DIY Home Improvements You Shouldn't Tackle Yourself

"​If you’re a handy person, chances are you do a lot of DIY things. However, there are certain things you should never tackle by yourself."

​If you’re a handy person, chances are you do a lot of DIY things. You’re no stranger to small improvements, repairs, installations, and so on. However, there are certain things you should never tackle by yourself because the type of project is too dangerous or because you might cause damage to your home. In either case, you should get professional help instead of doing the project yourself. But what exactly are these projects that you should never tackle by yourself? Today we hope to help you answer that question, so you and your home can stay safe. We’ve put together a list of DIY home improvements you shouldn’t tackle yourself.

You should not install heavy stuff on your own

​One of the DIY home improvements you shouldn’t tackle yourself is installing heavy things. For example, if you’re improving your kitchen and want to install granite countertops. Or any other type of stone countertop, to be honest. By doing it yourself, you risk injuring yourself and breaking the countertops, neither of which are good. On top of ruining your investment, you’d need to spend even more on repairs and hospital bills. So, consider contacting a contractor instead and letting the pros handle the changes. You could even think about changing the style of your kitchen and going through a bigger remodel. After all, it’s best to go through changes like this all at once instead of spreading them out over a long period. After all, a kitchen is something you need daily, so minimizing downtime is essential.

Photo by Mark McCammon www.pexels.com

"​Installing heavy things, around the kitchen can be risky."

​Don't add or remove walls by yourself

​It should be pretty self-explanatory, but unless you’re an expert in the area, you can never be sure if removing a wall will make your house structurally unstable. As such, it’s best to leave this sort of work to experts who know how to deal with it.

​When it comes to adding walls, there are a number of rules to follow in order to keep everything up to code. So, again, this sort of home improvement is best left to the professionals. And if you’re planning some bigger construction projects, make sure to hire a construction project manager. Hiring a professional project manager will help you keep everything on track and make sure everything progresses smoothly. And when it comes to construction projects, things being late can cause all sorts of issues. So, some help to make sure nothing goes wrong tends to go a long way.

"You can never be sure if removing a wall will make your house structurally unstable."

Electricity is dangerous leave it to the experts

​When it comes to DIY home improvements, you should never tackle yourself; electrical installations and repairs are near the top. Electrical systems are intricate, and doing anything with electricity is dangerous. Besides the obvious risk of electrocution, poorly installed electrical systems can easily cause house fires. All it takes is one stray spark for things to catch fire and cause all sorts of issues. So, whether it’s installing something new or repairing something around the house, contact a professional. Also, before you decide to hire someone, make sure to do your research and check they’re licensed. Amateurs can do much damage instead of fixing it, so it’s vital to ensure you’re hiring a reliable professional. Fortunately, in today’s world, it’s very easy to look into businesses like these. Poking around online is typically enough to find out who you’re working with.

Photo by La Miko www.pexels.com

"​Working with electricity is dangerous"

Tiling can be very difficult in some areas

Tiling projects are among the easier things to take on, depending on the details. For example, backsplashes are very easy and doing them yourself is typically fine. However, tiling around more critical areas, such as around a shower, can lead to a lot of water damage. So, generally speaking, whenever you need to ensure the tiling is properly waterproofed, you should contact a contractor and make sure it’s done correctly. For example, hiring professionals is the better choice if you’re planning on changing things around the bathroom.

Additionally, when you do the tiling yourself, you’ll know precisely where the imperfections are. For example, if one tile is just an eighth of an inch shorter than the rest, you’ll know exactly where it is. And in cases like this, ignorance is usually bliss. So, if you’re bothered by imperfections, hiring professionals is also a good choice.

"Hiring professionals is a better choice if you’re planning on changing things around the bathroom."

Avoid doing plumbing improvements yourself

​Doing small plumbing repairs by yourself is fine. Patching up leaks is something every homeowner should know in the long run. However, anything more than that can cause a lot of issues. For example, when replacing a fixture, or even a pipe, you can create a new leak or make an old one much worse. And, as we already mentioned, water damage is quite expensive to fix. As a matter of fact, water damage is one of the most expensive fixes to do around the house. So, avoiding any problems that could lead to water damage should always be a priority. So, at the end of the day, when fixing more serious issues with your plumbing, always hire a professional. A trustworthy plumber will be able to fix the damage and make sure it doesn’t get any worse. And, of course, do your research first to avoid amateurs.

Photo by Nithin PA www.pexels.com

"​Most plumbing repairs and installations should be left to professionals"

DIY home improvements you shouldn’t tackle yourself wrap up

​There are quite a few things you can do by yourself around the house without too many issues. Small repairs and improvements here and there that don’t involve a lot of risks for you or your home. Other improvements and repairs, however, should be left to the professionals. This is either because they’re dangerous to you or have a risk of damaging your property. And when it comes to both of these, avoiding them in the first place is the best choice. We hope that this list of DIY home improvements you shouldn’t tackle yourself helps you out, and we wish you a good day.

Author

Arthur Green is a contractor who works with Miami Movers for Less to ensure new homeowners are comfortable in their homes and spends his spare time writing articles to spread knowledge.

Want more expert advice to help you design, build and renovate your home?

​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.

This article is a guest post and the owners of this website take no responsibility for the content or it's originality. The website publishes this article in good faith with the undertaking from the author and supplier that the content has not been plagiarised. Please report any errors in the article to the website owners. Should you prove the content is not original the article will be immediately taken down.