The reality stars of popular home improvement shows make home renovations look quick and easy. However, what you may not know is that there are crews of people behind the scenes who work hard to pull these renovations off. Before you think about pulling out the sledgehammer and enjoying demo day at your home, you may want to think twice about trying the following home improvement projects on your own.
Structure Work
Any type of major structural work should never be attempted on your own unless you handle structure repairs for a living. Most people who attempt these type of home improvement projects don’t really know what they’re doing and often end up doing more harm than good. When you tackle taking down walls or other support beams, you could put your home’s integrity at risk and cause sagging or collapsing.
Plumbing
Some minor repairs, such as unclogging a drain or changing out a faucet, are acceptable projects to try on your own. However, when you start getting into tearing out and replacing bathtubs or changing the location of sinks and toilets, you should leave those types of projects to experienced plumbing professionals.
Basement Renovations
Having a finished basement is an attractive option for homeowners these days. It provides extra living space and can increase your home’s market value. However, before you try to finish your basement yourself, pause and consider the possible consequences. It may seem simple to hang walls and add flooring, but there are some major components to this that shouldn’t be overlooked, such as adding in fire blocking and vapor barriers. Do yourself a favor and let the professionals handle the tedious task of finishing your basement.
Electrical Work
Attempting any type of electrical work on your own is simply dangerous. If you attempt a wiring job yourself without fully understanding the way circuits and grounding work, you could be creating a serious fire hazard in your home. That’s not to say you can’t accomplish an easy task, such as swapping out a light fixture or changing out a light switch, but anything beyond that should never be attempted by anyone but a licensed electrician.
Converting Appliances
If you currently have an electric stove or dryer and want to switch over to gas, before you start attempting to convert your appliances you should call in a licensed professional. These types of home improvement projects are complicated and tedious, and unless you know what you’re doing, should never be attempted by a DIYer. Gas lines are volatile, and if you don’t manage them properly, could create a leak leading to health issues or even an explosion. Save yourself the potential heartache and leave these types of projects to someone else.
Many homeowners attempt to DIY projects around the home to help save them some money. However, it often ends up costing more in the long run because professionals have to come in and fix poor work. Before you attempt your next project, consider whether or not it’s worth your time and money to have an experienced professional come in and do it for you. More often than not, you’ll likely find it’s worth it to have that added peace of mind knowing the job is being done right.
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