DAVIE, Fla. -- Many people try to save money on home improvement projects by going the do-it-yourself route, but sometimes that can lead to disastrous or costly results.

When Sherry Rorabaugh decided to renovate her Davie home, she and her partner, Brian Gillespie, figured they could do most of the work themselves.

"We were like, 'Yeah, we can take out. We can do it.' Then it gets harder and harder as you go along," Rorabaugh said.

"There were parts of it where we sat down and said, 'We could learn to do this ourselves.' But then we'd have to buy the tools, practice, and when you're doing something, you want it done right the first time," Gillespie said.

According to a recent survey by Angie's List, an Internet resource for contractor services, 83 percent of respondents attempted home improvement projects to save money. But one in five wound up hiring a pro to finish what they started or undo the damage they had done.

Beofre she got in too deep, Rorabaugh sought professional help.

"I think vision has a lot to do with it and then skill," said designer Ann Morris, of Allied Kitchen and Bath.

Morris said one of the costliest mistakes people make is not pulling permits.

"You have to think twice when you're doing a home and you're doing anything with water and electrical or structural that you do somebody that's licensed, bonded and insured," Morris said.

When deciding to do it yourself:

Consider what experience you have. Making a mistake can require an expensive fix.

Assess how much time you have to commit to the job. Most home improvement projects take far longer than people project.

Make sure you have the right tools to do the work, and that you have the skills to use the tools safely.

Rorabaugh let the pros handle the big work but takes pleasure in knowing that she chose the finishes and stained almost every piece of wood in the house.

"Even the little imperfections, you go, 'That's handmade. I did it.' So there's where the satisfaction comes in," Rorabaugh said.

Do-it-yourself mistakes can cost more than money. A study by the Center for Injury Research and Policy estimated that more than 100,000 Americans will go to the emergency room for ladder-related injuries per year.

A Duke University study found that nail guns sent 35,000 homeowners to the emergency room last year.