Home Repair Projects That Are Better Left to the Pros

Few things are as satisfying in life as doing your own home renovation, remodel, or maintenance. Sure, a lot of these tasks take a lot of time and energy, but there’s an innate sense of satisfaction that comes with fixing up and personalizing your home all by yourself. But regardless of how skilled you are in DIY, some projects are not cut out for everyone and require a professional’s touch.

These days it’s easy to find guides and tutorials on how to handle many construction and maintenance projects at home. But it’s even easier to find and book professionals of all construction trades to help you with any and all projects. While it’s always great to practice and hone in on your DIY skills, there are some projects that do require a professional’s touch.

House Crack Repair 

The Difficult Task of Foundation Repair

Your house is not a stationary structure, nor is it as rigid as you probably think. It shrinks and grows with the weather and over time, this will become clear through foundational damage. Buckling foundation walls, concrete honeycombing, and cracking are all examples of foundational damage that you can expect to find over time. This does not mean that there is anything wrong with your structure, as this happens to pretty much any building or structure. Foundation maintenance isn’t about preventing this kind of damage, but rather about repairing it. Sure, you could learn a few tricks and do it yourself, but if you make a mistake or accidentally skip a few steps, you risk damaging your home’s structural integrity and causing a bigger problem in the long run. It’s better not to take risks with the foundation and hire professionals to perform proper exterior house wall repairs to keep your foundation in sound condition.

Replacing Tile Floor

The Many Challenges of Laying Your Own Tiled Flooring

If you think laying tiled flooring is a breeze, you’re in for a huge surprise. Sure, the square shape of ceramic, porcelain, or marble tiles may seem like they’re easy to install, but they’re actually very easy to get wrong. Difficulties that come with laying tile include getting the grout and mortar mixtures to the right consistency, ensuring that the floor is completely even, and installing the right type of subfloor. Each of these can be challenging in their own right, so laying or replacing tiled flooring is best left to the pros who know all of these nuances.

Getting Rid of Mold

Why You Need a Professional to Clean Mold

You may already have your own home techniques and remedies for cleaning mold, in some cases, it is better to have a professional by your side. Sure, you can clean superficial mold off surfaces or replace a moldy air filter yourself. But when it comes to more specialized tasks like treating black mold that may have spread to deeper pockets of your interior, it is recommended to hire a pro that knows all the ins and outs of how to get rid of mold. Don’t take any chances with mold as it can be dangerous to your health. Play it safe and hire someone who specializes in mold removal.

Repairing Complicated Leaks

Why You Shouldn’t Toy with Your Home’s Plumbing

If you fancy yourself a plumber because you can tighten a pipe nut and have a roll of plumber’s tape, there is still much you need to learn before you can do your own plumbing. Plumbing is a very sensitive trade and there is a myriad of nuances you need to learn before you can do all your repairs. Also, there are such things as plumbing codes that are in place to ensure that all the safety standards are met. By doing your own plumbing you risk violating these codes and putting your and your household’s health at risk. The only time it is recommended to do your own house leak repairs is when you have formal training and education in the trade, so if this is not the case, it’s always better to hire a professional.

Roof Maintenance

What Roofing Professionals Bring to the Table

Much like the floor, roofing is a very sensitive construction and renovation project. An improper roof is going to cause leaks, water damage, and difficulties with ventilation and heating. If you can replace a shingle or two properly, all the power to you. But it’s definitely worth getting help with roof repair if the damage is on a larger scale and requires more expertise. Keep in mind, that roofs are more than just wood panels with a few shingles attached. There are many layers to a properly sealed off roof and you need to know your way around the materials. Considering just how many types of roofing materials there are it can be very difficult to find what your roof needs. But a roofing contractor has no such difficulties as they know exactly what to install and what materials to use.

Working On the Electrical System 

Why You Shouldn’t Tamper with Electricity

You’ve probably been shocked a few times in your life, be it after scooting around on a rug in your favorite slippers, or accidentally touching a still-charged electric plug. But these smaller electrocutions can’t compare to the jolt of energy that awaits those who try to fix major electrical problems on their own. This is not only a matter of damaging the electrical system but is also a very serious health hazard. Going into the specifics of what electrical repairs you can and can’t do yourself would require a much longer list, but here is a basic rundown. Do change your own lightbulbs — don’t tamper with the wires of your light fixtures. Do acquaint yourself with the various parts of your fuse box — don’t tinker with anything that sits inside of it. Do learn how to attach and repair wires — don’t do it on wires that are connected to your home’s electrical system. In any other cases, regardless of how small the malfunction may be, do not tamper with your electrics unless you have some sort of formal training. Call in a professional electrician and don’t throw caution to the wind when dealing with the electrical system. 

Gas Appliances

What Potential Risks You Take When Working with Gas Appliances

No, your gas appliances are not going to explode the second you touch them without the help of a professional. That is not at all how they work and you’re not in any danger if there’s a small gas leak if you immediately plug it up. However, this does not mean you should be entirely relaxed and confident when fiddling with gas lines. In fact, you shouldn’t be fiddling with gas lines, to begin with. Be it your cooker, dryer, or heating, if it runs on gas, best leave it to the professionals. For example, there are homeowners out there who attempt to do their own home furnace replacements but don’t know the intricacies of securely connecting the various components. As a result, they end up with a gas leak and potentially harming themselves. It’s best not to take chances with anything that’s connected to the gas line. So, just leave it to the pros.