The Home Jobs You Can Do Yourself vs the Ones Worth Leaving to a Pro
There are certain jobs around the house that you can confidently do yourself, and there are others that should definitely be left to the professionals. Attempting to do home improvement tasks that you are not qualified or legally allowed to do is always a bad idea. That’s why there are professionals who do those jobs for a living.
Let’s take a look at what you can DIY and what you’re better off leaving to an expert.
DIY jobs most people can handle
Below are some of the most common tasks that homeowners take on successfully. And if one of them doesn’t appeal, you can always find a local tradesperson at myjobquote.co.uk instead.
Bleeding radiators
Letting trapped air out of your radiators is quite a straightforward job and needs nothing more than a radiator key and an old towel. The result is a radiator that heats all the way from the bottom to the top, so this is a worthwhile skill to learn.
Painting and decorating
Most homeowners are willing to have a go at some form of decorating, whether that’s painting, filling holes or wallpapering. The majority of these jobs are common sense and relatively easy to learn. In fact, a whole industry has grown up around encouraging homeowners to ‘do-it-yourself’ so there’s no excuse for not giving it a go.
Minor repairs
In a budget-conscious world, carrying out minor repairs in the home makes a lot of sense. Changing the washer in a leaky tap, rubbing down a sticking door or re-sealing the edge of your bath or shower are small jobs that can make a big difference to your daily life.
Gardening
Basic gardening jobs such as lawn mowing, trimming hedges, weeding and deadheading flowers are not difficult tasks. And there are plenty of helpful powered and hand tools on the market to make the job even easier.
Changing hardware
Swapping the handles on your internal doors, changing kitchen cabinet pulls or installing new curtain rails are relatively easy DIY jobs and can quickly smarten up the look of your home. Give your front door a makeover with a new letterbox, door number and bell button.
Laying laminate flooring
Putting down laminate flooring is a popular and achievable DIY job. It does require some planning, preparation and patience, but it’s not a difficult job, and there is great satisfaction in doing it yourself. Perhaps the hardest part of this task is cutting the boards around doorframes, pipes and irregular walls.
Jobs only for the pros
While there are projects you can take on yourself, others are too dangerous, complex or legally require a qualified professional to complete.
Major electrical wiring
Any major electrical work should only ever be handled by a qualified electrician. Not only is it dangerous for DIY enthusiasts to work on electrics, but it’s also illegal to do notifiable works such as installing a new circuit or fuse board unless you’re registered under a competent person scheme.
Gas work
Any jobs that involve gas must be done by a registered Gas Safe engineer. It’s not worth putting lives in danger and your property at risk by failing to hire the right person for the job.
Structural alterations
Tackling large jobs such as removing internal walls or changing roof supports should only be attempted by professional building contractors. Homeowners almost always need Building Regulation approval for structural changes, so keep it safe and legal by hiring a professional.
Roofing
Working at height is something roofers are trained for and have experience with, as they do it every day. They understand the risks and work accordingly. Homeowners typically don’t have the equipment, training or experience of working on a roof and should not attempt to do so.
Removing asbestos
Handling or removing asbestos is strictly a job for a properly qualified professional. It is a very dangerous material that has carcinogenic properties and needs a licence to work with. Whole or unbroken asbestos is not as harmful as when it’s broken or disturbed, so leave it to the professionals to remove.
Plumbing
Although plumbing is not a highly dangerous job, if it’s done incorrectly, it can cause serious damage to your property. If your DIY task leads to flooding, not only do you risk costing yourself a lot of money, but you may also invalidate your home insurance.