Tips to Avoid Costly Home Improvement Mistakes

Editor note: This material is produced via my own research that I have done for various home improvement articles.

Mistakes in any endeavor can be costly, but they can be especially damaging in the area of home improvement. Not only can you end up spending more money, you could damage your home or even put yourself in danger. Here are some of the most common home improvements mistakes and how you can avoid them.

1. Doing it yourself instead of hiring a professional.

Some jobs are better left to experts in their field. You may be able to tear off your current roof and nail on shingles, but a trained professional knows how to look for weakness in flashing, how to install proper underlayment and other factors that will give you a sound roof. Another area is heating and air conditioning. Today's furnaces have many safeties, which, if installed improperly can cause a fire hazard. In addition air conditioning components must be matched in size to work efficiently. Leave these jobs to professionals.

Similarly, even if you are handy, some jobs may be beyond the scope of your abilities. Don't learn how to do something by trial and error because you can make too many mistakes. You'll save time and money by hiring a professional to do it right the first time.

2. Not thoroughly researching a hired contractor.

This can be a tricky one as virtually all contractors will hand you a list of people for whom they have done work. Go beyond the list and check out their membership in professional associations and check sources such as the Better Business Bureau and www.laborindex.com for any complaints. Make sure the contractor has proper licensing and liability insurance. Don't discount word of mouth. If you know a contractor has done good work for a friend, that's a good reference.

3. Failure to obtain necessary permits and inspections

While this necessitates dealing with local government, this step will protect you in the long run. Some jobs, such as building additions, or even the installation of a water heater, require a permit and ultimately an inspection. If you are not sure, check with your municipality. Additions are particularly tricky as there may be rules such as setbacks and height restriction of which you may be unaware. Inspections ultimately work in your favor as even the best contractors can make mistakes.

4. Failure to plan a realistic budget

Many home improvement projects can easily cost more money than you expect. Thoroughly research how much labor and materials you will need, then add 10% to cover the cost of unexpected surprises. Fancy upgrades are costly and unnecessarily add to a project's cost.

5. Too many or not enough helpers

For the first scenario, if you hire a large do-it-yourself crew for a big project, you may not be able to supervise them properly and could end up with varying quality of craftsmanship. This can result in having to redo a poorly done job, resulting in more time and money spent. Similarly, if you don't have enough qualified helpers, you may spend too much time on the project. Consider hiring a contractor.

6. Improper measurement

This often results in wasted material. The rule of thumb here is measure at least twice. For appliances, make sure you properly record the height, width, and depth of a space. The last dimension, often forgotten, causes the most problems. If you are cutting something, you are better off cutting too long-you can always trim.

7. Improper preparation of surfaces

This is particularly crucial with walls and flooring. Make sure the area you are working with is clean. Embedded dirt can affect the adhesion of wallpaper or flooring materials. Apply the proper primer or underlayment to extend the life of flooring or coverings.

8. Don't skimp on quality

Although cutting costs by purchasing cheaper materials may seem cost-effective, it can hurt you in the long run. Less expensive materials are often thinner and not as durable, resulting in breakage and replacement sooner than anticipated.

9. Not having the proper tools

When you don't have the proper tools for the job, the work often isn't done properly and can result in an installation that may curl, leak, or not operate correctly. Make sure you have everything you need for the task at hand. Purchasing quality tools is a good investment.

10. Not wearing safety equipment and failure to take precautions

Avoid a trip to the emergency room by wearing safety goggles when using power tools or working with drywall or wood. Wear a hard hat in situations where you use scaffolding or there is the potential for materials to fall on you. Don't forget to use proper ventilation when working with paints, stains, and finishes.