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According to a survey conducted by Today’s Homeowner, approximately 71% of homeowners choose to do home improvement projects themselves rather than hiring a professional due to inflation. Considering the cost, this makes perfect sense. DIY home renovations can save you a lot of labor costs. However, the problem is that starting one of these projects can be scary, especially if you don’t have much experience. Sourcing and planning your own materials can take just as much work as completing the DIY itself, but with a DIY kit you can skip the first step of the process and get to work right away. You can get started.
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These kits include everything you need for your project, whether it’s refinishing your countertops or upgrading your outdoor space, so they effectively serve as a halfway point between starting from scratch and hiring a professional. Think of it like a box cake mix. You’ll need to preheat the oven and crack some eggs, but you won’t have to do complicated measurements or spend the same money you would at the bakery. That being said, the quality of the kit will inevitably impact the quality of the final product. That’s why we decided to round up some of the best and worst DIY kits on the market to increase your chances of getting the results you like.
Selection: Mirador 80S Louvered Pergola
According to Forbes, the average cost to install a pergola is about $5,000. That is, of course, unless you purchase one of these Mirador 80S Louvered Pergola Kits from Amazon. Costs range from $999 to $1,999 depending on size, but either way it’s cheaper than having a professional install it. These DIY pergola kits come with all the necessary materials and tools, and many reviewers note how easy this task was to complete. As an added bonus, it’s made entirely of durable, weather-resistant steel, so it will stand the test of time.
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Pass: Rust-Oleum Home Marble Countertop Coating Kit
Countertop style can make or break a kitchen, and nothing is more classic than marble. This Rust-Oleum Home Marble Countertop Coating Kit promises to help you achieve the look of marble countertops on a budget in a few easy steps. At only $60.99, it’s much more affordable than installing it on a new countertop, but unfortunately, this product seems too good to be true. Reviewers were impressed with the ease of application and final appearance, but many noted that it wasn’t very durable and the coating wasn’t food safe.
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Pick: Suncast heavy duty resin Tremont storage
Having a shed in your backyard is a great way to increase your storage space. So if you’re looking for an option that’s easy to build yourself and guaranteed to withstand the elements, take a look at this Suncast 8′ x 10. ‘ Heavy-duty resin Tremont storage. The package contains everything you need to assemble the shed yourself, including a plastic floor. Reviewers say the shed is sturdy, spacious, and has a good design, but some note that the large number of screws can make it a bit difficult to assemble.
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Pass: Visrie Spray Foam Insulation
Increasing or replacing your home’s insulation can lower your energy bills, but this can easily be put off when you consider the cost of hiring a professional. This makes it unwise to purchase a Visrie spray foam insulation kit, although you may be tempted to do it yourself. A whopping 78% of reviewers gave this product one star, noting that the sprayer doesn’t fan out as advertised, the foam doesn’t stick to walls, and the nozzle constantly gets clogged.
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Select: Ekopel pour-on bathtub repair kit
After several years of use, it’s not uncommon to notice worn spots, chips, or stains on the surface of your bathtub. To solve this problem without completely replacing your bathtub, you can choose a reglazing process like this Ekopel Pour On Bathtub Refinishing Kit. This kit includes everything you need to complete the job yourself, including access to helpful video tutorials that walk you through the process step-by-step. Amazon reviewers are very happy with the DIY, with many noting that even first-time users have seen good results.
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Path: InstaDeck Outdoor Flooring
Installing a deck can give your outdoor space a more sophisticated and comfortable finish, but many people don’t consider undertaking a full-scale construction project. Instant decks offer an easy-to-install solution on any flat surface, but it’s important to find a reliable and properly constructed product. Unfortunately, this InstaDeck Outdoor Flooring kit doesn’t fit your requirements. Although the price is quite reasonable and it looks attractive in the product photos, reviewers say they had major issues with the quality of the product and the items included in the packaging.
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Pick: Rust-Oleum Epoxyshield Garage Floor Coating Kit
Garage floors are prone to stains, but with a little work and this Rust-Oleum Epoxyshield Garage Floor Coating Kit, you can restore them to their former shine. This kit includes a two-part epoxy mixture that you apply directly to the flooring, but you will need to purchase your own tools. Reviewers were generally happy with the coverage and appearance of this product, although some reviewers had trouble covering an entire floor with one kit. Just be sure to measure the area of your garage and buy accordingly and you should be fine.
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Pass: Backyard Discovery Kingsport All Cedar Wooden Carport Gazebo
Installing a carport provides an alternative to a garage to protect your car from the weather, and its relatively simple design makes it easy to DIY. However, if you are looking for a quality wood option, we recommend choosing the Backyard Discovery Kingsport 20′ x 20′ All Cedar Wood Carport Gazebo. This carport kit is quite expensive at $3,999, so it’s tempting to assume it’s of high quality, but several customers have noted that they received damaged or incorrect parts.
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Select: Nuvo Titanium Infusion Cabinet Makeover Kit
Painting your kitchen cabinets requires more than just a can of paint, so if you’re looking for an all-in-one kit that has everything you need, check out the Nuvo Titanium Infusion Cabinet Makeover Kit. This kit comes in 11 color options and includes a roller, brush, and stirring stick so you can start DIY right away. Nuvo’s paint kit has a 4.6-star rating from over 14,000 ratings on Amazon, with many reviewers saying the paint was easy to use and left a beautiful finish on the cabinets.
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Path: Deuvuo Tile Grout Repair Kit
Although an often overlooked detail, the grout in a tiled space can have a big impact on the overall look of the space. Because of this, you might want to pick up something like this Deuvuo Tile Grout Repair Kit. Although the kit is reasonably priced at just $12.59 and includes a wealth of useful tools, several reviewers say the grout repair formulation itself ended up doing more harm than good. I’m pointing it out. Negative reviews say the product arrived dry, cracked after a few weeks, or had tape peeling off.
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Select: Boncart Drywall Repair Kit
Drywall is certainly not the most durable material on the planet, so it’s not uncommon to find yourself with damaged walls left behind. You can save a lot of money by repairing it yourself, but you can save even more by purchasing an all-in-one kit that includes everything you need. Boncart’s Drywall Repair Kit is only $18.99 and includes sandpaper, patch, wall repair compound, dispenser tube, and scraper. If you have the compatible wall paint on hand, you can complete the entire repair for less than $20.
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Pass: Handy Home Products Greenbriar DIY Storage Shed with Floor
Getting a DIY shed kit gives you the chance to have fun building without spending hours preparing, but this Handy Home Products Greenbriar 8×10 DIY Storage Shed with Floors seems like it will only end up causing you frustration. is. Although it includes all the parts you need to build your own shed, including the floor, many customers were not very happy with the final product. Some say it feels brittle, while others say the pieces of wood they receive are warped and difficult to handle.
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