Are you wanting to give your home a complete makeover but need to save money? It can be difficult to renovate any property on a budget, but if you do a lot of the work yourself, you can get the job done on a shoestring. Coming in under your budget on your home makeover might seem like a pipe dream, but actually, it’s possible if you plan properly and take the right steps. Here are some ways in which doing your own home renovations can save you money.
Do Your Own Plumbing
It might sound terrifying to embark on your own plumbing project, but actually, it’s possible for most people with a decent level of DIY skill. The real problems occur when changing around the fittings in your bathroom. If you keep your bathroom in the same layout, you won’t need to make any new holes in your floor or wall. You can simply remove the existing fixtures and fit new ones in the same spot. This will also reduce costs.
Learn Basic Woodwork Skills
You can upgrade your home much more easily if you have some basic woodworking skills. Knowing how to use a few simple pieces of woodworking equipment can help you to save a lot of money on your renovation project. You can make your own cabinets, shelves, and tables as well as other items for your home at a fraction of the cost of buying the same items in a store. Also, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made them yourself. Many modern tools are easy to use and produce very professional-looking results.
Paint Your Floors
If you have hardwood floors and they’ve seen better days, you can renovate them by them over with a water-based enamel until you’re able to afford some different flooring. This is something you can easily achieve yourself without having to call in professionals.
Buy Your Own Materials
Even if you are getting professional contractors in to do some of the work for you, choose the materials yourself. You can then shop around to get the very best prices on the materials rather than having to rely on what your builders tell you and the prices that they are able to get. You can then also take the time to check out the various materials available and choose the right ones to save you money, Materials like Ecoply lining and Triboard don’t need to be plastered like plasterboard. You can just paint it. This will save you time, money, and effort. It will also cut down on your need for professional contractors.
Using Standard Sizes
It’s always more expensive to acquire custom-made cabinetry, windows, and doors. Stick with standard sizing and this will not only save your money but it will also allow you to do the job yourself without having to alter any of the frames in your home.
Upcycle Your Existing Items
If you already have a number of furniture items in your home which have seen better days, you can re-purpose them and up-cycle them for other purposes in your house. For example, a set of shelves could be repainted, made over, and turned into a vanity unit for your stylish new bathroom. Alternatively, consider going to a building supply auction or a salvage yard and finding old kitchen units to re-purpose for your own kitchen. You can also buy second-hand countertops that can bring a rustic look to your newly upgraded room. This is all something you can do yourself.
Use Kitset Cabinetry
If you want to fit a brand new kitchen, it can be tempting to simply call in the professionals but this will cost you a lot of money. You only really need to do this if you’re getting a custom-made kitchen. If you’re using Kitset cabinetry, you can easily erect and install it yourself. You can even simply switch out the doors and drawer fronts of your existing kitchen units for a brand new look. This is certainly something you can manage independently with no need for a contractor.
Follow these top tips and your home renovation is sure to be a great success without cost you a fortune.