5 Projects You May Think Twice About DIY’ing
Once you become a homeowner, you can expect to have a certain amount of maintenance needed on your home. The older your home gets, the more that may be required for appropriate upkeep. The question then becomes whether to hire a contractor or to do it yourself. In some instances it may seem more affordable to do on your own, but do not forget to factor in the cost in the long run if the maintenance and repair work on your home is not done correctly. Here are 5 projects that you may think twice about doing yourself.
1. Painting – Let’s be honest for a moment. What comes to mind when you think of having to paint? Tape sticking to you instead of the wall, your new color bleeding under the tape, paint splatter in your hair or better yet on your flooring? Painting is not just the quick trip to the home improvement store to get rollers and brushes. It takes time, patience and skill to tackle, not to mention a tall ladder depending on how high your ceilings are. Painting is a very tedious task that although you very well have the capability to do yourself, it is more of a matter of whether it is something you really want to spend your entire weekend (full week or even month!) doing?
2. Flooring – Have you ever stretched carpeting? Laid real wood planks? Both of these projects require specific tools in order to achieve a professional look, so if you are not experienced in flooring, most likely you do not already have these tools handy. Precise measurements and cutting tools are needed for going around corners and angles as well. When it comes to flooring, if you don’t want bunched carpet or gaps in your flooring, it’s best to hire a professional.
3. Electrical – This is one task that definitely should be done by an expert so that you are not putting your home or yourself at risk. Complications with electrical wiring can cause shorts, the possibility of a fire hazard and likely electrocution. It’s best to be safe than sorry when it comes to electrical work.
4. Drywall – Sure, many homeowners can attempt minor drywall repair to correct hairline cracking or nail holes, but when damage of a larger extent happens it’s best to have a drywall repair contractor complete the repair. It takes a skilled hand to match an existing drywall texture so that your repair job is not visible after the fact. On larger jobs that require new drywall to be hung, more than one person will be needed in order to hold up the large sheets and secure at the same time. You will notice that your drywall contractor will send a crew of 2-3 to complete your work.
5. Plumbing – Water leaks and damage can be a headache that you do not want to undertake alone. If not properly repaired, a leak can cause extensive damage and thousands of dollars to fix down the road. In this case warped trim boards and stained drywall would be the least of your worries knowing the likelihood that mold will soon be present if not immediately addressed. Once mold is found, the cost of repair will increase drastically due to the safety concerns it poses. Not to mention mold has to be removed by a licensed remediation company, thus costing you more.
Ready to find a professional for your home improvement repair work? There is an easy solution for homeowners living in the metro Phoenix area. One call to Todd Whittaker Drywall Inc. (TWD) to schedule your free consultation and you will quickly see why so many others prefer hiring them than DIY’ing their maintenance work. TWD is licensed, bonded and trusted, all since 1996. Give them a call today at (623) 544-1211.
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