While relaxing in the yard, sipping a cold one, your mind may start to visualize that big new deck you've been wanting, or an addition to the family room...

Do-it-yourself projects, large and small, can indeed save you money and bring you a lot of pleasure. They are a wonderful way of adding both value and a deep sense of personal pride to your home. But before you grab your tool belt, it pays to ask yourself some honest questions about your ability to undertake the project. This is not designed to intimidate you or dissuade you from undertaking the work ? it's just a little honest assessment to guide you toward those things you can comfortably do, and those things that are best left to others.

Do you have the knowledge?

First and foremost, you need to ask yourself if you know how ? or can learn how ? to do the tasks involved in project. You need to break down the steps -- to build a deck, for example, you will typically need to design and lay out the deck structure, pour some concrete, cut and fasten a lot of lumber, apply paint or stain, and perhaps do some electrical wiring ? and then decide what is involved with each step, which of them you can and want to do, what additional knowledge you might have to acquire, and how you would acquire it.

Do you have the skills?

Theoretical knowledge is one thing, and practical application is something else ? otherwise everyone who studies golf magazines could be Tiger Woods. Once you've started doing your homework about what's involved in a project of the type you're considering ? studying plans, looking at books and magazines, viewing similar completed projects, or visiting home shows or home tours ? then take the time to understand the techniques involved and decide if you have those skills or are interested in learning them.

Do you have the time?

This is definitely one of the most often overlooked ? or miscalculated ? areas of any home improvement project. Building takes time, and even the most experienced carpenter can underestimate just how long something may take. That deck, for example, may chew up a good part of your summer weekends or all of your vacation time, so be sure that's how you want to spend your hard-earned leisure hours.

Also, ask yourself how the time frame for the project ? and try and be realistic with yourself about how long it will take -- will affect the rest of the family. You may, for example, be perfectly willing to undertake that bathroom remodel, but living for three months with a portable toilet and a garden hose for a shower may lead to a serious mutiny in the house.

Do you have the interest?

Another often-overlooked element of home improvement projects is whether or not you have the interest. Perhaps you've done some painting in the past and are very comfortable with both your knowledge and your ability in that area. That doesn't necessarily mean you have the desire to spend the next two months painting the outside of your house. Lack of interest or desire for a particular task can lead to a lot of frustration, and a job that is rushed or done poorly can actually detract from the value of your home.

Do you have the physical ability?

Many building tasks involve a lot of physical labor, so you should also be honest with yourself about your physical capability to undertake the work. Other questions to consider might include whether you're afraid of heights, or uncomfortable on a roof; can you climb and work on a ladder; are you willing to crawl under the house or into the attic if necessary; even whether or not you mind getting dirty. These may seem like silly concerns, but for your own safety you really need to be comfortable with your own abilities and limitations.

Do you have the necessary help?

Here again, the physical reality of building is that many tasks require more than one person. From simple tasks like stretching a string over a 35-foot foundation to physical labor such as wrestling a 250-pound beam into place, do you have access to assistance if ? and when ? you need it?

Do you have the tools?

Finally ? tools and equipment. Construction projects often require a wide variety of quality tools, many of which you may not have. As part of your planning, you should consider what tools will be needed to do the work, then look at what you already have, what you might be willing to acquire, and what you could rent or borrow if necessary.