Everybody loves a spot of DIY around the house – there is something very liberating about doing things for ourselves and getting our hands dirty. From the very basic like replacing a washer, to the slightly more complicated and involved like insulating the attic. There is a DIYer in all of us.
That said, there are some jobs that we really shouldn’t tackle ourselves, even though many people do. Obviously, some are slightly more hazardous than others – so here’s a quick rundown of our top 4.
1 Fix the guttering
However simple it may seem to just shimmy up a ladder and tackle this yourself, it can be incredibly dangerous. Don’t believe it? Ladders can easily slip, and if you happen to be still on it you will be very lucky to walk away with a few bruises.
Chemicals used in the process of clearing the guttering aren’t exactly fun to handle either. As you probably guessed there are very good reasons why they are covered in warning labels and stickers.
2 Rewiring your home
As complicated as it sounds, it pales in comparison as to how dangerous it can be. Improperly wired homes are dangerous to live in, live near and even visit. If your home needs to be rewired because of age, it is somewhat safe(r) to do it yourself and many people do.
On the other hand, if the wiring needs to be replaced because it is damaged, in any way, then this is a very dangerous enterprise. A professional electrician is called for here, don’t attempt it yourself.
3 Pest control
Other than buying a cat you should consider hiring the services of a professional. While pest control is something that has traditionally been dealt with ‘in house’, companies like Eco Concepts Pest Control help too. If you have small children, pets or an infestation rather than a single pest your best bet is to pick up the phone instead.
Small pets can eat the poison, get caught in traps and worse. Children can sometimes mistake certain poisons for sweets – not a great day out for anyone!
4 Gas servicing
If you have any gas appliances in your home, they should be inspected for safety on a regular basis. This is actually a legal requirement, but many people decide to make their own inspections upon installing their own appliances.
The trouble with installing your own appliances, if you are not a registered professional. is that if you get even the smallest thing wrong you could literally kiss your home goodbye.
DIY can be a great hobby, and very relaxing but don’t try to do everything yourself or even get your uncle Tom to do it for you. Anyone other than a trained, registered professional should not be let near certain home repair jobs.
This is true regardless of how confident you are in your own abilities – it is not a crime to ask for help, but it could be one to try and do it yourself.
There are plenty of other things to let your hands loose on, so there is no need to despair just yet.
Image sourced from Flickr
I agree that pest control should be left to the professionals. There is so much to know about pests in the home. I wouldn’t want to deal with that myself. I would rather have a guarantee that it could be taken care of.