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DIY vs. Hiring a Professional: When to Do It Yourself and When to Call in the Experts

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional: When to Do It Yourself and When to Call in the Experts

As homeowners, we can all get tempted to do every little repair ourselves or even throw ourselves headfirst into large-scale renovation projects. But sometimes, knowing when to step back and let professionals handle matters is necessary. This can not only help with the overall quality of the project but also ensure proper safety and speed things up.

But how do you know whether a task is something you can do yourself or whether it would be better to leave it in the hands of others? Do not worry. This article will help you with some of the most common types of renovations and repairs and guide you along. Enjoy!

The Kitchen

When it comes to the kitchen, you can do plenty of projects on your own. Painting the cabinets a fresh color can help revitalize the entire room, and updating the hardware can make your kitchen look entirely different. These things are relatively easy to do and do not require special knowledge.

Installing new fixtures requires some knowledge and skill, but it is still possible. The same goes for adding or replacing the backsplash, which can help guard against stains and update the look even further.

On the other hand, any form of plumbing or electrical work should typically be left to professionals. This is because of the inherent dangers, either to one’s own health or to the integrity of the home. Major structural changes, such as knocking down the wall to open up into the living room, are also best left to more experienced people.

The Bathroom

Much like in the kitchen, if you are not afraid to learn something new, you can try replacing the faucets or showerhead to modernize your bathroom for a relatively easy project that can have a dramatic effect.

Drilling a few holes in the tiles to hang up a kitchen cabinet or vanity mirror is something you can do yourself without much knowledge, or even installing new flooring, depending on your chosen materials.

You should avoid tampering with pipes, hoses attached to any major water outlets or inlets, or rewiring the electrical system to accommodate a new tumbler, for instance. The same goes for completely redoing the tile work, as you must ensure it is up to code to be properly water-sealed.

The Living Room

For the living rooms or dining rooms, painting the walls or changing the skirting boards are easy projects you can do yourself if you have the time and energy. You can also install new light fixtures as long as you use the existing outlets. Some types of new flooring, such as laminate, can also be finished yourself with decent results.

If you wish to sand down your existing hardwood floor to give it new life or even add a new one, you are often better off leaving it to professionals. The equipment needed and the knowledge required tend to be what makes the difference between a beautiful end result and a quick rush job with obvious defects.

These were just a few of the more common renovation projects we get questions about at The HandyForce. If you would like to learn more about your options when it comes to a specific project, feel free to contact us for a consultation. Our experts can help renovate your home from top to bottom and will also be available to advise you along the way.