Home Repairs Just Waiting to Go Wrong
Are you thinking about doing some DIY? Before starting with those “simple” home repairs, consider how doable they really are. There are plenty of home repairs that look easy but often go wrong, and we’ve collected some of the worst below.
Asbestos Removal
We all know how dangerous asbestos can be, but many people still make the mistake of removing it themselves. The removal process is easy enough, but without proper protective gear, you will breathe in the fibers, which could seriously harm your health.
Roofing
With the right materials and a ladder, anyone might seem capable of roofing. However, even one wrongly placed tile can throw off the entire roof, leading to potential leaks and other internal issues. Once roofing goes wrong, it can be problematic and expensive to mend.
Draining Faucets
Draining faucets involves switching off the water and removing the faucets, bleed caps, and other parts, which anyone is capable of doing. But, take care, because if you don’t properly drain it, or if you put a part back incorrectly, it could cause the entire faucet to malfunction.
Sanding Floors
How hard can it be to sand a floor? Harder than we thought! On top of extensive preparatory work, you need a good drum sander and an even better sanding technique. One wrong move, and you’ll seriously damage the floor!
Electrical Modifications
While there are some electrical modifications that are impossible to mess up, others aren’t as easy. Installing a new light fixture, for example, can be tricky if you mess with the mains. You could damage your entire electrical system or give yourself an electric shock!
Laying Carpet
It may look as simple as rolling out the carpet and pinning it down, but there’s a little more to properly laying the carpet. If a piece is too long or short, it won’t lay properly, and the entire roll might go to waste.
Cutting Down Trees
Gardening may be recommended, but cutting down trees yourself is not a good idea. Unlike tree removal specialists, the average person doesn’t have enough knowledge or equipment. You could end up with a tree landing on top of your house!
Removing Walls
Put down the sledgehammer! Removing walls is really not as easy as it looks, and it will absolutely go wrong. Walls provide structural support, so choosing to remove them without professional recommendation and workers could end with the entire ceiling collapsing.
Replacing HVAC System
No matter how much you know about your HVAC system, replacing it is never as easy as you may assume. A trained professional should be the one to remove the broken unit and replace it to avoid any technical faults when the system is reconnected.
Mudding
If “mudding” meant “digging up mud”, it would be the easiest task in the world! Unfortunately, mudding refers to the process of layering up old, unfinished drywall to smooth and secure it. If it’s done wrong, the drywall will be bumpy and coarse, which is terrible for painting on.
Painting the Exterior
We’re counting this as a repair job because it helps to protect the brickwork from damage. But while it might look simple, it can easily go wrong. Using the wrong paint or having bad application technique can cost a lot of money to professionally repair.
Replacing Pipes
If there’s an issue with your plumbing, the cause is probably bad pipes. But you should never repair or replace them yourself because you could end up botching the entire plumbing system and making your shower, faucets, and toilet unusable.
Fixing Porch Boards
If your porch boards are old or rotting, they need to be fixed. But it’s recommended to get a professional to do the work, otherwise you may end up with unsupported floorboards that pose a serious danger to anybody on the porch.
Installing New Outlets
Like any serious electrical work, you shouldn’t attempt to install new outlets yourself. Even the most confident people lack the specialized skills of an electrician, and you could end up causing serious damage to your home or yourself if the new outlets aren’t properly installed.
Stripping Paint
Painting the inside of your house is easy enough, but you may need to strip the old paint first, and that can be hazardous. The chemicals can cause skin and respiratory irritation, so it’s one easy job that you should employ somebody to do.
Gas Maintenance
Everybody should know how to turn the gas on and off in their homes. However, serious gas maintenance and repairs should always be left to someone who knows what to look for. If you do it yourself and miss an issue, you’ll be left with dodgy gas mains.
Replacing Countertops
We’ve all imagined lifting up our old, damaged countertops and putting on new ones, but it’s actually a far harder task. The countertops are very heavy, which could cause you to hurt yourself, and you may also unknowingly spread harmful silica dust into the air.
Retiling a Shower
There’s nothing worse than broken, ugly shower tiles, but poorly-laid new ones aren’t much better. Without proper tools and waterproofing knowledge, you could be left with a leaky shower that causes mold and requires expensive repairs. Bad tiling will also look extremely bad.
