Do-It-Yourself or Call the Professionals?

DIY Or Call a Professional

When it comes to DIY there are two schools of thought; it doesn’t matter whether you’re looking at a blocked drain or a burst pipe…there’s the “I can do that!” brigade and the “Ooh no…better call the plumber” gang. If you’re pretty handy around the house then there’s a good chance that you already know your limits; you can tile a wall but you perhaps wouldn’t feel up to installing a shower…but where’s the line? Is there a point where keen amateur handymen and handy women need to stop, put down that hacksaw and think again?

There are certainly some DIY areas which due to safety concerns are always best leftto the professionals and these include the following jobs!

• Installation of cookers; it doesn’t matter whether they are gas or electric, cookers should always be installed by a qualified professional!
• Gas central heating or boiler maintenance; if it’s got anything to do with your heating then leave well alone! By the way, this doesn’t include bleeding radiators! Those are a free for all!
• Some plumbing tasks; not all plumbing need to involve costly call-outs but badly blocked drains can be a hazard! Feel free to attempt washer changes and minor adjustments.

If you’re facing a hefty bill due to some much-needed maintenance then take a quick look at our list of DIY jobs which you can tackle safely even if you need to do a little research first!

• Tiling walls and floors is tricky but it’s not impossible if you take your time and ensure that you have the correct tools. Practice cutting on some spare tiles before you begin butchering those designer ones though!
• Carpet fitting might seem overwhelming but if you think of it as being similar to wrapping up a very large present, you’re on the right track. Yes there are certain tricks of the trade which you might need to master but this big job is definitely one which can be mastered by amateurs!
• Wallpapering is often dreaded by newcomers to DIY…mainly because of the many comic depictions of what can go wrong during wallpapering which are often seen on television…think visions of torn and mismatched paper and people with their feet in buckets of paste! But once again, this is a job which with patience can be completed well by the inexperienced.

Top DIY tips for beginners

If you’re contemplating any DIY task which you are new to, remember the golden rules of DIY and you can’t go wrong!

• Have the right tools! There’s no point in attempting any serious DIY unless you have the correct equipment. Wallpapering for example is far easier if you have a wallpapering table! Trying to make do and mend will result in botched jobs! If the correct tools are too expensive to buy, borrow or hire them!
• Preparation is the key! Don’t try to start painting your sitting room until you’ve cleared all of the furniture into the centre of the room and covered the carpets with dust sheets. Similarly, don’t begin any plumbing work until you’ve turned off the water supply!
• Buy a simple tool kit with all of the basics included and don’t be afraid to ask questions either! Most stores are more than happy to advise on what you need and what you don’t need.

DIY can be a hugely rewarding hobby which in the long run could save you thousands of pounds in professional’s fees. Don’t jump in at the deep end and try to build a conservatory…start small with little repairs and simple decorating and you’ll soon be competent as well as enjoying the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve completed an important task yourself. If you are unsure about something, then don;t do what this guy did.