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Replacing Windows and Exterior Doors
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.
Related: Buyer’s Guide: Replacement Windows
Making It Concrete
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.
Related: 12 Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Upgrade Your Home’s Exterior
Plumbing the Depths
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.
Tearing Down a Wall
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.
Taking Down a Tree
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.
Related: 16 Home Improvements and Repairs That Are Best Not to DIY
Repairing the Roof
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
Hanging Drywall
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.
Adding a Gas Range
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.
Refinishing a Bathtub
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.
Working with Wiring
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
