How to Succeed at Any Home Project.

Building a deck, replumbing a bathroom, adding new wiring, hanging new kitchen cabinets – projects like these can be intimidating to start, and once started may seem to drag on forever, with results that don’t always match expectations. You can bridge the gap between amateur and professional results with planning and a better understanding of the process. Think like a contractor: get lots of information about the project, draw a clear set of plans, find the proper tools and the right materials – and once you start the job keep moving.

Having all materials on hand speeds installation
Get familiar with new materials that can save time and money. Get all the materials you need before starting your job to avoid time-wasting trips to the home center - and arrange for deliveries when possible. If you’re working from a how-to article, the material list will show everything you need. Otherwise, make a list of materials based on your plan. Special order items like windows and doors can take several weeks to get and are usually non-returnable, so triple check measurements.

Seek Experts
Find sources for good advice at the local hardware store or lumberyard. The quality of advice from clerks working the aisles at big home centers can be uneven, and for a major project you need people who really know what they're talking about. Ask the more experienced people working at the contractor’s desk for advice. Hardware and paint stores also usually have a few really knowledgeable people. Catch them on a slow day (not Saturday morning) then ask them about your project and let them talk.

Get the perfect cut
Buy extra materials and make practice cuts first when you work. Be aware that some materials should be cut from the top to reduce splintering and checking, while others should be cut from the bottom. Corners, for example, are almost never exactly 45 degrees. Make initial cuts slightly long, then check the fit and trim it. Measure everything twice, and check your tape measure to make sure the hooked metal end isn’t bent or jammed – either of which might cause all your cuts to be off.

Planning ahead
Make a list of everything you're doing and work out the sequence of steps. This will help you remember, and keep you from backtracking. Let us save you time and sanity now, when it comes to building projects, one step out of place could mean hours upon hours of backtracking and re-doing your work.

Finish your work
There are two parts to every job – the satisfying rough work when you knock walls down or nail up big 4 x 8 sheets, and the sometimes frustrating finish work where you may spend hours on a few square inches. Finishing work can be more mentally and emotionally demanding, but avoid cutting corners - one bad-looking joint can make a whole job look shabby.