Avoidable DIY Disasters: Expert Consultations Needed

March 25, 2019 Published by Writer Leave your thoughts

Do-it-yourself home projects can be a ton of fun and a great learning experience. Nothing quite gives you that sense of pride like fixing a leaky faucet all by yourself. Plus, when other faucets start to leak, you’ll know what to do! Every homeowner should dabble in basic DIY, but there’s a point where you should know when to stop. Major home remodeling in Midland, MI is much different from hanging a few shelves or fixing a leaky faucet.

Diving into a DIY project that’s out of your depth is a recipe for disaster! Problems range from just making a big mess, to accidentally harming yourself, to unknowingly doing major damage to your home. There’s a reason not just anyone can be a general contractor in Midland, MI!

Areas to Avoid

As a rule of thumb, there are a few areas of DIY to avoid. Any project that can cause immense damage to your home is clearly out of the question. Messing with your electrical breaker box or trying to replace entire sections of plumbing should be left to a pro. Similarly, demolition beyond the basics needs an expert eye. The last thing you want is to take a sledgehammer to a load-bearing wall!

Outdoors, avoid having to do anything with your siding or roofing. These features are just too critical not to get right the first time. And, unless you’re a qualified mason or bricklayer, stay away from these projects.

Gray Areas Open to Consultation

If you’ve got a few successful DIY projects under your belt and are inclined to take charge of your home, you can always consult with a general contractor in Midland, MI. Many contractors will come out to survey the job and, depending on the size and scope of the work, may opt to advise you on the right approach if it’s not something they want to take on.

Another reason to call a general contractor is when you’ve made the mistake of opening a big DIY can of worms, but haven’t yet done any real damage. If, after surveying your situation, you realize you’ve made a big mistake, a professional can bail you out. It might cost you a little more to solve the problem, but it’s better than bringing harm to yourself or your home!

Avoid These “Trap Projects”

There are tons of home projects that seem easy enough, but are deceptively difficult. For example, painting cabinets is a monstrous task! Not only do you have to take apart your cabinets, you might be unsure of what type of paint to use. A pro will be able to tell you to use Sherwin Williams ProClassic latex enamel, instead of you just picking up a few gallons of the cheap stuff!

Here are a few more projects that look easy on the surface, but are actually much more involved than you might realize:

New tile and grouting in your bathroom or kitchen
Refinishing hardwood flooring
Installing new outlet boxes and electrical junctions
Replacing a window or door
Waterproofing a bathroom or plumbing closet

Do a little research before you undertake home remodeling in Midland, MI and make sure you’re wholly comfortable with a DIY project before you start it. And, if you get in too deep, don’t be too proud to call a professional like Tri City Remodeling!