Top
10 Mistakes of DIYers
By
Pat Curry, Bankrate.com
From skimping on supplies
to using the wrong paint, here are the top home-remodeling
gaffes -- and how to avoid them.
The standard rule with do-it-yourself
projects is that the projects will take twice as
much time and three times as much money as you thought
they would -- or maybe it's three times as long and
twice as much money.
Either way, the reason for that is
the same. DIYers make mistakes. Lots of them. The
good news is that you can learn a lot from mistakes.
For example, whatever it was that my husband did
to make all the outlets in the kitchen blow at the
same time -- don't do that again. The bad news is
that mistakes always wind up making your home-improvement
project more expensive and more time-consuming than
you want it to be.
With that as a given, Bankrate.com asked home-improvement
experts for their lists of the top DIY goofs, with
advice on how to avoid repeating the errors in the
future.
The experts are:
- Ed Del Grande, host of the DIY Network's "Warehouse
Warriors" show, as well as other shows and
building specials on the network. A master plumber,
pipe fitter and fire-sprinkler fitter, Del Grande
has more than 20 years of construction experience.
- Lou Manfredini, the official Ace Hardware "Helpful
Hardware Man." (You didn't think it
was John Madden, did you?) The home-improvement
expert for NBC's "Today" show, the Chicago-based
contractor also answers questions from DIYers on
the Ace Hardware Web site.
- C.J. Iannuzzi, owner of 3SQFT, a design-build
company in Miami Beach, Fla., and home-improvement
contractor to the stars, including Madonna, Rosie
O'Donnell, Gloria Estefan and Ricky Martin.
- Barbara Kavovit, owner of Barbara K Enterprises.
A New York City-based veteran of the construction
industry, she now makes and markets DIY tools especially
designed for women.
1. Not taking out the required
permits.
This is a big issue with both Del Grande and Manfredini.
Considered a bother at best by many DIYers, permits
actually serve a greater purpose than just raising
money for the government. "People in permitting
offices aren't evil," says Manfredini. "They're
there to make sure the job is done right and you
don't hurt yourself." Plus, for some jobs, such
as putting in a wood stove, you need proof of the
permit or your insurance carrier won't cover it.
Not sure if your job requires a permit? Del Grande
says that the rule of thumb is that you need one
for anything larger than painting and wallpapering.
It doesn't hurt to call the building department and
ask.
2. Starting a job without the necessary tools
and supplies.
Nothing slows down a job more than not having all
the materials you need. Manfredini says that the
reason the pros can do what they do is that they
buy quality tools. "There's always a bargain
bin," he says. "It's not a wise investment.
You lose time and money."
3. Inadequate preparation of the job site.
If you do a small addition, suppliers will be delivering
materials. You don't want them out of order or exposed
to the weather while you are working, Del Grande
says. Beware: They could be stolen if they're not
properly stored. (If you have a septic tank, make
sure you know where it is. If a supplier delivering
materials in a heavy truck drives over it, you could
be looking at a cracked tank. Yuck.)
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4.
Skimping on materials.
Kavovit says she often sees DIYers use 1/4-inch drywall
for building walls. You need to use at least 5/8-inch;
3/4-inch works well for a good sound barrier. The same
rule applies to plywood for subfloors. Go with 3/4-inch.
It creates a much stronger floor, especially if you're
installing wood floors over them.
5. Using the wrong paint.
One of the biggest DIY projects around, painting can
make a place look great. Manfredini says flat paint
should only be used for ceilings. Interior paints should
have at least an eggshell or satin finish so you can
scrub it. On outdoor decks, "sun and rain tear
the heck out of the wood," he says. Clear sealers
don't block the UV rays, and they peel. Use a linseed-oil-based
stain; it drives the pigment into the wood and preserves
it.
6. Improper preparation
of walls for painting.
A good, quality paint job is 90% preparation, Manfredini
says. Clean the walls, sand them and patch any holes
before you paint. Iannuzzi recommends a coat of primer
or stain blocker if you're trying to cover over oil-based
paint, stains or peeling paint, or if you're painting
a lighter color over a darker color.
7. Unsafe job conditions.
Nothing diminishes your return on investment like a
trip to the emergency room. Wear safety goggles when
using power tools or working with drywall or wood,
wear hard hats when you're working under other people
on scaffolding, and open some windows when you're painting
or staining, or stripping old finishes off of floors
or walls, Del Grande says. Iannuzzi cautions against
wearing loose, hanging clothing, especially when using
power tools. Wear gloves when carrying wood, metal
and rock, or when hammering, and wear a nail or tool
pouch to prevent damage to your floors and more important,
the feet of people and pets.
8. Inaccuracy.
Iannuzzi lives by the rule: Measure twice, cut once.
It's so important for things like building walls, hanging
drywall or cutting baseboards, counter tops or pipe.
If you're going to err, err on the side of too long.
You can always make something shorter; you can't make
it longer. Spackle can cover up to a 1/8-inch seam,
Iannuzzi says; if it's a 1/4 of an inch, the seam will
pop the spackle and show.
9. Working beyond your limits.
Everybody has them. Del Grande won't work on a roof;
yours might be plumbing or electrical work. Don't stand
on the top steps of ladders, and don't try to work
beyond your reach. Ladder accidents send more than
164,000 people to the emergency room every year, according
to the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission.
10. Failure to get a clue.
You don't want to start to learn how to do a project
on your own house. If you have a friend who is a contractor
or an experienced DIYer, offer your assistance on one
of his projects so you can learn. No one will turn
away free labor. If you need to remove a supporting
wall, have an engineer look at it to see what kind
of beam you need to replace it. "If you have a
saw in your hand and have a question about what you're
doing," Del Grande says, "stop. Follow that
little voice in your head." |
