9 Things Home Renovators Know to be True
Anyone who has ever tackled a home improvement will recognise these classic insights
Jo Simmons
25 May 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Home renovation remains a hugely popular pursuit, with many of us prepared to try all kinds of tasks and challenges in the name of home improvement, from putting up a hook to landscaping a garden. Sometimes though, it’s worth leaving it to the professionals. If you’ve ever wielded a power tool of a weekend, you may recognise these common home renovation truths.
Home improvement tools take up space
A DIY passion will, by definition, involve lots of kit, from power tools and work benches to shelves lined with storage for nuts, washers and nails. So while DIY fans are able to improve their homes, they may then need to buy a bigger one to fit in all the kit involved in doing so!
Don’t fancy collecting all the kit? Find a local professional to tackle to job for you
A DIY passion will, by definition, involve lots of kit, from power tools and work benches to shelves lined with storage for nuts, washers and nails. So while DIY fans are able to improve their homes, they may then need to buy a bigger one to fit in all the kit involved in doing so!
Don’t fancy collecting all the kit? Find a local professional to tackle to job for you
Deadlines are flexible
Any experienced DIYer will know that the predicted duration of a task is flexible. Timings and targets often have to be amended, with one-day projects turning into two, or finishing in time for lunch becoming finishing in time for dinner.
Any experienced DIYer will know that the predicted duration of a task is flexible. Timings and targets often have to be amended, with one-day projects turning into two, or finishing in time for lunch becoming finishing in time for dinner.
DIY is more than just putting up shelves
It’s about making shelves, too! Sometimes a simple job can turn into something much more complicated, so it’s important to know when to get professional help.
A carpenter or decorator will be able to do so much more than just the basics; theymay be able to fashion furniture from found objects or salvaged materials for example, or suggest other ideas to elevate your project. So it might be worth getting a quote for a job, however small, before deciding how best to approach it.
Discover 9 ways to add storage to a small home
It’s about making shelves, too! Sometimes a simple job can turn into something much more complicated, so it’s important to know when to get professional help.
A carpenter or decorator will be able to do so much more than just the basics; theymay be able to fashion furniture from found objects or salvaged materials for example, or suggest other ideas to elevate your project. So it might be worth getting a quote for a job, however small, before deciding how best to approach it.
Discover 9 ways to add storage to a small home
Home renovation can become addictive
At the beginning, a fledgling renovator might tackle a bit of painting or put up a curtain pole. Soon, though, the DIY bug takes hold and he or she is talking about tiling a splashback or building furniture. That’s when the true DIY obsessive starts to dream of the ultimate project – creating their own home. DIY is addictive and some DIYers can become ambitious. You have been warned!
At the beginning, a fledgling renovator might tackle a bit of painting or put up a curtain pole. Soon, though, the DIY bug takes hold and he or she is talking about tiling a splashback or building furniture. That’s when the true DIY obsessive starts to dream of the ultimate project – creating their own home. DIY is addictive and some DIYers can become ambitious. You have been warned!
It’s good to know your limits
Despite the aforementioned ambition that many DIY fanatics experience, most are prepared to acknowledge their limits. Jobs such as paving, plumbing and plastering may be too skilled for even a seasoned DIYer, while anything involving gas or electricity is generally best left to a trained professional.
Despite the aforementioned ambition that many DIY fanatics experience, most are prepared to acknowledge their limits. Jobs such as paving, plumbing and plastering may be too skilled for even a seasoned DIYer, while anything involving gas or electricity is generally best left to a trained professional.
Accidents are waiting to happen
The vast majority of accidents happen at home, and a good many of those are caused by DIY disasters.
According to recent research by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), approximately 220,000 people are admitted to hospital in the UK each year with DIY injuries. Falling off a ladder, pulling a muscle, cuts to hands, backache and whacking fingers or thumbs with a hammer are the most common injuries. So beware that potent mix of over-ambition and lack of knowledge, lest you end up in A&E.
The vast majority of accidents happen at home, and a good many of those are caused by DIY disasters.
According to recent research by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), approximately 220,000 people are admitted to hospital in the UK each year with DIY injuries. Falling off a ladder, pulling a muscle, cuts to hands, backache and whacking fingers or thumbs with a hammer are the most common injuries. So beware that potent mix of over-ambition and lack of knowledge, lest you end up in A&E.
DIY creates more opportunities for DIY
Once one thing in your house has been fixed, or one new skill acquired, a whole load of other jobs present themselves as possible or timely. Got some timber left over from renovating a shed? Use it to make a bedside table! Have some paint charts from when you decorated the living room? Use them to make an artwork!
This design was made from paint charts; the homeowner attached each one to the wall with double-sided tape, leaving some unflattened to create a textured effect.
Once one thing in your house has been fixed, or one new skill acquired, a whole load of other jobs present themselves as possible or timely. Got some timber left over from renovating a shed? Use it to make a bedside table! Have some paint charts from when you decorated the living room? Use them to make an artwork!
This design was made from paint charts; the homeowner attached each one to the wall with double-sided tape, leaving some unflattened to create a textured effect.
Cleaning up is hard to do
After a day grafting, hammering, creating and fixing, it can be irksome to have to tidy everything away. Super-sensible DIY fans will build a half-hour clean-down into their day’s schedule, but many (you know who you are) do struggle with washing paintbrushes and vacuuming up dust when they’ve already toiled for hours at a workbench.
After a day grafting, hammering, creating and fixing, it can be irksome to have to tidy everything away. Super-sensible DIY fans will build a half-hour clean-down into their day’s schedule, but many (you know who you are) do struggle with washing paintbrushes and vacuuming up dust when they’ve already toiled for hours at a workbench.
Music and tea are essential
All renovation nerds will tell you that playing music and brewing a lot of tea are essential to the success and smooth running of any project. Fact!
TELL US…
Are you a home renovation enthusiast? What other truths can you share about doing it yourself? Add your insights to the Comments below.
All renovation nerds will tell you that playing music and brewing a lot of tea are essential to the success and smooth running of any project. Fact!
TELL US…
Are you a home renovation enthusiast? What other truths can you share about doing it yourself? Add your insights to the Comments below.
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teenytinyhouse Your comment made me laugh as we are just the same! I come up with a multitude of ideas ranging from brilliant (even if I say so myself ;) to downright bonkers and my other half is a master of tact when it comes to talking me out of the ones that would bankrupt us, injure us or are more suited to a house very different to the one we actually live in :D
I think one of my favourites was the roll top/freestanding bath debate, the clincher was when he pointed out that as it would cost at least two hundred pounds more than a standard bath, and due to the size and orientation of the bathroom we would only ever be able to see two of the feet, that would work out at a hundred pounds per claw foot :D My auction 'bargain' wrought iron bed for the attic room also springs to mind, we had to saw a sizeable section off the legs of the headboard to get it up the stairs, then rig up a Heath Robinson repair with dowelling. What makes it worse is the floor up there is about as level as a helter skelter so we also have it propped up on books, it's a catastrophe waiting to happen, thank God it isn't used much ....