Home Repairs: What Stops You From Doing Them

I recently spoke with my neighbor who said she doesn't do as many home projects as she'd like. Her reasons were
+not enough knowledge to do the repair or renovation
+not knowing where to find materials in Home Depot or Lowes
+being scared to make a mistake
What are some of the problems you encounter that prevent the start of home remodeling?
  28 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Sep 13, 2012
    As a well rounded carpenter...It boils down to time and money for me...When I have the time I don't have the money...when I have the money I don't have the time....LOL Some of it too is just the energy...I just completed a flagstone patio for a client the other day...all in all I brought in about 8000 pounds of crusher fines and 4000 pounds of flagstone, all hand hauled from the front of the house to the back....by the time I get home home do I really want to haul more rock...tile etc. a few minutes on the couch with a cold one usually trumps the honey do list.
  • Z Z on Sep 13, 2012
    I can tell you in one word. Procrastination. Although ours is more finishing projects, not repairs, at this point in the ballgame.
  • Dee W Dee W on Sep 13, 2012
    My home is very old, 1881-and nothing is level or square.. Even doorways are off center so a simple project can turn into a headache very fast.
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 13, 2012
    I hear ya KMS, being tired is a huge hurdle to overcome. Especially when it's the summer and hot.
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 13, 2012
    Love your honesty Becky, lol. It seams like finishing projects off can be tougher than beginning them.
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 13, 2012
    Dee, I know how you feel. Many of the homes here in Pittsburgh are older and plastered. Adjusting doors or replacing them can be a nightmare
  • Z Z on Sep 13, 2012
    LOL Jeff. M' Mum and Daddy always taught me to tell the truth. "You'll get in less trouble that way."
  • Becky P Becky P on Sep 13, 2012
    I spend every summer doing a "project" which involves me being home so a hired person can do it. Unfortunately, I have spent 2 separate days recently waiting on the tile guy to do my bathroom floor. The first time he hurt his back and was behind a few weeks (I perfectly understand). Yesterday he had an emergency flooring fix for a house that was being closed on (I also understand, but wasn't happy). So help me God, he better show up tomorrow. I have used him before, so it's not like I am not unfamiliar with him.
  • Becky P Becky P on Sep 13, 2012
    oh, and the reason I don't do them myself is no confidence, and my husband won't help and it is cheaper than a divorce to hire someone!
  • Z Z on Sep 13, 2012
    LOL that's funny Becky J! My hubby and I work as a team so other than procrastination holding us back it's finding time we're home together. And the Packer's aren't on TV. Like tonight.
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 13, 2012
    You just made me laugh Becky. I agree hiring someone to tile the floor is way cheaper than a divorce attorney. It is frustrating trying to get in touch with contractors
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 13, 2012
    I'm hoping Jordy Nelson lights the Bears secondary on fire. He is on my fantasy team :)
  • Maria McCallum Maria McCallum on Sep 13, 2012
    Living in Athabasca, AB (Canada) I don't have the stamina as in my younger years....but boy ' boy, do I ever see some neat stuff on this site. I've started printing off pictures of projects that I'd like to do....the biggest project is redoing my front exterior door and making it look more 'substantial'.
  • Z Z on Sep 13, 2012
    I just heard that the Packers won, but your Jordy Nelson did good according to my hubby.
  • Building Moxie Building Moxie on Sep 14, 2012
    time! and a fear that there will not be enough of it to complete what I start.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Sep 14, 2012
    We were always big DYI folks....everything from wallpaper, and flooring to ceramic tile! But age as put us out of business so we just like to look and wish these days! (And we really do not need anything done). Those things that have to be done...concrete, roofs, windows, etc., have to be done by professionals so we are OK for now!
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 14, 2012
    Thanks Becky for the Packers update. Jordy had a great night!! I'm super excited to have him on my team. I bet you he'd be a great contractor, lol
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 14, 2012
    I agree Maria, there are a ton of great ideas on Hometalk. You should create a Pinterest board for yourself!!
