Part I: When Or Why You Need A Remodeling Coach
By Jerry R. Spumberg
The DIY Coach
Lets first talk about a Master Builder in the terms of some of those on TV that I most respect, Mike Holmes, Tom Silver, and Norm Abrams. They have years of experience working in the industry in a family business before they owned their own. Besides the hands on experience, they have a scholarly knowledge of building that is up to date. They have developed many additional skills that they perform, thus qualifying them to be called professionals. To them, TV is just a media to share their knowledge with others.
The most import thing is that they understand that a building is made up of many components, some of them complex. They know the assembly order of the components, how they relate, and how they must fit together. They use the best methods to do this and call it building. They have also learned and developed techniques that are extremely effective in producing quality results. They efficiently use time as a precious resource not to be wasted. Finally, they have practiced and refined their methods over many years, first as apprentices under watchful eyes, then journeymen, and now as masters. They continue to improve their skills as they practice and teach by learning new techniques and sharing them with others. These are true builders.
With their background, they know what can go wrong. They have the ability to recognize an existing problem and implement a solution before it becomes a catastrophe or a defect that requires a costly remediation at a later date. You might think I’m talking about a major remodeling project. I’m not. It could be as simple (or not so simple) as picking the best method for installing ceramic tile and correcting any deficiencies in the underlying floors or walls.
To determine whether you need professional guidance is to ask several questions. Do you want professional results? Do you have the knowledge to pick the right materials and methods needed? Do you have sources to buy at the right price? Watch out for seconds, low grade, or surplus materials, and prices too cheap to be real. Can you tell the difference? Do you have the knowledge to recognize and correct underlining problems that will affect the visual and longevity of the project as well as its performance? Do you own or are willing to rent the professional tools that you will need to get good results? Do you have the time to be patient with yourself, realizing it will take you much longer then a professional? Have you developed the skill and techniques? If you have never done this work before by working with an expert, you will have to go through a learning curve - are you willing to due this? Are you qualified?
If you answered yes to the above questions and you think the project is something you will enjoy, go forward. If you’re not sure, you need professional advice, a person with years of experience, to look at your choices and risks. A Do It Yourself Coach will cut the learning curve to a fraction of what it takes to teach yourself and will help you decide the best direction to take. He may even suggest subcontracting parts of the project out and will teach you how to do that. A Coach is a qualified person that could be a relative, a friend, or a professional that you hire. A person like myself, with years of diversified experience in building, can save you from making costly mistakes and even make you money ensuring you achieve professional results. Remember that most television DIY shows show a professional guiding or assisting the do it yourselfer. Visit our teaching web site thediycoachusa.com to learn more about saving money and achieving professional results.
I could spend the rest of the article telling you about a couple who claimed to be great do it yourselfers on a social internet site. They remodeled their bathroom to include a platform whirlpool tub that had a glass enclosure for showering. They bought a closeout whirlpool at one of the big box retailers. The pump was in the wrong location, thus there was no access to it. It did not have a ground fault circuit breaker or wasn’t on a separate correctly-sized electric line as required by code. The corner unit was such that it could not be installed in such a way that the water from showering or just splashing from the tub could be prevented from leaking below into the ceiling of the dining area below. The solution will be to remodel the entire bathroom over.
Here’s the kicker! I was brought in to diagnose the problems not by the couple that performed the work, but the recent purchaser of the home. They found out that no building permits were taken or inspections were made; they have hired an attorney to take legal action against the previous owner.
A coach can do it for you or with you. He can educate the How and explain the Why. He can make sure you comply with building regulations so you don’t face the consequences later. He can make you money by adding more value to you home than you spend. He can integrate his resources with yours so that you can find the best materials and subcontractors at the right price point for your project. He can teach you to legally protect yourself through the use of your own agreements with venders and trades people. He can ensure that you end up with a project that meets your expectations. He puts you in control.
There are many Do It Yourselfers who have developed the skills to handle projects without a coach. I admire them. In many cases, they have a friend or family member who are Master Builders that they can lean on and may have worked for or with them from time to time. If you wish to add more value to your home then you spend, then being involved is the only way to go. When you use a general contractor, you will usually add 60 to 80% of value for every dollar you spend. You don’t make money. Please go to our web site thediycoachusa.com to learn the How and Why to do it better. Visit the links to trade articles about value vs. cost and mark-ups. If this isn’t important to you then hire the best general contractor you can find - not the cheapest.
I believe if you are willing to put in some time and effort, you can tackle any size Home Improvement Project with a little help.
May The Coach Be With You,
Coach Jerry