In an attempt to increase the value of their home while saving some money, many ambitious homeowners will try to take on home improvement projects all on their own. While there are several home improvement projects that the average homeowner can complete successfully without professional help, others are best to leave to the pros. To avoid damaging your home and potentially injuring yourself in the process, here are some DIY home improvement projects to avoid doing.
Installing Certain Types of Insulation
If you’re interested in installing a few batts of fiberglass insulation in your attic, go right on ahead. Many homeowners are perfectly capable of safely and effectively installing such insulation in their homes. However, if you want to install a more advanced type of insulation, you should always contact a professional insulation contractor.
Installing advanced insulation materials in your home, such as spray foam insulation, requires specialized equipment and expertise. The incorrect installation of such insulation could result in harmful chemical off-gassing or home damage from blocked vents. Plus, poorly installed insulation simply won’t be effective, which eliminates the purpose of purchasing and installing it in the first place. As such, it is best to leave installing most types of insulation to the pros.
Repairing or Redoing Plumbing
Another DIY home improvement projects to avoid doing is repairing or redoing your plumbing. Altering your home’s plumbing system in any way is a high-risk situation. While you may save a little money by making the repairs on your own, you could also potentially flood your home and end up with a mold issue that costs thousands of dollars to take care of.
In cases where your home’s plumbing and electric components are situated close together—as is often the case in bathrooms—the risk of taking on a plumbing project doesn’t just involve your home. It may also involve your life. To stay safe and protect your property, call up a professional to handle your plumbing project.
Removing a Wall
Taking a sledgehammer to the wall to expand a room or create an open concept floorplan is perhaps one of the most fun home improvement projects. However, it is important to be 150 percent sure that the wall you are taking down isn’t loadbearing.
If you realize too late that the wall you’re hammering away at is essential to your home’s foundation, you could seriously hurt yourself as your roof or ceiling comes tumbling down. To play it safe, make sure to hire a professional contractor to at least confirm that the wall isn’t loadbearing before you start your demolition project.
