Useful Guide — Never Attempt These Home Repair Jobs Alone

Here are several home projects you should never attempt alone:

Structural Changes

For anything related to making structural changes in your home, call professionals. Attempting to make structural alterations on your own can result in serious injury and damage to your property. Any structural changes must be done by qualified professionals who know what they're doing and have extensive experience. Attempting structural changes on your own can be a very bad idea. According to construction experts from this site, installing beams (which is a structural change) is not a DIY project and should never be done alone. Even if you don't hurt yourself, structural changes can decrease your home's value and make it unsafe.

Cleaning Gutters

Most people clean their gutters alone, but this is actually a very bad idea. Cleaning gutters isn't technically unsafe, but it shouldn't be done without supervision because it usually involves climbing onto the roof without a safety harness. As long as someone is holding your ladder steady and watching over you in case of a fall, it's safe to proceed with gutter cleaning. You can also hire a professional for this job. Gutter cleaners don't charge much.

Installing Windows

Installing windows is another task you should never attempt alone. Trying to install your own windows can be a big mistake. Windows are very heavy, so it's difficult for people to hold them alone. In addition, they're made of glass, so if they fall or break, they can become very dangerous. If you want to install a window in your home, ask for help from someone else or alternatively contact a specialist and let them do it for you. The same applies to glass doors.

Electrical Work

Electrical installations and repairs should always be carried out by a professional electrician. Under no circumstances should you make changes to your home's electrical system on your own, even if you're an electrician yourself, because in case of injury during home repairs, your insurance might not cover you. Repairing electrical appliances can be very dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. If you still decide to proceed and not call an electrician, make sure the main circuit breaker at home is switched off before making any changes. You should also use a voltage tester to confirm that the electrical appliances in your home are not live before starting repairs, even if the main breaker is turned off.

Plumbing Repairs

Just like your home's electrical system, you should never make changes to the plumbing or water supply on your own. You need a trained plumber for that. It's especially important not to touch or attempt repairs on gas pipes. Water supply pipes can be dangerous and cause flooding, but if it's not hot water, they won't harm you. Gas pipes however can kill you if you're not careful with them.

Relocating the Bathtub

To conclude, do not attempt to move any fixtures in your bathroom on your own. This relates to the previous point because many bathtub fixtures are connected to the home's plumbing and water supply system. If you remove any of these fixtures, you can rupture a pipe and cause flooding throughout your home. Many people have flooded their homes in the past doing this. You should always hire a professional plumber or a bathroom renovation company to relocate fixtures. Although it may be expensive, it's worth it and guarantees the job is done correctly.

There are certain home repairs you cannot do alone. Attempting any of the listed repairs or projects on your own may lead to injury or damage to your home. Hire a professional or at least ensure someone is watching over you. Good luck with your projects!