Amending Water Pressure
There’s nothing quite as frustrating as weak water pressure! But perhaps don’t try to amend it yourself, no matter how easy it looks. If the pressure issue is caused by corroded pipes or extensive leaks or blockages, you could make it worse by tampering with the plumbing system.
Fixing the Boiler
It’s good to know your way around a boiler, but if you think there’s something seriously wrong, consult a professional electrician. Doing it yourself may seem easy and a good way to save money, but it’s not worth the risk of potentially releasing carbon monoxide into your house.
Removing a Chimney
If your chimney is giving you trouble, you can just sledgehammer it away, right? Wrong! You should never forcefully remove a chimney or chimney breast without a structural engineer’s advice because you could cause damage to the house’s support. You may also need planning permission.
Sealing Windows
You can seal windows yourself, but make sure you do it correctly! If you don’t, you’ll end up with extremely energy-inefficient windows, with air and water getting in around the frames. Adding too much sealant could also cause the windows to become completely stuck.
Repairing Roof Leaks
Every roof leaks now and then, and it is possible to repair it yourself. But you need to do more than just patch it up, otherwise you’ll end up with more water pouring in and damaging the ceiling. Invest in plenty of caulking and roof tar!
Fixing a Dishwasher
You should be cleaning your dishwasher regularly, but do you know how to fix it? If you don’t but attempt the repair anyway, you could end up causing more serious damage. Anything beyond a minor blockage takes time and expertise to repair.
Waterproofing
In this climate, it’s crazy not to waterproof your home. Just make sure you don’t miss any areas! Everything from landscaping to guttering to mending the foundations keeps water out of the house, but skipping even one area could lead to an internal flood.
Reattaching Gutters
Speaking of guttering, reattaching gutters is another repair job that requires extreme caution. It’s difficult to do the task itself wrong, but many people neglect proper ladder safety, and this can quickly end with several broken bones and water pouring down the exterior.
Adding Insulation
If you want a warm house, add some insulation, but never try it yourself. Though laying it down is easy enough, you’ll likely inhale lots of harmful airborne fiberglass particles, which can cause respiratory issues. It’s best to hire professionals with proper protective gear.
Emptying Septic Tanks
Septic tanks may be gross, but they do a valuable job. However, their disgusting nature is precisely what makes it risky to empty them. If you opt not to involve waste removal specialists, it’s likely you’ll end up with sewage waste all over your yard!
Removing Mold
There are endless mold removal products sold in stores, and they’re usually very effective. But it’s easy to slip up when removing mold and make the problem worse. Disturbed mold can become airborne, causing it to spread around the house. Soon enough, it will be out of control.
Unsticking Doors
There are plenty of great hacks for unsticking doors: rubbing soap on them, tightening the hinges, and trimming down the frame, to name a few. But messing with the hinges or attempting to resize the door/frame may damage the door and ruin its alignment.
Building Walls
With some bricks, cement, and skill, it seems easy enough to build a wall in your yard. However, if you overlook simple details like the level, drainage options, and pressure, the wall won’t look good, nor will it serve its proper purpose.
Replacing Cabinets
While it’s easy enough to replace cabinet doors, it’s far more work to build and replace entire old cabinets. You need strong carpentry skills; otherwise, the units may be the wrong size, structurally weak, or poorly fitted. These all put them at risk of collapsing.
Babyproofing
Believe it or not, babyproofing your house is actually quite a task! So much so that professional handymen offer it as a service. It’s easy to overlook certain corners or doors because you think a child won’t reach them, but this puts them at risk of being hurt.
Cutting Hedges
Anybody can learn to use a hedge trimmer, but not everybody wields one well. If you aren’t careful, you could end up cutting too far into the hedge, ruining its growth, as well as the appearance of your garden. You could also injure yourself by misusing this type of tool.
Grouting
Grouting is a necessary and relatively simple repair job. But it will go wrong if you forget to prepare the area or wrongly apply the grouting. This can damage the integrity of your tiles and make it easier for water to seep behind them and breed mold.
