In many ways the home renovation market appeals to people because they look at programs on TV that show how “you can easily do this and that and make a profit of $ 50000.00 dollars when you sell your house. What is rarely shown is the nightmare that some people go through in doing this, as it always looks very easy when you see experts doing it, just like you would watch a figure skater swirl around on the ice, it look so easy and effortlessly. However if you talk with him or her they would tell you about all the many time they made contact with the Ice in a not so glamorous way.

So it is with project in and around the home, but do not despair there is methods I can tell you that will alleviate some of the hardship of doing these projects even if you are starting out as a complete novice.

Ok let’s start from the beginning “Your Idea” so to speak. I know here that many people adapt the method of Do first and read the instructions later, in other words, perhaps from work they are somewhat forces to be specific and detailed, so when doing a project at home they think, I just want to be free and it will be ok if I just slab this together and I will just wing it as I go along. I certainly know from my position as a lecturer in Carpentry & Joinery that is how many of my new Apprentices feels, but they just have not got the time or motivation to want to do it, for what they see it as, “the slow way”

A common expression is: “it cannot be that difficult, let me just get started and I will learn as I go”.

Though both of these “observations” could be correct and indeed an expression of freedom, However, I have yet to see the finished work reflect the desired outcome. There are in my opinion two very important factors that govern making anything, one is motivation and one is self-satisfaction with the finished outcome. When one or the other is not there is does not matter what you have created, it either will not look good or you will not be happy with the outcome.

Perhaps because your friends comments like “aha leaning tower of pizza” or You did it yourself, I can believe that, does not really empower anyone and though we can justify to yourself that we cut a corner here and there, the good feeling of achievement will always elude us.

Let’s get started then on learning a few little steps that will ensure a worthwhile result and just might get you a compliment or two from your friends, Firstly make sure your project is well documented, and what I mean by this is that the “Idea” whether it came from yourself or someone else is depicted and interpreted the correct way. Too many times has the yellow wall been painted purple because what one person perceives to be the concept was indeed not explained well enough from the other person? So make sure that some kind of form or written record exists to show the “project” in all its glory. If it is someone else’s project that you are to build, get them to supply sketches or photos to show exactly what they have in mind

Whether it is your project, your friend, wife or husbands, there are many questions to be asked before you can go ahead. Questions like: what does it look like, how long, how wide. how deep, what material is it made from, what colour(especially when it comes to colour, make sure that you get the other party to supply the exact match of colour from the paint shop to their satisfaction or you will never hear the end of it after you build the finishes product).

What about questions like, how much will or should it cost. In other words, become a detective of your project and get all the relevant detailed information. Then produce an acceptable drawing or blueprint that you can see the project in its unfinished form but with everything that it should look like and in a reasonable scale. Why should it be to a scale and not just a drawing? You may ask. While the first concept drawing can easily be hand drawn sketches, the final result should be to Scale as it will make it so much easier to work out the cost of the materials and the different quantities prior to purchasing. Also many times people commence a project that, had they known how much it was going to cost, they would never have commenced it. So lesson number 1. Always start your project right.

By: Nick Struan

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