Home Improvement Projects: When and When Not To Do it Yourself

It’s fulfilling to see a simple home maintenance and repair projects being completed. It means you can pride yourself with your craftsmanship and brag about the couple of bucks you saved because of your DIY projects. Most of the times, doing things without the help of a professional can have the most advantage, however, there are certain things that must be left to those who already had an experience and know-hows about home improvement.

Engaging in DIY projects can be exciting and rewarding for most men. In fact, a lot of middle class American men over the age of 50 had taken a DIY project instead of paying a professional to do it for them.  From repairing a leaking faucet to installing fences on your garden, there are a lot of things that can be done by yourself. However, knowing when to and Not to DIY will have a lot do to you with you and your family’s safety.

Here’s a quick list that you can use when deciding when to pick up your tools and when to pick a phone to hire a professional.

1.    Do not do it yourself if you don’t have the knowledge nor the time and resources to learn about the project you’re about to take. Some projects require skills and tricks that will ensure the quality and safety of your house and your family. Professionals spend years to acquire knowledge that can help you keep your home in its best shape.

2.    Do not do it yourself if you don’t have the basic tools. Most men keep a collection of basic power tools and high quality diamond blades to use in their basic home improvement projects. If you’re decided to engage in DIY projects, make sure to have a basic tool box with the right items to help make your jobs easier.

3.    Do not do it yourself if it’s not worth your time. Taking a day off from work just to install bamboo flooring or to install a handrail can be a lot if you have a high paying job. Consider how much you can save plus the time you have to spend in completing the project. Most of the time, contacting a professional will cost a little more than a DIY project but will give you more peace of mind as much as possible.

4.    DO it yourself if you can have an extra hand. Having your brother, best pal or neighbor help you with your DIY project can mean less work and more efficiency. Ask someone knowledgeable about picking the right diamond blades when cutting concrete or someone who has an experience in handling different power tools. You can also ask to borrow extra tools to make your job easier.

5.    DO it yourself if you are confident about your handyman skills. Let’s all admit it. We are not created equal and some men are just born with a hammer on his hand while others are just better off with computer or books. It’s enough to get yourself well versed about the technology in basic home construction as well as other basic home skills but you can always call someone else to do the job for you if you’re not really confident about DIY at all.

Image Credits: inspiremecrafts.com, flickr