We sometimes have clients who like a lot of do-it-yourself type projects, and we get a reoccurring question: what are the things I should not DIY? After all, some projects around the house you can handle yourself if you have some time and are a little handy. But other things you definitely should not handle yourself. So what are the top types of projects a homeowner should not do themselves? What projects are best left to the trained professionals?
1. Don’t DIY Structural Projects
Anything having to deal with structural support should be left to the professionals. For instance:
- Load-bearing walls
- Floor systems
- Decks/Docks
Anything that would support a large amount of weight, you should usually leave that to the professional.
Why?
Because constructing things is a science and not an art. You can’t just paint with broad strokes or pick your favorite color. You have to build it a certain way. If you don’t know which board goes where, how you’re supposed to secure it, what your fasteners are rated for, what your boards are rated for, etc. – then you could have a very serious situation on your hands. When it comes down to a matter of safety, let the professionals handle it. They’re the ones that are licensed and insured and regulated, and they’re the ones who know exactly what they’re doing. So anything that deals with structural floor systems, decks, porches, roofs, load-bearing walls, don’t DIY.
2. Don’t DIY Electrical Projects
Stay away from electrical work. Electrical work requires a lot of training and a lot of knowledge – specialized knowledge like:
- Different gauged wires
- Circuits
- Electrical currents
Anytime you start dealing with power, you’re dealing with a safety issue. If you’re not intimate with the knowledge of electrical current, how power flows from one side to the other, and grounding, you could really cause some problems and get hurt very bad. So we recommend if you’ve got any electrical issues, don’t mess it with it yourself. Call a service professional who can come out there to take care of it for you. So again, it’s a matter of safety best left to the professionals.
3. Don’t DIY Most Plumbing Tasks
Most plumbing should be left to the professionals. Well, you say that’s not a matter of safety, right?
But really it is.
Plumbers are required to be licensed for very specific reasons. The entire house system is tied to either the septic system or sewer system. And as a result, extremely large amounts of methane gas is able to pour back into the house through the pipes.
Now, if your plumber is not licensed or properly trained, then he may not know how to trap the gas to keep it from getting into your house. And if you can’t do that, it could cause some very serious health issues and hazards. So they’re required to be licensed for a reason, and it deals with gas. But also, if you have a pipe that’s not fitted correctly or not glued or clamped correctly, then you could be looking at tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage because of just a 99 cent part.
So it’s important to get somebody who knows what they’re doing when handling your home’s plumbing issues. Don’t risk the safety and damage associated with incorrect work. Don’t DIY your plumbing.
4. Don’t DIY Roofing
Roofing is a difficult job. Hats off to the roofers of the world! It’s not only an extremely hard job, but it’s also extremely dangerous. And it’s got a lot of overhead. Professional roofers are required to have all kinds of different insurances and safety training. There are just millions of ways your roofing project can go wrong.
If you don’t thoroughly understand the principles of watershed and waterproofing, you ‘ve got no reason to attempt patching your own roof or changing your own roof or anything like that. Call service professional. It’s not worth attempting to DIY your own roof.
5. Don’t DIY Flooring
Finally, while this is not a safety issue, it is certainly a cost-effectiveness issue. Don’t DIY your flooring. This includes any type of interior flooring, such as:
- Wood flooring
- Tile
- Carpet
- Or any floor covering
We strongly recommend you call or hire a service professional who is experienced in flooring installation. And the reason for this is that your floor is the most used appliance in your house. People walk on it every day. It gets very amounts of traffic in different areas more than others. And if it’s not installed correctly, if it’s not installed right and in a quality manner, then it can be damaged. Improper installation can even void the warranties for your flooring.
There are all kinds of unexpected things that can go wrong if you install your flooring wrong. Don’t spend your money twice. Get a professional to install your flooring for you.
Again, everyone loves a little DIY from time to time. And it can be a great way to save money on small projects. But here are five things you definitely don’t want to do yourself. Some DIY projects might cost you more in time, money, and safety than you’re willing to pay.
Watch the video here: