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“What Could Go Wrong”: 49 Of The Absolute Worst Home Improvement Fails To Make You Cringe
If you ever feel bad about your awful home improvement skills, just remember that you're not the only one who sucks at it! Everyone has their moments. Even carpenters get brain farts.
In an attempt to restore your confidence — or to simply put a smile on your face — Bored Panda put together a list of funny renovation fails. Whether these folks skipped the planning stage, didn't have the correct tools, or bit off more than they could chew, let's make their misery our entertainment.
After all, isn't that what the internet is for?
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A Driveway Crew Was Pouring Concrete At A New House Next To A Duck Pond. They Went To Lunch And Came Back To This
#2
My Dad Isn't So Great At Remodeling, So I Turned His Work Into A Work Of Art
If you too are thinking about a DIY project but aren't sure about your skills, there are things you can do to significantly better your results.
Lee Wallender, who is a home improvement expert with 20 years of hands-on home remodeling, fixing, and improving experience, thinks that everyone should begin their projects with design and planning.
"A sketch on a cocktail napkin, full-blown architectural plans, or just a firm set of thoughts about how the remodel should progress is a good place to start," Wallender wrote in The Spruce. "It is cheaper and less frustrating to correct mistakes before the remodel takes physical form." A sentiment many people on this list could attest to!
"One of the first considerations is to be sure that you have funding for your renovation. Draw up a simple yes/no list of do-it-yourself projects and projects you want professionals to do. Look for contractors and subcontractors for those jobs you do not want to do yourself," Wallender added.
#3
Landlords, Please Donât Paint Over Cockroaches
MetaMaxNL 2 years ago
and thank you....now i hear that song in my head for the next hour
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Lindsay Morrison 2 years ago
It's cruel and beautiful all at once. I really doubt the landlord did that. They usually don't paint. They also usually don't pay much above minimum wage. I'm not surprised to see the roach on the wall.
KariAdoresHerKats 2 years ago
Every flat i ever lived in in Dublin before i got my own home. Not roaches but beetles, hair, paper etc.
Daniel Fincher 2 years ago
2000 years from now, archaeologists will presume that we adored and revered the cockroach as sacred
BrwnEyedBandit82 2 years ago
My last apartment, maintenance painted over a small lizard in my bathroom wall.
Rannveig Ess 2 years ago
Seriously - paint a little top hat and cane for the roach. Or a pink tutu. Better yet, after you do this, make the Roach little, daily signs like that guy who stand on the street with the signs, and then when The Roach goes viral, cut the section out and sell The Flamboyant Roach for a lot of money and retire. You got Gold here, baby!
Joely King 2 years ago
At least he went down doing what he loves best. The Monty Python silly walk.
GoddessOdd 2 years ago
Years ago I lived in a really horrible apartment behind a grocery store. It was so infested with roaches it was almost unlivable. As I was moving in, I pulled up a rug and thousands of them came swarming out... the only thing I had at hand was a can of white spray paint. I was seeing white roaches for the whole time I lived there, I think. People would ask "do you paint them so they'll blend in better?"
A maybe bi doggo 2 years ago (edited)
OH GOD IM ABOUT TO GAG Edit: set fire to my spelling please.
jengerleigh 2 years ago
Happened to us before. Needed a place quick after house burnt down and it was a basically an overpriced slum. The walls were covered. Slumlord's wife had "cleaned it really nice" and the local pedophile did the painting.
DippityDooDerp 2 years ago
Ok that's a Palmetto bug and if you don't live in the south and have never had one of those giant mofos fly at your face feel blessed. I'd rather have a painted dead one than a live one
Janet Graham 2 years ago
It makes me want to paint little clothes, a top hat, and maybe a cane for him.
Anna Stephenson 2 years ago
A cockroach doing the Can-Can!- all he needs is a top hat and cane!
Paul Ellis 2 years ago
That's OK: roaches belong in the US - we don't have them over here; we're a little more fastidious than our American cousins.
