We know you’ve all got your renovation resolutions, and everyone loves to save money when renovating! It’s perfectly okay to be hands-on for some tasks like painting, gardening, paving or minor repairs and maintenance but there are a few projects that are definitely not worth doing yourself as it could cost you more than the dollars in your pocket. Here are the jobs we recommend you leave to the experts:
Electrical & Plumbing
For jobs that involve electrical and plumbing work, it’s actually a legal requirement to hire a professional licensed trade. Attempting to DIY this type of work could leave you in hot water or fried with more than just a fine! (Pun entirely intended!). You’re not only risking the safety of you and your family, you’re actually voiding your insurance policy. Some things in both of these fields may seem straightforward but most are deceptively difficult, so beyond changing a light bulb or plunging your toilet, there are simply too many things that can go wrong and hiring a professional will save you money in the long term.
Asbestos Removal
Friable asbestos products have been commonly used in commercial and residential builds since the late 1800’s for fireproofing, soundproofing and insulation. During the mid 1980’s, asbestos cement materials were phased out in favour of asbestos-free products due to the slow emergence of its health hazards decades after exposure ceased. The inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause serious fatal illnesses including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Asbestos removal should always be performed by trained and licensed asbestos removers. Even simple tasks such as drilling a hole into a wall can create a health risk by causing asbestos fibres to become airborne.
If you’re unsure as to whether your home has any asbestos, always engage a licensed professional, or as a general rule, if your house was built:
- before the mid-1980’s, it is highly likely that it has asbestos-containing products
- between the mid 1980’s and 1990, it is likely that it has asbestos-containing products
- after 1990, it is unlikely that it has asbestos-containing products, however, some houses built in the 1990’s and early 2000’s may have still used asbestos cement materials until the total ban on any activity involving asbestos products became effective from 31 December 2003.[1]
Roof Repairs/Modifications
We know that sometimes it’s tempting to ‘save money’ and get the job done yourself but roof repairs come with more risks than just falling off your ladder. From data analysed between 2002-2012, it shows that each year, roughly 5,000 people are hospitalised for injuries acquired after falling off a ladder with 226 ending in death.[2] So you’re not just risking a nasty broken bone and being out of work for several weeks which can place financial stress on your family but you’re risking your life.
It’s not just external roof repairs that leave you at risk, if for whatever reason, you’re looking at changing your internal roof structure (maybe you want some extra storage space?), you could compromise its entire structural integrity by cutting just one web in your truss roof frame! Your truss roof has been engineered and it is strictly prohibited to cut or modify it in any way.
Which leads us to our next DIY no-no…
Structural Work
It’s safe to say that anything to do with the structure of your home should be left to the experts. Thinking of knocking out an internal wall to create open living? Think again! The wall you’re planning on removing might just be a load bearing wall which means you run the risk of your roof collapsing.
Have termite damage? Without professional knowledge, there is no way for you to know how to correctly repair any damage caused, thus, you run the risk of your house frame failing. Always hire a licensed builder to assess any wall removals or repairs.
Aircon/Refrigeration
This one might seem a bit odd to you but anything related to air conditioners and fridges or freezers should also be left to the pros. Unbeknownst to most, you actually need specific training to handle the chemical refrigerants which is why the Australia Refrigeration Council (ARC) require all technicians to be licensed. So, it’s best to hire a professional for any of your aircon or refrigeration concerns.
Waterproofing
No one wants a bathroom leak, especially since it’s amongst one of the most expensive faults to repair. Waterproofing may seem like an easy task but getting it wrong can cost you a lot of money and not to mention, void your home insurance. You’re better off in the long-run with the small financial outlay of hiring a professional for this one.
At the end of the day, there are plenty of jobs you can DIY but there are some that just aren’t worth it. The risks involved outweigh any potential financial gain in attempting to do them yourself. By all means, get your hands dirty but get help for those jobs where you don’t have the expertise or training, your safety is far more important and it will save you time, money and stress in the long-run.
For all of your building and non-DIY renovation needs, you can contact ZJ Building on 0403671291 for a free on-site consultation with our Master Builder, Zak.
[1]http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/asbestos-toc~asbestos-when-and-where
[2]https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/science/humans/article/2016/10/25/aussies-are-falling-ladders-and-landing-hospitals