5 Renovation Mistakes Homeowners Often Make in Summer

Summer is the perfect time to start tackling all of those big home improvements that you’ve had on your list since January, and now, you should have the weather on your side. With the longer days, you’ll have plenty of time to dive into the extension, loft conversions or complete garden overhauls, but take a minute to do some planning first.

Don’t rush into your summer home improvement plans and end up leaving things in a worse state than before. In this article, we discuss some of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to home renovations and how you can avoid them this summer!

Here are five renovation mistakes to avoid this summer and why getting expert help can save you time, stress, and a lot of money in the long run.

1. Starting Without Planning Permissions or Checking Building Regs

It is very easy to dive into home improvement work on a whim, whether you’re doing up the kitchen or building yourself a garden office. But before you start hammering away and booking in the builders, you may want to pick up the phone to your local council.

Planning permission and building regulations exist for a reason, and that is to keep you, your neighbours and your home safe. Skipping this step could result in incredibly costly fines, the forced removal of the work you’ve conducted and paid for, or major issues when you come to try and sell your home.

Speak to a builder or architect before starting any structural or external work, as they will advise you on what you need to have in place and can even submit applications on your behalf - which saves you a lot of time researching on the internet.

2. Skipping the Prep Work Because It’s Warm

It can be easy to dive into jobs when the sun is shining and forget all the important preparation work. You may actually be surprised to see just how much prep work a tradesperson will put in before they start the actual renovations, and there is good reason for this. For example, if you’re planning on painting the house, first, you’ll need to clean the walls and potentially sand them down before you start painting. Even then, the type of paint you buy will determine the type of preparation you need to do.

Resist the urge to shortcut your summer projects. If you’re not confident in your prep work or simply don’t have the time, hire a professional who’ll do it right the first time.

3. Underestimating the Impact of Heat

We spend all year waiting for the summer to come back around so we can spend time outside, enjoy BBQs, and simply enjoy not being cold. However, the hot weather can actually have a detrimental impact on home renovations. For example:

• Adhesives and glues can set incredibly quickly in high temperatures, which can make it hard to get a proper bond.
• When painting, paint can dry before it has a chance to level out, which can lead to visible drip and brush marks, not to mention cracking.
• Wood will expand in the heat and then contract later on when it cools. This can lead to gaps, warping, or creaky floors later on.

Even things like vinyl flooring or plaster can behave differently in hot, dry weather, which means that timing really does matter.

A key point to note here is that experienced tradespeople know how to work with the weather. So, they’ll tweak their methods based on the humidity, sunlight, and temperature, something that the average homeowner simply will not know how to do.

4. Hiring the Wrong Help — or Not Hiring at All

Summer is the peak season for renovations, which also makes it one of the busiest times for builders, electricians, plumbers, and roofers. If you wait until the last minute to book someone, you might end up missing out on quality tradespeople.

Alternatively, some homeowners will opt to save as much money as possible by doing everything as a DIY project, only to get stuck halfway through and then face costly fixes when something goes wrong.

The best thing to do here is to start getting quotes as early as possible in the year. Ideally, you should do this in the spring if you want to book work for the summer. Ask for references, check qualifications, and make sure your chosen tradesperson is experienced with the type of project you’re planning.

5. Ignoring the Bigger Picture

It’s really easy to focus on one part of a project, only to forget how it affects the rest of your home. For example:

• Laying beautiful new flooring without checking if your subfloor is level or dry
• Converting your loft but not installing proper insulation or ventilation
• Building a garden room that looks great but doesn’t meet building regulations

These little oversights can turn into massive headaches down the line, particularly when it comes to things like energy efficiency or damp, which can impact your resale price.

So, before you dive into the fun stuff like choosing tiles or paint colours, get in touch with a qualified builder. A professional will take a step back and help you look at the whole picture, not just the surface-level stuff.

Summer is a fantastic time to make home improvements, but only if you plan smart. Rushing into renovations without checking permissions, skipping prep, or trying to do complex jobs yourself can lead to wasted time and money. Instead, get a professional on your side.

Whether you need a builder, tiler, painter, plumber, or all of the above, MyJobQuote makes it easy to connect with experienced local tradespeople who know how to do the job right and know how to work with the great British summer.

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