There’s nothing quite like getting some DIY work done around the house. Doing your own remodelling and repairs lets you save some money and get the exact results that you want. It’s also a good way to practice some essential skills. However, there are some things that shouldn’t be done in a DIY fashion, for safety’s sake. Many Australian homeowners endanger themselves by doing dangerous tasks on their own. People are often unaware of the dangers surrounding DIY work around the house. Here are a few things you should avoid doing on your own.
Paint removal
If you’re looking to renovate your home, you’ll obviously want a new coat of paint on some of the walls. When working on a paint job, it’s often necessary to remove an old layer of paint to make room for a fresh coat. If you live in an older home, this might be more dangerous than you think.
Australian houses built before the 70s have likely used paint that contains lead. Scraping this paint off of the walls leaves you with paint chips that have dangerous amounts of lead in them. Inhaling or ingesting these chips by accident can lead to severe health issues, especially for children.
Carefully assess whether or not your home is in need of paint management. Even if you or someone else has remodelled the home since it was built, this doesn’t rule out lead-based paint in the walls. It’s something that has been phased out of modern remodelling, but it’s still found in the occasional home.
Gas repairs
Any work with gas makes the list of things you should only do with the help of professionals. Combustible gases aren’t something you should take lightly. Whether you’re working with a gas furnace, stove, oven, or water heater, it’s something that should be handled with the utmost care.
Even when taking every possible precaution, there’s always a risk of a gas leak. Detecting this kind of leak is difficult without the right equipment, but it’s still something that can severely affect your health. Worse yet, many of the gases we use in homes are volatile. A single spark from the wrong source could lead to a fire or explosion. It’s not the most ideal substance to work with, which is why professionals are careful when doing any kind of repair work with sources of gas.
Electrical work
Of all the elements in a house, electricity has to be the one that’s most often underestimated. It’s not something that you should play with, even as a professional. It’s something that we take for granted, but it’s also a potential deathtrap if you aren’t careful. An electric shock can easily lead to a fatality or cause lasting damage to an individual. Many Australians die every year due to mishaps when replacing wiring. It’s something that can be easily avoided with professional help.
There’s no reason to take such a massive risk when replacing an electrical socket or fixture. Finding a reliable electrician in Sydney is less of a hassle than worrying about whether or not you’ll get shocked by faulty wiring. It would be wiser to leave a job this risky to professionals that have the tools and experience necessary to guarantee that they won’t get injured.
Large basement renovations
The basement is rarely going to be the focus of your design and renovation plans. It’s often just a spare room that is used for storage. While some people might have a well-organized basement, it’s often a room that is neglected and left to its own accord. At least, this is the case until homeowners decide to renovate it to an extent. Renovating this area might seem simple, but it’s far from it. Worse yet, it can be very hazardous to your health and safety.
Most basement renovations include adding walls or underpinning. Due to the supportive nature of the basement, any significant changes have a risk of causing the above structure to lose integrity. It could collapse if improperly handled, which is not something you want happening while you’re down there. A professional will be able to determine which parts can be renovated and they’ll know how to approach the challenge in a safe way.
Conclusion
While DIY work can feel very rewarding at times, there are situations where it should be avoided. You shouldn’t put yourself at risk when doing home renovations, as it’s never worth the trouble. The potential consequences outweigh the small benefits you get from taking matters into your own hands. Some things should just be left up to the professionals that are trained in safety protocol. If you’re having doubts about what to do on your own, make sure you get yourself well-acquainted with the risks of every kind of DIY work. Avoid the aforementioned tasks and focus your attention on other parts of remodelling, as they will be easier to handle.
