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6 Home Maintenance Projects You Should Never Do Yourself

Mainly because of your safety and the quality of the work, here is when you should call an expert and not poke around the problem on your own.

By Emma WilliamsPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
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Although there are many DIY projects around the home you can get yourself busy with, there are still types of work inside your home you should leave to the professionals. Mainly because of your safety and the quality of the work, here is when you should call an expert and not poke around the problem on your own.

Plumbing

Many of us have tried waiting for a leaky faucet to stop on its own because we didn't want to pay for a plumber. You may have also tried replacing the faulty faucet but other than that, there's nothing much you can do about it.

Even though fixing plumbing issues can't endanger your life, making a mistake while doing it can cost you a lot more than you've bargained for. A small leak can result in a major flood in the room, costing you thousands of dollars. Any plumbing work, especially if it involves hot water pipes or the sewage system, demands a professional.

Roof fixes

In case you notice water drops on the floor of a room or even the attic, it is a sign of structural damage or mold that you shouldn't ignore. If you react timely to roof problems, you will save yourself a lot of money. Roof problems are usually caused by bad weather or a sheer lack of maintenance. Whatever the cause, leaks slowly destroys the roofing material.

Although you can do a few small repairs and adjustments as an amateur, a professional is needed to inspect the flashing, which is the most important part of the roof. In case the flashing is compromised, you need to call a roofer - your attempts to fix it could end in disaster, with water making its way between the roof and the roofing system.

Structural works

Any sort of major structural work should not be done by the homeowner because even the slightest mistake could compromise the integrity of the whole home. Although it seems that it's very popular to rip your own home apart when you wish to change the arrangement inside or add another room, it's something that has to be performed by a professional. Many homeowners don't know which wall is load-bearing, risking the floor upstairs to start sagging or something much worse than that.

Changes with and on the walls, whether in the interior or on the exterior, are meant to be handled by experts such as those at Olam Clad because only experts can assess what a specific wall can handle. You, on the other hand, as an amateur, should only deal with painting the walls - it's the safest choice.

Waterproofing

The basement can cause a lot of headaches - if the water finds its way in, you will end up collecting your belongings floating around the room. many experts who come to deal with the problem notice that the homeowners have already been trying to fix the problem of waterproofing on their own and haven't succeeded completely. The fact is that there's a lot of digging, and the application and back-filling take more time than homeowners think, resulting in an uncompleted job. Sometimes they didn't wait long enough for the ground to dry out, and sometimes they left the hole open, and it caved in. Some amateur works can even end in a serious injury, so you better not try waterproofing the basement on your own.

Gas appliances

Problems with gas appliances can cost a lot, which doesn't mean you should handle them on your own. This is a matter of your own safety - water heaters, gas furnaces, dryers, or ovens - they should all be checked and fixed by qualified professionals. Even if you take the precaution of turning off the gas and being very careful while you're fixing the issue, it's still possible to cause a leak if you don't reinstall the appliance properly. And you know that a gas leak could cause serious health issues or even an explosion inside your home. So, the safest way is to call an expert.

Electrical works

Similar to gas repairs, electrical works can endanger your safety if you don't call an electrician to do it for you. There could be parts which were wired improperly or buried wires that you don't see - something an amateur can't recognize or notice, putting themselves into imminent danger of being electrocuted.

As an experienced DIYer, you should only install a basic light fixture - everything else should be handled by a proper electrician. There's a reason electricians are expensive - years of training taught then how to avoid great dangers when working with electricity.

Bottom line

No matter how enthusiastic you are about a specific repair or project inside your home, there is a line you shouldn't cross. Don't be sorry about the money you will pay to an expert - it is invested in your safety and it ensures quality work.

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