Reasons Why Some Home Repairs Should Be Left to Professionals

Many homeowners take great pride in making DIY upgrades and fixes to their homes. However, there are some jobs you’re better off leaving to professionals. Here’s important information on projects you should avoid and how much you can expect those jobs to cost.

Roof Installation

A new roof might not strike you as a particularly difficult job, but it’s physically intense, and it must be done at a height that could quickly become dangerous. On top of that, your roof protects the entire house, and if you do it incorrectly, the end result could result in leaks and damage to what’s underneath. So, hiring a professional is generally the wisest choice. When it comes to the cost, your most important step is to reach out to multiple contractors for estimates. As Angie’s List explains, the charges can vary based on the kind of repair job it is, materials involved, and if the whole roof needs to be replaced. For roofs with steep slopes or difficult accessibility, you can expect to be charged higher rates.

Bathroom Renovations

Bathrooms are recognized as important to home value, so they are popular project rooms for homeowners. Most homeowners can tackle smaller jobs, such as replacing a toilet or installing a new faucet. However, for a major renovation, most people are better off hiring help. This is especially true if your home is older and it’s time to replace the plumbing, or if you intend to try to relocate lines. The last things you want are water leaks and sewage backing up into your home. The cost of a bathroom renovation varies somewhat by location as well as the work involved, but you can expect to pay between $8,000 and $19,200.

Kitchen Remodels

With kitchens being the heart of the home, an upgrade can bring your whole house a refreshed feel. If you’re pretty handy, there are small projects you can comfortably DIY, like installing a new backsplash. Refacing your existing cabinets is within the skill set of most homeowners and it can make a dramatic impact on the space. This Old House points out it will cost you roughly 20 percent of what brand new cabinets would cost. It’s a big job, though, so expect to get takeaway for a bit. A full kitchen remodel would be an even bigger undertaking, and if you can only dedicate evenings and weekends, you can plan on the project to go on for weeks — if not months. If you want to gut the room and you don’t want to muck up your home longer than necessary or you lack sufficient skill, expect to pay around $20,000 for a full kitchen remodel.

Removing Walls

Taking out walls can be a bit of a conundrum to laypeople. While on the surface it may seem very simple to demolish a wall, the Spruce points out you must remember walls are often installed for a reason. What’s more, some walls are load-bearing, and removing them requires specialized expertise. Even in a non-load bearing wall, there could be electrical wiring involved, plumbing in the mix, or hazardous materials such as asbestos. The cost for a wall removal will vary greatly depending on how much and what kind of work is involved. For example, the minimum cost for asbestos removal alone varies from $1,500 to $3,000, and there is an additional air monitoring and site clearance charge, which ranges from $400 to $2,000.

When it comes to do-it-yourself projects, some repairs and upgrades could be right up your alley. However, even for those with an abundance of skill, certain jobs are best left to professionals. Think twice before jumping into a project that could be dangerous or simply requires more expertise than you have.

• charges can vary – https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-much-does-roof-replacement-cost.htm
• replacing a toilet  – https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/toilet-repair/how-to-replace-a-toilet/view-all/
• new faucet  – https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/bathroom/how-to-replace-a-bathroom-faucet
• $8,000 and $19,200 – https://www.canstar.com.au/home-loans/australian-renovation-cost-guide-not-drill
• new backsplash – https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-a-diy-kitchen-backsplash-article
• existing cabinets –   https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-reface-kitchen-cabinets
• demolish a wall – https://www.thespruce.com/before-removing-a-non-load-bearing-wall-1821963
• load-bearing, – https://lifehacker.com/how-to-identify-a-load-bearing-wall-1626923331
• asbestos. – https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/blog/home-contents/the-current-state-of-asbestos-in-australia/
• minimum cost  – https://www.proasbestosremovalsydney.com.au/asbestos-removal-costs/