As our Instagram feeds and Netflix lists fill with people creating stunning homes under (allegedly) their own steam, it can feel like you have to DIY for your renovation to ‘count’. I realised recently that I feel embarrassed when I say that we paid a contractor to deal with our bathroom. Somewhere along the line, I’ve absorbed the idea that it’s better to do everything yourself. But is doing it yourself always better?
I love a renovation show as much as the next person. I am literally writing a blog about our attempts to turn our renter tired house into a lovely place to live. Over the last few months I have turned my hand to painting, hanging curtains and art, gardening, interior design, fixing squeaky doors and more. Being able to DIY things in your own home is definitely a good way to save money and feel ownership of your place. But at the same time, DIY isn’t always the best way forward.
Social media makes you think DIY is always better
Maybe it’s just my algorithm, but I have a lot of renovation and DIY content in my feeds. I enjoy it. There’s a lot of inspiration to be found in what other people are doing around the world. Seeing someone DIY a big part of their home can give me the courage I need to have a crack at something myself. The same is true of my sewing or baking.
However, there is a narrative that doing it yourself makes you a better person and your renovation a more authentic process. If you pay a professional to do work in your home, you’re cheating the process of renovating. Whenever we have decided to pay for someone to do work at our house, I find myself fighting the perception that I ‘gave up’ or ‘wasted money’ by not rolling up my sleeves and doing it myself.
The reality is that many people we see doing major projects on their own have a lot of related skills, or help from others. Many people who take on big house renovation jobs used to be plumbers, carpenters, contractors or architects. They have already honed their skills through previous or existing jobs. They often have help from friends or sponsors who are also in this field.
My husband and I have neither the skills nor the contacts to pull off major projects ourselves. We also don’t have a lot of time or tools, which brings me to my next point.
Think about the hidden costs of DIY projects
DIY seems better on first glance, but we need to assess the hidden costs involved to really compare. Many projects require tools and materials that you may not have and may be expensive to acquire.
For example, we paid for someone to install our floorboards and carpet. I was surprised by the number of tools they used to get it all in. Jigsaws were required to fit the boards around our skirting and the complex corners created by two doorways meeting on an angle in the hall. Carpet staples are their own thing. We don’t own these things, so we would have had to buy or rent them for the job. The same definitely holds true for the bathroom. Even more so!
Then there’s time. With both of us working full time, sometimes paying a bit extra means saving your own time, which definitely counts as a cost. But time doesn’t just mean freeing up your weekends. As I wrote about the bathroom, we only have one. The longer it takes to get the new bathroom in, the longer you need to pay for other toileting facilities and find another way to keep clean. When the cat hair was making it hard for me to breath in the house, it was no time to linger on replacing that flooring!
I also think we can underestimate the skills that tradesmen have. True, you can learn to do most things yourself. But these people have trained and practiced their craft for long enough to be able to do a quick, high quality job. Speaking with knowledgeable trades has been so helpful for us in figuring out what will work best. Seeing them work through complex jobs to good result has showed me how very little I really know about these things.
I don’t think you are coping out when you hire a professional to help you. After all, you still need to work out what you need, make the decisions and live through the disruption! Standing up for what you want and working through issues with people is also a skill.
But sometimes it is better to DIY
There are definitely savings in doing things by yourself. You don’t have to pay someone else’s wages, and you can find ways to get thing second hand or rented.
I’m looking forward to repairing our fly screens and painting our grossly beige window frames. At some point, I’ll be doing all I can to give our kitchen a refresh until the time when a full reno of that space is affordable. The garden will be 100% DIYed and I am so keen to get into that. I also have serious dreams of building my own built in bookshelves in the lounge.
Don’t feel you can’t do things, taking your time and learning on the job. There really is nothing as satisfying as looking at something you made or fixed yourself. Before you jump into a job, take stock of what it will cost you in material, tools and time. If it still works out cheaper and you feel confident in your ability, give it a go!
I’m not knocking DIY. I am trying to do what I can myself, after all. To those who do learn how to do big, complex projects – you’re my heroes. Keep doing what you’re doing! It’s about working through when it works for you to have a crack and when it pays to get someone to do it for you. Don’t let someone (including me) make you feel that how you approach your home renovation is wrong. If it works for you, that’s the whole point.
