We’re sure we’ve all had the joy of seeing the fruits of our DIY labours. It can be a source of great pride and satisfaction to see something we’ve worked on take life and fulfill its purpose. But there are some jobs that are outside the experience and skills of us, and are dangerous to undertake ill-equipped.
There’s also the fact that a person who rushes something is far more likely to make a mistake and then have to spend even more time fixing the situation than if they’d simply taken the time to do the job properly.
So don’t try to cut corners on these five jobs. A proper job by the professionals will be the best-performing, safest and longest lasting solution.
1. Electrical work
In terms of risk, electrical work is one of the most dangerous. There are a number of reasons for this, and they largely have to do with the nature of electricity
- It can be very difficult to tell if a circuit is live or if other parts of the building have current leakage into them.
- Electricity is largely invisible and moves at lightning speed, making it difficult to recover from a mistake.
- A poorly done electrical job will run the risk of causing a fire.
- Most people don’t have the proper tools required to do the job, as it is always recommended to hire an electrician for any electrician installations.
The dangers of electrical DIY are also high, with death a very likely outcome. This makes it very important to speak to a licensed electrician for any electrical jobs you need doing.
You should also consider hiring an electrician for jobs that require drilling into walls in multiple points. Wiring runs through the walls and there are safe spots to drill into that a qualified electrician will be best equipped to find.
2. Large structural renovations
It sort of goes without saying that knocking down walls or adding them should be left to the professionals. Not only do they know the best and most efficient way to conduct and clean up after the job, they are far more aware of the dangers and how best to go about doing the job. This also applies to ceiling fan installations, power point installations and any other structural components that require specific skills or tools to install (such as tiling or window installations).
While the dangers are not usually as perilous as electrical work, remember the saying about rushing and cutting corners? Not only do you risk making a costly mess in your house, you’ll likely have to also pay for the professionals to do the proper job in addition to the cleanup, costing you even more.
3. Roof work
While not all roof work (eg: replacing broken tiles) is difficult or time consuming, the risks are always present. Even those that don’t suffer from vertigo can fall from a misstep or a slip, and suffer serious, possibly crippling, injury, if not dying immediately.
Professionals whose job revolves around climbing on roofs will be far more practised at it and will have more safety measures in place. These types of jobs will also likely involve electrical work and so should not be undertaken by a homeowner anyway.
This also applies to work inside the ceiling space. A trained professional will know where and how to stand and move around, and will also be far more knowledgeable about the placement of the wiring in the roof space.
4. Large appliances and furniture
Appliance installation is one always best left to a licensed electrician. Large appliances often require an element of electrical work, especially the hardwired types like ovens. Sometimes they may even require their own circuit isolated for them so that they can function properly without overloading the power system. You’ll also find that having an extra person to help move them into position can be helpful too.
Furniture, meanwhile, may not seem like something that would require a professional, but there are some situations that warrant their presence. Some furniture can be quite heavy, and you can risk injuring your back by trying to carry or move them on your own. Professionals are also more experienced in moving oddly-shaped objects through houses without knocking anything off surfaces.
5. Plumbing work
Another one that’s definitely out of the skillset of most people, it takes a fair bit of knowledge and training to properly do a plumbing job. This extends over into electrical work and experience too, as plumbing will sometimes involve accessing the interior of the walls and working near wiring.
While the immediate dangers of a mishandled plumbing job may not be very dangerous to one’s health, it will be quite the inconvenience to dry out and replace sodden items from your home. There’s also the risk of an electric shock if any appliances are nearby.
When to speak to a professional and who to call
It is important to remember that every installation will be different, due to the nature of our unique houses. While every attempt has been made to create a list that covers as much as possible, there is always the chance for something unusual to slip through the cracks. No matter how small the job, if you are unsure, call a professional. It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially with matters of electrical safety.
So if you want to schedule an electrical installation, speak to a qualified residential electrician today.