why some home projects are more complex than they seem 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Discover 5 projects that only look easy  
• Learn about the things one should be careful with
• Understand how even small details matter in simple-looking projects 

Scroll through social media for a while and you will see it – flawless DIY transformations to be done in just 30 seconds. A deck moves up, a wall slides a bit, a brand new shelf comes – all with cozy music and zero stress. It makes you feel home projects almost … obvious, super quick and easy. 

But reality hits hard and the task turns out to be both struggling and expensive.In fact, around 40% of the homeowners who put on DIY home improvements wish they hadn’t started it.As those videos never show the parts that actually make or break a project. (Source – PR Newswire)

What was looking like an interesting and effective weekend task turns into hours of problem solving. It’s not your fault – it’s the confidence that kicks when you watch those ‘saved videos.’   

Keep reading to know why some projects look simple at first glance and actually, those projects are – 

5 Projects That Only Look Easy

Some house projects feel familiar, so you underestimate them. You’ve seen them done before, or perhaps you even helped out with a few. This makes you too confident in your talent, so you start a project and get into trouble midway through. 

Here’s what you must be careful with (or maybe avoid altogether). 

Building a Deck or a Raised Platform

When you look at a deck, it’s simply straight lines and boards, so it looks basic, kind of like a bigger version of a small woodworking project. But you don’t realize what’s below and underneath. 

Footing depth is really important, especially when soil shifts or drains poorly. Load distribution is not only about how many people will stand on it, but how the weight shifts across beams and joints over time. Even if you make just a few small leveling mistakes, it might end up in slopes and long-term stress points once the build is done. 

You can’t simply ignore planning or assume that the ground will ‘probably’ be fine because that’s too highly dangerous. If you ignore safety gear and structural checks, you might even end up with the types of injuries you can face on a construction site. 

A construction task like this is no joke. 

Installing Big Outdoor Structures

Pergolas, gazebos, upgrading the aesthetics of your shed, and carports typically all have neat instructions that make the process look easy and predictable. 

However, this is almost anything but simple. You have to remember that you’re working outside, meaning you have soil types and weather to deal with. There’s also the wind to think about. If you’re creating something at a height, or something that’s tall, then you also have to take all those extra safety precautions and preparations. 

Think about it – you might have to have extension cords so that you can actually use the tools at that height (this is ok if you have battery-only gadgets, but who has those if you’re just DIYing the whole thing). And then, what if it starts raining? Or a strong wind blows and blows away all your little nails and containers, creating a dangerous falling concern both for you, who can fall from a height and injure yourself. Furthermore, for people who might be standing/moving at ground level. They could get hit in the head by something that’s falling.

Not ideal.

Most projects you do, and the tutorials you see, work under the assumption that you’re working at a flat, ground-level surface and everything you require is within reach. Careful technique and tools can help more than these videos if you smartly work with them. 

Removing/Altering Interior Walls

Everyone is super hot for open layouts. And with good reasons. It does make an interior look more refined, plus it gives a bit more square footage to the thing. 

But people don’t think about load-bearing walls, which you might not know which walls you’re permitted to take down and which you aren’t, before you get those architectural plans and review everything there just to be sure. If you remove one, you could cause the overall structure to fall apart. 

And who wants that? If you live in an apartment building, that’s absolutely illegal.

Structure aside, walls also mask all the installations (e.g., electrical wiring, plumbing, HVAC runs, support beams, etc.). You can’t touch any of that without some serious planning. 

So, in short, Do. Not. Touch. The. Walls. 

Roofing Repairs/Partial Fixes

People usually assume that a missing shingle or a small leak will be a ‘quick fix’. But no. When it comes to roofs, that’s not something you typically see.

That’s because it’s not the real repair that you have to worry about; it’s more about the surface you’re working on. Just picture yourself working on a very sloped roof. This will mess with your balance AND visibility. If there’s moss or it rains, the surface will also be slippery, adding to the risk level.

And if it’s just a little fix you’re doing, then it’s probably safe to say you aren’t experienced in doing it (as in doing it regularly to know what and how to do it).

The conditions could flip within moments, and lack of access means that, if you make mistakes, you’ll have a hard time fixing them. 

Concrete & Masonry

Pouring concrete or laying pavers looks like a trained gorilla could do it because it’s so redundant and methodical. 

Concrete is very time-sensitive and unforgiving (even though it looks super easy to work with when you watch someone else doing it on YouTube). That’s because once it begins to set, you can’t really stop it and then do a few adjustments. And it’s not like you can chisel at it. 

You can, technically, but have you ever attempted to do it? If you have, then you know how bizarre that would be.

You’re handling heavy materials, so you’re under a lot of physical stress, and at the same time, you have to be super careful. 

Conclusion

Experience trumps confidence every single time, and you’ll undoubtedly end up with nothing more than frustration if you assume that effort and results are directly connected. Unless you have some level of experience and you prepare properly, your project will go off the rails far faster than you can say hammer. 

Remember that, if a project seems simple, that’s normally a sign to slow down and double-check every detail you think you know. 

You don’t have to back out completely; just try to step in smarter.

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