It’s the DIY Era… But Beware!

When my husband and I were ready to begin our whole house remodel, we were forced to start with a costly asbestos abatement. It is so discouraging when you get bids for thousands of dollars to mitigate asbestos, when you are practically tearing down the whole house anyway. So instead of spending money on that particular line item, my husband proposed doing the work himself. Of course, my next step was to hit google: “health risks of asbestos abatement,” “how to mitigate asbestos,” “are there different kinds of asbestos,” “how to remove asbestos from underneath tiles,” the research project was endless. After a few contentious conversations, I convinced him it just wasn’t worth it—we needed to hire professionals, and sure enough they came in with massive air blowers, wrapped the whole house in plastic, constructed a portable shower, monitored the asbestos level every 15 minutes with a Seismograph-like instrument, and an EPA inspector was involved—none of these things would have happened during my husband’s DIY scenario!

There is literally a You Tube video on how to do anything. Home Depot’s Do It Yourself classes must be virtually empty these days, since you can find just about any home project you’ve dreamt of accomplishing on the world wide web. There are several improvements though that should not be You Tubed or attempted at home. They should be left to the professionals. These improvements fall into the following categories (in no particular order):

1. Work that requires expert knowledge to avoid injury and colossal mistakes that can end up costing more money in the end. These can be costly missteps that are inside the walls or ones that profoundly affect the aesthetic of the home.
2. Work that requires permits- when you go to sell your home you will be obligated to disclose that “said work” was not done with the proper permitting
3. Work that is covered by insurance claims

If you choose to tackle any of the things below on your own, please be careful and don’t tell me, your realtor! When you go to sell, sheepishly check the box on the Seller’s Property Disclosure that it was done without a permit and hope for the best while it is still somewhat of a Seller’s market.

Structural Work

Typically framing, creating add on rooms off an existing exterior wall or building rooms in an unfinished basement require permits. Knocking down walls without knowing if they are load bearing can cause immediate damage if not sagging/structural damage later on- things that home inspectors and certainly engineers will pick up on. Also, you have no idea what’s behind those walls- could be gas pipes, electrical wiring, and/or plumbing.  Best to get an expert opinion before you start demoing.

Hanging Drywall/Sheetrock

This is so tedious and relatively inexpensive to hire out! If you want to try it, do it in a closet or pantry and see how it turns out but this is probably not worth the time and sweat.

Electrical Work

Swapping out light fixtures or maybe putting in a dimmer is one thing, but beyond that, you can hurt yourself or start a fire! Major electrical jobs such as replacing or relocating panels, removing aluminum wiring, etc. need to be signed off by a professional. If you have a professional do this, keep all documentation so you can pass on to the next homeowner.

Sanding Floors

One of the first things folks notice when they tour a home is the floors. When showing a home for sale we can easily pick up on scratches, damage from animals, furniture, etc. You may want to call in an expert since it is a noticeable aspect of the home—and, it’s not as easy to install or remedy as it seems.

Plumbing

Simply put, the costs of making mistakes here just take this item out of the DIY category. Doing things wrong typically ends in leaks. Leaks hide behind walls and floors until they become bigger leaks and grow mold. Often times whole floors have to be removed- so not worth it! Just call a professional—and as a side note, replacing a water heater sometimes requires a permit.

Tiling

I have seen so many bad tiling jobs! Choose wisely where you decide to tile. Backsplashes and walls maybe but showers, especially shower pans (floors) can be tricky. The pitch/slant has to be just right and the actual shower pan must be wrapped and inspected to ensure that it properly holds water. If it is not properly done it can cause massive damage, especially if there is a floor below.

Adding or Replacing Windows

Those who do this professionally have tools and methods to ensure that windows are properly installed and insulated. Problems can arise if windows are not sealed properly, such as energy inefficiency and condensation. Sometimes window dealers will offer a deal on installation—take it!

Installing Siding & Roofing

If done properly, this can last for years. However, if the siding is not installed correctly and there are gaps- water can get behind the boards and seriously damage window frames and exterior framing of the house. Sometimes this can affect warranties/insurance claims. Same goes for roofing.

Building an Outdoor Kitchen

Typically, this can involve complicated flatwork and gas and/or water lines for a sink and a stove/barbecue. Gas lines require the gas company to come out as well as inspections. I’ve seen a neighbor finish one—and have to redo it. At least consult a professional first.

Tree Removal & Trimming

Again, easier than it looks. What is Newton’s Third Law of Motion again? For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction? When you cut down one limb or part of a tree, there’s the opposite part you need to worry about. I’ve watched trees being trimmed in my yard and my neighborhood and there is an art to it. Not to mention you risk falling or severely cutting yourself (I’ve also got several relatives who have almost killed themselves trimming trees). Be careful out there!

And, we come full circle from my intro…

Asbestos Abatement

Once you witness what it takes to remove asbestos safely and professionally, you probably won’t try it on your own. Go to https://www.epa.gov/asbestos for more info.

Be safe and smart out there!

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/projects-you-should-not-diy_n_3923456
Architectural Digest