What people keep running into with renovation
Complaints tagged renovation, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
174 recurring problems · 2187 people · 31 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 4How to tell if a carpet installation job was done badlyPoor carpet installation often shows up as protruding plastic, crushed or sparse-looking fibers, and visible staple indents or messy seams. These flaws prevent you from knowing whether the finish is normal or defective, making it difficult to address the issues with the installer.
- 4How to keep dust out of the house during a window replacementWindow installation generates fine concrete dust and debris that settles on floors overnight when installers don't use proper containment frames. Because staying home during the project is common due to time and budget limits, homeowners need to know what dust mitigation is reasonable to expect from installers.
- 4What to do about uneven or mismatched tile patternsInconsistent tile or flooring patterns caused by poor installation or mismatched joining rooms can ruin the look of a space, especially if the original tile is discontinued and hard to replace. This leaves homeowners stuck between living with obvious layout mistakes or tearing up the whole floor to start over.
- 4Do I need underlayment for luxury vinyl plank flooring?When manufacturers recommend underlayment as optional but installers say it is unnecessary, homeowners are left guessing whether skipping it will ruin their new floors or cause noise issues below. This conflict makes it impossible to know if paying extra for materials is actually required to protect the flooring.
- 4How to find discontinued replacement tiles to match existing flooringWhen manufacturers discontinue a flooring style or the original pattern is unknown, finding matching tiles becomes an exhausting multi-year search. This leaves people unable to finish rooms or repair damaged sections, forcing them to keep hunting through online forums and stores without success.
- 4Can you install flush baseboards without replacing your floors?Installing modern flush baseboards usually requires pulling up existing flooring, as traditional thick baseboards hide the raw gaps left between the floor edge and drywall. Attempting this retrofit while keeping current floors leads to difficult installation hurdles and visible gaps, causing many homeowners to abandon the project.
- 4Is my weathered deck salvageable or do I need to replace it?Deciding whether to strip, sand, and refinish old deck boards or completely rip them up and lay new ones comes down to judging if the wood is past the point of no return. This makes it difficult to gauge whether the required elbow grease is worth it or if replacement is the only way to ensure it lasts.
- 4How to cover a bulky AC unit without blocking airflowCovering or disguising a bulky AC unit restricts airflow and ruins cooling efficiency, even when using slatted covers. Enclosures also block the frequent access needed to pull units out for cleaning, leak repairs, and replacement, while hidden piping alternatives require lowering ceiling heights. This prevents residents from hiding unsightly equipment without risking unit damage or losing living space.
- 4Design-build vs separate contractors for a remodelHiring a separate architect, designer, and contractor leaves you trying to figure out how much project coordination will fall on your own shoulders. Conversely, choosing a single firm can result in feeling the finished remodel was way overpriced for what you actually received.
- 4How to replace an 18 inch rough-in toiletThere are no modern toilets manufactured with an 18-inch rough-in, forcing homeowners to figure out how to retrofit standard models to their existing bathroom. This process is complicated by older four-bolt setups that use floor studs instead of a standard flange. Without a standard flange, people are left guessing exactly where the plumbing pipe is centered.
- 3New kitchen cabinets covered an electrical outletContractors often install cabinets directly over existing wall boxes, leaving live wiring trapped in an inaccessible space behind wood. Homeowners are left trying to figure out whether to use a box extender safely or legally relocate the outlet to meet building codes.
- 3How to tell if wood floors in different rooms matchAdjacent rooms often use different wood species, plank widths, or stains that only become obvious once a dividing wall is removed. This uncertainty makes it difficult to plan whether floors can be smoothly refinished together or if the entire area requires extensive patching and matching.
- 3Will half-inch pipes cause pressure drops in a second bathroom?Using half-inch lines to supply two bathrooms can cause a noticeable change in shower flow and temperature when both are used simultaneously. This flow restriction prevents you from running both rooms at the same time without experiencing sudden pressure and temperature drops.
- 3Who do you hire to remove a built-in wall AC and patch the hole?People don't know whether a general contractor or another specialist handles removing a wall air conditioner and fixing both the drywall and exterior siding. Homeowners also get stuck trying to figure out how to unseal or slide out stuck units that won't budge.
- 3Should I replace my attic fan when getting a new roof?Since the roof is already being redone, it is much easier to replace an old attic fan whose exact age is unknown. Even if it is not currently leaking, an older unit is worth evaluating so you do not miss the opportunity to swap it out while roofers are already working in that area.
- 3How to cover an old outdoor electrical box and hide exposed wireLeaving an abandoned outdoor junction box exposed after removing a light fixture creates an eyesore and safety hazard. The difficulty lies in safely sealing the hole while concealing leftover wires like a relocated fixture lead, which homeowners struggle to accomplish cleanly without a proper cover.
- 3Can you sand and stain old carpeted stair treads?When ripping up old carpet on decades-old stairs, homeowners often find worn subfloor treads and are unsure whether they can be sanded and stained to match new flooring like LVP, or if they need to be completely covered with new matching treads or replaced.
- 3How to check for lead and asbestos in 90s homesBuilding materials containing lead and asbestos remained in warehouse backstock and circulation long after their official bans, leaving houses built into the mid-90s at risk. Realtors often dismiss these environmental safety concerns as overly strict, making it difficult for buyers with young children to investigate potential hazards without facing pushback.
- 3New flooring hits the door and won't clearAdding thick layers like screed, underlay, and laminate raises the floor height so it blocks the bottom of swinging doors and fails to slide neatly underneath door frames. This leaves homeowners stuck trying to figure out how to trim the door down or get the planks to fit past the frame without leaving gaps.
- 3How to tell which plumbing rough-in pipe is whichUnlabeled stub-out pipes leave homeowners guessing which drain corresponds to a toilet, shower, sink, or cleanout. Without clear markings, it is difficult to plan a basement bathroom layout or confirm if existing plumbing already serves a purpose before hiring a professional.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.