By Lee Wallender, About.com
Do it yourself...or not? You could literally spend months pondering whether to save money by doing the project yourself or...to break into the piggybank and hire a pro. Not an easy decision.
Let's break it down into a few basic questions. After you're done, check out my chart of "do it yourself or hire a pro" recommendations for various types of projects.
How Motivated Are You to Do it Yourself?
Have an uncontrollable desire to knock down interior walls? To renovate an entire kitchen? Or do you find that painting the baby's room one Sunday is quite enough to scratch that renovating itch? It's important to gauge how much you want to take on yourself before doing it.
Recommendation: Take on some small projects first to make sure you really want to "do it yourself" before tackling larger projects.
How Motivated Are You to Have Strangers in Your House?
They're in your house to help you, but in the process they turn your house upside-down. And managing work crews in your house is a taxing proposition. Do not underestimate the imposition of four workmen hanging drywall in your house for a solid week.
Recommendation: Decide how muchlack of control in your house you can tolerate before inviting workers in.
What is Your Skill Level?
You have the power to take on any renovation project. A person who barely knows how to plug in a blender is capable of learning how to re-wire the entire kitchen. However, remember that your kitchen is your classroom. While you learn to distinguish ground wires from neutral, the kitchen is a disaster and you're washing sinks with a garden hose on the lawn.
Recommendation: Make certain you're at the proper skill level (or can learn quickly enough) to bring the project to a swift conclusion.
Do You Have the Time?
Tiling the bathroom is one thing. Tiling the bathroom at 9:30pm after a full day of conference calls is another thing. And don't you also have a life to lead?
Recommendation: Know in advance how much time you want to put into a project--before starting it.
How Does Your Funding Look?
Money, or lack of it, motivates the do-it-yourselfer. While there is a certain satisfaction in replacing your front door yourself, chances are Bill Gates hires someone else to do this for him.
Recommendation: If you have the money, and the project looks infinitely nasty, consider hiring a pro.
Organizing A Whole House Remodel
By Lee Wallender, About.com
The process of renovation can be mind-bending. Just when you've decided to refinish the floors before painting the walls--you realize it makes more sense to do walls before floors. Or is it the other way around? Do you begin to see the problems? When renovating a house, there is an infinite number of ways to skin a cat. But following is one suggested whole house renovation timeline.
1. Design and Planning
Whether it's a sketch on a cocktail napkin or full-blown architectural plans, some type of planning and design always comes first.
* Ensure that you have funding for your renovation.
* Draw up a simple "yes/no" list of do-it-yourself projects and projects you want professionals to do.
* Look for contractors and subcontractors for those jobs you do not want to do yourself.
* Apply for permits.
2. Roof, Foundation, Siding, Windows
Protect your future renovation work by making certain the house won't collapse on you (foundation, major structural problems) and that it will remain dry (roof, siding, windows).
* Secure the foundation.
* Make major structural repairs to areas such as weakened walls, joists, and carrying beams.
* Repair or replace roof.
* Replace seriously damaged windows that may threaten future remodeling work. If not seriously damaged, leave it for later in the process.
* If the siding is so damaged that it will allow water infiltration, repair or replace the siding. If not seriously damaged, leave it for later in the process.
3. Demolition
Depending on the scale of your renovations and the condition of the house, demolition might be the first step.
* Rent a large container for waste.
* Carefully demolish all or some of the areas of the house that will be renovated. Demolish as much as possible if you will not be living in the house.
* Exercise caution when demolishing surfaces coated with lead-based paint.
4. Structural Carpentry
At this time, call in the carpenters for major carpentry projects. Things like:
* Moving walls.
* Constructing new walls.
* Significantly enlarging window openings.
* Adding beams to support a greater weight upstairs.
* Punching in new doors (or removing existing doors).
* Adding new construction windows.
5. HVAC Ductwork, Electrical, and Plumbing
With the walls and ceiling open, it's time for the HVAC company to install ductwork for central heating and air conditioning. Also with the walls accessible, run new electrical and plumbing systems. Electrical and plumbing inspectors will visit at this time, too.
6. Insulation
Last thing to do with the walls open: install fiberglass batt insulation in the walls and attic. Insulation goes fast, so give your drywaller a call and let him know he's next up.
7. Drywall
* A second inspection from the electrical inspector (and perhaps the plumbing inspector) will give you the go-ahead to close up the walls.
* Drywallers hang sheets of drywall, apply drywall compound, and let the compound dry. After drying, they sand it smooth. Sometimes, they will repeat the process until they achieve a seamless surface.
8. Flooring
Installing the flooring later in the renovation process saves your flooring surface from significant damage.
9. Windows
Install replacement windows.
10. Fine Carpentry
Here's where you introduce carpentry that doesn't involve structural issues. Install baseboards, molding, trim around windows and doors, built-in elements (bookcases, breakfast nooks, etc.).
11. Interior Painting, Wallpaper, and Other Surface Finishes
Painting interior walls, hanging wallpaper, painting molding and trim, staining and sealing trim: all of these detail-oriented surface finishes should be the last items you do indoors.
12. Siding, Gutters
With the house mostly finished, it's safe to put on siding. You don't want to do this earlier (unless absolutely necessary) because doors and windows may get punched out, ruining the siding.
13. Major Auxiliary Building
Last, do major auxiliary building projects like:
* Additions
* Sunrooms
* Swimming pools
Large building projects like additions should come last. My view is that you do this last so you don't deplete all of your money and energy on projects not related to renovating the house itself. However, an alternate view is that you may want to build an addition very early in the process so that you don't ruin any work you do in the main part of the house.
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