B&Q Knowledge Centre

What we liked:
Whether it’s an emergency repair, like a burst pipe, or a decorating job that you’ve decided to tackle, you’ll find a step-by-step guide at B&Q’s Knowledge Centre. Projects include lists of tools and materials, so you can make sure you’re properly equipped before you get started and click through to buy the relevant items from the online store.

There are design ideas here, too. The ‘Bathroom refresh’ section, for example, covers everything from wash-basins to paint, so you can see all the styles currently available, and then browse the DIY guides to find out how to apply your materials of choice.

For the mathematically challenged, there is a collection of useful calculators. Just specify the size of your room and the number of doors and windows, and the site will tell you how many litres of paint to buy. It can also work out how much wallpaper or how many tiles you’ll need.

How it can be improved:
Apart from the calculators, this isn’t an interactive site: it’s more akin to an on-screen DIY manual. B&Q should justify its enviably simple (and, no doubt, expensive) web address with some community features.

Our verdict:
B&Q’s Knowledge Centre is packed with expert advice and DIY detail but the site’s lack of community tools leaves it feeling rather flat.

Reviewed: Issue 208 (26 February 2009)