Home improvement projects are notoriously expensive, with the average project costing around $2,000 to $10,000. So, DIY-ing them can definitely be a lifesaver.
But when it comes to handiwork around the house, there are things you can easily do, some you can do but they require a lot of effort or time, and some you shouldn’t even bother with because you have a high chance of screwing them up.
How can you differentiate between them? Don’t worry. Let’s nail down what you should and shouldn’t DIY around the house.
5 Home Projects You Should Never DIY
Wondering what you should never DIY around the house? Here are five things to always call the pros for:
1. Air Conditioner Installation and Issues
If you’re thinking about DIY-ing your air conditioner installation, remember that it’s illegal in Australia. In fact, without having an AC technician license, you could get slapped with a $40,000 fine or even get jail time.
The same goes for any AC issues. However, you can fix some on your own. Check out Alliance Climate Control’s guide to fixing common AC problems to learn more about which problems have an easy fix and which ones require a pro.
2. Pipes and Plumbing
Gutters get clogged, walls start to crack, and pipes begin leaking. These are common home problems. And while it’s easy to find solutions for the first two, you play a risky game when DIY-ing the latter.
That’s because the plumbing around your house is complex. A leak that’s causing your wall to swell might not be localized and have a million causes.
Plus, even if you replace pipe fittings using a kit, you might run into a $20,000 bill when it malfunctions and your basement floods with water. So, while fiddling around with pipes might seem like a no-brainer, the cost of later repairs isn’t worth it.
3. Removing Walls and Demolition
You can easily save money using a jackhammer to rip through concrete walls or tear them out. It just needs a bit of muscle.
But if you don’t have the right permit, knowledge, or building code knowledge, you could end up getting fined, or worse, pulling down a load-bearing wall, increasing the chances of your home falling on you.
4. Electric Wiring
Unless you’re an electrician, fiddling around with electric wiring is a surefire way to get electrocuted even if you have neutral wires going into the ground left, right, and center.
So, it’s best to leave any wiring- or electricity-related jobs to the pros. Your health is more important than a few bucks.
5. Painting Your Home’s Exterior
Painting your bedroom is easy. You only need a roller, brush, some painter’s tape, tarp, primer, and paint to get the job done. There isn’t much of a risk of injury because you’re not climbing up high.
But dressing up your home’s exterior is another ball game. You may need to climb up high to get to every spot, which can increase your risk of falls, especially if you’re a one-man army. This defeats the purpose of DIY-ing the project.
5 Home Projects You Should Always DIY
Now that we’ve checked out projects you should never try to DIY, let’s figure out which you can totally beginner it out:
1. Painting Walls
If your living and bedroom walls are looking a little sad, dusty, or in need of a fresh up, whip out your brush (for tight spaces) or roller, grab some paint, and go to town. You can easily save the $15 per meter you’d have to shell out on a professional painter.
And while you may have to spend a little more time on the job if your walls require a little work, the reward will be worth it.
2. Replacing Faucets
If your faucet is rusted, doesn’t turn on, or is having problems, you can easily replace it yourself, especially if it’s the center set type. You only need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to get the fitting right.
However, if you’ve got a wide-spread type of faucet, you might want to call in a professional because you may not have the time to dedicate to the project.
3. Re-grouting Tiles
Grout is porous and gets stained with dirt over time, making it look dirty even when you scrub everything. To get rid of the discolored look, you can easily get a sanded, unsanded, poxy, or latex grout to put a thin coat on your tiles.
You can also use a grout saw to remove the old grout and replace it with the new one if the damage has gone too deep.
4. Patching a Drywall Hole
If you’ve taken pictures off your walls, you can easily repair the unsightly nail holes in the drywall. Here’s what to do:
- Get some putty, paint, and a spackle knife.
- Apply the putty onto the wall using the spackle knife.
- Remove the excess.
- Wait for the putty to dry. You’ll find the time on the back of the container.
- Paint over the patch.
You might need to paint over the whole wall if your area is especially dusty or your paint doesn’t match.
5. Installing Shelves
Floating shelves are an easy way to get more storage space. Plus, they look great! They’re also simple to install, especially if you’re familiar with a drill.
All you need to do is buy some shelves online or from a furniture store and use a drill to screw them in place.