#4
We Just Moved Into A Brand New House, Painters Came By To Touch Up Some Walls Upstairs. This Poor Guy Fell Down The Whole Staircase With A Full 5 Gallon Bucket Of Paint
He screamed the whole way down, I thought he was going to be hurt but thankfully he wasn't. Paint splattered all the way across the living room onto my brand new furniture.
Chris Jones 2 years ago
Top tip from a professional decorator: dispense a SMALLER amount of paint into a paint kettle (as they are called in the UK at least) and do NOT lug around the full 5 gallon container! Much less spillage when you go ar-se over t-it.
#5
My Wife Said Measure The Door, I Told Her All Doors Are The Same Size
Also, keep in mind that large projects must be done first because subsequent projects are impacted by them. The biggest ones you might take on include roof replacement or repair, fixing the foundation, dealing with water infiltration, and installing or repairing windows and siding.
"Protect your future renovation work by making certain the house won't collapse on you," Wallender said. "That means addressing the foundation and any structural problems. Secure the foundation and make major foundation repairs to areas such as weakened walls, joists, and carrying beams."
#6
Fixing A Toilet Leak. I Took 2 Trips To Home Depot, Worked With A Hernia, Had A Hard Time Putting The Wax Ring And Screws On
Only to install the toilet and forget about the door. I'm an idiot
#7
I've Heard Of "Painting Yourself Into A Corner" But My Wife Took It A Step Further. I Don't Even Know
#8
DIY Fail
"Then look at keeping it dry, which involves the roof, siding, and windows. Repair or replace the roof. Replace seriously damaged windows that may threaten future remodeling work. If not seriously damaged, leave the window repair or replacement for later in the process."
The same goes for siding: if the siding is so damaged that it will allow water infiltration, repair or replace the siding. If not seriously damaged, you can leave it for later.
#9
There Are No Words
#10
My Landlord: Is It Ok If The Replacement Tile Is Not An Exact Match? Me: Yeah Thatâs Fine. The Tile:
#11
My Father Forgot To Tell Me The Renovations Would Be Taking The Stairs Out Today
#12
Brother-In-Law Repairing His Awning
Wallender said you will demolish and dispose of sections of the house that will be replaced by later projects. This is a huge undertaking and many homeowners overlook it until the whole thing begins, only to begin scrambling later to make up for the lost time.
"You'll need to rent a large container for waste. Carefully demolish all or some of the areas of the house that will be renovated. Demolish as much as possible if you will not be living in the house," Wallender said.
#13
We Just Finished The Construction Of Our Yurt. The Fireplace Was Not Correctly Installed
#14
I'm Doing Renovations And My Roomba Found A Tiny Piece Of Sheetrock
#15
A Friend Is Renovating His House. He Also Has A Cat
#16
A Couple Years Ago, My Neighbor Decided To Paint His House Bright Orange... Then Gave Up Halfway Through
Next, think of structural carpentry. This can include moving walls, constructing new walls, adding beams to support a greater weight upstairs, punching in new doors (or removing existing doors), adding framing for new construction windows, or enlarging the window openings.
But be careful. While many of these projects can be undertaken by an enterprising DIYer, some of them, such as enlarging window openings, might call for a contractor's expertise.
#17
Saw This On Facebook With Someone Asking For A Contractor
#18
I Picked The Ladder Up Forgetting The Paint Was On Top
#19
What Could Go Wrong If My Neighbor Uses The Longest Possible Drill Out There?
Mihai Mara 2 years ago
What was it used for? Was it used to annoy upstairs neighbors? What if they drilled right into a pipe or in something that might have exploded? WTF!!!
#20
Could Be Worse
Jan Eivroc 2 years ago
I don't know how they could make such a mistake. Was somebody drunk? or did the house shifted???
Plan out HVAC, electrical, and plumbing jobs. Wallender said these are vital services that need to be installed when the walls and ceiling are open.
"Open walls and ceilings make it easier for the HVAC company to install ductwork for central heating and air conditioning and for electricians and plumbers to run new electrical and plumbing systems."
It's also important to mention that in most places, building code requires that only those professionally licensed to do the work can handle this part of the renovation, so carefully check the requirements in your area.
