In a time of economic downturn, DIYers are trying to do everything possible to save money. This is admirable but some can be dangerous when it comes to home repairs. Almost one in five homeowners in the US have had at least one unanticipated home repair job costing them over $1,000 in the past five years.
In a survey, 28% of homeowners who have had to shell out over $1k on unexpected repairs did the home repair themselves. But while DIY is great for small jobs like changing light bulbs and painting a room, it’s really intended for things that are so simple even a child can do them. It’s not intended to be used for things like replumbing an entire house or wiring up a new power box.
Another 20% of people surveyed said their problems stemmed from using inadequate materials or products. So before you start working on your home improvement project, make sure you’re buying high-quality building supplies and materials. If in doubt whether something will pass muster, hire a professional to do the job – you’ll save yourself time and money in the long run.
Here are the most common blunders that new DIYers make. Of course, there are many more to consider but these are some of the most common ones that can leave you with a hefty bill in the end.
1) Trying to fix plumbing problems without experiencing plumbing training:
If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s best just to call a professional.
The problem is, you may be tempted to try “fixing” things yourself because it seems easy and straightforward. But plumbing work can be very dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. You could cause a flood or even start a fire!
Plus, repairing plumbing problems incorrectly can result in extensive water damage that will cost you thousands to repair. So if you’re not sure about what’s wrong with your plumbing or how to fix it, call a plumber!
2) Trying to fix electrical problems without getting proper training:
If you’re not familiar with electric circuits and how electricity works, don’t try to fix it yourself. You could end up electrocuting yourself, or start a fire in your home.
If you are not sure what is wrong with an electrical component, just call a professional electrician. It’s worth the money and if they do something you didn’t authorize (which does happen) you’re covered because the work will be done under their license and insurance.
3) Trying to fix a garage door yourself:
Garage doors are very complex and they are connected to all the other moving parts of your home, security-wise and with regards to heating.
In addition, they’re extremely heavy.
There’s generally no need for a homeowner who is not an expert in this field to try and repair their garage door.
4) Trying to do your roof repairs on your own:
The roof of a home is its most vulnerable part. It’s important for all homeowners to be aware that many shingles and old roofs are extremely dangerous, especially when they’re not attached properly or have sharp points sticking out from them which can puncture things in the house like lawn chairs or even pets!
Also, roofs can get damaged due to wind, high temperatures, and other weather conditions. If you do notice cracks forming in your roof it is best to call an expert who will ascertain the seriousness of any damages. Even small cracks can quickly turn out to be huge problems that could cost you a lot of money to fix in the end.
5) Failing to repair a broken appliance:
If there’s something wrong with one of your appliances (washing machine or dryer) and you don’t get it fixed, it will only cost you more money in the future.
You may not notice the deterioration of your appliance at first but over time things will start to wear out which can cause some very serious damage. Pay attention to your appliances and get them repaired as soon as you notice they’re not working properly.
6) Painting your own home:
Painting isn’t as easy as most homeowners think it is. There’s a lot that goes into painting a home properly if you want to avoid any problems down the road with peeling paint or just a mess that needs redoing.
Most people can’t paint their homes properly. Paint is an art and not everyone can do it without running into problems with it peeling or just a mess that needs redoing.
Not everyone has the time it takes to do a proper painting job, either. A few hours of work is not enough to paint the outside of your home properly.
If you’re thinking about paying for someone to paint your home, always remember that hiring an inexperienced painter (like a friend or relative) can cause more problems than it solves (i.e. they mess up and don’t fix it or they charge you too much money).
7) Not repairing an old pipe:
There are many types of pipes used by homes for various applications including hot water, heating, gas, and sewage systems and sometimes they need to be repaired (especially older ones).
Old pipes are more likely to leak and cause problems in your home. If you notice any signs of water leaks or if the pipe is broken, have it repaired immediately!
For example, if you notice that there is a water leak on the ground or that the pipe is broken then have it repaired as soon as possible. Remember that when the old pipes are leaking they also pose risks to you and anyone else who might be in the house.
In addition, one broken pipe can lead to others being damaged as well which is why you should have all your old pipes tested and repaired if necessary.
8) Cleaning your chimney by yourself:
If we are talking about a fireplace or wood-burning stove that is not connected to the rest of the house’s heating system, then there might be some risks in doing it yourself.
If you’re not familiar with the parts of a chimney, there is the top and down which make up the chimney. The bottom half is called the stack. The vertical portion of this segment is known as a flue, chimney, or simply shaft. There are many different types of materials that can be used to clean out a chimney including brushes, rods, and rods. Some people prefer to use natural products because they are less dangerous than chemicals which can cause health problems for you when exposed to them for long periods of time.
There are many reasons why you may need to clean out your chimney but the most important one is that you want to prevent fire hazards or carbon monoxide poisoning. One of the main issues with cleaning out a chimney by yourself is that if you don’t do it properly then there could be some serious negative effects (i.e. things like getting caught in the flue or falling down while inside).
9) Making holes in walls before knowing where everything lines up:
Keep paper over the area where you want to put something, mark out all your measurements, then make a hole once everything has been lined up properly.
There are many possible problems that can happen when you start making holes in a wall before you know where everything lines up. For example, if you’re going to make a hole for an appliance like the dishwasher or refrigerator, you need to be sure that it’s not going to go through any pipes or wires which can lead to some serious problems down the road.
10) Investing too much when starting out:
There is an issue that I have noticed when starting out with home improvement projects. People often invest too much money into something when they are not sure that they can handle it properly. This can lead to many problems and will not be covered by warranties which means you will have to pay for them on your own.
As an example, if your goal is to build a patio area then maybe go for building a small one first (e.g. putting down some bricks). Once you are more confident, move onto making a larger one or expanding the existing one further as you get more experience with different materials like brick, stone, etc.
You can make your patio bigger over time instead of trying to do everything at once which could easily cause delays or problems that will not be covered by warranties.
Wrapping Up
If you want to do some home improvements but don’t know where to start, these 10 worst blunders are a great place to begin.
While the majority of projects can be done by DIYers and save money in the long run, it’s important not to cut corners when doing repairs or trying new things like …