Home DIY projects can be empowering and cost-effective, but it’s important to know your limits. Working beyond your expertise can lead to shoddy work, expensive damage, or even injury.
Similarly, skipping steps like cleaning or priming surfaces can derail your entire project and result in uneven or shortened finishes. Here are a few of the most common DIY mistakes homeowners make.
1.Painting
For many homeowners, painting seems like a simple task. All you have to do is dip your brush or roller in paint and apply it evenly to the walls. In reality, however, there are a lot of things that need to be done properly before you can achieve professional-looking results.
Firstly, you should thoroughly clean the walls before painting. This includes washing the surface with warm water and a little bit of detergent, as well as treating any stains. It’s also a good idea to fill any cracks or holes with spackling paste or putty, and then sand the area smooth before painting again.
Professional painting contractors are familiar with the best practices for preparing walls for paint and can help you choose a color that suits your space. They’ll also know how to apply the paint properly, so it lasts longer and looks great.
2. Plumbing
Plumbing is a complicated system that involves pipes, valves, fixtures, and water supply lines. Attempting DIY plumbing projects can cause damage to the system, which leads to costly repairs.
One of the biggest mistakes DIYers make is forgetting to turn off the main water supply before starting a project. This can send gallons of water pouring out and cause major damage.
Another common mistake is over-tightening connections. While you want to make sure all the connections are watertight, overdoing it can damage the seals or strip threads.
Using chemicals to clear clogged drains is also a common DIY mistake. While these solutions work well in the short term, they can corrode your pipes over time, leading to additional problems and expensive repair bills. For these reasons, it’s always best to call a plumber for all plumbing-related issues.
3. Electrical
Many electrical projects are outside of the scope for most DIYers, and rightly so. These are some of the most dangerous projects to tackle on your own, and even a small mistake can result in fires and electrocution.
One common error involves cutting wires too short when installing or replacing wiring. According to LifeHacker, this can cause faulty or weak connections that pose a safety hazard. Another mistake is using a wire that doesn’t have the proper amperage rating when adding an outlet or circuit to your home.
This can also lead to tripped fuses and other issues that will require professional help. Save yourself the headache, and leave this type of work to the pros.
4. Flooring
Flooring is another home improvement project that can go very wrong if you don’t hire a professional. It’s not just about getting the right materials; it’s also about understanding the patterns and designs to get a uniform look and even layout throughout the space. Plus, some types of flooring require special tools and specialized knowledge to install properly.
You also need to clear out a work area, which means you may have to move furniture and wall art from room to room to give contractors the space they need to cut floorboards and other materials. And finally, if this is your first time working with a specific type of flooring, it could take you longer than expected to complete the project. Hiring a pro can save you a lot of headaches and wasted time.
5. Carpentry
Biting off more than you can chew, or taking on a project that is outside your skill set, can lead to poor workmanship, and in the worst cases, severe injury. Even if you have a handy friend or relative who can help, it is often best to have a professional handle these kinds of projects.
Carpentry involves the construction and repair of timber structures like framing and interior finishing, including installing doors, windows, stairs, molding, and trim. It can also include joinery, which is the craft of constructing individual timber products in a workshop for installation on site.
Both are skilled tradesmen who work with wood, but they have very different skill sets and tools. Hiring a pro is often less expensive in the long run than attempting to do it yourself and making costly mistakes.
It is a good idea to leave the repairs for home appliances up to a professional. Typically, over time it will generally break down due to normal wear and tear. This is not something that you can easily just study and repair. Replacement cost for parts or repairing in general can be very expensive. Even reading a whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting guide can be difficult in itself and repairing should be left to a professional.
