From changing a light bulb to replacing the air filter in the AC unit, the list of DIY is endless for crafty homeowners. However, some repairs, usually the major ones, are better left to professionals. Not only will they get everything done in record time but the end result will be quality fix; not to mention the fact that you can hurt yourself replacing roof shingles or tearing down a wall using a mallet.
A missing roof tile
If a recent blew off a shingle or a roof tile, you are probably thinking that you can clamber up the roof and replace it yourself. There are numerous video tutorials online on how to replace a missing roof tile but unless you have experience as a roofer, you should stay clear of such escapades.
Namely, working at height; any height is pretty dangerous because as a fall from the roof could leave you seriously injured. Even cleaning the gutters is not as easy as it seems as you can lose your footing on the ladder.
Professional roofers will charge you extra for the repair job but you won’t have to foot a hospital bill later on.
Major landscaping projects
The bigger the yard behind your house, the better. Your property gains in value and it leaves you with an endless set of landscaping options. However, size is a double-edged sword, as it will take months, if not years to landscape the entire backyard.
Furthermore, you have to read about landscaping and get the right tools, skyrocketing the final cost. Better invite professional gardeners who will trim hedges and prune trees expertly, as they possess the right set of tools and years of experience.
Playing with electricity (and your life)
As far as electricity is concerned, everything you should know is how to plug and unplug a device or chance an odd lightbulb. Opening appliances or replacing wall sockets can result in electrocution if you’re not careful enough.
Also, municipal regulations often require an inspection before the wiring in the entire home is replaced, which is often a necessary repair in older structures. For safety reasons, keep a trusted electrician’s number close by.
Exterior rendering
If your home has an aging brick façade, then rendering is a great way to prolong its lifetime. Renders make the walls waterproof by applying a layer of cement (the usual material used in rendering houses) that coats the façade. However, house rendering is done by professionals who have the right gear and expertise. Trust us, applying an even coat across the entire facade is hard for laymen.
Pool reparation
You can save money on the upkeep of the backyard pool if you clean it on your own and even learn to add the right amount of chlorine to the water. On the other side, a leaking pool that has cracks in the wall should be left to personals to handle. You need specific tools to repair watertight walls since all measurements need to be precise if you want the pool to pass inspection by authorized agencies.
Professional flooring isn’t a game
Laying a floor might look like a giant jig-saw puzzle but this improvement is no child’s play. All the board or tiles have to fit in nicely together and you have to cut or trim induvial board to fit the corners. Since this is a job that requires more than a single weekend off, calling professionals seems like a good idea. When it comes to the flooring in your home, stick to choosing rugs that go with your home’s décor.
Plumbing problems
Unclogging a sink or the bathtub is a no-brainer but a leak in the main pipe isn’t something you can handle on your own. Since water pipes run the entire length of the house, the places where a rupture occurs are often inaccessible.
The minute you notice a leak, you should call a plumber, as a leaking pipe can turn into a burst pipe in no time. Water damage can be devastating for a residential structure, destroying your belonging and even structurally damaging your house.
Tearing down walls
The potentially most dangerous home improvement of them all could be adding an extra room over the garage. In general, any renovation that involves tearing down walls poses a risk for the builder, especially if they are not professionals in the field.
Just like chopping down a tree, the untrained eye can never accurately guess which direction the wall is going to collapse. Furthermore, wielding a large mallet is dangerous on its own, as you can easily lose your balance and hurt yourself or even worse, a family member you invited to watch.
House maintenance can sometimes be tricky, as you cannot determine which repairs are within your scope of abilities and which aren’t. The 8 fixes listed above are definitely not a DIY job, since they require experts’ experience, tools, and skills to complete successfully. You won’t save a single cent if you end up injuring yourself while performing them.
