10 Things That Cost Way More to DIY Than You Expect

DIY projects are supposed to save you money… but some end up being way more expensive than anyone expects. Between tool rentals, material waste, fixing mistakes, and surprise problems that pop up mid-project, certain DIY jobs quietly drain the budget fast.

It’s not that you can’t do them—it’s that they aren’t as cheap as YouTube and Pinterest make them look. Here are ten projects that almost always cost more to DIY than you think.

Building a Deck

Decks look simple on paper, but lumber prices, hardware, footing materials, and tools add up fast. One miscut board or a misaligned post can cost you time and money.

Plus, if you skip permits or don’t get the foundation right, it turns into an even bigger headache. A deck that isn’t level or isn’t code-compliant can cost more to fix than it would’ve to hire help.

Tile Flooring

Tile might seem budget-friendly until you start adding up backer board, mortar, grout, spacers, sealant, and tool rentals like a wet saw. A lot of DIYers forget how many little supplies go into tile work.

Even worse, any mistakes—like bad cuts or uneven placement—can ruin the look and force you to rip it all out. Professionals often get better pricing on materials too, which evens out the cost.

Landscaping Redesigns

Big backyard overhauls look cheap until you start buying plants, mulch, stone, gravel, edging, and soil. And that’s before you realize you’ll probably need to rent equipment like tillers or compactors.

Without the right prep—like grading or drainage fixes—you end up wasting money on plants that die or mulch that washes away. This is one of the most common DIY money traps.

Fencing

Fences seem easy… until they aren’t. Post hole diggers, concrete, lumber, nails, brackets, and levelers all cost more than most people expect.

And one mistake on leveling or spacing throws off the whole thing. You’ll either waste materials fixing it, or hire someone anyway after realizing it’s a bigger job than you signed up for.

Painting Cabinets

This one fools a lot of people. Sure, it’s cheaper than replacing cabinets—but if you do it right, it’s not as cheap as it sounds. You’ll need degreasers, sandpaper, primer, filler, sprayers, and quality cabinet-grade paint.

If you skip steps, the finish won’t last. But when you buy everything you truly need to do it right, hiring a cabinet painter doesn’t seem so expensive anymore.

Installing Hardwood Floors

Laying hardwood isn’t rocket science, but it is tedious, precise, and material-heavy. Good flooring isn’t cheap, and any bad cuts or waste adds up fast.

Plus, the subfloor needs to be level and prepped perfectly, or you end up with squeaky boards and gaps. Pros also get volume discounts on materials that you don’t.

Building a Shed

Sheds are marketed as easy DIY—but the materials alone can be shocking. Between lumber, roofing, siding, doors, and flooring, it piles up quick.

Add in hardware, paint, tools, and the time it takes, and suddenly a prefab shed or hiring a builder looks like a much better deal.

DIY Paver Patios

The pavers themselves might be cheap, but the base material is where the costs explode. You’ll need gravel, sand, landscape fabric, and heavy-duty equipment to compact it all.

If you skip the proper base, the pavers shift, sink, or crack—wasting every dollar you spent. The prep is the most expensive (and most important) part that people underestimate.

Bathroom Remodels

Demo sounds fun until you hit water damage, rotten floors, or find out your plumbing isn’t where you thought it was. Bathroom remodels are notorious for blowing DIY budgets.

Waterproofing materials, backer board, mortar, tile, grout, and fixtures all cost more than expected. One mistake can lead to leaks that cause thousands in repairs down the road.

Roof Repairs

It always seems cheaper to fix that leaky spot yourself… until you price out underlayment, flashing, shingles, nails, tar, sealants, and the specialty tools pros already own.

And if you mess up? Water damage from a bad patch costs way more than the original problem. Roofing is one area where DIY often turns into the most expensive mistake of all.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.