WHEN DIY PROJECTS GO AWRY

Case in point: Craig Russell, founder/CEO of The English Contractor, says his firm recently remodeled a kitchen where big surprises were found behind the walls.

"We found a spaghetti-like mass of wiring left behind by a well-intentioned but ill-informed DIYer. Problem is, doing electrical work yourself can cause a fire or appliance damage," cautions Russell.

Incorrect installation of wallpaper is a further example of a project that a homeowner can bungle.

"This can be a perfect DIY project. But it requires the right tools and preparation," notes Russell. "We've seen a lot of wallpaper glued to unprimed walls. That destroys the drywall, making its removal a messy undertaking."

Poor tile installation is another project that the experts get called in to fix.

"It seems like an easy enough job to install sheets of tile and grout. But many homeowners fail to realize the careful prep and planning it requires," adds Russell. "We recently worked on a tile shower that had tile applied directly to drywall without a waterproof backboard."

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