Doing it yourself is a great way to save some money on your remodel—as long as you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and do your research before you begin. At Straight Line Construction, we talk with people every day about their remodel plans, and how to make sure they’re successful. We’ve helped many people avoid the most common DIY remodel mistakes, and wanted to share these lessons with you. Here are the top avoidable mistakes that DIYers make while remodeling.
1. Spending Too Little Time Planning
About 80% of your remodel time should be spent planning. 80% may sound like a lot—but when you think about it, planning includes determining your design, measuring your space, and sourcing your materials. Make sure you’re mentally prepared for the timeline to avoid rushing into things and making mistakes.
2. Being Unaware of Materials
Make sure you’re researching your constructions materials so that you know the particulars of self-installation, and how to care for everything once it’s installed. For instance, installing a granite countertop yourself is considered risky because of the likelihood that the granite will crack. Another great example is with paint – it’s important to make sure that the paint you’re buying is appropriate for the material you’re planning to paint. Make sure the project you’re envisioning is possible and that you know all of the particulars of the materials you’re working with before moving forward.
3. Not Budgeting Correctly
Oftentimes when doing a project yourself, it’s difficult to anticipate all of the potential obstacles you’ll encounter along the way. Especially if something is done incorrectly and needs to be either repaired or redone, or if you get started and realize it’s a bigger undertaking than you initially thought. Make sure your plans are extremely detailed to stick to your budget, and also make sure your budget is larger than what you calculate the project will cost to leave room for unexpected expenses.
4. Taking on a Project Beyond Your Skill Level
If you want to do it yourself, props to you! But just make sure you do all of your research to ensure it’s a project you can handle. Typically speaking, plumbing, electrical, roof work, window replacements, and HVAC work tend to be jobs for professionals.
5. Not Knowing the Tools You’ll Need, or How to Safely Use Them
It’s important to do your research to know what tools you’ll need for your project, and how to use them correctly and safely. Not being aware of the tools you’ll need can cause you to blow your budget, and trying to use a “replacement” tool that you deem a close match could result in damaging your home or hurting yourself. In 2020, 3% of emergency room visits were related to home improvement projects, so it is incredibly important to be knowledgeable on what you’re doing and take caution when using tools or ladders.
6. Not Getting Enough Material
Get yourself a little more material than you think you’ll need. This is a good rule of thumb because it allows you to allot for mistakes along the way, as well as any mismeasurement.
7. Always Going for the Cheaper Option
You DIY to save money, and that’s totally understandable. But in both the materials and the tools you’re buying for your project, research the quality differences between price options before making a decision. A few extra bucks could mean being satisfied with your remodel for additional years down the line.
Ready to Remodel? We’re Here to Help you DIY!
We help people get on the right track with their remodel every day. From design consultations to simply helping you choose between materials and helping select tools, we’re here for you! Visit one of our showrooms, located in Gainesville/Alachua and Ocala, to get started today.