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diy home reno

DIY, HOME REPAIRS + MAINTENANCE

Lessons Learnt From DIY Projects Gone Wrong

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Many homeowners will turn to DIY when it comes to repairs and home improvements. This can be a great way to save money, and many find DIY projects fun, creative, and rewarding. There are many projects around the home that people can complete, and the internet is a great resource for guides and information, but a lot can go wrong with DIY. This article will examine some of the main lessons homeowners can learn from DIY projects that have gone wrong. Hopefully, this will prevent you from making the same mistakes and allow you to confidently complete DIY projects around the home. 

Proper Planning Is Key

First, you should never start a DIY project without a detailed plan in place. Proper planning will help you to stay organized, reduce stress, and work out the best sequence of work for the project. Planning should involve research on how to complete the project, working out your budget, creating a timeline, and gathering all the required tools and materials. 

Obtain Materials From Quality Suppliers

You must always make sure that you are getting your supplies from quality and trusted suppliers. Ultimately, the success of your project will depend on the suppliers that you use, so you should research your options and choose reputable companies. For example, if you are buying aluminum bi-folding doors, you will want to use companies like Now Aluminium, specialists like this provide products of the highest standard. Aluminum bi-folding doors can be a fantastic home improvement project as they can open up your space and maximize natural light, but you need to make sure that the doors perform to a high standard in order to get the most out of them. 

Know Your Limits

One of the most common mistakes that people make with DIY is not knowing their limitations. Many projects can be completed around the house, and the internet makes it a lot easier as you can find instructional videos and guides. It is important to be aware of your skills and knowledge limitations; otherwise, you could bite off more than you can chew. Not only will this make it hard to complete the project to a high standard, but it could also cause damage to the home and put your safety at risk. Know when to call the professionals in, and do not start work you do not feel confident doing. 

Consider Risks Involved

Following this, you should also always consider the risks involved with each project. DIY projects can be dangerous, so you must ensure safety is a priority. You need to identify the potential dangers and risks with every task and then find ways to mitigate these. You should always wear appropriate PPE, use tools in the correct manner, and have a first-aid kit nearby. Having someone around for supervision when carrying out dangerous work is also always a good idea.

These are important lessons that everyone should learn about DIY from some of the most common mistakes. This post should help you to find success with your projects and feel confident in completing each task.

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home renovation, HOME REPAIRS + MAINTENANCE

5 Practical Construction Management Tips

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Construction projects require a lot of planning. Project managers have to take steps to make sure every phase is planned in advance and all the contractors show up on time to ensure the job is completed according to schedule. 

The good news is that there are plenty of tools and industry best practices that will make construction management much easier. Read on to find five practical tips that can help.

1. Leverage the Power of Technology

These days, apps to assist with construction management abound. It’s best to purchase software that was specifically developed to meet unique industry needs. Download a concrete app to manage foundation laying and the construction of concrete structures, find payroll management software to ensure that all the contractors get paid on time, and use broader construction management tools to keep all the ducks in a row.

2. Plan and Schedule in Advance

Adequate planning for a construction project takes some time, but it’s worth sorting out a detailed schedule in advance so that all the contractors are on the same page. Coordinate and organize tasks in a logical and efficient way, and take the time during the planning phase to ensure that all necessary resources, including manpower, tools, equipment, and materials, will be available when they’re needed. Work with suppliers and subcontractors to set a realistic timetable, then be prepared to adjust the plan as needed if issues arise.

3. Take on One Construction Problem at a Time

It’s easy for construction managers to get bogged down in details. While multitasking is an essential skill, it’s never wise to try to do everything at once. Prioritize issues in a way that makes sense.

For some construction managers, it’s easiest to tackle small problems first before moving on to larger ones. For others, it makes more sense to tackle the biggest issues first before focusing on smaller details. Either way, construction managers need to work with their project teams to develop solutions and address problems without creating unnecessary delays, and that requires focusing on just one thing at once.

4. Improve Communication

Construction project managers need to be able to communicate effectively in both written and oral forms. It’s important to be clear and concise, and it’s always best to establish a detailed communication plan in advance that includes both a chain of command for information sharing and predetermined methods of communication for dealing with every circumstance.

