Top Four Cottage DIY Mistakes
Bryan Baeumler
Bryan Baeumler, host of Disaster DIY and professional contractor, reveals the biggest reno no-nos when it comes to the cottage.
Permits
People incorrectly assume that because they’re at the cottage, building permits and codes do not apply…they do! The attitude of “Oh well, it’s only the cottage” has created more electrical, plumbing and structural nightmares than you can shake a marshmallow stick at.
Materials
Most cottagers have a pile of reclaimed, rotten or incorrect materials that were brought up for a past project, and remain in a scavenger pile for any repairs that come up. Untreated lumber has a life span, but we’ve seen rotten boards used to repair decks, docks and even build new structures. Even if you’re at the lake, you need to plan ahead and get the right materials for the job at hand. I’ve seen a lakeside deck held together (barely) by duct tape, shims and pizza oven bricks.
Time
You go to the cottage to relax. Many people make plans to do a renovation, build a new deck or dock without considering the multitude of distractions that present themselves lakeside. If you don’t budget, plan and schedule a job, nature, campfires, boat rides and naps can take priority - leaving an unfinished project that will haunt you for years to come. If you can’t create a realistic schedule and stick to it, it may be time to bite the bullet and hire someone to finish the job for you, allowing more time for recreation and less conflict on the weekends.
Maintenance
Or lack thereof! Absence may make the heart grow fonder, but it also allows you to forget about important, regularly scheduled maintenance on mechanical and structural systems at the cottage. Before firing up the furnace, wood stove or water system, check to make sure there’s no critters nesting in the vents, or cracked pipes from improper drainage.