This week we asked readers to share photos of renovation work they had done themselves to cut costs.

The submissions were impressive, from a $500 bathroom makeover to a $140,000 total home renovation.

Many readers expressed pride in their projects, including Andreas Gierke of Woodland Beach, Ont., who built a new cottage two years ago and spent $6,800 for a new kitchen and appliances. "We did most of the work ourselves with a bit of help with our builder. The most fun I had was building the island myself," he wrote.

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You can see the photos our readers shared here.

Of course, DIY projects are not for everyone, including Rick Davis of St. John's who had this warning for readers: "Hate to say it but the cheapest reno is to use professionals from the start. I have been selling homes for 25 years and have seen it all. If the DIY project isn't what you do from 9:00 to 5:00 hire a professional."

What do you think of DIY renos? Are they better left to professionals? Click here to submit your comments or to submit your own photos.