Unless you’re naturally handy, taking on a DIY project can be quite the challenge. It will require patience and a lot of trial and error, especially for someone with little to no experience.
As you might expect, some of these endeavors will fail. While that’s nothing to be ashamed of, there’s a slight chance that your work may be featured on the DIY Fail subreddit. The group’s profile summed up what they’re all about pretty succinctly: “perfectly good ideas executed… poorly.”
We collected some images from the page that stood out to us. See how many posts from this list you relate to the most.
#1 Not Mine, But One Of My Favorite DIY Post Ever; The Wooden Jeep
Image source: RickGervs
#2 Sweet Lamb Cake
Image source: UnicornBeef
#3 DIY fail Would Not Be Complete Without The Shed Of Doom
Image source: stay_at_work_dad
There are many reasons someone would prefer to do it themselves rather than hire a professional. In a survey conducted by Clovered, saving money ranked highest, with 85% of respondents citing it.
Meanwhile, 55% admitted they went for DIY solutions to challenge themselves, while 37% stated that they were more about learning new concepts. 33% sought fulfillment, while 23% used their projects as a creative outlet. 38% of those surveyed also described doing DIY projects as “fun.”
#4 My Girlfriend’s Mum Paid Their Friend To Install A Heat “Vent”. Im In Disbelief
Image source: iiJoeeii
#5 World’s Worst Birdhouse
Image source: hmbmelly
#6 Ex-Wife’s Attempt To Put Up A Chain Link Fence. She Didn’t Bother To Cement The Posts
Image source: toinfinitiandbeyond
Speaking of saving money, doing DIY work on a home, for example, can significantly reduce costs. Clovered also revealed potential price points, comparing the cost of doing the work yourself to hiring a professional.
Installing hardwood flooring, for example, costs $900 on average to DIY. Meanwhile, the highest potential cost is around $8,000.
#7 Tried To Organize My Wife’s Earrings As A Surprise… I Meant Well
Image source: SuperPup
#8 ‘My Landlord’s DIY Fail’, Otherwise Known As ‘How To Save Money And Turn Your House Into A Fire Hazard In One Easy Step’
Image source: chopstix007
#9 Someone Didn’t Read The Slide’s Instructions. It Drops The Kid On His Head
Image source: langer_cdn
Mistakes are a part of every DIY endeavor, especially if you lack experience. Unfortunately, those missteps are common, as 87% of homeowners have made mistakes while working on a DIY project.
Of course, these mistakes can be costly, with the median cost of fixing them at $137.50. The most common reasons for mistakes include starting the project without the necessary tools, incorrect measurements, and working outside one’s skill level.
#10 Found In The Foreclosure My Friend Bought
Image source: reddit.com
#11 Tried To Make A Hiding Place In A Book !
Image source: reddit.com
#12 My Stepfather Using His Glorious DIY Dock
Image source: llucidslide
Injuries may happen in worse cases. In fact, 1 in 4 homeowners have hurt themselves while doing a DIY home improvement project.
Among the top injuries were falling off a ladder (21.4%), slipping on the floor (26.7%), self-inflicted injuries using hammers and other tools (58.4%), and accidental cuts sustained from sharp tools (74.9%).
#13 Walnut Cooking Spoon. Nailed It!
Image source: zorlack
#14 What Do You Mean “Crush Hazard” It Looks Perfectly Safe To Me
Image source: bonez656
#15 Another Great Fail From The Foreclosure My Friend Bought
Image source: reddit.com
Unnecessary costs from mistakes are definitely avoidable. According to DIY expert Lora Bloomquist, one way to do this is by weighing the pros and cons of your project.
“You may decide you want to keep moving forward, but you need to give yourself a little break time before picking it up again. Sometimes, there’s another product or item out there that will be the answer to your problem,” she noted.
#16 If You Put Enough Holes In A Wall You Will Find A Stud
Image source: StuckInADream
#17 Basically Why One Should Not Replicate What One Sees On Pinterest
Image source: Insert-Tardis-Sounds
#18 I Thought I Could Polish The Scratches Out Of My Polycarbonate Eyeglasses
Image source: kid_entropy
#19 “Ground”
Image source: reddit.com
#20 Like It Never Happened
Image source: jmvriefox
#21 I Present To You, My Shower Head
Image source: ThatSlappyChap
#22 Got A Leak? No Problem!
Image source: Charletos
#23 What Does Redoit Think Of This New Headlight?
