More and more Vancouver and Lower Mainland homeowners are opting to take on DIY home renovations. Inspiration often stems from popular renovation shows and even social media websites such as Pinterest. As a Vancouver based home renovation specialist, we are enthused and inspired as well when we watch these shows!

If taking on home renovations or home improvements has crossed your mind, it’s good to take a look at the scope of the project you are undertaking and decide what is realistic as a DIY and what should be left to a professional.

Renovations completed for TV shows make the process look so easy and fast to complete!  Behind the production of these programs are a team of experts – something you may not have access to when working on a home improvement project by yourself.  For DIY homeowners, even the simplest renovations often take much longer, are challenging and can be costly if done incorrectly. As a Vancouver home improvement and Lower Mainland renovation company, it is not uncommon for us to receive estimate requests from homeowners who have started renovations and could not finish on their own.  

Before beginning a renovation or home improvement project, ask yourself: is it better to leave this in the hands of a professional? To shed some light on this, below are some home improvement projects that are better left to the expertise of professional contractors:  

1. ADDING NEW ROOMS OR STRUCTURE OR CHANGING YOUR HOME’S LAYOUT

Changing the structure of your home is a large undertaking that requires research and well thought out planning.  The potential for things to go wrong can easily happen with this type of renovation.  There is the risk of knocking down walls that are essential for the homes support as well as ones that house complex electrical wiring and plumbing. There are also the dangers of exposing gas pipes. Before anything is knocked down the walls need to be assessed by a professional as your homes structural integrity could be at risk. 

Permits, local building codes and regulations will also come into play.  If not complied to, this could result in fines as well as problems when trying to sell your home.

2. PLUMBING 

It’s tempting to tinker with leaky and broken pipes.  Fixing broken pipes or re-routing plumbing requires the expertise of a professional plumber.  Plumbers will know where to direct your plumbing, how to fix or replace corroded materials and properly put everything in their rightful place. 

If something goes wrong while attempting a plumbing job there is a potential to end up in a disastrous situation. 

3. WIRING AND GENERAL ELECTRICAL WORK

When it comes to electrical work it can be extremely dangerous to not only your house but to yourself and family as well. Rewiring, repairing faulty wiring, installing new switches, fixing power cords are just some of the tasks that should be handled by a professional.   A simple mistake could result in serious injury or even death.

4. WINDOW REPLACEMENT

This is a large job that if not done correctly can end up being a very costly DIY. During the process of replacing windows unexpected issues can be uncovered. Having a renovation company to install your windows will ensure they are properly sealed and energy efficient.  To replace windows yourself, you will also need special tools. Rather than purchase those tools that you’ll probably only use this one time, it would be a better investment to contact a Vancouver contractor to do the job for you. 

The thought of saving some money to do all home renovations yourself might be tempting.  These home improvements and renovations are best left to a professional Vancouver construction and renovation company. Relying on trained professionals who have years of experience will not only give you peace of mind but could save you time, money and a lot of stress.  If you have any questions about DIY’s, renovations, construction and contracting please feel free to message EA Renovations Ltd.