Making major changes to your home is never easy — but the unexpected snags (and there are always snags) make the experience that much harder. We asked readers for their most cringeworthy stories of home renovation gone wrong. Remember these, and take comfort that you're not alone, next time you deal with a DIY disaster.
1. Vocabulary Lesson
"I was a city girl who had moved to the country. When the crew digging the foundation for our addition told me that they hit our septic tank, I had to ask them to explain to me what that was exactly. Yuck!" — Jennifer
2. Texture Troubles
"We asked the contractor to redo our popcorn ceiling with a lightly textured finish. Well, the contractor hired a sub contractor, and he applied that texture to every wall, ceiling, and surface in the kitchen! All of it had to be scraped down, sanded, and smoothed out. It set the project back weeks." — Susan
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3. Bathroom Bust
"My husband was getting out of the military, and my daughter and I moved in to our new home about a month before he did. We got a great deal, but it needed some major remodeling. My dad and I started by tearing out a bathroom closet and soon discovered major termite damage. We ended up gutting it entirely because so much of it was rotten. However, we have a very beautiful bathroom now!" — Indiana
4. Cabinet Catastrophe
"The kitchen company sent us the wrong-size cabinets — twice! Also, because they had the wrong kitchen measurements, I ended up with a sink the size of an RV! In the mean time, I have been cooking meals in a turkey roaster and washing dishes in the bathtub." — Kathy
5. Winter Woes
"When my son was born six weeks early in January, our furnace blew up and our water pipes froze. Needless to say we have a new house now!" —Merri
6. Animal Trap
"My parents hired a contractor to repair their roof that was badly damaged by a snowstorm. The crew fixed the roof — but sealed in a raccoon! The poor animal died and smelled terrible. When my parents confronted the contractor about the problem, the company replied that animal removal was not their job." — Lauren
7. Party Snag
"We were redoing our dining room in time for my dad's 60th surprise birthday party. One night, there were a few houseflies on the ceiling lamp. My husband tried batting at them with a rolled-up newspaper, but instead of knocking down the flies, he knocked down the light fixture! We were ended up scrambling to install a new lamp, figure out the wiring, and patch the ceiling, all while finalizing the party!" — Diane
8. Cookie Monster
We moved the pantry during our kitchen renovation. The process was relatively smooth for us, but not for our two year old, who asked, "Where did that man put the door to the cookies?" —Marylyn
9. Insulation Drama
"We were removing 1970s wood paneling that had been layered on top of a old lath-and-plaster wall in the stairway. The first few panels came off okay, but after prying one stubborn piece down, we accidently ripped a softball-size hole into the wall! Next thing we knew, all of the blown-in insulation was pouring out. We later learned that there was no stop between the first and second floors, so the insulation for the second floor poured right out, too!" — Angie
10. Kitchen Rescue
"We wanted to completely gut the kitchen, but they crew we hired could only work in the evenings. They worked for two weeks, and then one day, they just didn't show up. We were left with a complete mess and had to hire a new crew to finish the job. We had paid as they went, but next time we'll get the agreement in writing. Lesson learned. " —Deborah
