Even the most experienced homeowners will have a renovation fail at some point in their own journey. Everyone who’s ever tried to redo a kitchen, update a bathroom, or fix some window shutters on a Durham, NC home knows how easy it is to mess up a renovation.

The good news is that many common home renovation mistakes are easy to fix and even easier to avoid. Home renovations can be tough, but you can do it and avoid these common failures. Here are a few simple tips to avoid common failures as you take on your next home project:

1. Think Inside and Out – There are two sides to every window. Make sure any window you buy matches both the inside and the outside of your home. The same goes for window treatments, whether they’re interior shades or exterior shutters. An eclectic use of window and treatment styles can look stylish on the interior but look unplanned from the exterior.
2. Blend Additions – You don’t want your addition to look like an addition. Just as any addition to a house should blend with the original flow of the floorplan inside, it also needs to blend with the home’s exterior. Be sure to update your siding, paint, windows, and window treatments so the addition is cohesive with the rest of the house.
3. Measure Twice, Cut Once – There’s nothing worse than cutting a piece of wood or fabric and realizing you’ve cut it too small. Take your time before making any cuts to be sure your measurements are correct. Also, don’t rely on your memory to hold onto the right measurements. Write all of your calculations and resulting measurements down to be sure they’re right before you make a cut. This same principle applies to measurements that impact an order.
4. Overestimate Paint – Painting is one of the most impactful and affordable remodeling projects, but you can’t skimp on the number of cans you buy for a few reasons. One, you might not be able to find the same shade in the future, so it’s best to get extra now to have enough for touchups. Two, it usually takes more than one coat to cover the existing color, so having extra is never a bad thing.
5. Keep an Eye on Clearance – Low clearance ceilings and stairwells lead to headaches, literally. No one wants to hit their head on a doorway or ceiling! Plan for how the space will be used and make sure you have enough clearance before you start a project.
6. Measure Space for Opening Doors – Your new kitchen cabinet won’t open all the way because of the refrigerator. Does the fresh bathroom door hit the closet? If you’re planning to install a new interior or exterior door in your home, be sure to plan for the full sweep of the door and the direction it opens.

Call or visit us today to learn more helpful renovation tips or information on our Durham, NC window shutters.