Top 5 Home Repairs You Shouldn’t Try Yourself

By May 18, 2014 November 15th, 2016 News & Communications

Whether you’re the kind of person who has a real get-up-and-go attitude, or you’re reluctant to even own a wallpaper scraper or a hammer, at some point in our lives we’ll all try our hand at a little DIY around the house. We can’t always afford extra help, and when that Bank Holiday comes round you’ll find yourself at the top of a ladder or in B&Q buying too much paint that will then sit in the garage for years before you eventually resign it to a fate in the bin.

But before you tackle any task around the home, you must ask yourself – is it really worth me doing this without fully knowing what I’m doing? Am I going to have to pay someone just to repair the damage I end up causing? Is it safe for me to do this?

There are some tasks around the home that should always be left to professionals, even if you think you’re an expert because your dad once showed you how to do something when you were 13 and barely paying attention. So put down the electric drill, pack the wrenches away, and when you have problems with one of the following, look to the pros:

Plumbing Repairs

The popular saying is that, if there is a way out of somewhere, water will find it. So the last thing you want to do is try your hand at plumbing repairs, particularly when it involves either tricky appliances or piping that will deal with high pressure, and end up with a flooded home or office. Ultimately you’ll simply end up having to pay more for a plumber to come and replace the extra damage you’ve caused,

Roofing Repairs

If you’ve been the victim of a bad storm, or simply age has caused old tiles to come loose and fall, it can be tempting to angle a ladder up against your home and climb up yourself to take a look, assess the problems and try to fix it yourself. But if you aren’t extremely careful this is going to be dangerous, because the risk of falling is great – even if you are careful, you could slip on anything. Experience is key in these situations.

Asbestos Removal

Asbestos removal is always dangerous, and should never be attempted by anyone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. It isn’t simply a case of putting on a mask and then driving it to the tip. Hire someone who knows what they’re doing to come and remove it safely for you – it doesn’t pay to take risks.

Gas Repairs

The major problem with attempting any gas repairs in your own home is that, if you don’t do it correctly, you could end up causing damage that you might not notice. Over the long-term, escaping gas can cause serious health problems, but if it’s only a small leak you might not particularly notice any typical warning signs such as a smell. Of course larger leaks or problems can lead to much worse issues, including risk of extremely serious health problems or even explosions.

Electrical Repairs

Electrical repairs combine all of the above factors, and can be one of the hardest things to do correctly and safely. We don’t mean something as simple as re-wiring a plug, but anything that means tampering with wires or fuse boxes is best left to a professional, reliable electrician who knows what he or she is doing. Most electrical jobs cost less than you think, and can be completed at your convenience in a short amount of time, so you don’t need to try your own attempt which might cause more damage or be a risk. We’re here to help with any electrical work that you need doing, so why not give us a call to find out what we can do for you today?