6 Home Renovation Projects You Should Never Undertake on Your Own

More and more people are deciding to perform DIY work around their houses and not all jobs require the help of a professional. But there are many repairs and renovations that you should avoid doing yourself at all costs. Not only are some of these repairs dangerous, but they could actually be illegal depending on where you live. You may even end up voiding your home insurance policy as a result.

Even if you feel like you have the skills for it, you should think twice about doing important work in the house and consider hiring a pro instead. Here are some examples of home renovation projects and repairs you should never perform on your own.

Electrical Work

Most types of electrical work should be performed by an electrician. As well as installing a new thermostat, there are very few things we can think of that a person who has limited experience with electrical components could do safely. Even things as simple as installing a ceiling fan could be dangerous.

If you need major electrical work to be carried out for a remodel, for instance, then we would strongly suggest that you contact a team like Beattie Development instead of doing it yourself. They are used to working on these types of projects and will make sure that everything is installed properly. They might also be able to help you with other major components and things you shouldn’t be handling on your own.

Plumbing

When it comes to plumbing, there are more things you could do yourself safely. Since mistakes would not put your life in immediate danger, you can afford to make a few mistakes here and there, but only on minor components. Things like replacing a showerhead, fixing a noisy toilet, or even replacing a faucet can be done with little to no experience. Anything more serious like dethawing pipes or replacing them should be handled by professionals.

So many things could go wrong when you perform plumbing fixes yourself. If you don’t use the right materials and accessories, or you use them improperly, you could deal with anything from small leaks to major flooding. Not shutting down the right valves could also end in disaster. So, this is another thing you’ll need to leave to the professionals. If your home needs major plumbing repairs, you can start considering selling to a real estate investor like The Local House Buyers, this way you can sell in as-is conditions.

Removing Paint

You may assume that stripping paint is one of the simplest and safest procedures to perform but think again. If your house is old, there’s a strong chance that there’s lead in the paint or layers under the topcoat. This means that you could end up releasing that lead into the air when stripping the paint.

Even contractors have to get a special certification to work on homes that were built before 1978. So, if you want to keep yourself and your family safe, leave any paint stripping jobs to the pros if your home was built before 1978.

Removing Old Insulation

This is also a case of old, potentially dangerous materials leaching into the air. That’s because the insulation in older homes often contains asbestos, which is a material that was banned in the 1970s as it has been linked to respiratory issues.

There are some jurisdictions where you can remove insulation that contains asbestos yourself, but there will usually be some regulations you’ll have to abide by. You’ll be putting your health and the health of the people in the house at risk as a result, so do yourself a favor and consider hiring an asbestos abatement team instead.

Repairing Your HVAC System

It can be tempting to try to fix your HVAC system yourself since it looks simple and you can easily find information on how to fix an HVAC system on YouTube, but you must think about freon leaks. These can be extremely dangerous and lead to dizziness, asphyxiation, and even death. Not only that, but you might end up voiding your warranty by performing a type of repair on your HVAC system. Only hire a certified technician to avoid mistakes and issues with the system’s manufacturer.

Switching Up a Cooktop

If you decide to move from an electric stove to a gas one to save on energy costs, this might be a good idea. Installing it yourself, however, isn’t. This is an example of a renovation that would be illegal for you to perform in most states. Not only will you need to have the gas line installed by a certified technician, but you’ll need a certified electrician too, since a gas stove uses both gas and electricity. You should never, under any circumstances, handle this type of project on your own as you’ll be doing something illegal and putting yourself in serious danger.

These are only a few examples of repairs you should always leave to the professionals. Avoid these and you’ll be clear of danger and prevent issues with the law or your insurance company.