The Mistakes of a Do It Yourselfer (DIYer...) In order to not make mistakes remodeling your home, you need experience. To gain experience, you make mistakes. So you may as well dive in and "Get 'er done!" Chances are high you will take twice as long and spend twice as much money as you budgeted. But the next project will be closer on time and budget.

Starting a job without the necessary tools. Tools... There is always a bargain bin for tools at the hardware store, don't do it. Skip the bargain bin and buy quality tools, in the long run you will save money. And save yourself lots of time.

Skimping on Supplies and Materials. You are saving money on labor, invest in quality products. I'm not saying buying most expensive faucet you can find, but at times a good name brand will help immensely. Same goes for materials. I saw a DIY er use 1/4" drywall because it was $1.00 a sheet cheaper than 5/8". The result was flimsy walls that sound could easily travel through. He saved a total of $20.00 but he had troubles selling the house!

Using the wrong paint. Flat paint is for ceilings period. For walls I highly recommend eggshell or satin finish. (The higher the gloss, the easier the walls will be to clean. As far as out door paint, use a quality paint such as Benjamin Moore. Applied correctly it will last nearly a life time. On cedar siding or decks, clear sealers do not block UV rays. Linseed-oil-based stain protects by driving the pigment into the wood further preserving it.

Improper preparation of walls for painting. A good, quality paint job is 90% preparation. First clean the walls, lightly sand them with some 150 grit sandpaper, just a light scratch works well, and patch any holes before you paint. To patch holes you can use Beadex drywall compound. Instead of sanding the extra drywall compound off, you can try using a wet tile sponge. A coat of primer works very well if your painting a lighter color over a darker color.

Unsafe job conditions. Keep your job site clean. If you are removing lumber take all the nails out before you put the lumber on the ground and drive a nail into your foot. Wear safety goggles when using power tools or working with drywall or wood Keep the work area ventilated when using chemicals(paints, varnishes, soldering plumbing etc.) Do NOT wear loose clothing, especially when using power tools. Wear gloves when carrying wood, metal and rock, or when hammering. Please be careful and use common sense! Ladders... I once heard a statistic, 160,000 people go to the emergency room every year from ladder falls!

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but always enough time to do it over! Take your time and do it right the FIRST TIME! Measure twice, cut once. Try to cut the material a little long, you can always trim it.

Ask for advice and help. If you have a friend or acquaintance that has experience with the type of project you are planning ask them for help! Offer to help them in return. Another great source is the smaller hardware stores, they generally have employees whom truly understand the products they sell.

Permits, Permits, Permits... If you perform renovations which require a permit, get one. The city inspectors are not evil. Almost all of the inspectors we have dealt with have been quite helpful and will offer advice on how to get items to pass inspection. Also it will make selling the house easier if the work performed passed inspection!