DIY Home Repair: When should you – and when shouldn’t you?
Performing home repairs is a great way to take control and save money. While there are many DIY tasks that even beginners can do themselves, there are also some circumstances where it’s better to seek the help of a professional.
When should you consider DIY home repair?
Maintenance
Drawing up a home maintenance plan is a great way to stay on top of your home to keep it in good shape and prevent having to pay expensive upfront costs for any damage or wear and tear.
Cleaning your gutters can be easily done twice a year simply by removing debris by hand. Inspecting your roof just involves checking for any missing, cracked or damaged tiles and fixing a leaky faucet can prevent you from having to replace your taps.
Painting
Perhaps your walls need a fresh lick of paint or your wooden furniture needs a refresh. It’s so easy to get your hands on the right products and start work.
For furniture, simply sand it down using thick sanding paper, seal the wood with primer, then paint it in the colour of your choice.
Landscaping and gardening
You don’t need to break the bank to improve the aesthetic of your outside space. Small and simple changes can boost your home’s curb appeal – from creating pathways and adding planters to building garden seating and installing a firepit.
When shouldn’t you attempt DIY home repair?
Safety concerns
If you’re a complete newbie when it comes to DIY and home renovations, it may not be worthwhile taking on some particular tasks due to safety reasons. For instance, if you’ve never climbed a ladder, used a power tool or worked with electrics, it may be better to leave it to the professionals.
Complex electrical work
While changing a bulb is fairly straightforward, tampering with the mains can be dangerous. You could potentially mess up the fuses and give yourself an electric shock – which is the last thing you want!
Roof repairs
If you’ve noticed that your roof needs repairing, a contractor should come and assess the situation themselves. Roofs are particularly complicated, and they need to be compliant with UK building regulations.
Depending on the size of the repair needed, it’s likely going to cost a lot of money. To receive a higher number of financial options at good rates, you could consider trying to improve your credit score to potentially benefit from such choices.
Mold Remediation
By trying to remove mold yourself, you could be making the situation worse by releasing thousands of mold spores into the air. These can stick to surfaces around your house, which means you may ingest them and cause several health problems.