#21
Lockdown Renovations Look So Easy On Instagram
#22
A Lovely Paint Job
á¶Ê°á”á”á”â±á¶ ËĄá”á”á”ËĄ 2 years ago
I mean, who needs to charge their Playstation anyway?
#23
You Can't Win If You Don't Try, Huh?
#24
Just One Spot Left To Paint Now
"Window installation, whether whole-house or partial, almost always plays into a home remodel project," Wallender explained.
"Installing new-construction or replacement windows is a project many homeowners can try, but keep in mind doing it on your own might invalidate the manufacturer's warranty. Check into the requirements and hire a professional if necessary, as that warranty could save you many headaches down the road."
#25
My Mom's Garage Is Being Renovated. I Think It's Pretty Obvious That They Have 3 Dogs
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago
If thereâs some kind of durable clear coating that will fill in the footprints, and smooth and level the surface, Iâd be tempted to leave it as is. Conversation piece, and a cool way to remember the dogs after they pass.
#26
You Had Just One Job, Just One
#27
I May Have Used Too Much Spray Foam Insulation To Fill A Hole On The Other Side Of This Wall
#28
This Is Why You Don't Hire Contractors Who Secure Cabinets To Dry Wall Only. Thousands In Damage Last Night
Before the drywall goes up, the insulation must go in. "Look at the options for insulation, and plan to use different types for different areas of the house. You'll need it in the walls and attic, and you might be able to do all of it yourself."
"You'll close up the walls with drywall: hanging it, mudding it, and sanding it," Wallender continued. "Drywallers hang sheets of drywall, apply drywall compound, and let the compound dry. After drying, they sand it smooth. Sometimes, they will repeat the process until they achieve a seamless surface. With some practice and patience, you might be able to do this on your own."
#29
My Mom Had Her Guest Bathroom Remodeled While She Was Out Of Town
She wanted the shower head up high so tall people didn't have to crouch or lean way back. Came home to find this, which shoots the water straight across to the opposite wall
Anna Banana 2 years ago
What a weird cultural difference: practically all showerheads are adjustable height where I live... This would only be seen in a swimming pool or something. (I dig how those tiles meet in the corner though. It shouldn't work, but it does.)
#30
How These Pipes Were Installed
#31
My Lovely Wife Bought A New Screen And A Cat Door To Go In It. Took A Few Hours And She Was So So Proud Of Herself
#32
"That's Not Going To Hold Without A Stud," My SO Said. "Don't Worry," I Replied. "I've Got Half Inch Toggle Bolts"
Next comes the carpentry that is not supportive, such as baseboards, molding, trim around windows and doors, and built-in elements (bookcases or breakfast nooks). Fine carpentry gives your house that finished touch.
When those are done, move on to interior painting, wallpaper, and other finishing work. "Many homeowners can handle the work of painting interior walls, hanging wallpaper, painting molding and trim, or staining and sealing trim," Wallender said. "All of these detail-oriented surface finishes should be some of the last items you do indoors, as this work can damage other parts of the process. For instance, should you paint before installing or sanding your flooring or the reverse? This is debatable. Laying flooring first means that paint might get on the flooring. Painting first means that the floor sander may scuff your walls."
#33
GF And I Have Covid. Heater Went Out, Technician Can't Come Out Due To Quarantine. Decided To Try And Fix It Myself. Tripped Over A Pipe And Fell Through The Ceiling
#34
New Neighbors Painted Their Fence Yesterday, Now Our Car Looks Like This. All Over
#35
Askew Angles
#36
True Story: So I Tried To Open The Door To See How The Installation Was Going. Tried
Then install flooring. "Your final floor covering will vary depending upon the room; for instance, you might choose laminate, solid hardwood, engineered wood, or carpet for various living and bedroom areas and vinyl, tile, or marble for bathrooms and kitchens."
But no matter what you choose, Wallender suggests installing the flooring as late as possible in the renovation process. This will save your flooring surface from significant damage.