Image source: reddit.com
#24 So My Uncle “Fixed” His Dock
Image source: anon
#25 Spotted This Beauty Today At A House We’re Flipping
Image source: reddit.com
#26 When My Wife Makes Me Bake
Image source: ineedm0ney
#27 Arbor Fail. Neighbors Have Had This “Work In Progress” Unchanged Since Mid-Summer. The Post Holes Aren’t Even Filled In
Image source: lurkmode_off
#28 Russian 4×4
Image source: HidroProtagonist
#29 Tried Out An Embroidery Pattern I Saw On Pinterest
Image source: tacoram
#30 My First Dyi Kids Fence… What Do You Mean It Does Not Fit Right?
Image source: a_brand_new_start
#31 If At First You Don’t Succeed, Drill More Holes
Image source: Anwhaz
#32 New House… Previous Owners Electrical Tape Plumbing
Image source: anon
#33 Keep On Truckin’
Image source: HidroProtagonist
#34 My Mum’s Attempt At French Macarons. She Started Out So Determined Too
Image source: OperationDropkick
#35 This Belongs Here
Image source: itsrattlesnake
#36 When Pulling A 4 Inch Screw Goes Wrong… This Is On The Ceiling
Image source: SDMusic
#37 I Decided To Make An Enclosure For My Raspberry Pi
Image source: spaxcow
#38 I Have No Words
Image source: reddit.com
#39 My Wife Didn’t Want Anyone To Trip Over The Old Well Pipe. She Decided She Wanted A Miniature Tardis As A Cover. This Was 2 Years Ago. This Pic Was Yesterday
Image source: jchabotte
#40 Someone Made Some Stairs
Image source: IAmSnort
#41 No Stove? No Problem!
Image source: reddit.com
#42 Sweet Potato Roll
Image source: reddit.com
#43 DIY Google Glass W/ Night-Vision I Made Today © It Works!
Image source: jmcstar
#44 I Attempted Macramé, Instead I Ended Up With This Monstrosity
Image source: nneighbour
#45 Of Course It Will Hold The TV, Honey!
Image source: keevenowski
#46 Mom Decided To Make This Veggie Lodge For Christmas. It Wasn’t Working Out Right, So She “Fixed It” By Turning It Into A Veggie Dune Buggy. Problem Solved
Image source: theoptionexplicit
#47 Hey, Do You Think The Concrete Patch Worked??
Image source: J1001
#48 My Sisters Friend Posted This. No One Has Told Him How Awful It Is. He’s Seriously About To Grout This In!!
Image source: dell_55
#49 Your Horizontal Pallet Beds Are Plebeian Stuff Compared To My Pallet Loft And Hovering Bedside Table!
Image source: tangerineonthescene
#50 I Was In Marseilles. I Got A Sensation Of Speed On My Left, Like Something Unstoppable. I Looked At It. It Was The LEGO Spoiler Car !
Image source: chabidou
#51 My Steam Friend Made A Phone Case… Out Of Cardboard
Image source: TerkRockerfeller
#52 How Not To Plane
Image source: seewhaticare
#53 Saw This In /R/Funny Thought It Belonged Here
Image source: jamalstevens
#54 How My Father-In-Law Fixed His Eves Trough
Image source: chadtak13
#55 I Was Wondering Why The Ceiling Was Sagging Before I Removed It
Image source: reddit.com
#56 Painting Around Outlets Is Hard! DIY Lifehack: Remove Faceplate Before Painting!
Image source: WhereintheOK
#57 This Guy Showed Up To My Buddies Work To Buy Oxygen Tanks And Said “Just Put Them On The Bed Of The Truck”
Image source: jpina33
#58 Turn 2 1/4 Times To Flush (X-Post R/Wtf)
Image source: Drabalais85
#59 Special Coat Hanger
Image source: spencerbeale
#60 My Kitchen Doesn’t Have An Exhaust Fan
Image source: Perkinstein
#61 DIY Race Car
Image source: angrysouthafrican
#62 Saw This At A Local Restaurant. Fits Like A Glove!
Image source: tanmnm
#63 First Time Soldering Copper For My Hose Spigot
Image source: finally-free
#64 “Yes Honey, I Can Totally Make That Nightstand”
Image source: mosaik
#65 While Tracking Down A Rattling Noise In The Heating Ducts, Found A… Brick. Had A Heck Of A Time Reaching In To Get The Damn Thing Out. Quieter Now!
Image source: 3DBeerGoggles
#66 I Thought You Guys Might Like My Speaker Shelving
Image source: KingJak117
#67 Only The Most Experienced Contractors
Image source: HotS0up
#68 Bachelor DIY Door Knob
Image source: Punter_Aleman
