Yes, you can demonstrate your DIY skills in numerous home projects such as painting furniture, installing kitchen backsplashes, and grouting tiles.
However, some tasks need to be handled by professionals due to their complexity and safety issues. Here’s when to stop hammering and start seeking help from experts:
Structural Changes or Repairs
So, you’ve been longing to bash down that wall for an open floor plan? Pause! Major structural changes such as knocking down walls or adding doors are not suitable for weekend warriors.
Mariya Snisar, head of interior design at Renowell warns that “This is no place for errors. Do not attempt this yourself because it could go horribly wrong.” Really, don’t convert your house into a real-life Jenga game.
One mistake and your house could literally come crashing down faster than your most recent DIY Pinterest fail.
Joking aside, altering load-bearing walls or messing with foundational elements without proper knowledge and equipment can result in irreparable consequences.
Electrical Work
Do you think electrical work is safe enough for you because walls will never fall on your head? Think again! Electrical workers are like silent but deadly ninja assassins in the home improvement field. They are so quiet you will never hear them coming until it strikes.
According to Tatyana Dimitrova who works as a PR specialist at Fantastic Handyman “Safety issues associated with incomplete electrical work can be very dangerous.”
Therefore wiring should only be handled by licensed electricians even if what a homeowner needs is simply the installation of new light fixtures, rewiring of old ones, or repairs on circuits.
Thus hiring a licensed electrician is worth considering even though it may seem costly at first glance because it keeps one safe from possible dangers by ensuring that his/her home conforms to building regulations while preventing unexpected shocks within the power system of one’s residence.
Electrocution, electrical fires, or just plain screwing up your home’s power system are risks not worth taking. Leave the rewiring to the licensed electricians unless you want to know how to resuscitate someone and deal with Class C fires.
Window Installation
Installing a new window might seem like a fun weekend project, but incorrect installation can be such a pain in the ass. As Julee Ireland, an interior design architect and founder of Home Renovation School put it “If they are poorly installed windows can skew your heating bill.”
She also added that “Water intrusion resulting from this can go south really fast so make sure you get it right at first.” Hence, do it once properly to prevent changing your home into a swamp.
A poor window installation could let anything and everything in: rain, wind, wildlife etcetera.
Furthermore drafty windows equal bank account hypothermia due to every single energy bill rise. Save yourself some trouble and hire someone who knows how to keep the outside where it belongs.
Roof Refurbishment or Substitution
You might consider yourself as a competent handyman, but replacing or repairing a roof is an entirely different kettle of fish.
“ It’s important to note that roofing is a physically challenging activity that has many risks and requires some specific skills to be able to create a watertight and long-lasting roof,” Dimitrova advises.
Roofing professionals are capable of evaluating the state of your roof, recommending suitable materials, and doing the job safely.
Unless you are Spider-Man, however, it would be wise to leave such works at high altitudes for pros who can keep your house—and you—intact. There is a high risk of falling, improper fitting, and subsequent leaks when dealing with heights beyond reason.
It’s not only dangerous to mount on the top of your house without proper gear and knowledge but rather seek emergency room services in disguise. Rely on experts who will ensure you have somewhere to live without risking your own life.
HVAC Fixing
In-home maintenance, HVAC systems are like neurosurgeons – intricate, fragile things best left alone by non-experts.
Dimitrova also stresses the need for professional installers when dealing with HVAC systems. Professionals can assess your home’s heating and cooling needs and help directly regarding which equipment would be appropriate before installing them correctly.
A wrong installation of an HVAC leads to poor indoor air quality inefficient operation and potential safety hazards which could occur from untidy electricity connections or leaking pipes among other reasons.
This is why it is better to call professionals unless one has a degree in air conditioning magic so that their homes remain comfortable and secure.
Asbestos/Mold Remediation
Mold/Asbestos are like the supervillains in the home maintenance business. Asbestos used to be popular as a building material but its cancer-causing nature makes it famous these days. Mold on the other hand is responsible for allergies and asthma.”
Snisar warns against DIY methods of eliminating these dangerous substances. Professionals who have been certified are equipped with the right gear and know-how to safely carry out removals.
Trying to remove asbestos or mold on your own is like welcoming danger into your house. Leave it to experts who will make sure that you still live in a safe environment.
Major Plumbing Projects
Changing taps or refilling the toilet tank may be an amusing activity for a weekend, but when it comes to heavy-duty plumbing, it requires professionals.
By the words of Dimitrova, an authorized plumber would know complex plumbing codes, and potential leaks and ensure proper performance of your drain system.
Major plumbing activities such as pipe replacement or changing bathroom fixtures need specialized expertise and knowledge.
Unless you want your home converted into an unintended water park, let major plumbing projects be handled by professionals.
Tree Removal
Severing that tree in your backyard with a chainsaw might seem like a fun do-it-yourself job but one that needs carefulness and skill so as not to harm yourself- worse still, damage your property….”
Snisar suggests that tree removal should be done by professionals since they have the requisite skills necessary to bring down trees safely and efficiently.”
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After the tree has been felled, however, you can do away with its remains all by yourself. Consider this activity as one through which you could exercise some lumberjack skills without endangering yourself anyhow.