Starting a re-decorating project can be incredibly exciting. Maybe you’ve just bought a brand new property with the intention of doing it up, and you can’t wait to get your hands on that empty shell. Or maybe you’re staying in the home you love, but giving it a full scale makeover. Whatever your situation is, re-decorating a home can be one of the most interesting yet stressful times in a family’s life. A lot of the stress involved can come from DIY jobs gone wrong. We’ve all watched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and thought that it looks pretty easy, right? Wrong! Whilst you don’t need to be super skilled to paint a skirting board or put up a shelf, there are some jobs that it’s just best to leave to the professionals.
Sanding
Exposed floorboards are a great way to bring a room to life, whilst still giving it a rustic feel. They are easier to maintain than a carpet and you don’t have to worry about your friend’s kids spilling juice on the floor if it’s wooden. However, if you’ve got your heart set on an authentic wood floor, there are a few things you’re going to need to bear in mind. The first is that it’s very unlikely that your natural floorboards are going to be in good condition. Once you’ve taken the carpet up, you are more likely to be faced with dirty, unsightly wood rather than the perfectly polished floor you had your heart set on. This is why most people proceed to sand and then polish their floorboards to make them liveable. But, sanding them yourself is not a job to be underestimated. It is noisy, messy, backbreaking work. Expect to be hunched over your sanding machine for a few days at least if you are doing a medium sized room. With the cost of renting a sander being as extortionate as it is, you may as well stick to the safe side and hire a professional to do it.
Painting
Many people seem to think that there is little that can go wrong with painting a wall. In some cases, they are right – providing you do your research. But knowing what type of paint is right for what type of wall you have isn’t actually that straightforward. For example, you need special humidity- resistant paint for your kitchen and bathroom. When it comes down to actually doing the job, a lot of people find themselves four coats down and still with the old colour showing through. Or, other DIY complaints include a patchy finish or paint all over your floor and ceiling. If this sounds like some of your previous attempts, contacting your a local decorating business for a painting quote.
Drilling
Drilling in itself has become much easier over the years due to the advances made in technology. However, if you are a novice there are still plenty of dangers to be aware of. Drilling blindly in a wall to hang up a family photo isn’t always as straightforward as it may seem. Your home is an intricate building, and drilling in places you aren’t sure of could really damage your home. Burst pipes, or minor electric shocks are all examples of when drilling can go wrong. Experts are used to dealing with drilling requests all the time, so keep you and your home safe by leaving this job to a professional.
