What people keep running into with home renovation
Complaints tagged home renovation, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
30 recurring problems · 255 people · 19 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 3Contractor poured concrete over basement floor access holesContractors sometimes fill uncovered floor access holes and cleanouts with concrete without asking homeowners first. This eliminates critical secondary drain access, leaving homeowners with no way to reach the pipes except through the backflow prevention device.
- 3Should I finish an unfinished garage before selling my house?Finishing an unfinished garage with drywall and insulation costs thousands of dollars upfront. Homeowners hesitate because they worry they will not make a profit or recover those costs when selling the house as is.
- 3Will adding new 20-amp circuits overload my electrical panel?Adding new lights, outlets, or 20-amp breakers creates a risk of drawing too much power and overloading the main box. People expanding a room need to know if their current electrical panel looks appropriate and can safely handle the extra electrical load.
- 2How to cover ugly hardwood floors cheaplyCovering damaged or worn hardwood floors with cheap materials often requires heavy-handed solutions like self-leveler and laminate that destroy the original wood underneath. This forces people into a moral and practical dilemma between doing a quick budget fix and preserving the historical or underlying structure for the future.
- 2How to safely remove old house wiring during a renovationRemoving old house wiring yourself requires shutting off the main power supply and methodically tracing circuits back to the panel before pulling cables or hardware out of framing. Attempting to rip out knob-and-tube or legacy wiring without proper isolation risks hidden live connections, structural damage, and severe electrical hazards.
- 2Affordable wall hung toilets that aren't TotoHigh-end brands like Toto can feel overwhelming and expensive for a whole-house renovation requiring multiple fixtures. This makes it difficult to find approachable, budget-friendly alternatives that still offer good overall quality.
- 2How to deal with lead paint on old floorsStandard sanding is unsafe when old wooden floors test positive for lead paint, leaving homeowners unsure of how to proceed without poisoning themselves or their families. Because hiring professionals is often too expensive, people are forced to look for DIY alternatives or other remediation methods they have no prior experience with.
- 2Concrete slab sloped toward the houseWhen a new concrete slab slopes toward your home instead of away from it, water runs directly against the foundation rather than draining safely into the yard. Fixing major leveling errors usually requires breaking and replacing the incorrect section or applying a specialized leveling overlay, depending on the severity of the slope.
- 2Is old black flooring adhesive safe to remove?Old black flooring adhesive left behind on concrete can look suspicious, leaving homeowners unsure if it is safe to scrape off or simply cover over with new planks. This uncertainty stops people from safely finishing their flooring removal or knowing whether they can install new vinyl directly over the residue.
- 2Should I replace a deformed copper pipe before pouring concrete?Fixing a damaged water pipe now is essential because once the concrete is poured over it, access becomes impossible without jackhammering the floor later. Even though finding an urgent plumber is difficult, addressing the issue immediately prevents catastrophic leaks underneath finished concrete in the future.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.