By Mike Holmes
If you have seen any of my TV shows, you KNOW I don’t recommend that homeowners try to save a few dollars by doing work around the house they aren’t qualified to do. You can make a much bigger mess and compromise the safety, structure or durability of your home. Then I’ll have to come in and fix the mess.
Stay away from these jobs that require a trained professional:
#1 Plumbing Jobs
Are you considering taking on your plumbing jobs or repairs? Wait. Your home’s plumbing is complex and tackling a plumbing job yourself can make a mess of your lines or cause flooding in your home. Licensed plumbers have years of training and on-the-job experience, so leave any plumbing jobs to the professionals.
#2 Electrical Work
Even I don’t touch my own electrical work. I get so nervous when I hear of homeowners taking on their own electrical projects because it’s NOT SAFE. If you don’t know what you’re doing, someone could get seriously hurt – or worse. Think about this – electrical fires make up about 15 per cent of all fires in Canada. Bring in a licensed electrical contractor to do the work, no matter how small you think the job might be.
#3 HVAC
Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is the lungs of your home. It is a complex system that shouldn’t be messed with. For your family’s health and the health of your home don’t do any DIY on your HVAC system. Hire a professional to make it right.
#4 Asbestos Removal
Asbestos was commonly used in building materials up until the late 1970s, so there are many homes that may contain it. Asbestos becomes dangerous when it’s disturbed or when the asbestos-containing material starts to deteriorate. If this is the case, hiring a professional asbestos abatement company is the only way to remove and dispose of the material safely and properly. Trust me – asbestos removal is not a DIY job.
#5 Roof Install or Repairs
It’s important to know the signs that you may have issues with your roof – curling or missing shingles, a leak in your bedroom ceiling. But unless you REALLY know what you’re doing, you should leave your roof repairs to the pros. Firstly, most homeowners do not have the right safety equipment to get up on their roofs. Why risk it?
Fixing it yourself will just be a “band-aid” solution and will lead to bigger issues down the road. And don’t forget – standing on your roof isn’t exactly a safe place to be. Call a professional roofer to identify problem spots and to do repairs properly and safely.
Here are 5 repair projects you CAN do on your own.
About Miller Contracting and Holmes Approved Homes:
Miller Contracting is a Mike Holmes Approved builder. Being part of the Holmes Approved Homes program means each home built by Miller Contracting is inspected by Mike Holmes Inspections. The result? A better built home and PEACE OF MIND.
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