Home Improvement: To Do (or Don’t Do) It Yourself
By Nikki Luttmann - Interior Designer at Ponderay Design Center

For many of us on a budget, fixing up our homes may seem more attainable in this era of the “do-it-yourself-er”. If it looks so easy on HGTV, why not give it a try?

There are many products out there that help us do just that. Click-lock systems on laminate floors and even some engineered wood products are great for homeowners on a budget. So are many of the new fiberglass vinyl flooring products, which are more forgiving than the traditional paper-back varieties. However, if you don’t have the tools needed for the job, (correct saws, blades, etc.), the money you are saving on the installation goes out the window if you have to purchase a bevy of new tools for the garage! Also, pay close attention to the installation instructions provided with the product. Spacing, joints, etc., are all important components of your new flooring’s performance, so correct installation is key.

Painting your home yourself has never been easier, with a vast array of colors and paint-types to choose from, updating your home with color is a great option for a weekend project. One thing to be sure to check on, though, is coverage. It is always better to buy AT LEAST as much paint as you need to ensure matching color, rather than running out and then running down to the store for more. Ideally, you could steal a trick from the pros and mix your paint into a 5-gallon bucket before applying. That way you can be sure that there will be no difference from gallon to gallon.

There are some things that should always be left to a professional. Carpet installation, for example, may seem like an easy project, but getting it properly stretched and seamed is important for both the look and longevity of your carpet. Additionally, most carpet companies will not uphold their warranties if the product is not professionally installed.

Tile installation can be a fun do-it-yourself project, but it is usually easier with two people – one to place and one to cut. Either renting or purchasing a wet-saw is a good investment, for achieving both a professional look and producing less waste tile. Large expanses of floor tile are often better left to professionals, though, as are large (sixteen-inch or larger) tiles, as both of these situations can lead to future breakage and the floor needs to be prepared exceptionally well, without rises or dips. Smaller tiles are much more forgiving.

Armed with this information, go forth and conquer those summer projects – but keep in mind there might be a time and a place to call in reinforcements in the form of professional installers!

Nikki Luttmann is an interiors specialist at the Sandpoint Furniture Carpet One in the Ponderay Design Center.