Categories
Do It Yourself

How to Build an Easy DIY Desk for Children.

We will show you step by step how to build a wall mounted desk for your child in less than a day.

Step 1

With this easy to follow project, we will have you feeling like a DIY professional in no time!

To get started, simply choose an empty wall in your child’s room where they will be doing their homework and follow these easy steps.

Below you will find a list of tools and materials required to complete this project. 

Tools Required

  1. Carpenter’s pencil
  2. Clean cloths
  3. Electric sander
  4. Level
  5. Paint brush
  6. Power drill
  7. Protective gloves
  8. Tape measure

Materials Required

  1. 180-grit sandpaper
  2. 19-1/2-in. metal shelf brackets (2)
  3. 60cm x 1 Meter pre-cut wood board (1)
  4. 5cm wood screws (6)
  5. 5/8-in. wood screws (6)
  6. 80-grit sandpaper
  7. Wood conditioner
  8. Wood stain

Step 2

Mark the Desk Height

The desk hight should be about 65cm for a young child but keep in mind that children grow so we have set the desk hight at 75cm.

Measure the height of the desk against the wall and mark the spot with a pencil.

You will need about 25cm between the top of the chair and the bottom of the desk for comfort.

Step 3

Attach Brackets

Use a level to make sure that your brackets are straight, then hold the bracket in place to secure.

Using your power drill and 5cm wood screws, attach the bracket to the wall.

So easy! 

Now let’s do the second bracket!

Step 4

Sanding the Desktop 

The objective of sanding wood is to remove mill marks, and other flaws that could have been introduced at the factory or in handling.

Sanding makes the surface of the wood smooth, improving the appearance and bringing out the natural beauty of the wood. 

Prepare your 60cm x 1meter board which is to become the desktop.

Now sand the wood in the direction of the wood grain, which helps camouflage any scratches, with 80-grit sandpaper.  

Then go over the wood again with 180-grit sandpaper;

Wipe the dust away with a dry clean cloth and rub your hand over the wood.

Is the wood perfectly smooth? 

Great! Let’s continue.

Step 5

Conditioning the Desktop

The reason we treat the surface of the wood with Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner is that it helps prevent streaks and blotches by evening out the absorption of oil-based stains. 

Wood conditioner can be applied on any wood for an even finish but is especially necessary when working with soft or porous woods like pine, alder, birch, and maple.

With your protective gloves on, apply wood conditioner to the Desktop with a clean cloth.

Leave to dry for a few minutes and you can move on to the next step.

Step 6

Staining the Desktop

What is the purpose of wood stain and how does it work?  

Wood stain is a type of paint that is used to colour wood by soaking pigment into wood fibers with a solvent and then having it set and bind to the wood. Stain works by saturating colour into the wood itself, rather than applying a layer of colour over the surface of wood.

Perhaps the most common reason to use stain as protection is against ultraviolet light. Many stains help reflect UV light, which prevents wood surfaces from fading and losing their colour.  

Using a clean cloth, apply the colour of wood stain you have chosen.

Always apply the stain in the direction of the wood grain for an even finish.

Let the stain dry for a few hours then repeat on the other side.

Step 7

Attach the Desktop to the Brackets

And now for our final step!

Once you have placed your board on top of the wall brackets, attach the board from underneath the desk by using 3 of your 8/5-in. wood screws.

Almost done, now let’s do the other side.

Good Job!

The only thing left to do is pull up a chair and decorate!

Categories
Our Story

Build it Gansbaai – Building Materials and more to make home building simple!

Build it Gansbaai are the Market Leaders of Gansbaai Building Supplies, Construction Materials, and DIY for the local Community.

Living in Gansbaai it soon became clear that there was a gap in the market and a dream was born. In February 2004, Build it Gansbaai established by Eddie and Silvana Burger, became a reality.

The popular Gansbaai building supplies, construction materials, and hardware store has its core values aligned in Family, Entrepreneurship, and giving back to the community that supports them.  

This is the reason for their success story! 

Therefore it comes as no surprise that growing up in the business, Dylan and Clayden Burger following in their parents footsteps have played their part in this success story, as they too share a passion for the business and the people involved.

One of the ways the Burger family gives back to the community is through ongoing sponsorship of under 13 soccer development, the sinking of water boreholes and renovating schools in Gansbaai. 

“We are building a better future for our youth.”

An independently owned building materials company, offering a personalized service, Build it Gansbaai is part of a group of 374 independently owned retail stores that has been serving their communities for over 32 years across Southern Africa.

Due to the store’s prime location, friendly staff, and local delivery, Build it Gansbaai, can be found in the industrial area on the outskirts of Gansbaai, supplying the greater Overberg area with building materials, do-it-yourself home improvement tools, and expert advice.

