dripping tap: how to tell washer taps from ceramic and mixer taps, how to change a washer step by step, and which Australian states let homeowners do it.Home maintenance, made simple
What to check, clean and service around your home, and how often, so small jobs never become big bills.
Start hereHome maintenance checklist (Australia): what to do every month, season and yearA printable Australian home maintenance checklist: what to check monthly, quarterly, yearly and seasonally, how often, and which jobs are DIY or need a licensed pro.
Queensland smoke alarm laws: what every home needs by 1 January 2027By 1 January 2027 every Queensland home needs interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms. What's compliant, where they go, how many you need, and what you can DIY.
How to clean gutters safely (and how often you really need to)How often to clean gutters in Australia, a safe step-by-step method, ladder rules from SafeWork NSW, gutter guards, bushfire season prep, and when to pay a pro.
How to clean a split system air conditioner (and how often to service it)Clean your split system filters in 10 minutes, how often to do it, when a professional service is worth it, and the aircon jobs that legally need a licence.Jib features, explained
How Jib works on real jobs: the AI Toolbox, the DIY-or-tradie verdict, photo-to-plan and more.
Start hereJib features, explained: what the app actually does for your jobsA tour of Jib: photo-to-plan, the DIY safe or tradie required verdict, the AI Toolbox, tools and materials lists, shopping list, reminders and before-and-after photos.
globalSnap it now, plan it later: turn a photo into a full home job planBuilt for busy parents: snap a photo of any home job and get the steps, materials, tools, time and cost. Then pick a job that fits the time you've actually got.
Quick home jobs you can finish in 15, 30 or 60 minutes (for busy parents)Got a spare half hour? 30+ quick home fixes and maintenance jobs sorted by how long they take, which ones are DIY, and how to fit them around nap time and school runs.
globalHow to keep a home to-do list when you have no time (the snap-it method)Why house to-do lists fail for busy families, and a simpler system: photograph jobs as you notice them, let the planning happen later, and pick jobs by the time you have.globalStep-by-step instructions for any home repair, from one photo (no research needed)Skip the YouTube rabbit hole. Snap a photo of the job and Jib's AI writes the step-by-step directions: prep, order, drying times, safety, and which steps need a pro.Never come home from the hardware store with half your list againOne shopping list for every home job, written by AI: materials, quantities, which store, and what each item is for. Open it in the aisle and buy everything in one trip.globalHow to inventory every tool in your garage (with one photo)Stop buying tools you already own. How to build a garage tool inventory in minutes: the old ways, the one-photo AI way, a starter tool checklist and insurance tips.Home maintenance reminders that actually work: set it once, forget itStop forgetting the jobs that come back: smoke alarms, gutters, filters, termite checks. How to set up repeating home maintenance reminders, and the schedule to use.
DIY or tradie? How to know before you start a jobHow to tell whether a home job is legal to DIY or needs a licensed tradie, the three questions to ask, and how Jib gives every job a DIY safe or tradie required verdict.How much will this home repair cost? Getting a realistic estimate before you startWhy home repair costs vary so much, what really drives the price, and how Jib gives a cost range for any job from a photo, including tradie call-outs, before you commit.globalBefore and after photos of home improvements: why they're worth taking (and how)Before and after photos help when you sell, claim insurance or deal with tradies, and they're satisfying. How to take good ones, and how Jib keeps them room by room.
globalHow to share a home to-do list with your partner (so you both actually use it)Stop being the only one who knows what the house needs. How couples and housemates share home jobs, shopping and photos in one list that stays in sync.
How to write a job brief tradies can quote from (with a template)Get faster, more accurate quotes from electricians, plumbers and other tradies. What to put in a job brief, a copy-paste template, and the questions to ask.
globalAdd home jobs by voice, even with your hands fullNotice a job while you're holding a toddler, a hose or the shopping? Say it out loud and Jib's AI turns it into a job, filed in the right room.