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 14, 2012
    Thanks Jeanette for sharing your thoughts. My mom and dad do the same thing :)
  • I have found that most projects are not being completed due to lack of understanding of what it really takes to do the job. While all the great ideas and postings that are found on sites like this and others, combined with the 30 min TV shows that provide ideas that people can do this or that in just a few days overwhelms people quite quickly. Simply because no one puts in their post or shows just how hard it was to do. My personal issue is lack of proper room to work. I find that people just do not allow enough space to work and end up falling over themselves when doing a project. They loose tools, parts, and patience quite quickly. Check out my web site on my profile. I have begun to make a living on this very topic.
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 14, 2012
    I have the same fear Building Moxie
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 14, 2012
    I checked out your website Woodbridge and like the concept. I agree with your assessment of the DIY shows. They don't really analyze how much planning is involved with DIY
  • Z Z on Sep 14, 2012
    Oh gosh, I completely agree on planning time. Hubby and I start out talking about what we'd like and looking at materials. We often so some research online. Once I have a good feel of what we both would like I starting drawing. Even after the plans are drawn and supplies bought there can be changes as you see what you thought would work often needs tweaking. It's most certainly a long process.
  • Nancy Rhodes C Nancy Rhodes C on Sep 15, 2012
    I restored 5 houses. I bartered, went antiquing, shopped discount lumber stores, etc etc etc, I painted ceilings, reworked antique windows - weights, glass, putty and whole works. I torched off liquid nails and could repair plaster. I plumbed a sink. OMG!!! how I loved it!!! Now that I am old I can't even find someone to install a doorbell. My houses always looked professional but no one, so far, can please me with their work except one young fellow who is not well and my lawn man. Nothing prevented me from restoration and I had all the help in the world for knowledge - my public library with How To books and videos. I hired the big stuff like electrical, floor refinishing, and plumbing. Yes, always planning and sketching. Good profits on all my houses. You can do it ladies!! The best part was that I stayed slim. Lol.
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Sep 15, 2012
    round to it. We always plan to start, get the supplies and then just don't make the time committment. The biggest help for me was to just write it down using sound project management skills. Plan it out in detail using a calendar. Planning I'm great at, committing the time not so much. It's just like organization. Getting organized is only 1/4 of the battle. Thre remainder is staying committed to staying organized.
  • Home Repair Tutor Home Repair Tutor on Sep 16, 2012
    Wow, Nancy you are one busy DIYer!! I like how you said you had all the help in the world in the form of your public library. We have a wonderful library system here in Pittsburgh because of Andrew Carnegie and it's helped me with so many projects I've stopped counting. I hope to teach my daughters your mentality-anything is possible with some hard work, good friends, and the desire for knowledge.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Sep 16, 2012
    Nancy, I too am old, but I have worked very hard in my years. And I am with you in that you have to recognize what you can't do and call in professionals. I have female friends who have no idea how to paint much less learned how to install and figure out how to cut tile! I always used my hands constantly...never was the manicure type of gal! Woodbridge, I agree with you that we hav e "manicured" our lives to the point we do not have places to work! Heck, we do not even have a place in our lives for our kids to play in the dirt...we cover it with rock, flowers, pools, lawn, etc!
  • Nancy Rhodes C Nancy Rhodes C on Sep 16, 2012
    I too am learning to sit back and smell the roses. I was driven during my life with a mental picture of beauty and perfection. The only way I could maintain this life style after becoming single was to do it myself. The reason I stayed slim was that once I started I might just want to continue to work through the night even after having worked all day. I could not stop until I was dead tired. A cup of coffee would hold me for another couple of hours. I called these occasions SPURTS OF ENERGY. But do not get me wrong, I worked hard at learning the right way to do things and I listened. My brother taught me how to hold the putty knife for glazing windows because I could not stand seeing my above ground basement windows in such awful condition. My son screened my front porch for me once because I was ashamed to go in and out of that house. He built me some back steps because the steps had fallen in and I was easing myself down with terrible risks. I learned the weights repair in antique windows by simple observation. My mother would say to me, "Good Lord Nancy, are you trying to turn yourself into a MAN?" Hahahaha!!! ABSOLUTELY ANY WOMAN CAN DO THIS STUFF if I could for I knew nothing. Perfection comes from being unwilling to SETTLE. I picked and picked until I got it right. I preferred to own a home as opposed to an apt. where no maintenance is required. Lots of quality people on hometalk.com to help me with projects that are not on the floor or up in the ceiling. Lol.