It’s fun seeing how much money you can save on home improvement projects by doing the work yourself. However, while there are some projects you can take on yourself, many end up being too dangerous or expensive if you don’t know what you’re doing. In fact, you can sometimes create even more work by trying to do things yourself.
Deciding whether to hire a contractor is tough, but there are a few projects you will almost always want to leave to the professionals. Here are a few — brought to you by Furniture Assembly, whose staff of highly-trained, insured experts handle everything from mounted cabinets and wall units to dressers and gazebos.
Installing Wood Floors
Hardwood floors are among the top features buyers look for in a home. Not only are they easy to maintain, but they are also durable and add a warm feeling to any home. If you already have hardwood floors, you might consider having a pro work on them before you put your home on the market.
Refinishing hardwood floors is a process that includes sanding the floors down before applying a new coating. However, you can sometimes get away with recoating rather than refinishing your floors. The process of recoating is more affordable because it simply adds a new protective layer.
Once you’ve installed new hardwood floors, be sure to take before-and-after photos and keep all your receipts as these types of improvements can raise your home’s value if you ever decide to sell. On a related note, if you’re not sure where you come up with the money to make these improvements to your home, looking into home loan refinance might lower your monthly payments and generate the cash you need.
Making Structural Changes
If you love the flow of open-concept layouts, you might want to achieve this look in your own home. However, the last thing you want to do is accidentally take out a load-bearing wall or put yourself at risk by not knowing what’s inside your walls. The cost of removing a wall with a pro depends on whether it’s load-bearing or has fixtures that need to be rerouted.
Aside from the risk to your home and yourself, going ahead with major changes can have other drawbacks. Architectural Digest explains how homeowners risk making mistakes during the design process if they don’t consult professionals.
Getting Rid of Pests
To be done safely and thoroughly, pest control always needs to be handled by a professional. Mice are among the most common pests out there. If you suspect you have a mice problem, check reviews on Angi to find a mice exterminator in your area.
Removing Popcorn Ceilings
While it might seem easy to scrape off that ugly popcorn ceiling yourself, it could contain hidden dangerous materials. According to Family Handyman, many popcorn ceilings installed before 1980 contain asbestos, which can cause lung damage and increase your chances of getting lung cancer. It’s also incredibly messy and time-consuming to scrape off that popcorn texture yourself. For this job, you could hire a local handyman in your area, which typically costs anywhere from $375 to $735.
Fixing Gas, Electrical, or Plumbing
Unless you have professional training and experience, you shouldn’t mess around with major components like the gas or plumbing in your home. Not only is it unsafe to proceed on your own, it might actually be against the law to take on certain projects without a permit. Depending on the type of project and where you live, permits may only be issued to licensed professionals. The cost of plumbing, gas, and electrical work varies greatly depending on the scope of the project and the hourly rate of the pro you hire.
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Redoing Your Roof
Installing a new roof can cost between $4.50 and $5 per square foot depending on where you live. Trying to fix your roof yourself has countless pitfalls. For example, you may tear off the old material only to find that the new material won’t be delivered on time. There are also considerable safety risks and the potential for finding damage that you don’t know how to fix yourself.
Some projects are cheap and easy when you do the work yourself, but in many cases, it’s better to let a professional handyman or contractor take over. You should never risk your health or the structure of your home to save a few bucks. Not only is it safer to hire a professional when you don’t have experience, but they’ll do a better job, and the project will have a bigger impact on your home value when it comes time to sell.
This post is written by Bret Engle of diyguys.net. Bret is an architect with a passion for DIY home projects & repairs. Bret believes in promoting projects which are more sustainable for the environment.