Biggest DIY Home Renovation Disasters and How to Avoid Them

Homeowners can recreate an old space and save money by DIY home renovations.

Sadly, these activities don't always go as expected.

If your family has grown, but your home hasn't, you may be facing issues with your living situation. Purchasing an existing home is one option. However, there are further options. After renovations, your home may expand in size, become more functional, and be less expensive, depending on the scale. On the other side, building your dream home from the ground up may have cheaper overall expenditures. The cost of renovating your current home is typically cheaper compared to building a new one. It is always a question of how to decide whether to build a new house or renovate an old one.

If you decide to renovate your old house, there are many renovation projects you may complete on your own. Homeowners can recreate an old space and save money by DIY home renovations. Sadly, these activities don't always go as expected, and there are a lot of DIY home renovation disasters.

Most common DIY Home Renovation Disasters

There are a ton of DIY home improvement tips available online, but putting them into practice successfully may be considerably more difficult than simply pressing play on a YouTube video and following along. Even simple tasks that appear to be quick fixes may end in disaster if the DIY-er lacks the necessary permissions, supplies, or experience to do the task properly. A mistake could result in dozens of thousands of dollars lost when it comes time to sell, even if the chance of doing serious damage beyond producing something that isn't aesthetically pleasing is typically low.  

People frequently consider it "too pricey" when you mention house renovations. However, remodeling your home doesn't have to be expensive, and you can renovate your house on a budget. Sometimes hiring a professional is worth the extra money. The money you put into a home upfront could end up being quite profitable later. Here are the most common DIY home renovation disasters and how to avoid them.

Renovating a kitchen

When remodeling a kitchen, there can be a lot of work involved. If homeowners try to install their cabinets and appliances, however, there may be even more work and money. Some DIY kitchen renovators attempt to install their cabinetry. They'll purchase prefabricated items from stores. Without the necessary skill set, it is obvious. It's a space planning issue that could result in a slanted cabinet or doors that don't open properly because they were placed incorrectly.

Leave this task to experts so that you avoid DIY home renovation disasters.

It makes more sense to employ someone who can install everything correctly the first time because new cabinets, refrigerators, dishwashers, and built-in microwaves can be pricey. For instance, a plumber should build the pipes and an electrician is required to change the circuit when moving from an electric to a gas stove. The project must also adhere to the code. Natural gas has the potential to be deadly and explosive, and it is recommended to leave this task to experts so that you avoid DIY home renovation disasters.

Electrical Tasks

Few home renovations have a lower margin for error; one careless move or a brief moment of inattention can be deadly. Most municipalities demand that significant wiring and electrical work be done by a licensed professional with experience, education, and insurance. Permits are necessary for the job to pass inspection, and you must obtain them. There are some key electrical wiring upgrades to consider when renovating your home that you should see first. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are over 45,000 electrical fires in the United States each year, and amateurs risk getting hurt.

Most municipalities demand that significant wiring and electrical work be done by a licensed professional who has experience.

Painting

Many homeowners believe that painting their properties themselves will result in financial savings. It only needs a trip to the hardware store and a few hours of back-and-forth brushing, after all. However, a poor paint job might have significant consequences, particularly if the owners intend to sell their house later and aren't very skilled with a brush.

Many people believe that painting is very simple and that giving a home a fresh coat of paint will help it sell and increase its appeal. If people don't paint properly, it can appear to have two tones, or they might get paint on their tables or wood floors. Despite their best efforts, they wind up doing more harm to the property. Also, it should be taken into account that during painting, all furniture must be covered or, for example, transferred to storage containers,which is a very helpful option, to avoid more home renovation disasters.

 A poor paint job might have significant consequences.

Repairing the roof

Ice dams, damaged caulk or flashing, or actual holes can all result in leaks, but keep in mind that water travels, so the location of water damage may not be where the leak is. It might be challenging and dangerous to determine the cause and location. One of the deadliest jobs is roofing, and DIY-ers risk losing their life when they climb that high on a ladder. A leak's source can be promptly located by experts, and they can also identify damage that could lead to future issues.

Destroying a wall

Most home renovation show hosts start by happily whacking at walls with a sledgehammer. What you don't see: A structural expert checks the walls off-camera to ensure they're not supporting any weight. Additionally, in an older home, various items could be concealed behind the walls. When professionals see asbestos, they will halt immediately. Another thing not depicted on television is the expense and inconvenience of clearing debris. The first thing you should do before destroying the wall is to get all the things out of the house, and our experts from zippyshelllouisiana.com can help you move everything to the storage.

Conclusion

Going the DIY approach can save you money because it appears to be so simple on television. Despite the number of YouTube tutorials, certain renovations are risky and simple to mess up, and many of them need permits and final work that adheres to code. It's preferable to use a professional sometimes and avoid DIY home renovation disasters.

Guest Contributor: Sophia Perry