Is Do-It-Yourself Really Worthwhile?

I think this is one of the most common questions I get asked. It’s usually followed by, ‘I just don’t think I could do something like that.” While it’s true that a DIY approach is a personal decision, let me show you a little project by an old college buddy of mine, Mark MacDonald, who lives in North Carolina with his wife and two sons that may help swing you over the fence.

Mark was always very talented. He had such an amazing voice and still does to this day. When he sang a song, it would make the angels swoon. He makes me sick. If I had a dozen 5-gallon buckets strapped to me, I still couldn’t carry a tune. But could he successfully approach a major home remodeling project?
I just never saw Mark as a let’s-grab-some-tools-and-tear-out-this-wall kind of guy. Here’s the difference between Mark and a lot of people. Instead of saying, “I can’t do something like that,” Mark’s approach is, “I bet I could do something like that...and if I can’t on the first try, at least I’ll learn something along the way to try it again.”

When Mark and his wife Tammy purchased their home, this is what the kitchen looked like:

Now, even though there’s nothing really wrong with that picture, it is a very dated look. You’ve got sheet vinyl flooring, stained cabinets that match the wall paneling, square edge laminate countertops, a nine-light exterior door, white appliances and it looks like a 36” four-blade ceiling fan.

Now let’s take a look at the “AFTER” picture:

Can you spot all the differences?

1. Sheet vinyl has been replaced with ceramic tile. Here’s a helpful hint: Look for discontinued lines, overstock or partial boxes. Mark found these beautiful pieces for less than $1 a square foot….MUCH less.

2. The cabinets have been re-painted. The two-tone look is perfect for this kitchen. They could have easily been all painted white to brighten up the room, but I don’t think it would have had the same distinct character as it does now. New hardware has also been installed to bring the kitchen into the 21st century. Nicely done.

3. The dark paneling has also been painted over in the same bright color. It’s amazing how those brighter colors can make a room look larger. Painting over paneling is a chore, too. You need to sand them lightly to remove the gloss, or even use a liquid de-glosser. The primer you use is key. I personally would recommend an oil-based, stain-blocking primer. Once the paneling is primed, you can even use drywall joint compound to fill in the grooves.

4. The countertops Mark installed are amazing. With no previous experience, he created molds and made these countertops from concrete! And, yes, it took a couple of tries, but what a difference! If you look closely, the base cabinets on the left have an overhang to create a bar for eating. While I probably would have looked at creating the bar at the pass-through, Mark says the drawers in the cabinet are still accessible. This eating area allowed Mark & Tammy to do away with the dinette, freeing up more room. Here’s another tip: If you want to tackle a project like this, look for broken bags of concrete. Many store managers will give you an unbelievably good deal on them as long as you don’t mind getting messy as you transport the bags back home. Yep, that’s exactly what Mark did. Smart move. The backsplash is also new. Look closely and you’ll see tile. In case you’re not too keen on putting mastic on the walls, you should look for a new product coming to The Home Depot this Fall called Simple Mat. It’s basically a two-sided adhesive mat that you place on the wall, then stick your tiles to it. You can put up your tiles and grout it all in the same day, eliminating the need for wall mastic.

5. Since I just mentioned it, there’s also a pass-through where there once was a solid wall. Are you kidding me?!?! Tear out a wall?!?! Yes…a do-it-yourselfer really can do something like that. Once again, you’ve opened up the space, brought in more light and have now made this portion of the home more “people and gathering” friendly.

6. The white appliances have been upgraded to stainless steel. This is a major purchase, but even if it’s not in your budget, you can turn your existing appliances into stainless by painting them with a very special product. Check out http://liquidstainlesssteel.com for a couple of really cool ideas.

7. The exterior door was replaced with a nice full-view door, which allowed Mark to get rid of the ugly storm door. Again, this is a great way to add some natural light and brighten the room.

8. The final touch was to get rid of the dinky ceiling fan and put up a nice 52” five-blade model.

So let’s answer the question now. Is do-it-yourself really worthwhile? I took these pictures to our construction estimator. For a professional to come in and do all this, including the purchase of the new appliances, you’re looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000. Of course, it all depends on your area of the country, but that’s pretty conservative. Mark provided all his own labor and paid about 1/3 of that amount. Personally, my answer to the question is a resounding, “YES!”

Before you sell yourself short on your abilities, just try it. And don’t forget to look for those special deals and the “Scratch & Dent” specials out there. Above all, have fun and make it a family event. Believe me, the satisfaction of a job you do yourself is so much better than shelling out your hard-earned dough. At least, it is for me and my wallet. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a singing lesson.