When it comes to DIY construction, small mistakes can turn into big disasters. A crooked cut, a misplaced nail, or a misunderstood diagram might not seem like much at first—but weeks later, the whole project could fail. To save you the frustration (and money), here are the seven most common DIY building mistakes and the pro-approved fixes to keep your project standing strong.
1. Installing Boards with the Grain Wrong Way ❌
Placing the heart side up will cause edges to curl and split.
✅ Fix: Always install decking or stair boards bark side up to reduce warping.
2. Skipping Hurricane Ties on Deck Joists ️
Many DIYers just nail joists to beams, which makes the structure vulnerable in storms.
✅ Fix: Use proper metal hurricane ties to secure each joist—cheap insurance for safety.
3. Birdsmouth Cut Errors on Rafters
If your rafter birdsmouth isn’t sitting on the top plate, the roof loses critical stability.
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