Measure Twice, Cut Once: 3 Home Remodeling Mistakes You Must Avoid

Many homeowners opt to tackle a home remodel – small or large – on their own. To them, this saves a significant amount of money since they are only paying for materials and not labor. However, if measurements aren’t made correctly and aren’t double- or triple-checked, it can cause some serious clearance issues. In a number of cases, these clearance mistakes can become rather costly to fix and almost always require an expert’s help. While it’s admirable that homeowners want to tackle home projects on their own, it isn’t always the best idea. If you must give it a shot, though, here are three mistakes to make sure you avoid:

Swinging Doors and Slapping Knees

Measurements are absolutely necessary when it comes to doors – and the measurements must be accurate. Although you likely won’t be using the toilet while someone is in the shower, it could happen. Even if it doesn’t, you don’t want the shower door opening and striking the toilet. Eventually, it’s going to cause damage. While it is possible to exchange your toilet for a smaller one or retrofitting another fixture so that the door doesn’t hit it when it is opened, it’s going to cost extra.

Awkward Spots and Clearance Issues

In the bathroom, there is generally a small amount of space for a lot of stuff. You need a vanity, toilet, shower/tub, and more. You can have to strategically place these items so that they all work. One of the most common mistakes made in the bathroom in terms of clearance is a bathroom vanity drawer being unable to open all of the way because of the door trim or even the doorknob. In some cases, this can easily be fixed by a skilled contractor by modifying the drawer so it can easily clear the trim. However, in terms of the doorknob, there’s really no fix.

Ceiling Fans and Chopping Heads

Installing a ceiling fan seems to be a popular DIY project for homeowners. Unfortunately, it can often turn into a disaster, especially when you don’t check clearances of nearby doors. If a ceiling fan is placed too close to the door, it’s not going to be able to operate. The fan can be switched out for a smaller one, but it will be an additional expense.

Alternatively, if you don’t feel that you can do a good enough job yourself, it’s always best to spend the money to hire a professional contractor to come in and do the job. It’s always better to pay a little more upfront and make sure the job is done right from the get-go.