Homeowners like browsing design magazines, watching the newest makeover series, and fantasizing about what they would do to improve their house if they had the time and money.
If you planned a dream update and then hoped it was all a terrible dream, don't worry! Professionals have a few suggestions for getting it right the first time, or fixing it and making your house even better than you anticipated.
1. Poorly Executed Painting
When you get it on the walls, a color that seems wonderful in the store might appear a little ho-hum. Make a strategy before you begin painting if you are doing the work yourself. Consider the lighting—both the fixtures and the natural light. In a room with minimal lighting, a darker hue makes the area appear smaller.
Getting the proper supplies for the work, from brushes to priming to the best tape to keep splatters to a minimum, should be part of the planning process. Before you begin, think about your ability and patience.
“There is a lot of information to acquire and comprehend before taking on projects,” says Richard Epstein, a master plumber in New York City and member of The Spruce House Improvement Review Board who has done his fair share of home improvements. “If you don't love what you're doing, it won't turn out well.”
What to Do About It
“If a desired hue is simply too overwhelming for a full space, try keeping the previous paint on one wall to function as a "accent wall." Repaint the remaining walls in a contrasting or complimentary color.”
2. Tile Replacement in the Kitchen or Bathroom
Looking to replace old, dirty tiles in your bathroom or remodel your kitchen with a tile backsplash? This is a job that may rapidly go wrong since it is more difficult than it appears.
“You must conduct study; you can find almost anything on YouTube. A homeowner should first conduct some study and put in the effort to understand the extent of the work.”
There is a procedure for each tile project you undertake. Once you've decided on the sort of tile you want to use, do as the professionals do and lay it out. “Take out your pencil, measure, and lay out the tile in the room so you know where to cut it. Otherwise, you risk having a sliver on one side and a large chunk on the other.”
And removing tile generally necessitates the replacement of at least portion of the drywall beneath. If you're not careful, your plumbing might suffer as well. That may be a costly repair; it was once brought in to restore a refurbishment that went horribly wrong, costing tens of thousands of dollars.
“A quarter of our business comes from DIYers who saw it on TV and believe they can do it,” says the owner. “They see a contractor come in and do a whole home in three days, which just does not happen.”
You have choices if you don't want to perform the job yourself and aren't in the market for a professional renovation at the moment.
What to Do About It
3. Flooring Replacement
Removing aged carpet or outdated tile is a great way to make a huge difference throughout your home. Wood-look laminate, for example, may be put up quickly, but it requires care and preparation.
How to Fix It Dislike your current laminate? Preparation is essential for repairing a poor flooring project. “In the case of laminate flooring, it is a "floating" floor system, which means it is not linked to the subfloor in any way,” explains the manufacturer. “Before installing new flooring, the laminate flooring must be removed. Furthermore, laminate flooring is coated with a protective top layer that prevents any color change.”
4. Bringing Existing Cabinets Up to Date
Thousands of people use cabinet refacing to update the look of their kitchens or bathrooms. When all is said and done, many of them are unhappy. According to the experts, the major reason for this is that individuals underestimate the labor.
“Refacing cabinets requires a lot of man-hours,” and “the more time you spend, the better your job will turn out.” However, resurfacing wood cabinets yourself requires a significant amount of time and effort.”
How to Fix It
Bringing in a pro or re-doing the procedure with a color or stain better suited to the vision you have in your brain are two options for correcting a less-than-ideal outcome with cabinet upgrades.
“Any widely used, cabinet quality paints or stains may be removed with a variety of stripping chemicals and a little elbow grease.” “Use primer to re-seal the surface and provide an uniform (re)finish when repainting. If you're going to apply a stain, make sure you use a wood conditioner first.”
5. Installing a Pool
Having your own escape from the summer heat might seem like a dream come true. This is clearly not something you can accomplish on your own, but before you do, ask yourself why you want one, and you could prevent regret later on.
“In most situations, the expense of installing a pool outweighs the value it brings to your home. They may be a major liability, and if you have small children or pets, you may want to avoid homes with pools.”
If this is a feature you will frequently use, go ahead and do it, but as with any upgrade or improvement, prepare beforehand. Aside from the cost of building the pool, you will incur expenditures for decking, a cover, chemicals, and recurring electricity or gas bills for a heater.
To stay in good form, your pool will need to be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. If you perform the job yourself, you can save money on the whole package. If not, be prepared to pay a business $1,500 to $2,000 each year to perform the essential maintenance.
Nothing, no matter how much you wish to alter about your house, is permanent. Stick to the experts' advice—do your homework and make sure you either employ trustworthy specialists or know how to DIY—and you'll have no regrets about your makeover.
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