When it comes to keeping your home in the best condition it can be, keeping on top of the small things is essential so they don’t spiral out of control. They may end up becoming a bigger task than they need to be. Once jobs start to snowball, it can be hard to get a handle on everything and fix it all at once.
Undertaking tasks around the house can be expensive. Paying for professionals can be costly too so it makes sense you will be looking at doing smaller tasks yourself. It is so easy to teach yourself new skills especially when it comes to DIY. You can use the search engines to find out most things and watch as many YouTube tutorials as it takes until you get it right.
There is a plethora of home DIY enthusiasts online willing you to take on the job yourself, and learn a new skill. This is a great idea for anyone since we could all do with learning to be more self-sufficient. However, this shouldn’t be carried out at the expense of safety. Sure, it may save you money compared to hiring a professional, but experts are there for a reason. After all, the old saying is true- “A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing”.
That doesn’t mean you can teach yourself some easy jobs though. Easy tasks to learn are:
- building flat-pack furniture
- painting and decorating
- changing light bulbs
- upcycling old or broken furniture
- hanging pictures on the wall
- putting up shelving
- laying laminate flooring/restoring wooden flooring
- hanging drywall
- installing floorboards
As long as you are working safely and know your limits, there is no issue taking on DIY jobs. However, in some instances, it is always best to seek professional help regardless of your skill level. There are certain trades that require qualifications to undertake. In some cases, taking on these jobs yourself can cause more problems in the long run if you don’t do them correctly.
So when should you call in a professional?
Plumbers
Unblocking your toilet or the u-bend under your sink can be done yourself if you have a good idea of what the issue is.
However, major issues like leaks, blocked drains, broken pipes, will most likely need professionals to take care of the issue. The last thing you want to do is flood your home or cause more damage resulting in a bigger job. Especially if your whole home needs a full plumbing remodel.
The best way to find a reputable company is to ask friends and family for recommendations. You can also look online for companies who can provide you with not only professional services but previous customer reviews too. Companies such as mrrooter.ca/mississauga/ can provide time served experienced plumbers to sort your plumbing problems out.
Electricians
It is essential that you consult an electrician before undertaking any work relating to or connected to your electrical supply. We all know we must turn our electrical supply off when taking on any major work. You can never be too careful.
Electricians train for many years to be able to fix, install and maintain all electrical equipment from small household appliances to major electrical renovations. Safety when dealing with electrical equipment should always be paramount. Even the most experienced amateur electrician isn’t fully qualified and may not be aware of any long term issues or damage caused by their attempts to fix the problem.
It can be expensive to hire an electrician but chances are the job will be done correctly the first time around. It will meet and pass any standards or inspections that need to be carried out once the work is completed.
Gas Engineers
Any type of gas supply running through your home needs to be handled carefully. Misusing gas can have serious, and often deadly results when mishandled by amateur DIYers. You want to make sure that the one job you fully delegate to an experienced professional is any gas work. This includes installing/removing gas equipment such as cookers or heating if it runs off the gas, and any boiler work too.
No one wants to cause a bigger issue that could potentially have huge implications if not handled correctly. Do yourself a favor and relinquish control when it comes to dealing with any type of gas related work. Call in someone who knows exactly what they are doing.
Carpentry and Joinery
When making changes to your home, it’s tempting to cut out the labor costs and do it all yourself. If you’ve managed to take care of some bigger changes to your home, it can be easy to be lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to your skillset.
If you are undertaking major remodeling work in your home, or even hanging new doors, you want a professional finish. It makes sense that you bring in a carpenter and/or a joiner to help you make sure that everything fits, works, and looks as good as it should be.
If you are hiring a construction company, they will usually provide a carpenter and joiner themselves. If you are taking on the bulk of the work, ask yourself, “Can you dedicate the time to getting this work done correctly? Do you have the necessary skills to pull off what needs to be done?”.
If the answers are no, then it may be that you should consider hiring a carpenter and/or joiner to help you get tasks done right the first time. No one wants to have to pay out again for materials due to errors.
Windows and Skylights
It may look and sound simple to install windows correctly once they are made up to order. However, windows and skylights are not only ways of bringing light and the outdoors to your home. They are also a major source of insulation. Even a small mistake could mean that not only are your windows not as secure as they need to be, but they are also not insulating your home correctly.
This is a pretty important task when it comes to changing up or replacing the windows in your home. Give yourself peace of mind! It is always worth letting professional installers fit your windows and skylights. This allows you to know that the job has been done correctly and you don’t have to worry about what you have missed.
In Conclusion
There is nothing wrong with taking the lead when it comes to small household repairs or even learning how to do bigger tasks. You should always ask yourself how confident you are in your ability to complete the task before you start. A botched job can cost more money to repair and longer to fix should it be carried out incorrectly.
It’s the same for when taking on a home remodel. There are many tasks you can take on yourself to help you lower the costs. Along with many great tutorials available to help you. Knowing when you need to take a step back, evaluate your own skills/abilities, and assess the task at hand is also essential. Know your limits and know when to hire a contractor.
People train for many years to be able to undertake certain types of work. You may think you know 90% of the work involved but it is the other 10% that could be harmful to you and your project. Before taking on work, ask yourself the following questions. It will allow you to ascertain whether you are capable of doing the work yourself or if you need to hire someone to take over for you.
- Do you have the time to learn how to do the job? There is a big difference between laying new flooring when you are off work and having to come home and learn how to do it after a long day at work!
- Do you have the time to complete it in a reasonable timeframe? As above, if you can dedicate a big chunk of your week to doing this, great! If not, then you may need to hire someone to help out.
- How much do you have to spend on the project? Where can you make savings should you need to hire a contractor?
- Do you know what to expect before you start work? Tearing down walls sounds like fun and it looks fun in the movies. But do you know what is behind that wall when it comes down? Are there any electrical cables, or is it a supporting wall?
- Are you ready for the unexpected? Being prepared for what can go wrong is the best way to prepare yourself. Know what the possible outcomes are of you undertaking the work yourself. Be prepared for things to go off plan. This can help reduce costs as you won’t be forced to scramble to find extra money should the work need to be redone.