#37
Was Going To Paint Today And Found This Surprise
#38
Neat Fan Installation
Hermien Greeff 2 years ago
Long-term goals - once the roof falls in there will be natural ventilation.
#39
Having My Bathroom Remodeled And They Installed My Shower At Less Than Knee Height
Once the inside is done, or at least close to it, you can work on the exterior of the house. "With the house mostly finished, it is safe to put on the gutters and siding. You do not want to do this earlier unless absolutely necessary, because doors and windows may get punched out, thus ruining the exterior job," Wallender said.
"Now you can also consider external renovations that might be connected to the house, such as adding a front porch or sunroom. Now is also the time to think about the parts that are entirely separate from the house, such as detached garages or swimming pools."
#40
I Installed My Own Microwave Today And Saved $150 In Install Fees
#41
Contractor Got Angry And Left The Job When We Asked Him To Use The Spacers We Bought For The Backsplash
#42
I Mean, You Could've Rotated The Toilet, But Whatever
#43
We Got Our Doors Painted During A Remodel And The Painters Forgot To Put The Plastic Covering On The Ground
Don't be too hard on yourself if these tasks seem daunting. Earlier this year, a study of 2,000 UK property owners found almost half (48 percent) don’t think their home will ever be ‘finished’ – with some of the bigger tasks still in progress ranging from loft conversions to half-done home offices.
Some of the top reasons for these jobs being left unfinished include not having the skills required to complete them (22 percent), underestimating the time it would take to manage the project (20 percent), and underbudgeting (16 percent).
#44
"June, We Don't Need No Handyman, These Are Easy To Put In"
Leah zzstu Merritt 2 years ago
Did somebody make those gashes in the wall, or were they made by the fan?
#45
Someone Installed A Projector With 40+ Cm (15+ Inches) Screws Up To My Apartment. And As It Wasn't Bad Enough, I Have To Pay For The Floor
#46
Got Funky While Building My First Staircase
#47
Fiancé Was Being Thoughtful And Taking The Paint Cans To The Basement. Turns Out He Tried To Carry Too Much At Once (Also We Just Bought This House)
However, homeowners remain optimistic. They believe they will be able to get their DIY projects back on track, estimating it to take an average of eight months to complete all the unfinished jobs.
Seeing what new makeovers family and friends have done to their homes provides the greatest source of inspiration for 28 percent of them, while many others find their motivation for renovations in TV shows (27 percent).
#48
You Only Had One Job
Chucky Cheezburger 2 years ago
Do the rungs on the ladder adjust? Cuz they look like they adjust.
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What do you think ?
The Panda Cheese 2 years ago
All I can say is if you're going to force me to whitelist this site on my adblocker, you better step up the quality.
EMMAH PANO 2 years ago
I ts blog very amazing.Its very helpful for me . Thanks for sharing it.
Ann Mohrmann 2 years ago
I'm going to have my walls painted and my floors replaced. And I am definitely going to pay extra to hire professionals with high ratings. Oy.
Random Anon 2 years ago
Where do these people pick up their contractors? The local weed dispensary?
Jessica Combrink 2 years ago
Well, folks... lessons learned for sure at the expense of others :D
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
It's not cardboard; it's sheetrock (aka drywall). It replaced lath-and-plaster about 70 years ago. It's cheaper, easier to install, easier to patch, and provides better insulation.
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The Panda Cheese 2 years ago
All I can say is if you're going to force me to whitelist this site on my adblocker, you better step up the quality.
EMMAH PANO 2 years ago
I ts blog very amazing.Its very helpful for me . Thanks for sharing it.
Ann Mohrmann 2 years ago
I'm going to have my walls painted and my floors replaced. And I am definitely going to pay extra to hire professionals with high ratings. Oy.
Random Anon 2 years ago
Where do these people pick up their contractors? The local weed dispensary?
Jessica Combrink 2 years ago
Well, folks... lessons learned for sure at the expense of others :D
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
It's not cardboard; it's sheetrock (aka drywall). It replaced lath-and-plaster about 70 years ago. It's cheaper, easier to install, easier to patch, and provides better insulation.
Load More Replies...
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