When DIY Goes Wrong: Four Renovation Projects That Taught Us to DIY Smarter

Question: Are there any projects you wish you hadn’t DIY-ed? I’m in the middle of one that’s not going smoothly and I’m second-guessing my decision not to hire it out. – Holly

Answer: We’re often asked this, and while we rarely reach the finish line and regret doing a project ourselves, there have been plenty of times midway through a job when we wondered what we’d gotten into. Sometimes it’s the exhaustion, the mess, or the unexpected difficulty that makes you second-guess your choice. Other times it’s just the natural highs and lows of a big project. Below are four projects that nearly broke us — and what each one taught us about planning, time, and when to call in a professional.

#1: The Bathroom Demo

This was my first major renovation. I carved out a single Saturday to remove tile from our only full bathroom while still working a 9-to-5 and with Sherry pregnant. I underestimated the labor, the grit, and the dust. Older homes hide mortar and metal lath behind tiles, and taking everything out proved as taxing as any installation. The demolition created a massive mess and drained our energy more than we expected.

Lesson learned: Demolition can be just as demanding as building. Now we always plan time and energy for demo, and we’re more willing to rent a demolition hammer or hire someone to handle the heavy, back-breaking pieces. Accounting for demolition up front keeps timelines realistic and helps avoid burnout later in the project.

#2: The Patio

We contracted our first house’s patio, but tackled the second one ourselves. The stoneyard delivered three tons of gravel, but we hadn’t thought through the manual labor needed to move and spread it. That turned a manageable build into a back-breaking ordeal that left us sore and exhausted.

Lesson learned: Material handling is often the hidden effort in outdoor projects. If you can get supplies delivered close to where you’ll work or hire a few extra hands for the heavy lifting, do it. Paying for help or delivery often saves time, prevents injury, and keeps momentum on the build.

#3: The Deck

This project tested nearly everything we dislike about renovations: heavy manual labor, unfamiliar structural decisions, inspection requirements, and working through sweltering heat. It took far longer than expected and repeatedly tempted us to hire contractors. Despite that, completing the deck brought huge pride and a boost in confidence — because we pushed through the difficult parts and learned new skills.

Lesson learned: Removing strict time pressure and allowing a flexible budget makes big projects manageable. Not having a hard deadline gave us room to solve problems as they arose. If you can build in time and a little budget wiggle room, big, complicated projects become less stressful and more rewarding.

#4: The Hardwood Floors

Unlike the deck, this one suffered because we actually had a hard deadline. Our second house sold faster than expected, and suddenly we had to remove carpeting, paint trim, and install hardwoods within a tight window. Even with help for childcare and demo, the final weeks were a blur of long days and relentless floor-laying. The exhaustion and pressure made the work emotionally intense.

Lesson learned: Deadlines can amplify stress and erase the margin you need to do things well. Expect setbacks and build contingency time into your schedule. When a deadline is unavoidable, hire help for the labor-intensive or time-sensitive portions so the quality of work doesn’t suffer and you preserve your health and relationships.

How We Decide When to DIY and When to Hire

After many projects, our approach has evolved. We still DIY projects that teach us valuable skills, let us save money, or provide personal satisfaction. But we’re now more pragmatic about hiring pros for work that’s risky, highly technical, physically demanding, or likely to consume disproportionate time. Examples we’ve contracted out include complex plumbing repairs, significant electrical work, structural or load-bearing changes, and large grading or yard-leveling jobs.

We also find value in doing some upfront work ourselves — demo, prep, or simple finishes — and then handing the rest to a professional. That can reduce costs while ensuring critical tasks meet code and safety standards.

Final Thoughts

DIY isn’t about never hiring help; it’s about choosing the right balance. Expect setbacks, account for demo and material handling, build time cushions, and be willing to invest money in labor when it preserves your time and health. When a project becomes physically dangerous or technically complex, calling a pro is a smart decision, not a failure. At the end of a hard project, there’s a real satisfaction in stepping back, dusting off your hands, and appreciating what you accomplished — and knowing when the job deserved professional expertise.

PS: We also use a simple set of criteria to evaluate whether to DIY or hire out before we begin any project. Thinking through scope, safety, skill required, timeline, and cost helps us decide the best approach up front — which prevents many of the mid-project “what were we thinking?” moments.