What to Do When a Small Project Turns into a Huge Renovation

Many homeowners have a to-do list of small projects for home improvement. Maybe you want to change the cabinets in your bathroom, put tile flooring in the kitchen, or add some shelves to your laundry room. However, sometimes what started as a small DIY project turns into something that requires much more work. If your weekend project is actually a Pandora's box of trouble, follow this guide to avoid stress as your project budget and timeline are blown out of the water. 

Contact a Professional as Soon as Possible

As soon as you discover unexpected problems or complications with your project, stop work until you consult with a professional remodeling contractor. For example, if you're taking out a bathroom cabinet and find old plumbing that's been leaking into the floor, causing rot and mold, you shouldn't start trying to fix it all without getting the problem looked at. Sometimes, damage can be structural. You might need professional plumbing or electrical work. You also might end up not fully understanding how deep the problem goes, and so it's not all the fixed, even after you do the work to repair it yourself, which will only cost you more down the road. 

Make Safety Your Priority

After your project has gotten away from you, you might also now wonder where to begin with the new amount of work that needs to be done. It's best to begin with safety in mind. For example, if you open up a wall and fin old asbestos insulation or siding there, your first priority will be mitigation for the health and safety of your family. Mold and moisture problems are more serious because they can impact your health. Structural issues, health issues, fire hazards, and more are now the first priority for your renovation budget. 

Break the Project Down into Smaller Stages

Your contractor will be able to give you a new budget estimate and timeline for your major renovation. If you can't do everything all at once, you might break the project down into stages of completion. For example, if you end up needing to completely overhaul the entire master bathroom or kitchen, you might work first with getting the space functional, so the steps might be:

• Laying down subflooring.
• Repairing electrical and plumbing
• Installing appliances
• Replacing cabinetry
• Finishing work

You have to have functional electrical and plumbing before you can use your kitchen, but you might not have the budget to completely overhaul your cabinets yet. So, you make do, but you can still use your kitchen if you have appliances functioning. Then you can work on designing the cabinets and working out a way to fit everything into your budget. Slow projects are not desirable to a lot of homeowners, but sometimes, a slow project is the only way to work around unexpected renovation events. 

Consider Alternative Ways to Cash-flow the Project

Finding funding for major renovations can be a huge part of the stress surrounding projects that go off the rails. You might talk to your contractor about ways to cash flow the project required. Some ideas include:

• Taking out a small personal loan
• Using a home equity line of credit
• Save as you take the project in small chunks
• Apply for a home renovation loan

Home renovation loans often assess the value of your home versus the value of your home after renovation. The increase in value makes the home renovation loan a good investment. 

Change the Final Plan or Design

You might also need to be flexible for your final vision. If you wanted a huge laundry room or master bathroom, you might not be able to have it if the project means moving plumbing or HVAC lines, which could be beyond your budget. Trust your contractor to provide a result that fits with your original desires but also takes care of all the unexpected twists and turns.