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10 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
1/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
Poorly installed doors and windows cause air leaks and end up costing you a lot of green on your heating bills. If you're not sure what you're doing, hire a pro who can get it right the first time. You'll rest easier knowing that your house is sealed up tight and you're not letting money trickle out through the cracks.
![<body> <p>Cracked, uneven concrete walkways and steps aren’t just unsightly, they can be treacherous too. And if someone trips and falls on your property, that DIY concrete may come with an expensive lawsuit. Paving jobs and <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-resurface-a-concrete-driveway/#.V7SEizkrJhA?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:driveway repairs;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">driveway repairs</a> can be tricky, so let the guys with the heavy equipment take care of them. </p> <p><strong>Related: <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/10-ways-to-buy-better-curb-appeal-for-under-50-50335?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:10 Ways to Buy Better Curb Appeal for Under $50;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">10 Ways to Buy Better Curb Appeal for Under $50</a> </strong> </p> </body>]()
2/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
Cracked, uneven concrete walkways and steps aren’t just unsightly, they can be treacherous too. And if someone trips and falls on your property, that DIY concrete may come with an expensive lawsuit. Paving jobs and driveway repairs can be tricky, so let the guys with the heavy equipment take care of them.
![<body> <p>There’s a reason plumbers charge top dollar. Plumbing is skilled work that needs to be done right the first time to avoid expensive leaks later. Go ahead and replace your sink's faucet handle or fix the <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/articles/bob-vila-radio-toilet-flappers/?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:toilet flapper;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">toilet flapper</a>, but hire a reputable pro for more complicated repairs. </p> <p><strong>Related: <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/12-things-your-plumber-wishes-you-knew-50323?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:12 Things Your Plumber Wishes You Knew;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">12 Things Your Plumber Wishes You Knew</a> </strong> </p> </body>]()
3/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
There’s a reason plumbers charge top dollar. Plumbing is skilled work that needs to be done right the first time to avoid expensive leaks later. Go ahead and replace your sink's faucet handle or fix the toilet flapper, but hire a reputable pro for more complicated repairs.
![<body> <p>Demo work may look fun when you're watching home makeover shows, but don’t start swinging that sledgehammer just yet. In real life, there’s wiring, gas lines, and pipes behind that drywall—and one wrong move can turn an easy job into a pricey, protracted one. Even if you're sure you're not dealing with a <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-identify-a-load-bearing-wall/?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:load-bearing wall;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">load-bearing wall</a>, call a contractor to check it out and leave the demolition work to the pros. </p> <p><strong>Related: <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/don-t-try-this-at-home-the-7-most-dangerous-diys-48157?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Don't Try This at Home: The 7 Most Dangerous DIYs;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Don't Try This at Home: The 7 Most Dangerous DIYs</a> </strong> </p> </body>]()
4/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
Demo work may look fun when you're watching home makeover shows, but don’t start swinging that sledgehammer just yet. In real life, there’s wiring, gas lines, and pipes behind that drywall—and one wrong move can turn an easy job into a pricey, protracted one. Even if you're sure you're not dealing with a load-bearing wall, call a contractor to check it out and leave the demolition work to the pros.
![<body> <p>Don’t commit a chainsaw massacre. Unless we’re talking about a sapling, taking down a <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/10-of-the-best-trees-for-any-backyard-49100?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:tree;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">tree</a> is dangerous work that requires special equipment and lots of experience. It's always better to pay a landscaper than to pay a hospital bill. </p> <p><strong>Related: <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/13-home-improvements-that-are-illegal-to-diy-49321?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:13 Home Improvements That Are Illegal to DIY;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">13 Home Improvements That Are Illegal to DIY</a> </strong> </p> </body>]()
5/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
Don’t commit a chainsaw massacre. Unless we’re talking about a sapling, taking down a tree is dangerous work that requires special equipment and lots of experience. It's always better to pay a landscaper than to pay a hospital bill.
![<body> <p>Don’t clamber up to the top of your house and start swinging a nail gun around if you don't know what you're doing. Professional roofers have <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/10-safety-essentials-that-most-homes-are-missing-49445?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:safety equipment;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">safety equipment</a> and training that you probably don’t have—and they'll do the job properly so your new roof will last for decades. </p> <p><strong>Related: <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/7-signs-you-need-a-new-roof-48751?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:7 Signs You Need a New Roof;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">7 Signs You Need a New Roof</a> </strong> </p> </body>]()
6/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
Don’t clamber up to the top of your house and start swinging a nail gun around if you don't know what you're doing. Professional roofers have safety equipment and training that you probably don’t have—and they'll do the job properly so your new roof will last for decades.
