I saw a blog post from our friends at Burgin Construction about the perils of taking on certain DIY home improvement projects and I thought it was worth passing along.
I understand. I’ve been there myself many times. The faucet has been dripping and you think to yourself, “C’mon… it can’t be THAT hard to tighten it up and stop the leak.” Or, “There’s only two wires in there. How hard can it be to move that electrical box over?” Most of us can relate to Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor and his “never give-up” attitude to do for himself, regardless of how big the mess he was creating.
But, there are DIY projects you can experiment with and there are other projects that need to be left to the professionals. Below are the Top 5 Projects to Leave to the Professionals
- Roofing Repairs – Even if you take out the obvious danger of crawling around on the roof and trying to pinpoint the exact area of the leak, this is still a job for the pros. All too often, do it yourselfers end up causing more damage to the roof in other areas due to lack of knowledge and generally any repairs made are at best a band-aid, not a cure.
- Gas Line or Appliance Repairs – Whether it is an actual furnace, an oven, a hot water heater, or even a gas dryer, this is one area that is always best left to a pro. Gas is a silent and deadly killer in more than 400 homes each year and all it takes is a small leak to lead to tragedy. It’s just not worth the risk to your family to save a bit of money.
- Electrical Repairs – While hanging a ceiling fan or updating light switches are generally easy tasks, they can also lead to a false sense of confidence in your electrical abilities. Many electrical projects require permits and a professional electrician is required. If your home is in need of some electrical repairs, leave it to certified and licensed electricians to get the job done correctly and safely for you.
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- Plumbing Repairs – Ever wonder why plumbing companies always make commercials where the wife wants to call a plumber, the husband says he can do it himself and then, after part of the house is flooded and more damage is done, he finally gives in and she calls the plumber? It’s one of the oldest “home repair nightmare” stories and just about everyone knows someone who has dealt with this type of situation. While it may seem fairly harmless, water is a destructive force within a home. It doesn’t take long for it to completely ruin drywall, flooring, paint, cabinetry and more. And, if quick fix repairs are made after a leak, you could miss some of the deeper damage to beams and joists caused by a longtime slow leak. It’s best to leave these projects to the professionals, just make sure they’re wearing a belt before they start!
- Last but not least – Any Project Beyond Your Skills & Knowledge – Many people are handy around the house and able to tackle some repairs themselves. But, sometimes we get a bit overconfident and overestimate our abilities. If you aren’t absolutely sure you can make the repair, aren’t familiar with the tools required for the project, do not have someone to help you with it, have never done a similar project before or just don’t feel comfortable with doing it yourself – call a pro. Trust me, it will cut down on medical bills, save money and help you to avoid fights with your significant other!
Stebnitz Builders has been managing the small projects in our clients’ homes for 40 years – and we’ve gotten pretty good at it. If you have a project on the list above, or if there’s something else going on in your home that you’re not quite sure how to handle, call us at (800) 410-8027 and let a Stebnitz Builders Professional check another item off of your “Honey-Do List”.
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