As a new homeowner with very little handyman skills, I knew I was entering a world of pain when I decided to rehab my kitchen and turn my basement into a media room. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.
1. Think BIG, Finish Small
You are only limited by time and money. You can do anything you want, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. When you first walk through your project, let nothing limit your imagination. Go crazy! Blow that wall out! Put the skylight in the ceiling! French doors, hardwood floors, raised ceiling? No problem!
Once you have your absolute dream room figured out, go tell someone about it. Go through all the things you’re gonna do to the smallest detail. When you say it outloud, you’re gonna realize how crazy it sounds. Build a garage from scratch with a deck for the roof that has a 12-person hot tub in the middle? What was I THINKING!
After you calm down, you’ll have a level head and will be able to think clearly. Do another walk- through, and this time the ceiling height looks just fine. Carpet would be great down here. And that French door…That’s still gonna happen.
2. The Triple/Double Rule
What the experts say: Before you begin any project, the logical step is to figure out how much everything is going to cost. A lot of places will tell you to add 10% to the final figure, and that will cover any unexpected overages. Then set a schedule up so you can achieve milestones at certain times to stay on track.
My own experience: I’m here to tell you that’s a load of crap. Figure out how much you think it’s going to cost, and then double it. Then figure out how long you think it’s gonna take, and triple it. Then you’re in a much more real state of mind. My weekend kitchen rehab turned into a 6 week overhaul. I went from laminate floors to Italian porcelain because it had the same name as my last name.
3. SAFETY FIRST!
Depending on the project, absolutely take precautions to keep all your fingers, eyeballs, ears, and lungs intact. If you’re ever demolition walls or a ceiling, WEAR A MASK! I tore out all the walls and existing ceiling in my basement without a mask, and ended up with a 104 degree fever from inhaling mold and asbestos. You might not be able to see it, but it’s there. If you’re ever doing any work where dust particles are floating around (cutting wood or cement, breaking things, or even sweeping the floor) wear a mask. They cost $2 at Home Depot and make a world of difference. Waking up with burning lungs the next morning is not fun.
4. You can do it!
You can learn how to do anything online these days. I learned how to tile a floor and a fireplace by going on do-it-yourself websites. It’s intimating, frustrating, and messy, but you can save over 50% of the cost of your projects by doing things yourself. You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish with the right tools and some courage.
On the other side, however, there are certain things you should not try to do yourself. The best question you should ask is, “If I screw this up, how easy is it to fix?” Painting? Put on another coat. Refinishing hardwood floors? Buy new hardwood floors. It’s not worth it to rent a sander and buffer and try to give new life to your hardwood floors. Pay someone else to do it.
Another phrase you should remember is: “If you do it right, nobody notices. If you do it wrong, everybody notices.” This applies to laying fitted carpet, and finishing drywall. When you look at your walls, do you see a smooth, constant surface? When you look at your carpet, do you see seams?
5. Do an inventory of tools, then friends
You’re gonna be able to do a lot of stuff yourself, but the condition is that you have the right tools. Over time, you’ll accumulate a lot of tools in your life. But when you’re a new homeowner, the cost of purchasing everything you’ll need for a major project could blow your budget all together.
Before buying any major tool, ask your friends if they have one that you could borrow, even for a weekend. Most people have stuff laying around that they use maybe once a month. For my basement and kitchen project, I borrowed a $300 circular saw, and a $400 tile saw.
The ultimate bonus for any project is free labor. But your friends will always be busy when you need their help. It’s Murphy’s Law. Think of any friends who were in a fraternity. If they’re still in one, that’s a plus. Ask them when their pledges begin rushing. I got a truckload of wood, ceiling, garbage, and carpet hauled out of my house for the cost of 2 large pizzas. Sometimes you have to be creative.
{ 1 comment }
Ah, the joys of homeownership. Will the projects ever end? Somehow, I think not.
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