In this day and age, when money is tight and information about do-it-yourself projects can easily be researched on the internet, making some minor home repairs yourself can be a great idea.
After all, you can save a ton of money and enjoy a major feeling of accomplishment by completing the task yourself.
While painting, tiling, and replacing trim work are all safe bets for you to take on, there are several home renovations and repairs you should leave to the professionals.
If you don't want to injure yourself, your home, or your wallet, leave these 5 home renovation projects to the pros: 1.
Electrical repair This one seems self-explanatory, yet some people do not understand the risk of working with electricity! You can shock yourself, causing permanent damage to your body, or even worse, if the jolt is big enough, you could die.
Also, improperly-installed electrical wires can cause a fire, meaning your house could burn down.
There is no amount of money you could save by doing this project yourself that is worth putting your life, your family, and your home at risk.
2.
Plumbing While plumbing isn't as life-threatening risk as electrical work, it still dangerous, and it can cause severe consequences when done incorrectly.
We're not saying you can't pour some Drano down the pipes or do simple repairs, but anything that involves a major water line in your home should be handled by a plumber.
Remember, if you damage a main water line in your home, a pipe can bust, causing major flooding throughout your house.
Also, plumbing work that is done incorrectly can lead to pools of water building up beneath your home, damaging floor boards, weakening your foundation, or causing health concerns like mold.
3.
Additions and structural changes Here's a simple rule of thumb -- if the project requires that part of your home be demolished (like knocking down a wall, for example), call in a professional.
Sure, Hollywood makes it look like fun when people on TV bust down the wall with a sledgehammer.
But the truth is, you could cause a portion of your home to collapse! If you want to expand your home by adding on an additional room or bathroom, call in a contractor.
Yes, a professional will cost more than if you attempted to do it yourself, but unless you have experience in home construction, you probably won't know what you're doing.
That means it's likely you'll end up calling a professional to fix your mistakes.
4.
Adding on a deck This one goes hand-in-hand with #3.
Yes, a deck is different, in that you aren't changing the actual existing structure of your home.
But, a deck still needs to be attached to your home, and many DIYers don't know how to do that.
Plus, it still has to meet local building ordinances.
More importantly, if you don't build a deck properly, it could collapse, injuring or killing you or your loved ones.
5.
Installing windows You just measure the size of the hole you need to cut, you slice through the drywall, install the frame you purchased at your local home improvement store, and then insert the glass, right? Wrong! Installing windows requires special tools -- both for measuring and cutting -- that are expensive.
So, it's unlikely that you own them.
If your measurements and cuts aren't precise, you could end up making the hole either too small or too big -- meaning that the entire wall will need to be replaced.
That would cost a whole lot more than just hiring a professional to install the window in the first place!
After all, you can save a ton of money and enjoy a major feeling of accomplishment by completing the task yourself.
While painting, tiling, and replacing trim work are all safe bets for you to take on, there are several home renovations and repairs you should leave to the professionals.
If you don't want to injure yourself, your home, or your wallet, leave these 5 home renovation projects to the pros: 1.
Electrical repair This one seems self-explanatory, yet some people do not understand the risk of working with electricity! You can shock yourself, causing permanent damage to your body, or even worse, if the jolt is big enough, you could die.
Also, improperly-installed electrical wires can cause a fire, meaning your house could burn down.
There is no amount of money you could save by doing this project yourself that is worth putting your life, your family, and your home at risk.
2.
Plumbing While plumbing isn't as life-threatening risk as electrical work, it still dangerous, and it can cause severe consequences when done incorrectly.
We're not saying you can't pour some Drano down the pipes or do simple repairs, but anything that involves a major water line in your home should be handled by a plumber.
Remember, if you damage a main water line in your home, a pipe can bust, causing major flooding throughout your house.
Also, plumbing work that is done incorrectly can lead to pools of water building up beneath your home, damaging floor boards, weakening your foundation, or causing health concerns like mold.
3.
Additions and structural changes Here's a simple rule of thumb -- if the project requires that part of your home be demolished (like knocking down a wall, for example), call in a professional.
Sure, Hollywood makes it look like fun when people on TV bust down the wall with a sledgehammer.
But the truth is, you could cause a portion of your home to collapse! If you want to expand your home by adding on an additional room or bathroom, call in a contractor.
Yes, a professional will cost more than if you attempted to do it yourself, but unless you have experience in home construction, you probably won't know what you're doing.
That means it's likely you'll end up calling a professional to fix your mistakes.
4.
Adding on a deck This one goes hand-in-hand with #3.
Yes, a deck is different, in that you aren't changing the actual existing structure of your home.
But, a deck still needs to be attached to your home, and many DIYers don't know how to do that.
Plus, it still has to meet local building ordinances.
More importantly, if you don't build a deck properly, it could collapse, injuring or killing you or your loved ones.
5.
Installing windows You just measure the size of the hole you need to cut, you slice through the drywall, install the frame you purchased at your local home improvement store, and then insert the glass, right? Wrong! Installing windows requires special tools -- both for measuring and cutting -- that are expensive.
So, it's unlikely that you own them.
If your measurements and cuts aren't precise, you could end up making the hole either too small or too big -- meaning that the entire wall will need to be replaced.
That would cost a whole lot more than just hiring a professional to install the window in the first place!