It’s a proud moment when you believe yourself to have all the skills necessary to commit to a personal DIY renovation, where you’re not going to hire contractors but aim to do it all yourself.
Of course, let us be clear, you shouldn’t be working on plumbing, electricity, garage doors, and any other dangerous or sensitive systems unless you have specific technical knowledge and credentials in that field. After all, your life and your health is priceless, and certainly worth more than any money you’d save by not hiring a professional.
Now that the important disclaimer is out of the way, we’re sure you have the plans prepared and are simply looking to see if you’re missing anything. It’s easy to do, but harder to realise midway through a task. You don’t want to take the only door off your bathroom hinges only to realise you no longer have efixings to put it back on again, especially if you live with others, as most do.
With that in mind, let’s consider some preparations to make in advance.
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Double Check Your Measurements
That sounds obvious, but more experienced craftsmen than us learn this the hard way. Measuring twice, or even three times, before you cut or order materials is a possible step that could save you hundreds in replanning materials. We’d suggest that you should measure the space, then measure the item you plan to install, and then measure the space again just to be absolutely sure everything matches perfectly.
Remember that you need to account for any variations in floor levels, the thickness of new flooring, or the way a door will swing with a new frame. Relying on an old measurement or assuming the corners are perfectly square is a common issue, so don’t make it.
Prepare A Stable Workspace
You should aim to have one area set aside for cutting, sanding, painting, or mixing materials, and that area needs to be separate from where any installation is happening. This workspace should be set up with protective sheeting on the floor and good ventilation if you are working with fumes or dust. At least wear a mask if you’re not sure, and ensure the fire safety and trip hazards are planned.
Just like a chef preparing his kitchen before a busy service, the preparation of a clean, organised work area could potentially prevent accidents caused by having tools scattered everywhere, and it may give you structure to the project.
Think About Fasteners & Adhesives
Many focus solely on the hallmark purchases, such as the tiles, the wood, or the paint, and forget about the small but absolutely necessary provisions you need. This includes screws, nails, glues, wood filler, and tools like levels or even just knee pads, so you don’t hurt yourself working under a cabinet. Running out of a specific type of screw midway through hanging a cabinet is hugely frustrating, especially if the hardware shop is closed.
You should make a list of every single fastener required for the project and then add a generous twenty per cent to that total, just in case, or more if this is your first time. It’s always better to have too many small provisions neatly categorised and labelled than to face a three-day online delivery wait to get something done.
With this advice, you’ll be certain to plan your first DIY renovation in the best possible way.
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. This post has been pre-written.
