Home improvement TV shows can sweep you up with the DIY craze, showing just how easy it is to pull off a DIY project. Handling home repairs by yourself can be very rewarding. Not only do you get to save some money, but you also get a chance to learn something new and take pride in getting the tasks done.
However, before you think of picking that hammer and getting started on that home repair, you should understand that there are some home repairs that you just shouldn’t attempt. Some works should be left to the experts, lest they end up costing you more money or even causing injuries. Here are some home repairs that you shouldn’t attempt.
1. Roofing projects
Roofing work, including shingle repair or fixing leaks, are best left to professional roofers. Roofing work is dangerous, even for skilled workers, as it is so easy to incur an injury. Some parts of the roof are easy to access from the ladder, like the gutters, but you should never attempt it when you are home alone.
Apart from the danger involved, roofing requires experience to get right. If you don’t want to be stuck with a leaky roof, allow the roofing experts to handle it for you.
2. Plumbing work
Water leaks can result in extensive damage if not caught on time. It is possible to manage some minor works like replacing faucets or changing the showerheads. However, don’t DIY major plumbing work.
Water problems can easily get out of hand when the plumbing system requires modifications like re-routing the sewer pipes or extending hot water lines. It is best to leave those major plumbing works to the plumbing experts.
3. Electrical repairs
All electrical projects require extreme caution. You can handle simple fixtures like installing a ceiling fan or testing the switch. However, if the repair works go beyond these simple works to things like extending or replacing circuits, it becomes hazardous for anyone not trained on this.
One wrong move could result in electrical damage, overheating, fires, shock injuries, or death. Some building codes require that only professional electricians get to handle certain electrical works for safety purposes.
4. Gas appliances repair
A typical home has appliances that run on gas like the water heater, dryer, or oven, and just like water, gas too will always find its way out where there is a leak. A simple DIY to fix a gas leak can lead to accidental gas poisoning or fire explosions. This is where you draw the line and forget about handling anything involving gas by yourself.
5. Tree removal
Even when you are sure about what you are doing, tree removal can be a tricky, time-consuming task. You don’t want to cut down the tree only to have it fall on your house or damage your neighbor’s property. This exercise is better handled by professional arborists who have the tools and experience necessary to cut down trees without causing damage to the structures nearby.
6. Structural work
Homeowners should never consider any major structural works to be a DIY project. A faulty structural renovation can undermine the whole house’s integrity, cause the upper floors to sag, or even have the entire house collapsing. Structural alterations for home improvements require that the persons handling the demolitions understand how to transfer the load safely without compromising the integrity of the building.
Endnote
No matter how handy you may be, there is a limit to just how far you can go with the DIY projects. To save yourself from dangerous and costly mistakes, limit DIYs to minor repairs and cosmetic upgrades, and leave the rest to the professionals.