While many of us love nothing better than to tackle a DIY job around the house and garden, some jobs should always be left to the professionals. We explore the tasks you should not tackle yourself inside and outside the home.
Electrical repairs
There are numerous reasons why electrical repairs should not be carried out as a DIY task not least of which is that in certain cases it may be illegal. A Part P certificate of the Building Regulations is required from anyone carrying out any electrical installation in a property. The certificate states that the work is safe and free from the risk of electric shocks or fires. It also applies to any changes to the existing wiring or electrical installations in the home.
Apart from the risk to yourself or others, DIY electrical repairs could cost you money in the long term. If you wire something incorrectly, it could cause damage to your appliance or electrical circuit. You will probably also invalidate any warranties and possibly your home insurance.
Roof repair
When homeowners hear the words ‘roof repair’ the universal reaction is one of dread. Roof work can be very expensive and the temptation to try to fix the problem yourself can be strong. However, there are several reasons why you should not attempt this work on your own.
Climbing up and working on a roof without adequate training is very dangerous and can be fatal. Working at height is heavily regulated in the construction industry and for good reason. Falling from a roof can be fatal or leave you with life-changing injuries. If the risk is not enough to stop you, consider the fact that without the right tools and experience, you may not be able to locate and fix the issue or you could even end up making the problem worse.
Knocking down walls
If you’re determined to carry out renovation work on your home you may be tempted to remove a wall to make a room bigger and extend your living space. However, it’s unwise to take down any wall in your home unless you are 100% sure that it is not load-bearing. This means that it forms part of the structure of the building which could be weakened by its removal, potentially causing a collapse.
Demolishing a wall inside a property is always the job of a professional, whether you employ a structural engineer to confirm its purpose or use a professional contractor to do the work. Doing it yourself is not worth the risk to the structural integrity of your home.
Repointing brickwork
While perhaps the least dangerous work on this list, repointing brickwork is nevertheless a job that should be done by a qualified, experienced tradesperson. This is because the work is a skilled task and a professional finish is necessary for waterproofing the exterior of your property and keeping it looking good.
To repoint brickwork, it’s necessary to chisel out the old mortar and if not done carefully, this can damage the bricks. This is particularly important around doors and windows. Applying the new mortar is a skilled job as you need to ensure there are no gaps or air pockets. The order in which the repointing is done is also important and the whole wall has to be properly cleaned to remove excess mortar.
Felling trees
If you have large trees to fell or prune on your property it is advisable to hire a qualified arborist to carry out the work. The risks involved in this activity are serious and injuries are all too common. A chainsaw is a dangerous piece of equipment in inexperienced hands and falling trees can be unpredictable, even for professional arborists. Most DIYers will not have the right personal protection equipment for using a chainsaw and may be untrained in its proper use.
Falling trees can cause injury to people and damage to property and power lines. There are also legal implications if any damage or injuries occur as a result of your actions so it’s best to hire a professional for peace of mind.