There’s no one communication strategy that’s right for every stage of a construction project. While change orders should always be conveyed through written communication, it’s perfectly fine to send a quick email or text to convey less vital information. Just keep in mind that delays almost always result from poor communication, and projects always run smoother if all the contractors are on the same page.

5. Learn From Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes, but construction managers can learn from them to improve efficiency on the next project. Take the time to perform a project postmortem to assess the team’s performance after each project is completed and identify both areas of concern and places where the team excelled. An honest assessment of the team’s performance can help to inform future project planning.

The Bottom Line

Even seemingly simple construction projects can be quite complex. They usually require working with multiple specialized subcontractors, all of whom need to be on the same page about project timelines and expectations. Construction managers who have had trouble juggling their myriad job roles can implement the tips above to help ensure that everything goes smoothly on the next project.

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DIY, home renovation

4 Ways to Save Money on a Home Renovation

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Your home needs to be a space in which you’re comfortable and happy. Sometimes, however, we get tired of seeing the same things every day. The same dull color on the wall, or sitting at the same dinner table on the same chairs. Using the same outdated fridge that your parents gave you as a wedding gift ten years ago.

Whether it’s for aesthetic reasons or to replace outdated or damaged furniture, we all need an occasional renovation. Maybe you need to add space to your house, or just remove a few items.

Big or small, a home renovation can get costly very quickly. Here are four ways you can save a little the next time you renovate.

1. Patience, Budgets, and Savings

Admittedly, that might be three things, but they all go hand in hand. A lot of folks make a big mistake by trying to rush their home renovation. Instead of taking the project step by step, they want everything done as quickly as possible.

This might mean higher contractor fees, costly mistakes, and a lot of loans and emptied credit cards. With a little patience, that doesn’t have to be the case.

First, set a budget. Make sure it’s realistic, as well as one you can meet by saving up. The goal is to avoid using loans or credit cards. Next, talk to any contractors you want to use. Mention that you’ll be paying with cash and ask for possible discounts.

Remember to approach several contractors and compare quotes. You’re not necessarily looking for the cheapest contractor, though. You want a reasonable price that includes everything you need

Pro tip: don’t pay for everything as you go. It’s a mistake that a lot of people make when they do renovations, but it’s a risky gamble, too. There are better ways to create a work schedule with your contractor.

With a little patience, planning, and smart deals, you can save money on your renovation.

2. Don’t Shy Away from Discounts

People can be extremely picky. Some will return a perfectly good piece of furniture because of a small nick, dent, or scratch. Many stores will have a discount section that contains high quality – and fully functional – just slightly damaged furniture.

It’s a bit of a gamble sometimes, but you can mitigate the risk by doing a little research. In the end, you could get expensive big-ticket furniture and appliances for a fraction of their retail price. In fact, you could get as much as 60 percent off.

If that’s not a reason to do a little discount shopping, we don’t know what is.

3. Do It Yourself

While there are a few things that you probably need a specialist for, there’s a lot you can do yourself like a plumbing renovation. For example, repainting a room is simple enough, and it can be a lot of fun as well.

Some suppliers also sell furniture that’s ready to assemble, and we’re not just talking about a few chairs or tables. You also get DIY beds, displays, and great kitchen cabinets, as shown on the Best Online Cabinet website.

All you need is a little effort, an instruction manual, and a healthy dose of motivation. That said, don’t be afraid to get the experts in when you need to. Trying to update old wiring yourself if you’re not an electrician, for example, is a recipe for disaster.

4. Declutter for Profit

When you renovate your home, the chances are that you’ll be left with several items that you don’t need anymore. But your trash might just be someone else’s treasure. Your old sofa might not work for your family anymore, but a recent college graduate might love to have that comfy second-hand couch at an affordable price.

There’s always someone who might be willing to buy your second-hand goodies, and you can comfortably sell them online.

Take Away…

When you renovate your home, you don’t need to spend a small fortune or flounder in credit card debt. Just remember patience and planning, discounts, DIY, and decluttering for a profit. If you remember these tips, you can save money on your next home renovation.

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