Renovation

DIY Renovation Projects

With the emergence of Pinterest and thousands of craft blogs the term DIY has become commonly associated with craft projects. However, the idea of doing it yourself can be applied to almost any project that you may need to take on. If you have the time and knowhow you can make an otherwise expensive remodel, renovation or home addition a fun and less expensive endeavor by taking on the project yourself. While this may sound intimidating there are plenty of resources available to help you in any Do-It-Yourself project you decide to jump into.

The first step to any successful project is determining what needs to be done verses what you would like to be done. You don't want to bite off more than you can chew, especially if this is you first time working on this kind of a project, or you are on a time crunch. If, for example, your bathroom needs renovation, you should keep in mind the important and necessary features: a toilet, a tub and shower, and a sink. These three things are essential to a properly functioning bathroom, and if you have to go without them for any length of time your daily routine will be noticeably disrupted. Therefore, you should make a DIY project plan that gets these three items working as quickly as possible so you don't have to shower at a neighbour's house and use a port-a-potty for months on end. While you may want an all-natural rock shower with two taps and a heated floor, this may not be realistic, especially if you are limited on time. Instead of creating a five-star bathroom, your focus should be on getting your bathroom to a usable point again. This doesn't mean you have to discard all of your wants for practicality, it simply means if you can't afford the wants then you may need to make some compromises.

Going with the bathroom example, once you have you project plan laid out it's time to go get your parts. For a complete renovation of a bathroom you will need flooring, paint, taps, a vanity or sink, a bathtub or shower, and a toilet. If your current tub, toilet and sink are in good condition, then you may want to consider reusing them, but if you can afford new appliances and fixtures then go for it. Along with the necessary amenities, you may also want to purchase a guide book. You can find instruction manuals for everything from doing your own plumbing to laying tiles and installing appliances and fixtures. If you already know how to do these things then that's an added bonus, but if not then invest in a manual and consult it regularly throughout your DIY project. You don't want to do something wrong and have to start from scratch, after all.

Once you have purchased your supplies it is time to get to work. If you haven't already taken everything out of your space that needs to be renovated, now is the time to do this. You want to strip your working space down to the bare minimum, meaning the walls and floor. This may seem like an inconvenience initially, but you don't want to have to work around items that will just get in your way. By clearing the room of any unnecessary objects you are speeding up the renovation process. After you have done this you can get to work on your project. Whether that includes laying tile or linoleum, painting the walls, installing new appliances and fixtures, or the works, this is the biggest part of your project. You need to remember to stay positive and have an open mind. Even if you have done projects like this a thousand times, unexpected things can happen. Maybe you will discover a problem that you didn't notice before and have to adapt your plan to incorporate it. That's okay. If you are too worried out about sticking to your plan exactly, then any little mishap will stress you out. Be flexible and have fun. Remember, you are learning something new, and it should be an enjoyable experience.

The satisfaction of completing a DIY project, whether it is your first or not, is the most rewarding part of the process. Looking back on your work and giving yourself a pat on the back for a job well done is the final step. And who knows, maybe you will want to continue with the rest of the house.