In this episode I am joined by my wife Poonam who had a large hand in making these renovations a success. We walk you through the first few moments when we walked in the house, initial reactions and I speak to that tipping point about whether to break apart those first hardwood floors or not. In this podcast I provide you some tips. Here are the coles notes version of the podcast (although I suggest you listen to it as well)

Research

Finding the inner confidence to do so can sometimes prove to be a challenge, but it all starts with the proper research. As long as you have researched what you’re doing, you can anticipate things that are expected and have some idea of how to deal with the unexpected. Whether you’re taking apart tile, removing flooring or taking down cabinets, be sure to research it. There are various ways to research this including some online research, speaking to hardware stores and professionals or get a hold of people that are an authority in this space. Feel free to shoot me an email or send me a voicemail on my “Ask Sats” page.

The Tipping Point

If you’re at the tipping point as to whether you should do the reno or not, you really need to ask yourself if you can commit to it. Renovation projects are not for everybody so you need to be honest with yourself. My philosophy is that if you’ve done the research, you should be in a position to take on the challenge. That however is for you to decide.

Don’t Outsource the Demo

Even if you decide to outsource some of the work, the demolition is something you shouldn’t outsource. Why? because when else do you get the chance to smash things around and not have to worry about putting it back together. Having said that if you are looking to do the demo on the own, be sure to stay clear of electrical and plumbing lines. If you are working near electrical and plumbing lines be sure to document where the outlets, pipes etc are located. This would have been documented in the Understand phase from episode 2.

Work Smarter

When you are having fun with your demo, be sure to equip yourself with some power tools. I tried to take apart our kitchen floor tiles with a chisel, crowbar and hammer. While I made some progress, I was moving at a snails pace. I eventually purchased a hammer drill with a chisel bit that allowed me to quadruple my productivity. Making that investment is well worth it. I used the Bosch Bulldog SDS Hammer drill and a chisel bit set.

Support is your Secret Ingredient

If you decide to take on any renovation project, having the necessary support through family and friends is absolutely critical. When times are difficult you need to have somebody to turn to who can help motivate you to move forward. For me, I would generally not take on any renovation unless my wife supported it, and when things go down she is one of the first to help pick me up. It’s a sensational feeling!

Helpful Links

Bosch Bulldog SDS Hammer drill

Chisel bit set

As always feel free to send me a note at [email protected]