DIY Dos and Don’ts: When Is It Too Big a Project to Handle?
Repairs and renovations are part of owning a home. People often want to change their houses to fit their growing needs or stabilize an older structure. It’s tempting to do the work alone, but sometimes it’s wiser to enlist the help of professionals. These are a few DIY dos and don’ts that make home renovations and repairs better investments.
Photo by Magda Vrabetz on Unsplash
Do: Fix Leaky Faucets
The average homeowner spends around $7,560 annually on household repairs. The good news is you don’t need to hire a professional for every job. Fixing leaky faucets is a simple project anyone can do at home.
Turn off your sink’s water supply with the valve handle located beneath or beside your sink. Turn both handles on so the water runs through the piping. Give it a minute, then turn the handles off.
Remove both handles with a screw, likely located behind the handle. Even though water drips from your sink nozzle, the handles determine whether the leak occurs or not. You’ll have to replace the inner cartridge and O-ring to recreate a tight seal. Replace your handles with the same ones or newer models if desired.
Don’t: Replace Glass Panes by Yourself
Anyone can quickly search for a guide to their next DIY home project but consider the detailed work needed for the renovation or repair. Trained professionals ensure their clients don’t miss any of the finer details that could require additional costly work if accidentally skipped. Glass panels require this type of knowledge and specialized tools to fit whatever needs replacing.
Some homeowners accidentally invest in the wrong materials when starting a project. Someone replacing their windows with standard glass to insulate their home more efficiently wouldn’t get the same results as someone using low-E glass made to block UV rays and the temperature fluctuations caused by direct sunlight.
You might also not know how to measure the glass panels necessary in your front door or sunroom walls. The machinery that cuts glass is costly and the process is dangerous if you don’t have any training. Knowledgeable professionals have the time, training and tools to provide the best results. It’s sometimes better to pay for their training on more substantial projects than risk missing crucial details or expensive tool upgrades.
Do: Repair Your Concrete Driveway
Concrete driveways are popular household additions, but they sometimes require repair. If you don’t have self-healing concrete that helps the environment by mending cracks on its own, you’ll need to learn basic repair techniques to maintain your property.
Remove any yard debris or broken pieces from the cracks in your driveway. Mix quick-setting concrete or open your concrete crack filler, depending on your budget and preferences. Fill in the crack with your preferred method by following the package’s instructions. As long as it has time to dry, your driveway will look good as new.
Don’t: Build Your Own Pool
It might seem silly to read you shouldn’t build your own pool, but viral videos showcase these types of projects on social media all the time. You could dig a large hole, line it and fill it with water from your hose, but it wouldn’t add the same property value as a professionally installed pool. It also might not last as long due to the cost-cutting supplies.
Professional pool teams would also know design and construction processes include numerous steps like researching required permits. Local governments need to file building and electrical paperwork before an excavator starts removing dirt from your backyard.
Homeowners sometimes don’t think they need permits because their property is under their name. Although that gives them many rights over their land, the land still falls under local, state and federal law. A professional design, renovation or construction team will know who to contact to achieve the proper permits for each client’s project.
They’ll also advise a considerable timeline for permit applications. Many applications don’t get approval overnight. Hearing back from local government offices could take a few days or weeks. Teams of revocation or repair experts who help clients secure their permits regularly know how much time to add to a project’s schedule based on which permits are necessary.
Do: Install Your Own Carpet
People replace their carpets all the time because the material becomes stained and flattened with use. It also collects the various odors from whoever lives in your home over the years. Although you could pay a professional team to install your selected carpet for you, the project is possible to do yourself with time and effort.
First, you must pick the best carpet for your home. You might prefer a thicker fiber or a certain color. Some materials will also have fewer chemicals than others. Sometimes, people feel surprised to learn chemical-free flooring can preserve their cars or save their skin from irritation. Select your future flooring based on your family’s needs and preferences.
When your materials arrive, remove your carpet by ripping it up with a carpet staple remover, glue scraper and a carpet knife. Inspect what’s underneath. You might need to replace the wooden boards or remove old glue from the concrete.
After the subflooring is ready, use glue and staples to apply padding and your new carpet wall to wall. If you leave your windows open for ventilation and use a knee kicker to secure the edges of your carpet under your floorboards, your room will be ready to use in three days or less.
Don’t: Replace Your Roofing Materials
Construction equipment might be available for rent at a local hardware store, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to use. Accidents still happen when untrained people rent excavators or dozers. It’s why people working in the construction industry receive moderate training at a minimum to stay employed in the field. They need to know each piece of equipment and the risks of misusing them.
Roofing projects require conveyor trucks, forklifts and more. You could harm yourself or damage your home by using them without training. It’s safer to let professionals handle the job. They’ll also know which materials are necessary for your repair or replacement, saving you time and money.
Consider Each Project Independently
DIY projects aren’t always the same. Some are easy to handle alone, while others require a professional’s guidance. Homeowners should consider these factors when deciding if a project’s too big to handle without expert assistance. The additional investment could make a project safer, legal and more timely.
Author: Rose Morrison
Cover image by Joe Holland on Unsplash
