Table of Contents
Home Repairs
Trying to save a few bucks on home repairs?
Been there, done that. You open up the hood and think you can diagnose the problem by yourself.
Or maybe your roof sprang a leak. Time to whip out your phone and start scrolling YouTube.
Here’s the thing…
Doing DIY repairs can create new problems. Big problems that cost you more money than hiring a pro in the first place.
Let’s dive into:
- What’s the REAL downside of DIY home repairs?
- When DIY Home Repairs Make Sense
- When You Should Hire a Professional
- Why You Should Never DIY Your Roof
What’s the REAL Downside of DIY Home Repairs?
Let’s be honest. Home DIY can be a lot of fun.
It’s not wrong to take problems into your own hands. As long as you understand when to draw the line.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says over 97% of ladder and roof deaths occur in residential settings.
Translation: DIY repairs are sending too many homeowners to the emergency room.
Need more evidence?
Roofing accidents aren’t the only DIY repairs that can turn into injuries. Ladders alone sent almost 194,000 Americans to the ER last year.
The most common mishaps are caused by falls, cuts, and electrical accidents. Think traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and electric shocks.
These injuries aren’t merely band-aided and forgotten. Many victims suffer life-altering diseases and conditions.
Your home repairs don’t have to end in tragedy.
Knowing which jobs to DIY and when to hire a professional saves lives. When it comes to roofing, hiring a skilled roofing contractor in Olympia or your city is the best DIY alternative. Professional roofing contractors remove these dangers from the equation.
Roofing contractor services provide trained professionals who know how to work safely and effectively.
When DIY Home Repairs Make Sense
Look, you don’t need to call a pro for every little thing that breaks.
If you’re comfortable doing it yourself, go right ahead. Not every repair will come back to bite you.
These wins are worth celebrating:
- Changing air filters
- Patching up small holes in drywall
- Clearing drains with plungers
- Painting walls
- Changing light fixtures (when power is OFF)
- Doing yard work and light landscaping
These repairs are relatively safe and typically don’t require special licenses or costly equipment.
If the repair isn’t related to gas lines, electricity, water pipes, or great heights?
You should be alright.
But water damage, shorted wires, slippery roofs, and falling ladders change that equation. When DIY repairs go wrong, they can destroy your home.
DIY fails are often caused by:
- Misdiagnosing the problem
- Purchasing incorrect parts
- Simple rookie mistakes
When these things happen, you’ll spend way more than if you hired a contractor.
You should hire a professional when…
Your safety is in question.
Professional repairs don’t void warranties and are done safely. Something goes wrong with their work? They fix it at no additional cost to you.
Here’s the deal with DIY repairs. If you make a mistake, the cost is on you.
When You Should Hire a Professional
Don’t risk your safety or your home on projects you don’t have experience with.
While we’re fans of homeowners getting hands-on, certain repairs should always be left to the professionals.
If you’re not careful, you’ll void warranties. Or DIY something you shouldn’t and put your family at risk.
Trust me. You don’t want to spend twice as much to fix your own repair mistakes.
Here are some things that always require a professional.
Unclick to hire a pro if your repair involves:
- Electricity: Nothing’s worse than trying to fix a wiring problem and starting a house fire. Leave electricity to the licensed pros.
- Your plumbing system: Even small leaks can create thousands of dollars of water damage and mold.
- HVAC systems: These complex machines are designed differently from your everyday appliances.
- Changing the structure of your home: We’re talking about load-bearing walls and supports.
- Roofing: This may be the #1 thing you should never DIY.
As mentioned before, professional contractors provide warranties and safety that you can’t get from a DIY project.
Why Roofing Should Never Be DIY
Here’s where it gets ugly.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports roofing as one of the deadliest jobs in America.
Why? Falls cause more than 82% of worker fatalities in roofing each year.
These guys have roofs as their job. They have safety equipment and training. Some even have years of experience.
Now put yourself in their place.
You’re out on your roof with a bag of shingles and a hammer.
What could go wrong?
- Falling from ladders
- Falling off your roof
- Slipping on a wet surface
- Getting hit by falling equipment
- Sun poisoning or heat stroke during the summer
- Installing roofing incorrectly and getting costly leaks
You’ll notice one thing in common with these scenarios: falls
Statistically, most homeowners don’t use proper fall protection when on their roof. There are no safety harnesses, anchor points, or other equipment to keep you safe.
That’s why roofing contractors rock.
They offer roofing services with the safety precautions you’re avoiding. Contractors provide top-of-the-line materials and workmanship warranties that cover your home.
How DIY Repairs Can Blow Up in Your Face
Think you’re saving money by doing things yourself?
You’re not.
Once DIY repairs fail, it costs you more to fix their mistakes than if you hired a contractor.
We’re talking about return fees for incorrect parts, causing additional damage to your home, and taking 8-hours to fix what should’ve taken 30 minutes.
Here are some DIY disasters that’ll burn holes in your pocket:
- Poor seals lead to leaks and water damage
- Misdiagnosing the issue and having to repair multiple times
- Void warranties issued by the manufacturer
- Damaging areas around the original repair
A botched roof repair can cause thousands of dollars of structural damage. Mold can spread throughout your home and decrease your property value.
Think you saved money by doing it yourself?
Those repairs will cost you a lot down the road.
Conclusion: Making the Smart Call on DIY Repairs
So how do you know when it’s best to DIY versus call the pros?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Complexity: Is this repair something I know how to fix correctly?
- Safety: Am I putting myself at risk of getting injured?
- Cost: If I mess this repair, will it cost me more to fix it than hiring someone?
If you answered YES to any of these questions. Pick up the phone and call a local professional.
When it comes to roofing:
Contractors have the proper insurance, licenses, and equipment. They know about local building codes.
Contractors can spot underlying issues and correct them accordingly. Their work is guaranteed with warranties that cover your home.
Ready to DIY your next home repair?
Now that you know when to DIY repairs. It’s time to ask yourself a few more questions before getting started.
- Is this repair something I’ve done before?
- Do I own the tools and safety equipment needed for this repair?
- What’s the worst that could happen if I botch this repair?
Sometimes the best DIY project you can complete is knowing when NOT to DIY.