Experienced homeowners know that some projects are better done yourself. A hired contractor may not have the same attention to detail as you do, and they can’t see how you pictured the finished product. However, there are some projects that should be left to the professionals. In these cases, it is better to bite the bullet and pay someone with experience. After all, if you try it yourself and end up dissatisfied, then you’ll have wasted not only money but time.
Spray Insulation
There are kits available that allow homeowners to spray insulation themselves, but they don’t compare to the equipment spray foam insulation contractors have at their disposal. If you inspect these kits, you will likely find warnings stating that products are for “professional use only.” This is due to safety and health hazards for the chemicals used in spray foam insulation. Proper safety equipment and protective gear must be used to prevent the inhalation of toxic fumes.
Spray foam releases a flammable vapor while it expands. Therefore, the correct amount of space should be left inside walls in order for the product to dry, and fumes to dissipate. Too much foam can be dangerous and too little is ineffective.
Pour Concrete Countertops
The cost of installing concrete countertops may have you wondering if you can just do it yourself. If you have never worked with concrete, or if you have limited time and space, then leave this job to a professional. Poured concrete needs 28 days to fully cure. You will need a place for casts to dry for around a month.
Working with concrete can be extremely tricky. Small bubbles will form beneath the surface of your molds. These bubbles can’t be seen, but weaken the structure and lead to cracks. Sometimes the cracks won’t form for weeks or months after installation. Craftsmen that work with concrete have strategies for working the bubbles out. There is a technique and a feel to this process that only comes with experience.
Repair Sheetrock
The cost of paying an experienced spackler to repair sheetrock far exceeds the trouble of doing it yourself. You may think it looks easy to evenly spread spackle, but it is not. Often, the spackle needs to be sanded and reapplied two or three times before the repair looks seamless. If you don’t do it the correct way, you will forever have a spot visible on your newly painted wall.
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