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You should not attempt to do these home improvement tasks DIY unless you are a trained professional. Read on!
Taking pride in the ownership of your home is a great feeling. It’s a tangible showcase of what you’ve accomplished and how you care for your belongings.
However, there comes a time when home maintenance and improvement tasks require someone with years of professional experience and training.
Even if you’re an avid home improvement DIYer, you should outsource the following tasks to the pros. Failing to do so could result in expensive damage to your home and even impact your health and safety.
What's Inside
Anything Electrical
The experts at SALT Light & Electric said it best: “When it comes to electrical issues, you need an expert you can trust.” Electrical work is one of the most dangerous aspects of home maintenance to handle. Whether you’re adding a new light switch or replacing outdated wiring, one wrong move can cause devastating results. When you are dealing with electrical work, you risk getting a deadly shock during the work itself. Making a mistake now could also result in a fatal electrical fire in the future.
Regardless of how simple you consider the electrical upgrade to be, it’s best to call a skilled electrician rather than taking a DIY approach. If you decide to handle electrical work yourself and a tragedy occurs, your insurance company may even deny coverage. Err on the side of caution for this one.
Anything Related to Plumbing
While plumbing doesn’t have the inherent dangers of dealing with electricity, it can still have devastating effects on your home when things go wrong. Water damage can be incredibly expensive to correct, and small oversights in plumbing work can also lead to insidious leaks behind the walls that can cause high utility bills and the development of mold.
Again, outsourcing to a licensed, insured plumbing professional is worth the investment rather than trying to save money with a DIY approach. As with failed DIY electrical work, your insurance provider may deny coverage if damage occurs as a result of DIY plumbing.
Potential Structural Changes
Demolition work can be a lot of fun. However, before you start swinging hammers at your walls, it’s imperative that you consult with a contractor. A reputable contractor will be able to look at the changes you want to make within your home and determine whether there are any issues with your proposed plan. For example, if you want to remove a wall, they’ll check to see if there are limitations caused by plumbing, electrical, or HVAC systems, or if the walls are load-bearing.
While it might be reasonable to handle some demolition efforts yourself, even the task of tearing down walls that have already been inspected may be better left to the pros.
Roofing Repairs and Replacement
The task of repairing or replacing a roof may seem simple, but a lot can go wrong. The main concern is safety when climbing onto a roof and doing the work. Professional roofers have the safety equipment and training needed to prevent serious falls.
Even with the right equipment, there’s the secondary concern of knowing how to handle the inevitable issues and surprises that come with a roof repair or replacement. For example, there’s often rotten decking under the roof if it’s older and needs to be replaced. Failing to secure the shingles properly also exposes the new roof to further damage.
Finally, professional roofing teams can handle the repairs and clean-up quickly, so you’re less likely to find nails in your garden or on your driveway months after the work is done.
Foundation Work
Messing with the foundation of your home could lead to your home being condemned without insurance. While repairing a simple leak without a professional’s assistance may seem straightforward, it’s a job you want to be done right the first time.
A cracked foundation, when repaired improperly, could lead to bigger structural concerns and mold development. Not only will this impact your experience as a homeowner, but it will also create serious limitations if you hope to sell in the future.
Drywall Installation
Hanging drywall — along with the process of mudding and sanding — is an art form. If you’ve ever been to a recently renovated home or new build that already has cracks in the corners and paint, it’s because the person who handled the drywall didn’t know what they were doing.
This is one of those tasks that takes practice and quickly becomes evident if the person is unskilled. While it may not cause any lasting dangers, investing in a professional upfront prevents repair costs later.
Hanging Cabinets
Hanging cabinets is another art form that’s better left to the experts. Having one cabinet slightly out of place can derail the entire kitchen. Furthermore, improper hanging can lead to the cabinet letting go and falling, creating a safety concern as well as breaking everything inside.
Saving money with ready-to-assemble cabinets is a great way to cut back on a kitchen renovation budget. However, it’s always best to hire someone to handle the installation process.
When it comes to taking a DIY approach to home maintenance and upgrades, stick to the simple tasks like painting, replacing fixtures, and installing laminate flooring. As a rule, you should always take time to educate yourself and outsource the tasks you don’t feel comfortable handling.
