10 “Simple Home Improvements” That Are Better Left to the Experts

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Home Improvements

The average homeowner spends over a thousand dollars per year maintaining their home. If you own your home, you’re probably always looking for ways to save a little money, even if it means cutting a corner or two every now and then.

Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with DIY projects. In fact, putting time and effort into your house is a great way to make it feel like a home.

However, while there are plenty of simple home improvements you can do on your own, there are some that should always be left to the pros.

You may do a quick Google search and think, “that sounds easy enough,” but trying to tackle certain projects on your own can do more harm than good. Not to mention, you can easily get yourself into a situation where you spend more money than if you hired a professional in the first place.

Listed below are 10 of the most common home improvement projects that you may think you can DIY, but should really be left to a professional.

Let’s get started!

  1. Problems With Pipes

If your sink isn’t draining as it should, try a declogging agent first, but if that doesn’t work, call a plumber. Not only do you have to worry about encountering a potential issue when dismantling your pipes, but reassembling them is an even bigger risk.

  1. Low Water Pressure

Dealing with low water pressure can be incredibly frustrating. If you aren’t getting good pressure from your sink, and you feel comfortable doing so, try cleaning the gunk out of the aerator.

This might be the easy fix you were hoping for, but low water pressure can also be a sign of an eroded water line or a fractured pipe. So if the aerator wasn’t the problem, you need to call a professional.

  1. Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Painting a wall or a dresser is a fantastic way to add character to your home and make it your own. But painting kitchen cabinets is a different animal entirely.

Your cabinets are caked with cooking grease and oils from your hands, which requires specialized equipment to remove properly. By painting your cabinets yourself, you’re almost sure to be disappointed by the results.

  1. Roof Repairs

There’s a small leak in your living room ceiling. It’s probably just a shingle or two missing from a recent storm, right? Well, more goes into roof repairs than you may think.

DIY roof repairs often cause more problems than they solve. From mismatched shingles to incorrect diagnoses, you will be risking the integrity of your roof by attempting a repair yourself. As your roof quite literally acts as a shield for the rest of your home, you need to leave roofing projects, no matter how small, to the pros.

  1. Removing Walls

Open floor plans are more popular than ever – and for good reason! Removing unnecessary walls can make your space feel bigger and more welcoming. But one wrong step and your ceiling is in pieces on the floor.

That’s why it’s best to call a contractor, at least to determine whether or not the wall you want to remove is load-bearing, if not to do the entire job for you.

  1. Installing a Dishwasher

Installing a dishwasher may seem like a simple task, but there are a lot of moving pieces that can make attempting to DIY this project more of a headache than its worth. Dealing with water and drainage lines can get tricky, and you can cause major problems if you aren’t careful.

And as a general rule, unless you’re knowledgable about the appliance in question, you should consult a professional when it comes to repairing your appliances.

  1. Adding a GFCI Switch

A GFCI switch is essential anywhere an outlet may come into contact with moisture, such as your bathroom and kitchen. Changing out a regular outlet or lightswitch face is no big deal; however, dealing with electricity is dangerous.

Not only would you put yourself in danger of electric shock with this project, but taking a wrong turn with the wiring is an easy mistake to make.

  1. Any Demolition

Taking a sledgehammer to a wall or cabinet sounds like fun, and how hard can it be to tear something apart? Well, aside from the fact that you could unknowingly destroy an essential support structure, you could also hit an electrical wire and electrocute yourself.

A contractor will help you avoid any mistakes and costly damages, so give them a call instead!

  1. Waterproofing

Waterproofing your basement is a great way to ensure your belongings are protected from flooding. And while it may seem like something you can do in a weekend with a few friends, it should be left to a professional.

The last thing you want is to suffer an injury or worse because the trench you dug caves in. 

  1. Adding New Lighting

Once again, when faced with any project involving electrical wiring, you shouldn’t tackle it yourself unless you have extensive experience. Even if you remember to turn off the live power to the fixture you’re working on, you’re still at risk of electric shock.

Beyond the safety aspect, there’s also a chance of wiring something incorrectly, causing a popped breaker, a sparking outlet, or other issues that lead to more costs in the end.

Leave These “Simple Home Improvements” to the Pros

As a homeowner, you learn all sorts of things you probably wouldn’t have otherwise. Maintaining your house and everything in it is one of the biggest responsibilities of owning your property.

Learning how to take care of your home is a must, and doing so is a source of great pride for many homeowners. Even if the issues on this list seem like simple home improvements, it’s best to call a professional to handle them for you. You’ll save time and money in the long run!

However, as we mentioned earlier, there are tons of home improvements you can and should do yourself! If you’re interested in completing a few DIY projects in your home, be sure to check out our blog for ideas!

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