When NOT to D.I.Y.

How we learned when not to DIY a big flooring project, and how it's coming along now...

In my last post, I alluded to my life being a bit messy right now, and I had hoped that by this time I'd be posting triumphantly about the project that has made it so. 

But no.  I'm still in the middle of said project, and instead I'm realizing the best thing I can post about today is how not to get into this kind of situation. 

What I have learned through this project is important-- when NOT to do it yourself.

Before

Being a designer,  I sometimes have ideas that, while wonderful in theory, are quite difficult to achieve in real life.  Being a DIY-er, I feel like if I have an idea, I should be able to carry it out. 

This time, Designer and DIY-er met smack in the middle, with temporarily catastrophic results.

To DIY or Not to DIY

For years, I've been wanting to rip out my carpet and tile floors, and replace them with wood flooring, to pull everything together.  It took a while for Hubby and me to agree on a product, and when we did, that product turned out to be wood tile, laid in a herringbone pattern. 

My contractor buddy looked at me like I was crazy when I shared this idea with him, and now I know why.  It's hard!  

Dust.  So much dust.

But not to be deterred by such a pesky little thing as a professional's opinion, we waded in and started ripping out flooring.  In the middle of our house.  Where the whole family walks through multiple times a day.  Including the kitchen, laundry room, and front entryway. 

Oh, and did I mention the asbestos-ridden linoleum under the kitchen floor? 

Yes, there were many moments along the way when we should have looked at each other and simultaneously reached for the phone to call a professional. 

But, no, we did not do that.  Instead we are slowly piecing together the new floor, learning as we go.

One whole day's work

Every day when our kids come home from school, there is a new chunk of floor that they can't walk on.  It's become a game of sorts. 

There is a reason why people move out of their homes for a week while contractors come in to demolish and install flooring.  Because if you don't move out for a week, you have to do it in very small pieces, which takes more like two months!

Little Helper

Anyway, the good news is that we are about halfway done (after 3 weekends and several half-days during the week) and by now, I think we sort of know what we're doing.  Hopefully soon, I'll be posting "after" pictures. 

All I can say for now is, "just because it can be done, doesn't mean you need to be the one doing it."  Sometimes the best thing a DIY-er can do is pick up the phone and call a professional.