5 Home Projects You Can Do Yourself

by David R. Butcher | March 15th, 2011

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Working on DIY projects can be as rewarding as the result. Here are a few projects you can do around the house without breaking too much of a sweat (or the bank).

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While popular television networks like DIY Network have been capitalizing on the relatively unexpected mainstream appeal of the do-it-yourself spirit, traditional hands-on skills have fallen out of fashion over the years. Moreover, the time generally reserved for DIY projects — our weekends — are flying by much quicker these days.

Yet the process of DIY home projects can be as rewarding as the result: a comfortable attic, a brighter bathroom, etc. — the possibilities are nearly endless.

“Maintaining and improving your home can seem like a job in itself, but it doesn’t have to,” 60-Minute DIY Projects at Bob Vila’s website says. “Small projects that can be done quickly can greatly improve the appearance of your home without taking up an entire weekend.”

Below are five relatively easy home-improvement projects to consider doing on your own.

1) Deep-Clean Your Own Carpets
“There comes a time in the life of every carpet when vacuuming can no longer restore its clean appearance,” according to TLC. “There are four major indicators of the need for a deep-cleaning job: the carpet is matted and feels sticky; the carpet is no longer the same color as the remnant you saved when the carpet was new; the carpet has grimy circles around the chairs; or the carpet releases a dust storm when you run across the room.”

Deep-cleaning your home’s carpeting yourself can save you plenty of dough in the long run. The first step is to get down to your local hardware store and rent a power cleaner. (Home Depot has them for $25 a day.) “Carpet-cleaning machines spray water and your cleaning solution onto your rug and then suck it up with a vacuum,” DIY Life explains. “The idea is that it sucks up all the dirt and gunk from your carpet, too. Even though a carpet-cleaning machine is fairly easy to operate, it’s important that you read the instructions.”

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2) Add Attic Insulation
“If the insulation in your attic is not up to par, close to 30 percent of the nice, warm, comfortable air that your furnace is producing is going out the window. Laying insulation is an easy DIY project and the materials are pretty inexpensive,” Matt Blashaw, host of DIY Network’s Money Hunters series, says at the DIY Network website. Plus, “properly insulating your attic can save 10 percent to 30 percent off your monthly heating bill,” U.S. News & World Report’s My Money blog says, noting an Energy Star map that shows you how much insulation you’ll need based on your specific location.

“If you decide on blown cellulose, you’re going to spend around $175 to do it yourself or $630 if you pay a contractor (for an 800 square foot attic),” My Money says. “For a cheaper alternative, consider using batt insulation, which is fairly easy and can usually be done for less than $100.”

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3) Brighten Your Bathroom
The bathroom is where we start and end the day, so it is a great location for a DIY project. Good lighting in the bathroom not only improves safety, but also adds to function and style. Blashaw recommends installing some can/recessed lighting in the bathroom to brighten up the place. “Unlike fixtures that are decorative elements themselves, recessed lighting blends into the architecture,” according to HGTV online.

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Alternatively, consider simple touches like dimmer switches, which not only grant absolute control over the lighting (and thus the mood of the room), but can also save energy and increase lamp life. “Today’s dimmers work for every kind of light source, though you need to know what to ask for,” according to This Old House magazine. “A 120-volt incandescent or halogen light source will need an incandescent dimmer, while low-voltage and fluorescent fixtures require their own compatible dimmers.” And, HGTV online says, “installing one is a snap.”

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4) Replace Your Kitchen Faucet
Typically, the faucet is one of the most frequently used items in the kitchen, so update it to add a fresh look to your sink area while lowering water and energy costs. “To save money and prevent frustration in the future, purchase a quality faucet with a good warranty” and then install it yourself, Home Depot recommends. This can be done relatively inexpensively and quickly.

“Installing a new kitchen faucet and side sprayer is a project many homeowners who are handy with a few common tools can do themselves,” the home-improvement retailer says. “As you work on your project, be sure to take any actions recommended in the manufacturer’s instructions included with your faucet and sprayer.”

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5) Install Crown Molding
Crown molding can provide a dramatic touch to interior space, but installing it isn’t for the faint of heart, as it is a task that “strikes fear in the heart of every amateur carpenter — and even some pros,” This Old House magazine says. “Because it sits at an angle on the wall, each joint is made of compound angles,” and getting it right requires “a lot of patience” and “an aptitude for spatial relations.”

Fair warning: Installing crown molding is the trickiest task on our list. There’s a lot of geometry and power-tool use involved.

“The large, often complex, molding profiles available in crown molding (there are many), and compound-angle miters where pieces join, are difficult to accurately measure, cut and install,” DIY Network says. “However, there are ways to make the process easier and accomplishable with a little practice.”

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Resources

100 Skills Every Man Should Know: 2008′s Ultimate DIY List
Popular Mechanics, December 18, 2009

60-Minute DIY Projects
by Cynthia Ramnarace
BobVila.com

Carpet-Cleaning Tips: Deep-Cleaning Carpets
TLC

DIY Warrior: How to Deep Clean Your Carpets
by Jaime Derringer
DIY Life, May 6, 2010

10 Investments to Boost Your Home’s Value
DIY Network

5 Green Home Improvements That Really Pay Off
by Heather Levin
My Money (U.S. News & World Report), Oct. 27, 2010

Adding Attic Insulation
by Danny Lipford
This Old House

Buying Guide: Insulation
The Home Depot

Install Recessed Lighting
HGTV

Bathroom Lighting: Tips for Casting the Right Light
by Alan Kauzlaric
Home Portfolio Inc. (via HGTV)