17 smarter renovation and home improvement tips

Sometimes major demolition inside the house is unavoidable. You can limit the pain and discomfort this causes by moving the debris out of the house quickly and getting rid of it promptly.

Home renovation is a fluid process. Unexpected situations arise daily. Whether you use a block of wood, a piece of cardboard or a notebook, always have a pencil and something to write on so you can keep track of the materials, tools and supplies you’ll need to bring the next day.

It’s impossible to demo a wall or bust up a floor without making a mess, but that doesn’t mean you need to track that mess all over the rest of the house. The next time you have to tear out some carpet, cut several long strips, and use them as pathways to protect the flooring in other areas of the house. Make sure to flip the carpet upside down so the abrasive backing won’t scratch the finish on wood floors. Canvas drop cloths are still the best method for protecting stair treads.

Buckets are a renovator’s best friend. They work great for mixing, hauling heavy debris, storing water, dragging tools in and out, organising fasteners, setting stuff on, bailing water, sitting on. There’s a reason why home centres sell empty ones. Never, ever throw away a usable bucket.

Two stacked garbage bins don’t take up much more room in the back of a truck than one, so why not bring at least two? Put them wherever the mess is being made – like next to the mitre saw to drop in cutoffs. Think twice about buying the giant heavy-duty bins. For the same money, you’re best off with sturdy medium-size bins that are easier to carry. Garbage bags work fine for stuffing in old insulation but little else.

As soon as the major demo is completed, make yourself a junk station. Bring extra sawhorses and throw a couple of boards or a piece of plywood on them. It’s smart to have a central location for your tools, fasteners, batteries and chargers, radio, beverages and whatever else it takes to get the job done. Having items scattered all over the job site floor makes clean-up harder, and wandering around looking for the stuff you need is a waste of time.

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Knowing exactly which tools you’ll need for every job is next to impossible. Organise your toolboxes and storage bins according to the work that needs to be done. A box for plumbing tools, electrical, plasterboard, etc. No doubt this will lead to owning more than one of the same tool. But you won’t believe how much time you’ll save having all the proper tools on hand.

Here are more home improvement hacks you’ll wish you knew sooner.

Lighting is one of the last items to be installed on most renovation projects, but it’s hard to do a good job when you’re working in the dark. Plug-in work lights take up precious outlets and are always being tripped on or moved around.

Dedicate a toolbox just for fasteners. You may think you’ll need only two different size screws to finish your job, but it rarely works out that way. And keep a variety of bits along with the fasteners; that way you’ll always have the right bit with the right screw.

Here are 11 home improvement projects you can do yourself instead of hiring a professional.

If you only have a few studs to nail in or a few pieces of base to install, why on earth would you haul that giant, heavy compressor around? Mini compressors are a must for smart renovating. They’re light and inexpensive and easy to carry right to the area you’re working in.