When To DIY And When To Call A Professional
When it comes to home DIY, it is important to decide what projects you can do and which ones you should leave to the professionals.
14/11/2020
If you have never tackled DIY projects before, there are some projects you can easily do yourself and others that call for more experienced hands. While you can save a lot of money by doing some projects yourself, if you get in over your head because you don't have the skills, you may end up spending more time and money than you thought to hire someone else to straighten things out. It is important to decide what projects you can do and which ones you should leave to a pro.
Know your skill level
If you have quite a few DIY projects under your belt, you have a fairly good idea of your skill level using different tools, materials, and techniques. As a beginner it's best to try a few small projects in and around the home to determine whether or not you are comfortable using power tools. And don't forget that you are still learning as you go along. You can expect to know everything at the beginning. Practice makes perfect so make sure to do a lot of practicing!
Keep your cool
For any DIY project you should be able to follow instructions and be patient enough to do the job as it should be done, without trying to make shortcuts. It is normally shortcuts that result in a failed project or the possibility of having to call out a professional to finish what you started.
We have many ladies attending our DIY Divas workshops that want to try and finish a project as quickly as possible. Don't. Take your time and bear in mind the adage that it is better to measure twice and cut once.
Do what you can afford
When you sit down and work out a budget for how much you can spend, taking the DIY option means that you will spend less on labour and be able to spend more on quality finishes. However, you may also discover that you have enough funds to outsource some of the labour. If you break down your project into smaller parts and get estimates for each one, you may find you can afford to hire out one or more key tasks.
Even if you have a generous budget -- enough to hire out your whole bath project -- you still may want to do some of the work yourself. You may have a specific look in mind, want more control over the project timetable, or simply enjoy the challenge of making your own home improvements. A successful DIY project fosters feelings of pride and accomplishment you don’t get when someone else does the work.
How big is your project
Before you even lift up a tool take cognizance of how much work is involved. While a few cosmetic repairs will only take a weekend, renovations that include replacing fittings and sanitary ware will take far longer. Are you prepared for that? Can you afford to be without a bathroom, or part of a kitchen, for more than a few days.
Doing it yourself may save you on labour costs, but if you are going to be without essentials for more than a day or two, hiring a professional will reduce any inconvenience. However, having said that, not all contractors work as quickly as you would like and you could still end up with the hassle!
Your expectations
In deciding whether to DIY or hire a pro, consider your expectations for the finished space. What level of quality will you be happy with? What imperfections or shortcomings can you live with?
For some bath elements, there’s not much difference between the results DIYers and professionals can achieve. For example, a toilet or bath faucet installed by a DIYer looks and works pretty much the same as one replaced by a contractor. With tile, though, there may be noticeable differences. A DIYer’s grout lines might not be as straight, clean, and uniform as a pro’s, and the edges and corners might not look as tidy. Will that bother you over time? Only you can decide.
Good beginner bath projects
- Painting walls and trim
- Replacing a showerhead
- Installing new taps and fittings
- Tiling a sink backsplash
- Replacing a light fixture
Beginner to intermediate projects
- Tiling a floor
- Tiling a tub/shower surround
- Replacing a toilet
- Replacing a sink
- Replacing a vanity
Intermediate to advanced projects
- Removing/replacing a tub
- Relocating a toilet
- Adding a shower enclosure
- Installing a stone countertop