Home Remodeling Plans Keep Us
From Making Large Mistakes

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Home remodeling plans are very important. Here is a video about the 6 deadly do it yourself home makeover mistakes.

Now, here are some mistakes that are easy for anyone to make without planning ahead.

1. Not having a complete plan BEFORE you start.

   This is the most serious mistake you can make. Have you planned for everything? Where will all the new electrical outlets go? Does any plumbing have to be relocated? Are there any load bearing walls that you plan to move?

   Example: There is a wall between the kitchen and the living room that we would really like to move. It holds up the cathedral ceiling for the living room. The way it was designed makes it very difficult to move. Installing a new support beam is so difficult that the project is dead.

2. In your home remodeling plans, you should plan all contingencies.

   Where are the pipes and wires located in the wall? Don’t forget cable TV and telephone wiring. Discovering these items after you cut out or knocked down the wall is disheartening to say the least.

   Picture, for example, the water pipe you just cut with the Sawzall (also called a reciprocating saw). Water is squirting out of the wall in mass and you are asking yourself, “Where is the shutoff?”

   How about when sparks come shooting out of the wall while you are cutting and the saw goes dead? By any chance is there a plastic gas line in the wall? The line should be black iron, but if someone ahead of you was in a rush did they install yellow plastic? It happens!

   These are typical questions you MUST know BEFORE cutting into the wall. There are excellent stud finders for locating these items. However, what if there is a drain pipe from the floor above made of PVC? The stud finder will not locate it.

   TIP: Personally, I like to make a cut about a foot above the floor and another six inches lower using a small hand powered drywall saw. Do the same near the ceiling. Do not cut the studs until after you have determined there is nothing blocking the way.

   It’s much easier to repair these test cuts than rebuild a wall you cut out. This extra work may cost you some time, but it may save you from a major headache. The choice is up to you.

3. Getting in a hurry and making dumb mistakes because you didn't complete your home remodeling plans first.

   Sure it’s easy to get fired up and rush into a project to only to find there is something hiding in the wall, floor or ceiling that will be so costly to move the project becomes too expensive. Slow down and carefully plan the project.

4. Part of your home remodeling plans should be to limit the dust and debris you are introducing into the non-remodeled areas.

   Demolition is a mess. Contain all the debris you can before it gets into the remainder of you home. Simple plastic sheeting can be easily installed around your construction area. It’s no fun working on a remodeling project in the kitchen and find grit on your sheets when you are getting ready for bed.

5. Not covering floors when you bring in material and move heavy items, like appliances.

   Everyone makes this mistake. The project is winding down and you are in a rush to finish. So you simply slide the refrigerator back into place.

   Look at the gouges in the new floor! The same goes for chairs, bookcases and any other heavy furniture. Protect the floor from any damage before you move anything.

Have An Funny or Interesting Story About Your Home Remodeling Plans or Mishaps?

Did we leave anything out? Share your story and or thoughts!