We all have our strengths and weaknesses when it comes to managing and maintaining our homes. Some people have the patience and precision needed for laying perfect tiles. Some people have the stamina for power sanding. Some people have the grit needed for peeling away wallpaper (if you don’t think this task requires grit, you’ve never done it before). This being said, some home repair projects should always be referred to a professional. This is most often because some house repair tasks are extremely dangerous if done incorrectly or without proper safety training.
The following will take a look at the types of home repair projects you should always call a professional to handle.
Electrically-Based Projects
Electrical engineering is a serious task. This is because electricity is a dangerous thing to fiddle with. Working with wiring without experience can result in shocks and even death. Not to mention, if electrical work is done incorrectly, you run the risk of regularly blowing fuses in your home and also the risk of fire. In addition to all of the above, there are very strict coding regulations that must be met when altering the electrical wiring in a home. If these criteria are not met, you risk devaluing your home when it comes time to sell. When it comes to repairing or applying new electrical work to your home, it is always best to call a professional electrician or electrical engineer.
Plumbing Repairs
Plumbing might at first seem like something you can handle yourself by watching a few YouTube videos, but calling a professional is always recommended when it comes to plumbing. This is because, if mistakes are made, you run the risk of water pouring into places there should not be any water. This, in turn, can result in water damage which is not only brutally expensive to repair, results in a nasty smell, and the possibility of mold or mildew developing which can be poisonous. North Shore plumbers point out that it takes five years of TAFE study and six years of on-the-job training before someone is allowed to call themselves a qualified plumber. That’s roughly the same amount of time it takes someone to become a doctor.
Structural Repairs Or Projects
When it comes to altering the structure of your home—think removing walls, altering ceiling height, rebuilding cracked foundation—it is always best to get the help of a professional. This work can be extremely dangerous for those who are working (being hit or crushed by falling pieces is a real concern) and also can result in the roof collapsing or severe structural damage to your home if done incorrectly. Beyond this, structural work often sets the stage for other aspects of your home. If something is a little crooked on the structural level, you can bet that everything else you do with a room or building is going to be infinitely more difficult and will not look as nice when finished.
Gas Appliance Repairs
Anything that uses gas to function should be placed in the hands of a professional. This is because anything having to do with a gas line is dangerous. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious risk of death (hundreds die each year from it). Not to mention, gasses are highly flammable and the risk of fire or even explosion exists when working with gas lines.
Anything You Don’t Know How To Do
In addition to the repairs mentioned above, you should always seek out professional help if there is a repair or project you’d like done that you don’t know how to do. Even simple repairs can become dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. Be honest with yourself, and seek out guidance and advice any time you encounter something you don’t feel confident in doing.
Home repairs have a sneaky way of becoming intrinsically linked. If you install a window improperly, you get water and weather damage to the wall around the window (and pay way too much to heat and cool your home). This damage now requires some structural rebuilding, plus new drywall and new paint. Maybe the floor was damaged as well… you see where this is going. Having a project done right the first time can save you a ton of money and time in the long run.
With the above information kept in mind, you are well on your way to approaching home repair projects safely and securely. If you are worried about being taken advantage of, or the quote from a professional seems off, there’s never any harm in seeking out a second opinion.
