When you have come to the conclusion that your house is a little lack lustre and you have decided, "That's it! We need to renovate!" your next move is do we DIY or not?
For some people this may be a very easy decision, for instance you may know yourself really well and know that this is WAY out of your league, or you may not want to the hassle and want to pay someone else for their efforts, or on the other end of the spectrum you could be a very talented person who is a jack of all trades.
BUT, if you don't automatically fall into one of these categories, let me help you weigh up your options.
CAN I LEGALLY DIY?
Now this is a non negotiable point right here. With all aspects of renovations there will be jobs that require building permits, certificates of completion, a qualified trade to complete areas of the project and possibly specific machinery that you are not able to use.
For example: any electrical work must be carried out by a licensed electrician, gas work, get the plumber, changing a floor plan, you will probably need and permit and a builder to sign off on the job.
EASY DIY AREAS.
I'm not trying to say that painting is easy by any means but it's not something you need a licence for. Take your time, use quality products and you will save your self a 'paint bucket' load of money.
Tiling, this is something I'm personally not comfortable with DIYing but a lot of people I know have had a crack and had great success.
Laying Click-Clack flooring. This requires very minimal tools and there are a lot of instructional videos online to help you through this process.
Unless you're a cabinet maker, and you decide on this type of cabinetry, flat pack robes/cupboards are a great way to sink your teeth into the DIY process and also save on that precious budget.
DIY WITH SUPERVISION.
My favourite part of renovation is the demolition! However, this is always under strict supervision from my builder to make sure I'm only removing what I'm supposed to. When removing walls, be careful as they may be load bearing, you need a qualified builder to assess what can and can't be removed. When crashing through plaster with your crowbar or sledge hammer make sure the power has been completely switched off incase you come across any unexpected wires.
Hiring machinery to make our lives easier is a massive benefit for the renovation process, however make sure you know how to use what you're hiring. Most of the time the hire shops with give you a brief tutorial and if you're still not confident after that, ask more questions, do your research or let the glory of the internet instructional videos teach you. Machinery can be dangerous when not used correctly, when in doubt- source it out.
ARE YOU PHYSICALLY ABLE?
I know this may sound silly, but renovations are hard work and you may want to 'check yourself, before you wreck yourself'. I mean that in all seriousness. If you have a bad back and you decide to spend the day painting door frames or jacking up tiles, you won't have saved yourself any time or money as those chiro or osteo bills will add up quick. (Not to mention the down time from the injury)
SAFETY FIRST.
Essentially when you start renovations on your house, it becomes a building site.
Wear steel capped boots, safety glasses, dusk mask, ear protection and gloves.
Asbestos.
If your house was built before 1990, there is a possibility that it may contain asbestos or asbestos products.
Asbestos is dangerous when it is disturbed so check before you start ANY demolition.
If you don't know what you're looking for, I recommend hiring a professional to assess your home and advise what the best solution is.
You can find a lot of valuable information on asbestos at the Department of Health website.
A DIY renovation can be incredibly rewarding. If you have the enthusiasm, skill and patience to complete your upcoming project, I wish you the best of luck!
Most of the time DIYing is financial based, if you're thinking of giving it a go and you're not all that handy, it may be best to leave it to the professionals as if you make major mistakes, it may cost you double in the long run.
If you want to do the hard yards but don't know where to start with design, I am here to help. I'm also happy to help source trades if you've decided that DIY is just not for you. (and that's ok, knowing when to bow out is a wonderful quality)
If you would like to book in a design consultation click HERE and we can get started on transforming your home.
Bec xx