At Build it Gansbaai they do not only see themselves as a supplier of building materials but as partners, in accomplishing all local building and renovating projects in their community.  Focusing primarily on the building of urban and township housing as well as all your Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home improvements. 

Build it [ADD LINK] is a division of the SPAR Group Limited South Africa. [ADD LINK] A voluntary trading group of individually owned retail stores with more than 10 000 employees across the group, we currently have stores in South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique with plans to expand into Botswana and Zambia in the near future. We view ourselves not only as a supplier of materials, but as a partner to our valued customers in accomplishing their building or renovating projects.

Congratulations!

New Management

After many years learning the family business, Dylan and Clayden Burger have taken over the reins of Gansbaai Build it, from their parents Eddie and Silvana Burger.

New management, new vision and an appetite for future trends, these brothers are paving the way for fresh ideas! 

Passion for the people and business is key to offering the Gansbaai community the same service excellence they have become so accustomed to over the years.

But wait there’s more…

WE ARE EXCITED TO PRESENT!

Build it Online

What can be more convenient than being able to order all your building supplies, construction materials and DIY products, online?  

If the second wave of COVID 19 ever strikes, Build it Gansbaai is ready with a fleet of vehicles to deliver your building materials directly to your front door or construction site. 

At Build it Gansbaai, they understand that wearing a mask is uncomfortable and sneezing in your mask can be very unhygienic😉

You can now place an order from any smart device of your choosing, whenever, wherever you choose.

Life happens so if you are running late, order online for collection or delivery, whatever your requirements are, Build it Gansbaai is here to assist you.

With 4 Billion people currently online, and an estimated 8 Billion people online by 2025 globally, this reality is what fuels Dylan and Clayden Burger to preserve their legacy in the twenty-first century.  

To ensure you have a stress-free online shopping experience, we will have a look at the most common Frequently Asked Questions, to set your mind at ease.

Is online shopping safe?

Yes. We have taken every precaution to ensure your personal details are safe with us. All sensitive information you provide is encrypted using industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer technology, and we utilise a leading South African payment processor. 

What is Online Security?

Online Security is a Certificate Authority that essentially secures the Build it website by validating security certificates with our affiliates to ensure that our connection both to and from are secure at all times.

What are the requirements for a Password?

Build it attempts to make your online shopping experience as secure as possible. The password entered on registration must be alpha-numeric (that is, a mix of letters and numbers) and must be a minimum of 6 characters in total. Your password needs to be a mix of 1 uppercase, 1 number and 1 special character.

Will my Password expire?

For your convenience we have maintained a static password that will not expire. However, should you wish to change your password, you can either change it in your ‘My Account’ section or reset it following the password reset process.

How do I reset my Password?

There is a “Forgot Your Password” link on the login page. You will be prompted to enter an email address to send a password reset email which will allow you to reset your password. Please ensure that you enter the email address you registered with. If your email address has changed, please contact us on info@buildit-store.co.za.

How can I see how much stock is available?

We do our best to source stock even if it is low, but there may be cases where we will need to contact you as this may lead to extended lead times. Unfortunately, due to the nature of our business, we cannot guarantee the stock indicated on the site is in-store. However if you want to confirm the quantity available, it’s best to contact us on info@buildit-store.co.za.

Can you guarantee stock?

As we are competitively priced and our stock sells on demand, we cannot guarantee stock. However, we will try our best to source the items for you. We will be in contact with you should we encounter any problems with stock.

Do you Deliver?

Yes, we do.  We deliver in Gansbaai and the greater Overberg area for a delivery fee.

What are Cookies?

A cookie is a piece of information that is deposited on your computer’s hard drive by your web browser when you use our computer server. The cookies enable us to recognise you and give us information about your previous visits. Most browsers accept cookies automatically, but usually you can alter your settings to prevent automatic acceptance. If you choose not to accept cookies, this may disable some of the features of our website. The information that we collect is anonymous and not personally identifiable. It does not contain your name, address, telephone number or email address.

What internet browsers are supported?

Our website is built to work across all mainstream Internet browsers. But for optimal browsing experience, we recommend:

  • Internet Explorer – Version 10 and later (Windows only)
  • Firefox – Version 24 and later (Windows, Android & Mac)
  • Google Chrome – Version 30 and later (Windows, Android & Mac)
  • Safari – Version 6 and later (Mac & iPhone only)

Is the Online Build it Store compatible with SMART devices? 

Yes, as our website is designed to be used across current mainstream mobile devices, such as tablets (e.g. Apple iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab) or mobile phones (e.g. Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy S range, Microsoft Lumnia, or Blackberry Q10).

Please visit our website (www.buildit-gansbaai.co.za), for an in-depth look at our policies and terms and conditions.