Every DIY project could save you money on the surface of it. However, as an experienced homeowner will know not all DIY projects are equal and some are very demanding. Hear are some tips to help you know your limits and avoid a DIY disaster.

Avoiding a DIY disaster – Know Your Limits

Every homeowner loves to save a little bit of money when it comes to upgrading their home. DIY is a great way of achieving this, but mistakes can be incredibly costly. In a roundup of easy ways to make improvement mistakes, Investopedia noted the astonishing $3,500 cost of replacing a bath-tub that’s been improperly installed – a much higher cost than what you’d have seen from simply getting a professional in. When it comes to home improvement, skilled work such as plumbing is a great place to start in terms of what you shouldn’t try and do yourself.

Find contractors for skilled work

There’s a reason that skilled workers like plumbers and electricians head to trade schools for lengthy periods. They also embark on apprenticeships to learn before getting into work on an independent basis. The experience they develop is often incredibly nuanced to the specific area where they work. A good training will help them avoid a DIY disaster as young rookies.

In Indiana, Greenwood plumbers have skills developed to deal with the severe storms that hit the city periodically.

Conversely, Texas plumbing experts have gained a lot of experience over the past year from the deep freeze the state’s plumbing systems endured, according to WBUR. The point is that plumbers have a huge set of skills and tools to call on. What is more they are expertly equipped to deal with local problems. Electricians and gasfitters have the same acumen; leave these jobs to them.

Routine jobs and maintenance

By contrast, there are a huge range of minor jobs that you can complete around the house without paying for labour. Start simple.  UK money management service Which? suggest bleeding radiators, draught-proofing, regrouting tiles and putting up shelves. Appliance cleaning, like cleaning washing machines and dishwashers, can also be straightforward. Anything that doesn’t require the dismantling of an object with technical parts is a good tool to use. If you only need your toolkit and some elbow grease to get it done, it’s DIY-able.

New technology

However, DIY can’t, and shouldn’t, venture into skilled jobs.  If you do without the knowledge or skills you are tempting fate and a DIY disaster.  However, what you can achieve without tinkering with complicated technical devices is expanding. New innovation in technology, and the price reduction for obsolete tools are making it easier for DIY jobs at home. AmEx highlights how new tools, from pens that can identify the exact hex code of wallpaper colours to the adaptable Sugru, are allowing homeowners to make more radical changes to their home to the same quality as tradespeople. Taking advantage of such tech requires money, of course, but it can help you to complete tasks at home to a much greater degree.

A final comment on avoiding a DIY disaster

For enthusiastic DIY homeowners, who don’t have access to new tools, it’s a good idea to keep it simple. If a task seems technical, or you don’t understand exactly how the parts behind it work, then stay away. This will keep you safe and far away from costly DIY disasters.