DIY Vs Professional Remodeling

You just got home from a hard day when you see it: another crack in the bathroom wall. As you inspect the new crack you start to wonder, “Is it finally time for professional remodeling? Or could I just DIY it?”

If you’ve been thinking about remodeling and want to know if you can do it yourself, read on to learn what to consider when deciding between professional remodeling and DIY

With YouTube channels like Threadbanger and shows like Fixer Upper, it’s easy to see why everyone has caught the DIY bug. It looks fun and you get to customize your home to fit your personal style. But before you break out the sledgehammer and yell, “It’s DEMO DAY!” there are some things you need to seriously think about. Like:

• What will your remodel entail?
• How prepared are you?
• How long might this take?
• How much will it cost?

This is by far the biggest question you have to ask yourself. No matter what you decide, DIY or professional remodel, you should know exactly what this project will be. Are you just looking to replace a few drawers handles? If this remodel is on the larger scale, would you be okay without bathroom or shower access for a while? Would you have to put other things on hold, like having a family or friends visit?

When figuring this out there are two important questions you need to ask yourself:

1. Am I just doing a few touch-ups, like paint and crack filling?
2. Am I hitting the reset button on the whole room?

If you’re just doing some minor fixes, like touching up paint or replacing drawer knobs, you probably don’t need professional remodeling. However, if you’re planning to remodel the whole room, you might need a remodeling professional.

A whole remodel might require permits and ensuring that the electrical and other outlets are up to code. This means spending time in permit and inspection offices. If you have a working knowledge of permits and what you’ll need, then DIYing it might be fine. But if you’re a novice without permit knowledge, it might be time to hire a contracting company.

The bonus of using a professional remodeling company is that the contractor you hire will know exactly what permit you’ll need AND will go to the permit offices for you. You’ll also get the peace of mind that everything is being taken care of. The only left for you to do is sit back and relax.

The second thing to consider is how prepared you are. Are you a novice with little experience or do have you completed a remodel before?

If you’ve helped out in other remodels and feel your job is small enough to be DIY’d, then go for it. But if you’re the project is larger than your scope of experience, it might be time to bring in the professional remodelers.

What about patience? Do you think you have the patience to handle what your remodel needs? Have you ever started to organize your DVDs only to lose patience with all the piles? While a professional remodel might take longer than longer then reorganizing your DVDs, knowing you hired a professional remodeling company will put your mind at ease. Plus, you can write in the contract that the remodeled room should be cleaned up at the end of each day to avoid messes.

Another thing you’ll have to factor in is how you handle the unexpected. What if you went in to demo the cabinets and found mold? Would you be prepared to handle that right away? Or would you need to call in an expert to sort things out?

You should also consider tools. Do you have the tools for the job and space to store them? Or would you need to rent a storage unit while you complete the renovation yourself?

When you hire professionals they’ll not only have the tools you need, but also the way to store them so you’re not tripping over things during the remodel.

Time can be a huge deciding factor. Do you know, really, how long this project will take? The first time you do something, no matter how skilled you might think you are, always takes longer than you think. DIY websites might say your project will only take a few days, and maybe for them, it did. But when you’re doing something new and exciting it often takes longer than you thought. Could you handle staying up late to put in tile?

Suppose you have family or friends coming to visit soon. Could you get it done in time? Or would your home be a complete mess when they finally pop in? Another thing to think about is what you’re willing to give up.

If you want to meet a deadline with no excuses, would you be willing to work on nights and weekends to complete it? Or would you hate to lose sleep just so you can finish?

The blessing of professional remodelers is that they are getting more and more accurate with timing. When you discuss the details of your remodel they can tell you how long it might take and then, once hired, they’ll actively work to keep that completion date. If you need your sleep or like changes to be planned out, bring in the professionals. You’ll be much happier in the end.

This seems like a no-brainer.

“Doi! It always costs less to do it yourself.” And you might be right provided that:

• Your project is small enough
• You have the relevant experience
• You don’t need to buy any tools for the project
• Nothing goes wrong

Like we said at the start, a few small touch-ups don’t require a whole remodeling team. However, if your remodeling project is a large one and you run into issues, it might be best to hire a remodeling team. The bonus of a remodeling professional is that they’ll be able to give a pretty accurate estimate of what your remodel will cost. And, like we said in our previous blog, you can write in your contract that you don’t want to go over budget. Once your budget is set, that’s all you’ll pay. Nothing more.

Premier Remodeling is a full-service Houston remodeling company specializing in many different types of home renovations. We pride ourselves on the quality of our craftsmanship and the integrity and expertise of our team. If you’re looking for a reliable remodeling contractor, call us at 713-532-1100 or click below to schedule an on-site visit to discuss your options.