Home DIY projects you should leave to the experts

While some home owners are keen to get their hands dirty for the sense of accomplishment, others are just hoping to save themselves some money.

But for whatever reason you may be tempted to take a sledgehammer to that menacing brick wall of yours, it’s worth remembering that there are just some things you should leave to the experts.

If a DIY project goes awry, you may end up forking out more money to get a bungled job fixed than had you just hired someone to do the job in the first place.

The most common and often manageable DIY projects in the home generally involve painting, tiling a bathroom tiling and building a deck.

With the right equipment, patience and effort most people can achieve good results with painting.

When it comes to tiling or bathroom renovations, a good home job is possible, but tiling can also be difficult.

More often than not you can really tell the difference between a professional job and DIY.

And while DIY decks are very common, they may be subject to council approval and could even be illegal depending on the size, height and need for handrails.

Four types of work around the house to leave for a professional:

1. Electrical work

People should never attempt any DIY electrical work. Apart from being illegal, it is dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing and it will also most likely void your insurance.

2. Plumbing

The same goes for plumbing. The exact rules of what you can and can’t do yourself (unlicensed) differs state to state but generally you’ll be limited to reseating taps and installing or repairing your own stormwater.

3. Structural work

If you are thinking about quickly knocking down a wall to make a room in your house bigger, stop and think about calling a professional.

If you go ahead and make structural changes without working out where the load-bearing walls are, you can really damage your house.

4. Asbestos removal

Asbestos removal is something best left to the professionals.

Depending on local rules, you can remove small amounts of asbestos yourself – providing you dispose of it correctly – however given the health risks it’s not worth it.

While most people are aware that asbestos is in cement sheet, they don’t often realise it was also used in a wide range of building materials, such as tiles, concrete, insulation and pipe lagging so best to get professional advise before starting.

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This article via Domain does not constitute advice; readers should seek independent and personalised counsel from a trusted adviser that specialises in property, a tax accountant and property design specialist.