RENO

MISTAKES...

and how to

a void them

Text: Andrea Black

R

eno experts and

authors of Nail Your

Renovation, Steve and

Suzanne Burke have

seen the same

mistakes being made over and

over. Here’s what to avoid:

USING FRIENDS

OR FAMILY AS

YOUR TRADIES

There always seems to be a

family member, friend or mate

of a mate who will offer to help

you out. Unfortunately this

scenario is fraught with potential

pitfalls. Could unsatisfactory

work lead to a breakdown in

your relationship? Will you

agree on the costs of the work

upfront? These are ingredients

for a nasty disagreement.

SOLUTION: We don’t

6

Nail Your

Renovation

Without

Getting

Screwed

(Woodslane

Press

$34.99),

amerex.

com.au.

recommend engaging family,

friends or a friend’s mate.

We have seen it go wrong

so many times.

DOING A POOR

DIY PAINT JOB

Painting is a classic finishing

trade and provides the final

polish to your home. When this

is done poorly it can ruin a

fantastic renovation project. The

risks for DIY painting include

leaving unsightly brush-marks,

paint drips and messy edges or

taking forever to actually finish.

SOLUTION: Be honest about

your own abilities and time. If

you think you might be caught

short in both areas, consider

outsourcing to a professional.

BUYING CHEAP

FIXTURES

Saving a few dollars in the short

term is not always wise in the

long term. We recommend

investing in the best quality

fixtures that you can afford in

high-use areas such your

kitchen and bathroom.

SOLUTION: Consider the

lifetime cost of the fixture,

not just the initial purchase

price. If a cheap choice now

means replacement in the

short term, it is probably not

the best choice.

TILES ON SALE?

BUYER BEWARE!

Tiles can be expensive and

finding a tile that you like which

is on sale can save you big

bucks. But, there are some

‘gotchas’ that you need to look

out for before you jump in.

SOLUTION: Ask the supplier two

questions. Are the remaining

tiles all from the same batch?

Tiles from different batches can

have vast colour variations

which can ruin your final look.

Then ask whether there are

enough tiles remaining in stock

for future repairs and wastage.

Tiles on sale could be end-of-line

stock. Don’t get caught short.

HAVING AN

UNREALISTIC

BUDGET

Can you afford what you have

set out to do? If you do not have

a realistic budget, you will

probably run out of money

before you finish. Think it won’t

happen to you? Think again.

SOLUTION: Plan and budget for

your renovation in advance.

If you have no idea, ask a

professional to provide a quote

for the complete scope of works

before you start.

IGNORING

EXISTING ISSUES

When you tear down walls and

rip up floors in an older home,

there is always the chance that

you will find something

unexpected. Common problems

are the discovery of dodgy

electrical or plumbing work

done in the past.

SOLUTION: Even if the cost is

unexpected it will usually save

you money in the long term by

fixing it now.

KEEP YOUR RENO

ON SCHEDULE

AND ON BUDGET

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