The Time Has Come

Another holiday has come and gone. Brightly wrapped gifts have been eviscerated, then celebrated; lights have been dug up from the basement, hung, and are now returning to their hibernation; tinsel, trees, and mistletoe have been either packed up or thrown out, and now comes the realization: another year is dawning.

With the new year comes resolutions of change. Not only will we get going on those personal makeovers like trimming down and bulking up, but it’s finally time to say “yes” to that oft-dreamt about home renovation. 

This is for the Doers

If one thing has become clear, however, during that interim time between thinking up which home repair you’d like to tackle first and subsequently deciding that this was the year, it is that dreams cost money. Happily, this is a new year, and that means you’re ready to take some DIY chances. At Burbach Exteriors, we think that’s great and we’re ready to help where we can. 

Perhaps the best service we can provide at the outset is a few tips of advice for those who have never attempted a do-it-yourself renovation. Hopefully, we’ll be able to make starting out a little easier for you.

#1 — Set a Budget

First things must come first, and in terms of a home renovation, whether it be updating the siding on your Utah home or just doing some landscaping, you need to know how much money you have to spend. Here are a few guidelines to get you started:

  • The average cost of a renovation is anywhere from $10-60 per square foot.
  • Make a list of everything you want to accomplish on your home exterior and start pricing out the cost of materials — unless you hire someone to help you, your labor cost should be zero, which is good!
  • Become familiar with your monthly spending habits, your yearly income, and the overall price of your home. This will help you determine how much spending is too much.

#2 — Set Expectations

This is perhaps the hardest part of the entire DIY process. After all, you’re already betting on yourself, so why not set expectations high? The truth is that unrealistic expectations are the hallmark of the inexperienced. Here are some things to keep in check as your project gets underway:

  • Your timeline is most likely too short. If you are learning how to do some things on the fly thanks to online tutorials and the advice of an experienced friend, you will probably find yourself spending more time than you planned on the renovation.
  • Unexpected expenses are part of life. This is your first time, so mistakes are bound to be made. That’s no reflection on you as a person or on your potential to see your home repair through to the end, but the fact of the matter is that mistakes equal money. Just expect that.
  • Compromises must be made. Rare is the situation when we get everything we want. If you are finding that either your timeline or your budget is proving restrictive to completing all the tasks you were planning, it is important that you make peace with the most important parts of the renovation and leave the rest for another time.

#3 — Be Consistent

This last point can be a bit far-reaching, but it is important nonetheless. When we talk about consistency in home renovation, we mean sticking with an aesthetic and a building technique that is architecturally in line with the rest of the home. When we talk about consistency in terms of DIY, we mean levelheadedness and poise.

  • It is a major temptation for many people to get an idea about something while they’re outside working and then want to go to the hardware store to pick up supplies for another side project. Don’t change horses mid-stream.
  • At the end of the day, the best way to measure an exterior renovation (like updating the siding on your home) is to have your changes blend into the already existing portion of your house. You don’t want your additions to look like warts on the face of your facade.
  • Setting realistic daily goals is a great way to ensure consistent progress on your project. Each morning, you should be able to say what you’re going to accomplish and then see it through before hanging up your hard hat for the day.

Starting a DIY home renovation project is an exciting proposition, especially at the start of this new year. If you have any questions about the particulars, or you need a fresh set of eyes to help get you back on track, give us a call for a consultation today.