It seems like we live in the age of the Do-It-Yourself attitude. This can be a good thing, as often there are problems that you can fix yourself around your house, saving you lots of money. However, sometimes certain projects are best left to the professionals. Let’s look at a few of each.
Do-It-Yourself
- Install Tile Flooring
Installing tile flooring isn’t that difficult, just laborious. If you have great attention to detail and you don’t mind meticulous work, you are likely to be good at laying tile. The biggest trick to installing a tile floor properly is to make sure you’ve done your research. You need to ensure that you have all of the supplies you need, enough supplies for the area you want to tile, and follow all of the instructions carefully.
While laying tile is definitely time consuming, it’s also something you don’t need to be scared about attempting on your own. If you’re nervous, start with a small area, like your bathroom.
- Fix Holes in Walls
Holes in walls always seem to happen, whether they’re from pictures that got moved somewhere else, or that corner where you tried to move some furniture that barely fit. These holes are often unsightly, but luckily they’re pretty easy to fix.
Patching holes in drywall is the easiest, and some other materials might take a little more effort, but you can still take care of them with your choice of patching material and some new paint. If, however, the hole is big, or there are exposed wires, you should call a professional.
- Replace Fixtures
Replacing fixtures, such as showerheads, bathroom or kitchen faucets, or light fixtures, are all small remodeling projects that can change a room’s appearance. Fixtures are also pretty easy to replace yourself, though it does get easier with practice.
Don’t–Call a Pro
- Structural Remodeling
Structural remodeling, such as additions or taking out walls, can be very difficult. For one, you run the risk of running into hazards like electrical wires and water pipes, which could be dangerous to hit and cause a lot of additional problems.
You should also leave structural remodeling to professionals because of building codes. There are many building codes out there and they can change from year to year, and a professional will be up to date on all of them. If your house isn’t up to code, you could get fined, and it would also prevent you from selling your house in the future.
- Electrical Work
Any time wires are involved, you should call an electrician. Electricity can be very dangerous and you don’t want to run the risk of electrocuting yourself or starting a fire. In this case, spending a few dollars is worth the peace of mind to know that your wiring is safe.
- Plumbing
Plumbing is one of those things that always seems like it should be relatively easy, making it tempting to try to take care of plumbing needs on your own. However, plumbing is trickier than it looks. Obviously, you can probably handle a clogged toilet on your own, but more serious issues mean you should call a plumber.
