By Rachel Brougham, The Family Handyman
Add On/Expand a Room
Fifty-three percent of respondents to a Zillow survey said they were unhappy with their work in adding on or expanding a room. One of the biggest complaints with this type of project, for DIYers, is that 42 percent of them went over budget. 'While some DIY projects can save you money, involving a professional for larger-scale projects, especially those that require specialized skills, can help eliminate headaches and costly mistakes,' said Kerrie Kelly, interior designer and the founder of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab.
Laying Floor Tile
Many reddit users said floor tile is a job they would think about hiring a pro for next time. 'I wish I hired out the floor tile… I hate tiling floors,' said one user. Another noted, 'We did our whole bathroom from demo to re-configuring, to putting back together. We're definitely paying someone to tile our downstairs bathroom because that's a pain in the neck!'
Replacing a Ceiling
Some DIYers say if they had to do it over again, they would hire a pro to replace a ceiling, according to a survey from ImproveNet. Eight percent of those respondents said their places were damaged as a result of their work, including DIY ceiling jobs.
Finishing a Basement or Attic
Many DIYers get in over their heads when finishing a basement or attic space. In fact, according to the Zillow survey, 48 percent of respondents who did this work themselves said they regretted something about their project, including many who went way over budget.
Refinishing or Installing Hardwood Floors
One of the top 10 most regretted DIY home improvement projects, according to ImproveNet, includes refinishing or installing hardwood floors. Many noted the finished project just didn't look as good as they had hoped.
Pouring a Shower Pan
If you're dreaming of a bathroom renovation, you may want to hire a pro when it comes to pouring a shower pan. One reddit user who did a complete demo and remodel of his bathroom, noted the only thing he struggled with was pouring the shower pan. 'The thing I will never ever, ever, ever, EVER DIY again was pour a shower pan,' he noted. 'I'm pretty handy but that kicked my butt so bad I had to get a contractor friend to come in and fix it.'
Installing Sprinklers
Installing sprinklers is one of the top 10 home projects DIYers regretted doing themselves, according to ImproveNet. Many noted the project was physically more difficult than they anticipated. Joanne Theunissen, who was named remodeling chair of the National Association of Home Builders in 2018, said people with no experience should start with simple projects and once they feel more confident, move on from there.
Refinishing Cabinetry
Looking to refinish the cabinet in your kitchen or bathroom? You may want to consider hiring a pro. Refinishing cabinetry is one of the top 10 home improvement projects DIYers regret doing themselves, according to ImproveNet. In fact, 41 percent of respondents to the Zillow survey said they should have hired a pro for the job.
Installing Drywall
Drywall installation was a major complaint among DIYers on reddit. 'I did a complete remodel of my bathroom. Moved all the plumbing and waste lines, electric, tile floors everything. Even built a new wall so I could install a pocket door. The drywall was and still is the biggest pain,' said one reddit DIYer. 'Had the hardest time doing the corners and I'm not really happy with the outcome. Would rather have payed someone to tape and spackle would have saved tons of time and frustration.'
Installing Carpet
Forty-three percent of homeowners said they regretted installing carpet themselves, according to the Zillow survey. 'A lot of people do very nice work, but you have to be really aware of what your skills are,' says Theunissen.
Interior and Exterior Painting
Although painting is often the first DIY project homeowners tackle, many DIYers said they were unhappy with the finished project when they painted themselves. This went for both interior and exterior jobs. In fact, interior painting ranked as one of the top three projects that DIYers were dissatisfied with, according to ImproveNet.
Bathroom Plumbing
Some reddit users noted they should have hired a pro to redo bathroom plumbing during a renovation. 'I hate plumbing the worst and I wish we could have had someone do that for us,' said one reddit user.