Related: 7 Signs You Need a New Roof
![<body> <p>Yes, you can do it yourself—but keep in mind that drywall installed by unskilled hands often ends up with <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/articles/repairing-drywall/?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:bumps, cracks, and visible tape lines;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">bumps, cracks, and visible tape lines</a>. Ceilings are even tougher to manage without specialized tools and a competent assistant. Spring for quality work now, and you'll cash in when you sell. </p> <p><strong>Related: <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/10-diy-fixes-that-do-more-harm-than-good-50066?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:10 DIY Fixes That Do More Harm Than Good;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">10 DIY Fixes That Do More Harm Than Good</a> </strong> </p> </body>]()
7/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
Yes, you can do it yourself—but keep in mind that drywall installed by unskilled hands often ends up with bumps, cracks, and visible tape lines. Ceilings are even tougher to manage without specialized tools and a competent assistant. Spring for quality work now, and you'll cash in when you sell.
![<body> <p>It’s a no-brainer: Blowing up your house (or yourself) is no way to <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/21-money-saving-tricks-that-every-homeowner-needs-to-know-50052?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:save money;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">save money</a>. But evidently it has to be said, because there are always some overly ambitious homeowners who end up calling in the gas company or fire department when their DIY goes awry. Stay on the safe side, and never take on DIY jobs that involve gas lines. </p> <p><strong>Related: <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/14-bad-habits-that-could-burn-down-your-house-49425?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:14 Bad Habits That Could Burn Down Your House;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">14 Bad Habits That Could Burn Down Your House</a> </strong> </p> </body>]()
8/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
It’s a no-brainer: Blowing up your house (or yourself) is no way to save money. But evidently it has to be said, because there are always some overly ambitious homeowners who end up calling in the gas company or fire department when their DIY goes awry. Stay on the safe side, and never take on DIY jobs that involve gas lines.
![<body> <p>Seriously messy, unbearably stinky work in a <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/14-ways-to-stop-hating-your-small-bathroom-50023?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:cramped space;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">cramped space</a>? Leave it to the pros who get paid to do it. Also, a DIY coating is much more likely to chip—and then you’ll have to spend extra cash hiring a pro for a do-over.</p> <p><strong>Related: <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/9-ways-to-make-your-old-bathroom-new-again-49299?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:9 Ways to Make Your Old Bathroom New Again;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">9 Ways to Make Your Old Bathroom New Again</a> </strong> </p> </body>]()
9/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
Seriously messy, unbearably stinky work in a cramped space? Leave it to the pros who get paid to do it. Also, a DIY coating is much more likely to chip—and then you’ll have to spend extra cash hiring a pro for a do-over.
![<body> <p>Obviously, you don't want to play with fire—and improper wiring can lead to just that. An amateur with some basic knowledge can <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/articles/replace-ceiling-light/?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:replace a light fixture;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">replace a light fixture</a> or add a dimmer switch, but leave the bigger jobs to an electrician. </p> <p><strong>Related: <a rel="nofollow noopener" href=" http://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/8-warning-signs-of-dangerously-outdated-electrical-wiring-47969?bv=yahoo" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:8 Warning Signs of Dangerously Outdated Electrical Wiring;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">8 Warning Signs of Dangerously Outdated Electrical Wiring</a> </strong> </p> </body>]()
10/1010 Times Doing It Yourself Doesn’t Save You Money
Obviously, you don't want to play with fire—and improper wiring can lead to just that. An amateur with some basic knowledge can replace a light fixture or add a dimmer switch, but leave the bigger jobs to an electrician.
Related: 8 Warning Signs of Dangerously Outdated Electrical Wiring
The do-it-yourself ethos is one we heartily applaud. Most services provided by home maintenance pros aren't cheap, so taking care of small fixes on your own can save you big bucks. But sometimes the DIY route can wind up costing you more in the end. Here are 10 cases when you should put down your tool kit—and pick up the phone. | By Debra Immergut, BobVila.com
