When you’re planning to embark on a DIY project, you probably assume that the work will be quite easy and quick to do. In most projects, this is not the case. For a DIY project to successfully be completed, you need to follow the necessary steps and also have any necessary information and guides to hand. At the end of the day, you want your project to be perfect and not disappoint you, so there are certain things that you need to avoid so that everything goes well. Here we’re going to look at the top DIY sins that you should do your best to avoid.
Time Budgeting
When people start a DIY project, they assume they can finish the project within a day or two whether it’s renovating a bathroom, building a deck or remodelling an entire kitchen. Well, this is quite simply impossible. Most people underestimate the time they need to finish a DIY project, which will later on bring complications, or you may find that you will not finish the project after giving up due to it taking longer than expected. It takes quite a long time to ensure that you do a perfect job, so don’t rush into your project assuming that it will take you a few hours when it may take you an entire week. A good rule of thumb when deciding how long something will take you to do is to take your initial estimate and double it!
Money
The main aim of a DIY project is to save money right? That’s all well and good, but not understanding the requirements may end up costing you more than you had planned for. You need to buy proper materials, and where absolutely necessary, also hire a professional from time to time. You need to be ready to spend enough, rather than trying to save money on all issues. You may end up doing a shoddy job that will cost you later on, or worse producing something that is unsafe and unfit for purpose.
Skills
Most people always assume that they can tackle any DIY project since they know someone else can do it. This is wrong, most DIY projects require that you have basic knowledge and skills of a few things. Watching a simple video on YouTube will not make you an expert in a few minutes (although many have tried!). If you don’t have the necessary skills to tackle a project make sure that you hire a professional to do so, or spend a good amount of time doing your research and practising techniques you are unfamiliar with.
Planning
Don’t just start a DIY project once you think of it. You need to sit down, plan on the design, budget in both monetary and time terms, book professionals, and brush up on your own skills, all before you can even think about getting on with the build. Remember, if you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail!
