Resist the urge to DIY in some cases. It could cost you

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Published Date 11/7/2019

Just because people on HGTV throw sledgehammers around doesn’t mean its safe (or even advisable) for you to do. It seems the DIY craze doesn’t account for how a repair or project poorly done can cost more in the long run than hiring a professional. And any HGTV show should come with warnings about how some DIY jobs can be dangerous to life and limb as well.

DiscoverOnline outlines the most crucial home improvement projects that should never be done by a rookie. The first, of course, are electrical repairs. Says one contractor on a Toronto news-talk radio show: “I’ve seen too many electrical jobs where people have done it themselves, or had a brother or an uncle do the wiring, and a lot of these people are lucky they’re alive to tell their tale because I find all sorts of buried wires or things wired improperly. It’s so dangerous. I just can’t stress that enough.” Anything more complicated than hanging a light fixture should be handled by a licensed professional.

Basement renovations are tempting to the DIYer, but resist the urge. To the untrained eye, it can lead to disasters that are easy to hide but become ticking time bombs. Another contractor in the article says that even when studding out for basement walls, there are details for home safety that need to be added, such as fire-blocking and vapor barriers. What many DIYers don’t understand is that not doing things to code will cost them down the line, when they put their house up for sale, and an inspector uncovers non-permitted or shoddily done work that does not meet safety standards. Anything touched on a home’s foundation can affect the entire structure’s integrity.

Speaking of houses caving in, a homeowner should never touch any major structural work. People often remove walls not understanding their load-bearing purpose, and the next thing you know, the house collapses, or the floor upstairs starts to sag.

So you know how to snake a drain or stop a faucet from dripping. Good for you. But anything more plumbing-extensive falls into the category of home repairs you should never do yourself. Remember old Darwin and be prepared to dial a plumber. “Unlike electrical repairs, improper plumbing fixes are unlikely to put your life in danger, but they can take a serious toll on your pocketbook,” says Discover. “What started off as an annoying leak can quickly escalate to a flood and can easily add up to thousands of dollars. Plumbing work (especially if it involves your sewage system or hot water pipes) is a home repair best left to professionals.”

Trying to fix or even install a gas appliance can be a recipe for disaster as well, exacting a high price when things go wrong. “Home repairs you should never DIY include fixes to items like gas furnaces, ovens, water heaters or dryers,” says Discover. “These repairs should only ever be handled by qualified experts. Even when a homeowner takes every precaution to turn off the gas and carefully manages a repair, it’s possible for a leak to develop if the appliance is not reinstalled perfectly.” They add that a gas leak can result in severe health issues, or even a possible fire or explosion in your home. Make gas appliances or repairs a never-DIY project.

Take into consideration that it takes years for electricians, structural engineers, plumbers, and contractors to earn their licenses. The work they do requires knowledge of current building codes, guaranteeing their expertise to stay in business. They know a lot of things to which a DIYer would never become privy.

Source: DiscoverOnline, TBWS

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