There’s something compelling about taking on home DIY projects. Whether it’s the money you can save or the sense of accomplishment, the draw of doing it yourself is powerful. Fortunately, there are a litany of projects out there that the average person can take on. All that's really required is careful planning and patience.

However, there are also some tasks around the home that are never a good idea for the untrained to attempt. To help you prepare for your DIY dreams, we’ve gathered some essential 'dos and don’ts' to keep in mind.

What TO Do

Wear Safety Gear

The project you chose will dictate the safety gear you need. A few of the most common safety items you should consider are:

• masks and respirators
• ear protection
• gloves
• safety toes
• cover-alls
• eye protection

To help decide what you need, consider your project and its inherent risks. Power tools can fling debris towards your eyes, while sanding can fill the air with harmful dust. When in doubt, stay on the safe side of things, and gear up.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

This axiom is self-explanatory, but there’s a reason it’s still repeated.

Cutting the wrong length or shape can be an expensive error, leaving you out time and money. The risk is never worth the few minutes saved. In fact, if its a cut of extra importance, we’d go so far as recommending you measure three or four times. Absolute certainty can save you a lot of heartache.

Keep Your Workspace Organized

This is one of the easiest things to lose sight of in the midst of a complex project. When we’re cycling through a lot of tools and materials, the workspace can easily become a disaster zone.

Big messes can have big consequences. At best, they result in lost hardware and wasted effort. At worst, they can lead to serious injury.

These simple precautions can help you avoid a disorganization disaster:

Keep your walking area clear, especially of anything sharp, slippery, or breakable.

Cover markers, paint, and glue whenever they aren’t in use.

Keep heavy objects and/or caustic materials away from surface edges.

What NOT to do

Don't Tinker with Electricity/Gas/HVAC

There are hundreds of reported home electrocutions in the US every year, and dozens of reported gas related incidents. Unless you are a professional, its best to hire someone to work on electric, gas, and HVAC projects. Mistakes with these systems can lead to major property destruction, not to mention serious risk of harm.

Don’t Mess with Lead Paint

Lead paint is more pervasive than many people realize. It was used on toys, furniture, and even packaging back in the day. Anything painted prior to 1978 in America is a potential risk. While there are DIY bloggers out there that give advice for safely removing lead paint, it’s always safest to get the paint professionally abated.

A Barn Door DIY

If you’re searching for new DIY projects to enhance your home, consider the potential of unfinished BarnCraft sliding barn doors. An unfinished door gives you the opportunity to truly do it yourself, from staining and painting to installation and hanging. Just give us a call, and we can get started helping you get your next project off the ground.