In a world of giant hardware stores and endless do-it-yourself shows, it might seem like no home repair is out of the realm of the average weekend warrior. While you can accomplish a lot with some planning and an instructional video, there are limits on where this approach will get you. Knowing these limits ahead of time will ensure that you don't end up with any injuries or property damage and instead get the perfect results that you have in your mind.
Electrical Repairs
Anytime you're in close proximity to electricity, there's a risk of electric shock. Even simple tasks, such as installing a new light fixture, can turn deadly if you don't take the necessary precautions. Hiring a qualified electrician will save you a lot of time and ensure that you don't inadvertently receive a new hairstyle.
Roof Repairs and Installations
While repairing or replacing your roof can technically be a do-it-yourself task, there are a lot of variables involved that make this task better suited to a professional. One main challenge of roofing repair is the pitch of the roof that presents the risk of falling off your roof at any moment. There's also the concern of ensuring that you properly seal around protrusions in your roof so that you don't end up with leaks in your home.
Foundation Repair
If you see cracks in your home's foundation, you'll typically want to hire a professional to take care of the problem. That's because highly specialized tools are often needed to lift your home off of its foundation so that repairs can be made to the concrete. Trying to do this task yourself will almost never turn out well, especially considering the significant weight and forces involved in moving a house.
Re-Fitting Gas Lines
Routing a gas line to a new location seems fairly straightforward, especially if you have basic plumbing experience. The difference, though, is that if you do something wrong when you're working with a gas line, the mistake could result in an explosion. That's why, in many cities, it's illegal for anyone other than a licensed pipefitter to work on gas lines. Therefore, choosing a professional for these types of repairs is a legal issue in addition to the safety concerns that accompany such a task.
Final Thoughts
If you're realizing that the repairs you had in mind might not be the easiest to do yourself, there's still hope for the avid do-it-yourselfer. In many cases, you can perform smaller portions of a task without any worries about causing major damage. By taking care of these portions of the tasks yourself, you can still save money, even when you have to hire a professional to take care of the bulk of the work. Ultimately, it’s worth it in many situations to receive help from an expert that knows how to accomplish the task as safely and effectively as possible.
