You may be tempted—especially in the era of YouTube tutorials—to take on a home repair, renovation or installation yourself, even if you don't quite feel qualified. While DIY projects certainly aren't a bad thing, there are some more complicated home improvement ventures where hiring a professional will not only save you money in the long run, but might even save your life.
Below are some common renovations and repairs that are dangerous or complicated enough to seriously consider hiring professional help.
Anything more involved than switching existing fixtures requires looking up your local permit rules to ensure you're doing everything according to code. These rules can vary by state or even municipality.1
Hiring a professional electrician means you don't have to worry about all of that. An electrician is especially important for more involved jobs, like installing sub-panels, circuits or new cables inside your walls.1 The Electrical Safety Foundation recommends hiring a licensed electrician to do any electrical work in your home, considering the possibility of electrocution and the fire hazards from wiring done incorrectly.2
While a minor project like installing a new faucet is a simple DIY, more complicated plumbing jobs should be left to licensed plumbers.3 In fact, a DIY plumbing venture can end up costing more money than hiring professional help. If you do something wrong and find a leak later, you may have to do the renovation all over again in addition to dealing with water damage.4
Improper gas line installation or gas appliance repair can put you at risk of a potentially fatal carbon monoxide buildup in your home,5 along with fires.6 Trying to fix a gas appliance yourself could also void the manufacturer's warranty. Instead, hire a certified propane technician.5
Sure, you might want to install your roof yourself. But the costs of injuring yourself could be far greater than any savings you enjoy. Hiring a professional also ensures that every detail is done right, such as correctly placing shingles so they don't break or lead to water leaks.7 You'll also avoid voiding the warranty. When hiring a roofer, make sure they're licensed, insured and bonded.8
There's more to safe wall removals than a good swing of the sledgehammer. A professional home improvement business or contractor can ascertain if the wall is load-bearing. In addition, you may need other professionals to help with moving service lines. Trying to do this yourself could put your home at risk of long-term damage or even structural failures.9
While you may think that replacing windows is a simple process, it's best to leave this to the experts. If you don't do the job right, you can end up with improper seals that cause leaks, or you could decrease your home's energy efficiency. Of course, any time you're working with glass, there's a potential for injury too. And if you're changing the size of the window opening itself, that might require a permit.10
While you may be able to do some smaller jobs yourself, like removing fixtures, leave the rest of a major demolition project to a professional. Demos involve dangerous work with load-bearing walls and electrical, gas and water lines.11 You might encounter asbestos and other hazardous materials. And some mistakes could lead to expensive foundational issues later.12 Plus, your return on investment for some projects like bathroom demos may be higher if you hire a professional.11
Working on your HVAC system without proper knowledge is dangerous, so you should always hire a licensed HVAC technician. The refrigerant is toxic, and handling it improperly can cause severe illness or death. Your manufacturer's warranty and home warranty may cover at least some of the professional repair costs.13
Asbestos was used in a lot of home-building materials. But breathing high levels of it can lead to mesothelioma (a type of lung cancer) and asbestosis (scarring of the lungs.) Because of this, you should never attempt asbestos removal yourself—even if it's just a minor repair. Professionals know how to mitigate the risks and remove asbestos properly. They'll also know how to follow all the laws about asbestos work.14
Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows homeowners to remediate mold that involves less than 10 square feet, it's typically best to leave this to the experts. The EPA recommends a special product (not bleach) to kill the mold. You'll also need to properly contain the area while working on it and use air filtration devices for optimal safety.15
Though most mold isn't toxic, some can be hazardous to your health and it's not always easy to tell the difference. Proper removal requires a comprehensive inspection, solutions to fix the underlying issue and the ability to find spots that may not be readily seen. Hire a professional mold remediation expert.16
Tiling and masonry work can certainly improve the appearance of your home. But for more advanced projects, hire a professional. The more complex a tiling project, the more you'll appreciate an expert's craftsmanship, such as creating level surfaces and pleasing transitions between tiles.17
Masonry is also best taken on by a professional. Masonry construction can be dangerous for a DIYer. And poorly done masonry work can lead to new issues down the line, like foundational damage or instability. 18
Without accurate calculations and expertise to guide you, removing a tree yourself can pose a danger to you and your neighbors. You'll risk thousands in property damage, plus severe injury or death from an accident. In addition, some regions may require a permit to remove the tree. This is why it's best to hire a professional tree removal service.19
Foundation repair is one thing you don't want to tackle yourself. You should always hire a professional. Your home's structural integrity is at risk, and the complexity often requires a permit for any work to be done.20
When facing complex home improvement tasks, it's always best to rely on professional contractors rather than attempting to do the project yourself. Although you may feel tempted to save some money upfront, in the long run, you'll save more money by avoiding costly pitfalls and mistakes, along with the costs of medical care from any accidents.
Plus, professional contractors have the experience to help guide homeowners on the best solutions for their space. They can even come up with new ideas that you might not have considered! So when you're facing a big project, don't rush into it. Assess your skills realistically before embarking on a DIY venture, and bring in the professionals if there's any doubt at all.
Find a local contractor for home repairs and renovations at synchrony.com/findacontractor.