The do-it-yourself (DIY) spirit is alive and well in Canada as homeowners from coast to coast take on repair work by themselves. It’s easy to see why – we’ve all watched a YouTube video or sat through a reality TV marathon and thought,
how hard could that be? Repainting walls, changing cabinet hardware – these are all great little tasks that can transform the look of your home without breaking the bank. However, there are a few things that you should probably not do on your own because they are dangerous or too hard to get right. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of what should you leave to pros instead of attempting yourself. Let’s begin.
Bathrooms
Whether you are building or renovating a bathroom, you will want expert help. What makes
bathrooms particularly challenging is the plumbing. It is far too easy to make a mistake when it comes to plumbing. Whether it occurs at that moment or a few months later,
improperly installed plumbing can lead to significant water damage that will cost an order of magnitude more to repair than hiring a professional in the first place. Whether you have the review your design for errors or have them design the bathroom from the ground up, plumbing is something you want to leave to the pros.
Expensive Materials
The materials we use in a room lend their charm to how we see the space. It is no wonder then that we prize expensive materials for home decoration. Some of the most expensive and most common materials to work with include marble and granite countertops. You can benefit a great deal from having a professional do the measurements and install the materials. Along with covering the costs of things like mistakes, you will know for sure that the installation was done correctly and that there is no worry about premature wear and tear. Contractors can also leverage relationships with trade partners to get you the best possible prices on high-quality building materials.
Electrical
Along with plumbing, electrical is generally considered one of the two things that
DIY people should steer clear of. Having your home wired correctly is critical to ensuring that power gets to where it needs to go. The power has to be able to handle a certain load without becoming overworked. If set up incorrectly, parts of the grid can become overloaded and you risk have electrical fires occur. The risk of electrocution is also very real if you do not know what you are doing. For the sake of insurance, you may need to prove that the source of the damage resulted from professional work and not a
DIY job.
DIY home improvement is a great thing, but it’s important to know when to bring in the pros. If electrical, plumbing, structural, or mechanical work is involved, call in a contractor. Even better, work with a contractor from the beginning. You can lend a hand as needed with demolition and little jobs to help reduce the bill, or you can sit back and let the pros demonstrate their expertise and create a new oasis at home.
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