Whether you’re tackling a DIY project for the first time or are a seasoned home improvement veteran, learning to identify and avoid mistakes will make any project you take on go a lot smoother and safer.
Read on to find out the five most common mistakes DIYers make, and how to keep them from spoiling your next home improvement project.
DIY Mistake #1: Biting Off More than You Can Chew
At one time or another, every DIYer has started a job with too much enthusiasm and visions of the finished project dancing in their head. It’s easy to underestimate the size of the task in front of you and start a project that requires more time or skill than you can handle.
How To Avoid This Mistake – Start small, don’t try to plaster the walls of an entire room if you’ve never patched a hole in a wall. Don’t try to wire a new plug if you’ve never even replaced a fuse before.
DIY Mistake #2: Getting Measurements Wrong
Not measuring accurately is a sure recipe for disaster, and it often results in a whole project ruined and a lot of frustration. The worst thing about this mistake is that it’s so easily avoided.
How To Avoid This Mistake – Start by making sure all your measuring equipment is 100% accurate, otherwise you could unknowingly make a mistake. Then make sure you measure, re-measure, and then measure again. Whenever possible, hold the work in position and mark the piece directly, rather than relying on a transferred measurement.
DIY Mistake #3: Using the Wrong Tools
If you’ve ever tried to make do in a DIY project with a tool that’s not designed for the job at hand, you know how important having the right tools can be. Every project has certain tools that make the job go smoother and safer, and some jobs require specialty tools to complete.
Using incorrect tools is not only a sure way to ruin a project, but it also can be dangerous, since you might use excessive force or do something that causes further problems in the long term.
How To Avoid This Mistake – Always use the right tool for the job! If you can’t afford to buy the needed tools, rent them at a tool rental center or borrow tools from a friend or family member.
I have a slow draining sewer. I had a plumber come out with a camera. He ran a camera and then he ran a sewer augher down the drain. It almost got stuck but it did come out. He called his supervisor to come and look. His supervisor said run a smaller blade down. He did. Then I heard him call his boss that it broke off in the sewer. I ask him if I could see the big blade (the first one he used) he could not find it anywhere. Then he said maybe he didn’t change it. I said you told your boss you did because I heard you on the phone telling him “yes I made sure I had it real tight”. Then he said to me I have short term memory loss, I’ve had 14 concussions but it doesn’t affect my job. He said the blade would wash on through the pipe. I don’t see that happening since the sewer lines are old and collapsing. They said I needed the whole outside sewer replaced. I have called the BOSS to see if they could run a magnet down to get the blade out. they said no. I live by myself and I have no drain issues until I have a lot of company at once. With everyone taking showers in the morning the water wont drain fast. I am NOT putting any paper in the sewer because I’m afraid it will all catch on the blade that fell off in there. Its winter and the ground is frozen. They quoted me 13000.00 to fix it. I am waiting for spring for the ground to thaw. Then they said it would be around 6500.00 Since the plumber lied to his boss and did not follow instruction and the blade broke off aren’t they responsible I can get by until spring but it irks me to have to put all the toilet paper in a bag (nasty) Please advise Thank you in advance.
even though i don’t have this problem now it’s good info i relate to be taken advantage of they don’t realize we know when someone doesn’t know what there doing