Seven Most Dangerous DIY Home Renovations
According to the Home Safety Council, one in five DIY-ers ends up in the hospital due to an accident while renovating or repairing their home.
Make no mistake, Do It Yourself (DIY) projects can be dangerous. While it always tempting to do a project yourself to save money, there are some projects that are best left to the professionals. According to the Home Safety Council, one in five DIY-ers ends up in the hospital due to an accident while renovating or repairing their home.
Obviously, some DIY projects are more dangerous than others. While most of us can manage to paint a room without a trip to the emergency room, but if you are repairing a roof, dealing with electrical or trimming a tree it is time to bring in a pro.
Here are the seven most dangerous DIY home repairs and renovations:
Trimming or Removing a Tree – Chain saws and ladders are a bad combination for anyone who is not professionally trained and experienced. Trees rarely fall in a predictable direction so trimming or removing trees on your property can often result in damage to your body, house or even your car if it’s parked in the wrong spot.
Experts recommend hiring a professional when its time to trim or remove a tree that is on your property.
If a tree has fallen due to a storm or other event, call your insurer and have them send out a claims adjuster. Damage to your home and car due to a falling tree will be covered as long as the tree fell due to a storm or significant event. If you let the tree rot until it eventually fell, the damages will not typically be covered.
Asbestos Removal – Houses built before 1980 may contain asbestos. If you are considering a home renovation project you should have your house inspected for asbestos by a licensed and accredited professional.
If asbestos is found, under no circumstances should you attempt to remove it by yourself. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause serious respiratory problems and this type of work should definitely be left to the professionals.
Taking Out Walls – Opening up your floor plan might be a great way to improve sight lines or add space to your house but if you don’t know what you are doing, tearing out walls can quickly turn into a nightmare.
Interior walls can be load bearing or have electrical and plumbing hidden within, either way if you tear down the wrong wall you could be in for an expensive repair. Call in a professional who will be able to determine which walls are safe to remove.
Roof Repairs – Toppling off your roof can result in a severe injuries and even death. Regardless of whether you are trying to replace a few missing shingles or patching a major hole left by storm, you should call in a roofing expert.
If the damage is covered by your homeowners insurance your insurance adjuster should be able to schedule the repairs with an experienced and approved roofing expert.
Helpful Article: Changes in roof coverage may leave you paying to replace your roof
Gas Appliances – Installing an electric appliance is simple, gas appliances tend to be more complicated and involve much more risk. If you need to hook up or repair gas lines, call in the experts. Gas leaks can be deadly and nobody wants to be responsible for blowing up their own house due to a failed gas line repair or installation, call the pros.
Electrical Work – Doing electrical work around the house is usually a bad idea. Unless you are an experienced electrician that is familiar with local building codes, these types of repairs and renovations should be left to certified, licensed experts.
You can not only shock or electrocute yourself while doing the work, if you make a mistake it can end up causing a catastrophic fire.
Pest Control – Dealing with a major pest invasion often requires toxic chemicals that should never be handled by the average person. Applying them without the proper gear or applying them in the wrong place can result in serious injury to your or your family.
Get a pro to come in and evaluate the problem. They will be able to advise you on the various options available to you.