To DIY or Not to DIY?
Most of us love doing a bit of DIY. Not only do we get to save money by tackling those all important home projects ourselves, but we also get the sense of accomplishment that comes with a job well done. However, there are a number of property maintenance and renovation tasks that require more skills and equipment than the average person has at their disposal. Here are just some of the jobs that you should always call in the experts to help you with:
Roofing
If your roof has tiles missing or it’s sprung a leak, you might be tempted to get up there and take care of it yourself. But, unless you have experience in the roofing industry, it probably isn’t a good idea. You see, just spending time on the roof can be a dangerous endeavor in itself. Add tools, slippery surfaces, and unpredictable weather into the mix and doing DIY on your own roof begins to look downright foolish.
Not only that but repairing the roof requires detailed knowledge of the property’s structure. If you do not have this, and you do not repair the roof absolutely correctly, you might soon find that your roof is even more damaged than it was before you went up there.
Plumbing Repair/Installation
Okay, so if you just need to deal with a leaking faucet or similar small project, you should have no problem doing it yourself if you can find some simple instructions online to help you out. However, for more complex work such as getting rid of large leaks, rerouting pipes or installing a new shower, you will need to call in the professional. Bad plumbing jobs can not only cause leaks, but they can compromise the very structural integrity of your home and leave you with a huge bill.
Furthermore, the average person’s toolbox simply does not contain all of the specialist tools and equipment that are needed to carry out a professional plumbing job, which is why you really should leave it to the professionals if you’re in any doubt about your ability to get the job done.
Electrical Work
It should be obvious that you shouldn’t be messing around with complex electrical equipment unless you’re a qualified electrician, and in fact, it’s illegal to do so in many places, but so many homeowners ignore this to their determent.
As well as there being a very real risk that you will come to some harm when fiddling around with electricity wires and cables, you are unlikely to have equipment that is best for any type of work of this kind, and if you do not complete a job correctly, there is every chance that you could end up leaving faulty wires, which might cause a house fire, electric shock or all manner of other calamities in the future. Leave it to the professional.
Tree Work
If you have one or more large trees in your garden, which need to be either trimmed or removed, you might think that a ladder and a chainsaw will help you do the job, but if that’s the case, why would anyone take the time to train as a professional arborist? The fact is that cutting down a tree that is larger than a hedge is likely to require heavy machinery and the very real risk that the tree will unexpectedly fall. The professionals know how to tackle trees quickly and safely, and that is why you should always consult one before you even think about removing a tree from your property.
Garage Door Repairs
Repairing the garage door could be considered simple if it were not for the high-tension springs that are so often used in the door’s mechanism. These springs can catch you by surprise, causing very serious injuries if you aren’t careful. Which is why it simply isn’t worth the risk.
Paving the Driveway
Laying paving on the driveway is one of those things that most DIY enthusiasts think they will be able to do without any issues, but they soon find that it simply isn’t the case. You see, not only is laying paying correctly very time-consuming, but it is also precise work. You have to be able to accurately measure and cut paving stones so that they will fit the driveway perfectly and this takes a lot of time and patience. If you want the job to be done quickly to a high standard, hiring a professional is the best thing to do.
Removing Mold or Asbestos
Mold, and Asbestos, in particular, pose some very real health risks, which means if you find it in your home, you should take immediate steps to have it removed. It also means that you, under no circumstances, undertake the job yourself. Even if you wear a mask and you are very careful, you are not trained, and that means that you will be putting yourself at risk of a deadly illness. Just don’t do it.
Knocking Down Walls
Knocking down walls might seem like an easy job, but you never know what lies behind the bricks and going in blind could lead to you hitting gas pipes, electrical wiring or water pipes, which could cause a lot of problems for your property and put you in danger., Always consult a qualified contractor before knocking down anything in your home.
Above Ground Pool Fixes
If you have an above ground pool, you should be aware that it is really very dangerous to make repairs without the help of an expert. It only takes one piece of loose pool siding to collapse or come away, and the whole pool will go down with it, possibly injuring you in the process. In this case, qualified professional is always the answer, no exceptions.
Window Replacement
Adding and removing windows requires specialized equipment that you won’t find in the average toolbox. It also requires specialist skills that, if you don’t have them could result in improperly installed windows that will not be tight, secure and adequately insulated. Save yourself the time, hassle and inevitable extra cost of calling out a professional when things go wrong and hire a qualified window-fitter from the start.
Building Decking
If you fancy doing your garden out in decking, you could be forgiven for thinking that the process of building a deck would be an easy one – many people do – but it’s actually a rather tricky thing to get right. Not only do you need to first create a well-planned design that will work with your space, but you need to have lots of tools and lots of patience at your disposal.
Building a deck is about more than just fixing bits of wood together with nails – you need to have knowledge of fundamentals like timber spans, foot sizing, spacing and accurate measuring techniques. If you aren’t well-versed in any one of these things you’ll probably end up with a disaster on your hands and you might even fall foul of local planning regulations, which might mean that your decking has to be removed or redone. If you want decking without the hassle, just bite the bullet and have a professional install it for you.
Removing Wildlife
Whether you have bats in the belfry, squirrels in the attic or rats in the kitchen, if you want to get rid of them quickly and humanely, it is important that you call the professionals to help you. They will know exactly what is required to remove each species and they will also be up on the latest rules and regulations. Some animals are protected sand will need to be dealt with very carefully if you want to avoid prosecution, so you simply can’t go in all guns blazing and try to deal with the problem yourself. Apart from the legal issues, many animals carry dangerous diseases like rabies, so letting a professional deal with them is the smart thing to do.
The Bottom Line: Before you embark on a new DIY project, first ask yourself whether you know what you are doing. Then, ask yourself if you have all of the correct equipment to do the job safely and to a high standard. If the answer to both is yes, then you should also take the time to find out whether it is legal for you to DIY the job that you’re planning to do. In most places, there are a range of rules and regulations covering all manner of construction work and they are in place for a very good reason. If you go ahead and ignore these rules, any changes you make could be revered, costing you a lot of money, and in some cases, you could even be fined or worse. It really isn’t worth it!
Finally, you should ask yourself how much you value your own time. It is likely a professional can do the work in a fraction of the time it would take you, so if you want to minimize disruption and have the job done well, bringing in a professional might just be the most sensible thing you can do.