There is no dispute that opting for DIY when it comes to your home improvement projects has tremendous benefits. It’s however worth noting that if you do it wrong, it can end up being disastrous for you.
In this article, we are going to highlight the 3 main cons of DIY when it comes to home improvement projects especially if they involve a lot of construction work.
1 It’s likely to be more expensive in the long run
The belief or rather assumption that engaging in DIY for your home improvement projects is a very good cost cutting measure will only hold true if things go well, and in most occasions, they seldom do. The main reason professional contractors don’t come cheap is because they invested time, money and sweat in building their skills therefore they will charge you a premium for it. Assuming that you can simply go online, look at a tutorial and become a master in construction is a fallacy especially if you have no background in construction. What this means in summary is that you may opt for DIY but end up making a mess of the work and this will force you to bring in a professional to repair your errors and do the job how it was meant to be done in the first place, and this will ultimately cost you more.
2 It’s a very time consuming venture
Considering the fact that you have very little or no experience in the task you are about to engage in, you will need to set aside time to learn the skill itself as well as about the tools and material you will need for the job. This, plus the time it will take you to do the job itself factoring in all the errors before you finally get it right will take you triple or even quadruple the time it would have taken a professional to get it done. Therefore DIY is only practical if your project is not time sensitive.
3 The work will be of low standards
The reality is that as long as you haven’t had sufficient experience which has to be gained over time, the quality of work you are likely to produce will be nowhere close to the quality of work a professional will produce. In fact, you should be content with work that is of low standards during the period you are still a DIY novice.
Before you make the decision on whether to engage in a DIY project, it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons first. A word of advice would be for you to first start with smaller construction projects around your home as you slowly hone your skills before you take up larger home improvement projects.
One of the many home improvement projects that you could take on is switching your heating source. One kind of heater that you can get is a wood burning. These old-school stoves may seem like a thing of the past, but they actually see a rise in popularity in recent years. And if you are thinking about adding one to your home, then you definitely should! This is because there are a lot of practical benefits to be gained with the addition of a wood burning stove inside of your home. Here are all of the various benefits that you may gain from using a wood burning stove.
1. Multi-purpose
A stove is not just a heater; you can obviously use it to cook or heat things up too. You could place an old-fashioned metal kettle on top of the stove to heat up a pot of tea! And you can even have a pot of food on the stove to keep it warm for dinner. The multi-purpose use of these stoves makes them a practical addition to your home.
2. Efficient
A log burning stove is a very efficient heater. Depending on the size of the stove, you can keep a whole house, even a large one, warm. And even a small-sized log burning stove is pretty efficient at keeping a big room or several rooms, nice and warm.
3. Eco-friendly
Wood burning stoves have a lowered carbon footprint than gas or electric heaters. This is because they use up much less fuel and also have a smaller output of C02 when compared to those other heating sources. And wood is also a renewable source of energy, making it a way more eco-friendly option.
4. Comfort
The presence of a wood burning stove in your home can add to your overall comfort too. You would find that having an old-fashioned log burning stove can improve the ambiance around the house. Plus, burning certain types of wood produces a pleasant smell. All of these can contribute to having a much more relaxing environment around your home.
5. No Smoke
If you are worried that burning wood inside of your home can create a lot of smoke, then you should put your fears to rest. These kinds of stoves are designed not to release any smoke at all inside of your home. Their exhausts are cleverly designed to release any smoke outside of your home if there is any at all.
These are just some of the benefits that you can get if you installed a log burning stove in your own home. You can see why so many people have turned to using these kinds of stoves. Advancements in stove design have ensured that these sorts of stoves are efficient and also pleasing to have around in your home. A free standing wood stove is also rather easy and economical to install, as you would not have to sink a lot of money into a home renovation project, just to install a free standing stove.
If you do want to have one in your own home, be sure to find the best wood burning stove installers in Dundee. You need the right people for the job, especially if you want a high-quality log burning stove. By choosing the installers carefully, you can rest assured that you are getting the best price for your stove and that the process of actually getting one installed goes smoothly as well. If you are planning to hire someone else to install the wood burning stove, be sure to check the background of the installers thoroughly, so you know that they are the right people for the job.
Kitchen is considered the heart of a house. It should be appealing to the eye and somewhere you enjoy working. If you are tired of your old kitchen and want something new, make little efforts and bring in a trendy kitchen.
Fitted kitchens have their own advantages. Top of the list is it elevates the overall look of your home.
You do not need to employ a professional for kitchen fitting job. Homeowners certainly can do it themselves. It might be a time consuming and expensive job but you will find it an exciting experience.
How you design it is completely your choice, but you need to consider a few important things. Fitting a kitchen requires a lot of skills including plumbing, carpentry, tiling and electrical work. To do it perfectly, read on the following points.
Take Measurements
Before planning the whole layout, you need to take the appropriate measurement of the kitchen area. Once you have your exact measurements, plan a proper layout. Decide the places of everything in your plan. It would save you from future problems.
Decide your Items
For your convenience, make a list of types of items you will like to have in your new kitchen. There are varieties of choices like for surface you have solid wood, granite and laminate options available. Every option has its advantage and disadvantages and chooses what suits your kitchen.
To be certain about your liking, have a glance at your old kitchen. Decide whether you want integrated or freestanding appliances. Other items that you need to have done the job include:
Drill Bits
Electrical Screwdrivers
Gloves
Cabinet Accessories
Cabinets
Claw Hammer
Basin Spanner
Bolster Chisel
Safety Goggles
Saw
Silicone Sealant
Crow Bar
Doors
Drill
Pliers
Pump Pliers
PVA Wood Glue
Hammer
Handles
Kitchen Sink
Kitchen Taps
Masking Tape
Measuring Tape
Screwdriver
Slotted Screwdriver
Spanners
Spirit Level
Wire Pipe and Power Detector
Worktops
Plus, add power tools in your list. You might already have these devices at your home. If not, then buy them especially RCD (Residual Current Device) for the job.
Decide your Budget
Things can easily get out of the hand of not decided before everything. Go through the options of items like drawers, cabinets etc. available in the market.
Kitchen appliances are not cheap and determine the cost and save you from shelling out extra bucks.
Safety Comes First
Fitting a kitchen is not a risk-free job. It is a dangerous mixture of gas, electricity and water which requires to handled carefully. If drilling holes, check water pipes and electrical cables. It is better to turn off main water, gas and electricity valves before starting removing old kitchen. Use safety equipment like gloves and goggles while drilling.
Before planning the whole layout, you need to take the appropriate measurement of the kitchen area. Once you have your exact measurements, plan a proper layout. Decide the places of everything in your plan. It would save you from future problems.