By Sarah Kinzbach Williams
With Pinterest and HGTV, Do-It-Yourself home remodel projects are all the rage. From repainting rooms to full kitchen remodels, DIY projects can be great for connecting to your space. However, be aware: some projects are best left to the experts.
“A craftsman works all day long, every day in their craft. It's usually much more involved than DIYers realize,” says Hugh Stearns, president of Stearns Design Build. “Somebody thinks it's just a matter of getting paint out of a can and onto a wall when there is so much more to it.”
When undertaking a DIY project, Stearns says it really depends on the individual. “Some people are really handy and willing to do the research,” says Stearns. “We see some homeowners do beautiful work but all for naught for lack of research. The problem has less to do with craftsmanship and more with just the knowledge of the way things work together.”
Projects best left to the experts: electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning.
“The earlier stages of construction are typically things that homeowners should not do themselves,” says Stearns.
Before taking on a remodel project, Stearns suggests thinking about maintenance. Cleaning gutters, maintaining tile grout, and repairing wood rot are among the most important issues homeowners can address on their own.
For homeowners wanting to try their hand at DIY, Stearns says painting, trim work, and tile work are safe projects requiring a lot of research but not knowledge inaccessible to a homeowner.
Landscaping and yard work are great DIY projects, as well. Proper landscaping can help with shading, saving energy, as well as help water flow and movement around the home, says Stearns. Outside space can yield additional usable areas while gardening can produce food and provide a therapeutic outlet.
Leave to Experts
-Electrical
-Plumbing
-Air Conditioning & HVAC
-Structural or Early Construction Stages
Great DIY Projects
-Paint
-Trim
-Tile
-Maintenance: including gutter cleaning, tile grout cleaning & maintenance, and wood rot repair
-Landscaping & Gardening
For more information on remodeling or home building, visit www.stearnsdesignbuild.com.
