To the “Expert” DIY’ers: Home Repairs You Should Never Attempt On Your Own

In the normal upkeep and maintenance of your home, there are going to be times where your home is going to need repairs… it’s just something that comes with homeownership. Depending on the severity of the repair needed, you may be able to make the repair yourself, if it’s easy and simple enough. Unfortunately, and all too often, homeowners misjudge their DIY capabilities and take on home repairs that are beyond their level of expertise.

Misjudging your home repair capabilities is an easy thing to do, if you think about it. YouTube has made any and everyone think that you can fully update your home’s plumbing system just by watching a 15-minute video… it’s as simple as that, right?

To be fair, there are certain home repairs you can do to your home that will indeed help you save significantly and pose no serious hurt, harm, or danger to you, but if you’re not skilled or familiar in that area of repairs, should you take it on?

Sometimes taking on certain repairs may save you money on the front-end but end up costing you more later on from poor installation or craftsmanship. So, in choosing whether to DIY a home repair or hire a professional, you’re going to have to determine which trade-off will benefit you more… cost for quality or time for finished results.

Safety Comes First

In your home repair efforts, you, of course, are considering your level of expertise to the quality of the finished product you desire. And although the finished results are important, your safety is of most importance. Homeowners tend to forget about their own safety as a deciding factor in whether to make the home repairs themselves or not.

The World Health Organization tells us that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional deaths in the world. In the world of home repairs, you’re more likely to suffer injuries from a ladder fall or some type of skin laceration more than anything else.

So before you pull out your “handy-dandy” arsenal of home improvement DIY tools, take the time out to really think about the repair you’re considering doing and compare it to your level of expertise in that area. If the repair and your expertise level don’t match, you need to hire a professional.

Take a look at home repairs you definitely need to hire professionals for.

Water Damage

Maybe you live in an area that often experiences heavy rain and your basement floods every time… Well, you’re not only going to need to have some work done on your home to prevent the flooding from happening every time, but until you can make that happen, you’re going to need to look for water damage restoration contractors.

The thing about water damage is that if it’s left untreated, it can lead to other issues in your home. Water damage is the direct cause of mold infestations, leaky roofs, and foundation issues… If you don’t hire a water restoration contractor soon, you’ll also be needing to hire mold, roof, and foundation contractors in addition to the initially needed water damage restoration contractor.

Electrical Repairs

Electrical repairs are not the same thing as changing a lightbulb or installing a new light fixture… Electrical repairs are extremely dangerous and require the know-how of skilled electricians. Failing to turn off the electricity or cutting the wrong wire can both lead to serious injuries, house fires, and sometimes death. Make sure you give this repair to the pros.

Plumbing Repairs

If there’s one thing that can be said about air that can also be said about water, is the fact that if there is any type of crack or leak anywhere in your home, water will find its way in or out through that crack or leak.

Plumbing is a repair that you have to really assess with an unbiased eye. If you’re not exactly an expert plumber nor a novice, you can probably take on small repairs like replacing your shower head or fixing a leaking toilet, but certain repairs are just beyond your realm of knowledge and require the skills of a professional plumber.

If you’re not familiar with re-routing sewer pipes, your home’s plumbing system, or even welding experience, you need to leave the plumbing to the pros.

Roofing Repairs

Roof repairs are extremely dangerous to take on. Most people think that the danger lies in the work of the actual roof repair but that’s not the case at all. The real danger of roof repairs lies in the navigation to and from the roof and while on the roof.

Most injuries from roof repairs come from falling off of ladders and slips or missteps on the roof. From the types of clothes and shoes you wear to whether or not you’re wearing a helmet, all play a significant role in the safety of roof repairs. That reason alone is why this particular repair needs to be left to the pros.