Do It Yourself or Call in the Pros?

DIY

Many small repairs or modifications can handled easily by a homeowner with a hammer and a screwdriver. But successful DIY is entirely dependent on the individual -- what one person considers a basic or simple task could be well beyond the abilities of another. So how do you decide if a project is a DIY or would be better served by bringing in a professional handyman. One way to start is to ask yourself what could go wrong and how badly.

• Updating your kitchen cabinets with new handles is a pretty straightforward project with very few potential complications. Probably the worst that could happen is that you may not have screwed them in tight enough and they come loose. (I know this to be true from experience!)

• Replacing an electrical outlet, however, can be very dangerous if you are an electrical novice and you do it wrong. If you don’t know about electrical currents and how they work in your house, step back and call someone who does.

Another consideration to think about is how large is the job and how many people it will take to complete it. One person can put on a home addition, sure, but it’s going to take a very long time and will be very difficult. On the other hand, installing insulation or drywall are things that can be handled quite easily by one person and require little in the way of specialized skills. The actual physical effort required on the job needs to be considered as well. Hauling, moving, lifting, toting, and generally maneuvering wood, bricks, concrete and other building materials can be very exhausting when done alone.

Contractor

Some jobs may seem simple enough on the surface, like turning your attic into an office or a adding a spare bedroom in the basement, or replacing the picture window in your living room with a bay window, but often require quite a bit more knowledge. A good rule of thumb is, if your project is going to cost over $500 a day and take more than a day or two, you might want to hire a contractor. Since these projects are usually fairly large, there is a higher likelihood that the job will require permits and inspections, and will often require a crew of workers to accomplish.

If your project requires any of the following, you probably need a contractor:

• New plumbing

• Modifying existing plumbing such as replacing lines

• New electrical work

• Repairing an electrical system such as replacing a breaker box or replacing wiring in the walls or ceiling

• Installing or repairing gas lines

• Any HVAC work beyond routine maintenance

• Adding livable space such as a room addition or converting an attic or basement into a livable space

• Major remodeling

• Anything that affects the structure of your house.

This list is by no means complete. Before beginning any home remodeling or construction project, check with your local regulations to see if your project is required to be done by a licensed contractor or requires any special permits. Although it’s more expensive than hiring a handyman, hiring a contractor is a way to make sure that things are done safely and up to code.