15 Home Upgrades You Should Never DIY

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Not all home improvement projects are the same. Some are really simple, such as painting your walls or replacing your cabinet knobs. But others? They can easily turn into Pandora’s box. Money saving idea or not, get DIY wrong and you could be paying thousands to fix it, or worse, be putting yourself at risk. Sometimes, the smart move is to call in the pros, and sometimes it’s non-negotiable.

The following are upgrades that will take more than enthusiasm and a good YouTube tutorial. Sometimes, they even require legal permits, and can be risky business to take on yourself.

Plumbing Overhauls

Swapping out a showerhead is sure something we can do. But pipes? Or a bathroom renovation? That’s a whole different ball game. One small step can flood your home and leave you dealing with water damage for weeks. Surely, you don’t want to explain to your neighbours why their ceiling is dripping.

Roof Repairs

21 Genius Home Upgrades That Could Skyrocket Your Property Value — Image Credit: Burst/Pexels

While it may be tempting to save money by climbing up a ladder and tinkering with your roof, one slip could send you tumbling. Just because you can stand still, doesn’t mean a leak or a poorly sealed tile won’t cause long term water damage. The job of roofing is not just patching shingles but keeping your house covered.

Electrical Rewiring

Electricity is not something you want to tamper with even if you are brave, unless you’re very trained. Inadequate wiring of electrical devices can result in short circuiting, electrocution, or even home fires. Electrical issues account for around 51,000 fires every year in the U.S. according to the Electrical Safety Foundation, so unless you’re a certified electrician, it’s probably best to leave your wiring to someone who knows what they’re doing.

Gas Line Work

Smell gas? Call a professional right away. Not only is it dangerous to attempt to fix a gas line yourself, it’s also illegal in many states. It only takes one mistake to cause carbon monoxide poisoning or an explosion. Now is not the time to pinch pennies.

Window Replacement

The world of windows installation is more than just fitting glass into a frame. Installation not done properly can create drafts, water leaks, even structural issues, and so on. Not only will a poorly installed window let in cold air, but it will also allow bugs or, worse, burglars to enter your home.

Wall Removal

Trendy open-concept living spaces are great, but knocking down a wall isn’t as simple as it seems. Some walls are load bearing – they support the structure of your house. Take out the wrong one and you might have a collapsed ceiling. And hidden wiring or plumbing can make things even more complicated.

HVAC Repairs

One of the most complex parts of your home is your heating and cooling system. DIY fixes will cause leaks, poor performance or even a total system failure. As such, if you want HVAC systems installed in your home, it is best left to certified technicians who can spot issues you might miss.

Foundation Repairs

Parts Of Your House That Will Always Fail a Home Inspection — Photo Credit: Michel Thomas/Flickr

A bad foundation is bad news, it affects the whole stability of your house. Nothing good is happening beneath your foundation if you have cracks. While options, such as injecting epoxy, may give you a short respite, until the actual problem is corrected, you will always have the issue.

Installing Hardwood Floors

DIY Home Renovation Ideas Under $5000 — Image Credit: Kelly/Pexels

Laying hardwood flooring may look easy, but one miscalculation can ruin the whole room. Gaps or creaking sounds may be caused by improperly aligned or secured boards. Plus, cutting hardwood incorrectly is a costly mistake.

Septic System Maintenance

Home Repairs That Are Illegal for DIYers — Image Credit: Kaliantye/123rf

Plumbing issues are bad, but messing with your septic system will be worse! Talk about a nightmare though, a poorly handled repair can back up sewage into your home. This is the stuff only professionals have the tools and knowledge to handle without turning it into a stinky disaster.

Chimney Sweeping and Repairs

While cleaning or fixing your chimney might sound quaint, it’s not as easy as grabbing a broom and hitting the chimney. Improper cleaning or repair can cause fires or structural damage and creosote buildup is highly flammable. It is best left to chimney experts who have expertise with this niche field.

Tiling Large Areas

Repairing Broken Tiles — Photo Credit: Pexels

A fun weekend project might be to tile a small backsplash in the kitchen, but tiling an entire floor or bathroom is another story. Do overs come from uneven tiles, poor grouting or inadequate waterproofing. There are times when it’s worth paying upfront for perfection.

Replacing Your Garage Door Springs

The tension on your garage door springs is extreme. If you try to replace them without the right tools or know how, you could harm yourself. It’s not just about saving money, it’s about not losing your limbs.

Tree Removal

Firing up a chainsaw to cut down a tree isn’t the easiest thing. Any miscalculation in direction will result in your tree crashing into your house—or someone else’s. Professional arborists have the knowledge to bring down trees without damaging anything else.

Pool Installation

If you’re building a pool during summer, sounds like the ultimate upgrade, but it’s more complicated than you think. From the Excavation through to plumbing and electrical work, one wrong move and you’ve got a costly unusable mess on your hands. Let your backyard dream experts get the job done.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.