If you’re passionate about DIY, or you’re keen to spruce up your home or cross off maintenance tasks without spending a fortune, you might be thinking about trying to save on repairs and household jobs. While many tasks are suitable for amateurs, it’s best to call in the pros for certain jobs. In this guide for homeowners, we’ll discuss when to DIY and when to leave it to the experts.
DIY
Doing jobs around the house yourself can save money, and it can also be enjoyable. If you like to roll your sleeves up and muck in, or you have an interest in DIY, design or being creative, there are lots of tasks you can tackle without expert help. Here are some examples:
Painting and decorating
Painting walls and adding wallpaper can make all the difference to the aesthetic of your home. If you plan to paint, this is a safe and relatively straightforward DIY job. Before you get started, sand and wipe down the walls, lay down dust sheets or old bedding to protect floors and furniture, make sure you have enough paint to complete the job, and ensure you have the right brushes or rollers. Tape light switches and power points and joins between the walls and ceilings to ensure a professional, smart finish. Wait for the first coat of paint to dry fully before applying another layer. If you are covering a dark color with a lighter shade, you may need more than two coats. If you’re painting or wallpapering for the first time, it’s a great idea to follow video tutorials and guides online.
Building furniture and upcycling
If you’ve treated yourself to new furniture or you’re on a mission to revamp old pieces, you can use your DIY skills to build new items or upcycle tables, chairs or chests that have seen better days. Follow instructions and check manuals, get ideas and inspiration online and make sure you have all the tools you need before you start.
Tiling
Tiles look fabulous in kitchens and bathrooms, and they transform the aesthetic of the room in an instant. Tiling can be arduous and time-consuming but it is a job that you can do yourself if you have the time and patience. Watch videos, read how-to guides and make sure you’ve got the equipment you need before you start your tiling project.
Call in the pros
There are some tasks that are best left to the experts. If you’re worried about safety, you need jobs doing that are very complex, or you’re keen to ensure the best possible outcome, it’s wise to call in the pros. Here are some examples:
Plumbing
Basic plumbing may be accessible to amateurs but if you have concerns about a leak, you’re plumbing in new appliances or bathroom fittings, or you need advice about plumbing repair, it’s a good idea to search for a reputable, reliable plumbing firm with an excellent track record. With plumbing problems, there is always a risk of doing more harm than good. To save money in the long term and find a quicker fix, let expert plumbers tackle the job for you.
Roofing
If you spot loose tiles, or you’ve got a leak, it may be tempting to scale a ladder and attempt DIY repairs. While there is a chance that you would be able to fix the problem and escape unscathed, roofing is dangerous and it carries risks of severe injuries. There is also a risk of causing further damage. Roofers are trained to identify and repair issues, and they have safety equipment and the skills and knowledge required to minimize risks.
Electrics
Do your lights keep going off, are your appliances tripping, or are you thinking about modernizing the electrics in your home? Any jobs that involve playing with wires or power points and sockets are best left to trained, qualified, experienced electricians. Electrical injuries can be extremely severe and even life-threatening, and you’ll need to ensure that the work done to your home meets safety standards. Read reviews online and ask friends, neighbors and colleagues for recommendations.
Hazardous materials
If you’re renovating your home, or you’ve bought a house you plan to fix up, you may stumble across hazardous materials, for example, asbestos. In this scenario, it is essential to enlist the help of experts who have the relevant knowledge and equipment to remove substances safely.
As a homeowner, it’s important to keep up to date with repairs and general maintenance and DIY. In many cases, you can cross tasks off the list yourself but there are some jobs that are best left to experienced professionals.
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