5 Home Repairs You Should Hire a Pro For and Avoid DIY Mistakes

With all the home renovation shows out there, it’s tempting for homeowners to take up a hammer and do some DIY work. However, some jobs are better left to the professionals.

Certain projects pose serious risks that could result in expensive and dangerous damage to your home. Here are five home repairs you should avoid doing yourself to save money and protect your home.

1. Electrical

Some home improvement projects are better left to a professional, such as electrical repairs. This is especially true for wiring upgrades, which are complex and can have serious consequences if done incorrectly.

For example, wires that are cut too short can cause poor connections, which could be hazardous. Also, if plastic-sheathed cables are left exposed between framing members, it’s easy to damage them and create a fire hazard.

Another problem that can arise from DIY electrical work is failure to pull the proper permit for the project. This is important because unpermitted and uninspected work can put you at risk for a failed safety inspection or even make your house ineligible to sell. Plus, homeowners insurance may not cover the cost of repairing any damage that occurs as a result of non-permitted work.

2. Plumbing

Plumbing is one of the most important systems in a home. It provides a safe environment for you and your family to live, wash, and cook. Attempting to repair or remodel your own plumbing is a big risk that could lead to expensive damages and repairs. For help with a whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting, a professional plumber should be contacted.

Many DIYers do not realize the complexity of their home’s plumbing system and overestimate their abilities. One common mistake is failing to turn off the water before starting a project. Another mistake is using the wrong pipe sizes, which can lead to low water pressure or a burst pipe. Additionally, many homeowners try to fix their plumbing problems with quick fixes that only solve the problem temporarily, such as a patch or a wrap. Rather, call a plumber to get to the root of the issue and fix it once and for all.

3. Painting

Painting is one of those projects that homeowners often take on themselves, especially in the summer when they’re trying to breathe some life into their space. However, it’s not without its pitfalls. From failing to prep walls, to choosing the wrong paint color, there are plenty of mistakes DIYers make during painting projects that can have a big impact on the final results.

For example, not cleaning your walls before you paint can cause problems with the adhesion of the paint. And not preparing the wall correctly for paint can result in drips and sloppy coverage. Plus, if you’re tackling an exterior painting project, that requires extensive use of ladders and climbing onto the roof, it’s best to hire a pro.

4. Flooring

Many homeowners upgrade their floors in an effort to improve home value, boost style and functionality, or just update. But flooring DIY projects can go wrong quickly if homeowners don’t follow best practices and use proper tools.

One common mistake is choosing the wrong material for a room. For example, wood flooring may not suit a bathroom, where moisture and humidity can cause it to warp. Another common mistake is failing to properly measure and cut lumber, pipes, or other materials. Cutting these materials too short can result in costly mistakes, like having to buy more of them or doing a shoddy job out of frustration.

Reality isn’t like the show-biz, so it’s important for homeowners to know when a DIY project is beyond their skill set. Working beyond that limit can lead to shoddy workmanship and, in the worst cases, injury or even death.

5. Roof

There are many reasons why you should let a professional take care of your roof. For starters, a lot of DIYers make big mistakes that end up costing them more money than they expected.

Some of these mistakes may be quite serious. For example, you could end up with a leaky roof that ends up damaging the structure of your home. Another mistake that amateurs often make is laying down shingles unevenly. This can make your roof look unsightly and decrease its resale value.

It’s also important to remember that roofing is a dangerous job. You could injure yourself if you try climbing on your roof to fix it. Besides, your friends might be happy to help but will you really want them holding onto your roof like monkey bars?