Starting a DIY project is a great way to turn your creative ideas into reality, but there’s no denying that some projects can end up costing a lot, sometimes even more than buying the item ready-made. To help you choose your projects wisely, here are 18 DIY projects that might be more expensive than they seem.
Smart Home Technology
As CheckATrade points out, the equipment that runs a smart home isn’t exactly cheap, with full packages ranging from £5,000 to £15,000. Many Brits attempt to avoid this hefty price tag by buying (or even designing) the equipment and installing it by themselves. However, there’s a reason companies charge so much for this, and you’ll no doubt end up spending extra pounds on botched fittings, mistakes, and DIY solutions.
Wooden Furniture
DIY furniture projects involving wood often end up being more expensive than buying a new piece of furniture. This is because lumber is expensive, and treated wood that has already been sanded and varnished is even more expensive. Any furniture you make has to be very sturdy, and the right tools are often pricey.
Clothes
Making your own clothes might seem like a good way to save money, but it can be costly. Fabric is pricey, and sewing machines are expensive. According to the New York Times, a person can spend anywhere from about £80 to over £12,000 on a sewing machine, but more expensive doesn’t always equal better.
Jewelry
Everyone knows that jewelry is notoriously expensive, but this isn’t just a rip-off. Making intricate jewelry can be very expensive when you weigh up the price of the tools you’ll need to make it and the materials you’ll have to buy, so DIY jewelry prices often aren’t any cheaper than buying it premade.
Wine
Vivino says that an average bottle of red wine (3.6 rating) costs £12.50, which is actually quite a lot for a few glasses. To cut this cost, many people try making their own wine. But the price of the fermentors, hydrometers, and siphoning units can make this pastime expensive. This is especially the case if you don’t have any of the materials yet.
Crockery
Making your own mugs and plates out of clay and then firing them in a kiln is a very satisfying process, but it’s also one that’s expensive. Installing a kiln or a charcoal pit is a large investment. SDS Industries says that kiln costs vary tremendously, ranging from around £550 for compact kilns to over £15,000.
Computer
Some computer repairs are relatively straightforward, but others involve many parts that can be pricey. Electrical components are not made to last anymore, so you have to also calculate the shelf life of your computer and make sure that any repairs will be worth it.
Curtains
The figures from Fixr say that simple, ready-made nylon curtains for a small fixed window can cost as low as £20. But making your own curtains can be a more expensive project when you consider the price of the fabric, the cost of the pattern, and how much time you’ll spend making them.
Glass
Blowing glass and making your own tumblers and light fixtures are rewarding pastimes that take a lot of time to learn and master. But aside from this, they’re also very expensive, as you must buy all of the equipment, such as graphite reamers, blow hoses, and paddles.
Gaming
Trying to repair a broken game console might be more expensive than buying a new one. You must weigh up the price of the broken part, its shipping, and your labor, then make sure that this doesn’t exceed the value of the console.
Doors
According to HomeGuide, most homeowners spend £80 to £400 on interior doors and even more on exterior doors. Therefore, some try to cut this cost by making their own doors, but honestly, if you have to invest in carpentry equipment, then buying the doors ready-made will be cheaper.
Soap
Making soap is enjoyable but often works out more expensive than buying a bar of soap from the store. When you make soap, you have to calculate the price of the essential oils, which are expensive. Unless you’re making soap with the same scent over and over again, DIY soap will be more expensive than shop-bought.
Vintage Entertainment
Many people like to restore vintage entertainment pieces like film projectors as part of a DIY project. But restoring this old equipment is often expensive as the parts are no longer in production and are pricey. Because they are often fragile parts, shipping them is expensive.
Painting
Many people are keen to make their own paintings to hang in their houses rather than buy artwork. But painting can prove to be more expensive than buying art when you consider how long it’s going to take you. Good oil paints are also very expensive.
Security
Buying security cameras and installing security equipment yourself can be more expensive than paying for a complete, professional security package. These packages often also come with a warranty, which will save you money on any repairs in the future. You would not benefit from these perks with a DIY system.
Refrigerator
Buying replacement pieces for your refrigerator can be expensive. If your refrigerator is old, you may find that you’ll soon need to replace other, more expensive components of it. Finding old parts is time-consuming and depending on the make and model of your unit, it might be expensive.
Audio Equipment
We’re living in a throwaway world where, when things break, people discard them rather than repair them. Because of this, the price of old parts, especially audio equipment, is very high. Getting the right tools to fix a piece of equipment also proves challenging.
Home Theater
Putting together your own home theater might be more expensive than having a professional complete the job for you. When going through a professional company, you might get a discount on a bundle of technical equipment, which you wouldn’t get when buying the products alone.