Home and Garden Maintenance: When to DIY and When to Call in the Pros

Deciding if you should fix your home or garden yourself can be tough. Over 100,000 people get hurt every year doing these jobs. This article will show you when to grab your tools and when to call the experts.

While DIY solutions are great for minor home maintenance tasks, some problems, such as persistent pest infestations, require professional expertise. Ignoring these issues can lead to more significant damage over time. For homeowners dealing with pests, calling in a trusted pest control chicago service ensures the problem is handled efficiently and prevents future infestations, protecting both your home and peace of mind.

Keep reading to find out how.

Evaluating Home and Garden Projects

When deciding to take on a home or garden project, it’s vital to consider factors such as complexity and skill requirements. Understanding the time and tools needed is essential in making an informed decision about tackling a project yourself or seeking professional help.

Assessing complexity and skill requirements

Figuring out if a project is tough or easy helps decide who should do it. Some tasks need skills like copper soldering and working with PVC pipes. These can be fun if you know how.

Yet, not everyone does these well. For big jobs, acting as your own general contractor might save money—about 10% to 20%. But this choice has risks. You might not have good workers or enough time to watch over them.

Knowing what tools and permits are needed is key too. Let’s say a job needs CAD drawings for building permits or using a backhoe for digging holes. These require special skills that most people don’t have at home.

Also, tasks that make family ask many questions likely need a pro. This suggests the task is too complex for a DIY approach.

Understanding the time and tools needed

Checking how long a project will take and what tools you need is key. For small jobs, like mowing your lawn or simple repairs, you might already have what you need at home. Renting equipment can save money if you plan to use it for many tasks.

Yet, for bigger projects that might save $800 by doing some work yourself before the pros come in, having the right tools matters.

Some jobs are too big to do on your own if they take more than three hours or need special skills. It’s wise to call experts for these tasks. They have the right tools and know-how.

Plus, some projects must meet city rules or could be risky if done wrong – think electrical work or fixing your roof. These are times when hiring professionals is not just smart; it’s necessary to keep safe and avoid trouble with laws.

When to DIY

When deciding whether to do it yourself, consider factors like simplicity, safety precautions, and indoor air quality. Simple installations or decorations can often be managed in a DIY capacity with basic tools and know-how.

Routine maintenance tasks

Routine maintenance around the house can save you a lot of money. Think about mowing your own lawn. Doing this can keep $55 to $65 in your pocket each week. This is just one example.

Other easy tasks include window cleaning, painting fences, and cleaning gutters. You might need a ladder for some jobs, so always be careful.

Also, changing air conditioner filters or sealing decks are tasks you can do on your own. These jobs don’t take much time or special tools. Plus, they make sure your home stays in good shape without spending too much.

For these kinds of work, follow simple steps and use common tools like paintbrushes or garden shears.

Simple installations or decorations

Adding new curtains or hanging pictures are tasks you can do yourself. These small changes make a big impact without needing expert skills. You can also tackle installing simple shelves or changing door knobs.

For these projects, you need basic tools like a screwdriver, hammer, and maybe a level to make sure everything is straight.

Next up, let’s talk about painting your rooms. This is another project perfect for DIYers. With some paint, brushes, and rollers, you can give any room a fresh look. Plus, it’s cost-effective compared to hiring someone.

Now that your space looks great inside, think about elevating the garden too.

Projects involving aesthetics only

Painting walls and changing light fixtures are great DIY projects. They make your space look better and don’t need a pro. You can save money and learn new skills doing these tasks yourself.

For example, painting a door or putting in new flooring can change how a room looks without too much trouble.

Putting up fences or laying down patio walkways also falls into this category. These jobs might take some time, but they are not too hard to do on your own. Plus, you get the chance to design your garden just the way you like it.

And if you enjoy updating your garage or storage areas, these are perfect tasks for a weekend project.

When to Call the Pros

Structural, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC tasks

Tasks like fixing electrical panels, working with heating and cooling units, or dealing with plumbing need pros. These jobs can be very risky. For example, if someone tries to fix an electrical panel without experience, they could get hurt.

Each year, over 100,000 people get injured doing home projects themselves. This can lead to big medical bills.

Also, using tools like power saws or torches requires know-how to stay safe. If the job needs a ladder taller than six feet or is something major like changing wiring in the house, it’s best to call in experts.

This keeps everyone safe from fires or water damage that might happen if things go wrong. Always check that the person you hire has insurance just in case something doesn’t go as planned.

Additionally, if you encounter pest or wildlife issues in your home or garden, it’s important to seek professional animal control services. These experts can effectively manage and resolve infestations that might otherwise cause significant damage or pose health risks. For instance, if wildlife such as raccoons or squirrels invade your attic or garden, specialized services can provide the necessary expertise to handle the situation safely and efficiently.

Projects requiring permits or inspections

Moving on from tasks like fixing wires or pipes, some projects need a green light from city officials first. If you’re thinking about adding a room, breaking down walls, or messing with the main parts of your house’s structure, you’ll need to get permits.

This is because such work could change how safe your home is. Getting these permits means your plans must follow certain rules that keep buildings safe for everyone.

For example, if you want to dig up part of your yard for a new garden or to fix drainage, sometimes you might need permission first. Or perhaps you’re planning big changes inside your house—like moving plumbing around for a new bathroom or kitchen layout.

These types of jobs often require someone coming out to inspect the work before and after it’s done. This ensures everything matches up with safety codes and standards. People who know about construction help make sure everything is built right and won’t cause problems later on.

Conclusion

Decide smart. Some home and garden tasks are for you to do. Others need a pro’s touch. Think about your skills and the tools you have. If a job looks too tough, call in a team with the right know-how.

This way, you keep safe and get good results. Your house is important – treat it well by choosing who works on it wisely.