12 home improvement projects you should never, ever DIY

The GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) is the switch located where an outlet might come into contact with moisture. You probably have them in your bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room. One of the problems with this home improvement is that many of the GFCi switches have been redesigned or reformatted so the online how-to videos you find may not suit your switch. “The GFCI switch is very important for safety and electric shock hazard, so installation should always be done by a professional,” says Daniel Ives, co-owner of SJDI Electric Inc., an American Home Shield service contractor. While some new lights on the patio would make it more enjoyable, it’s common to hook up the wiring on the wrong side or install it so that the outlet works but not the essential safety features. “And as with all electrical repairs, there is always a risk of shock for those doing the installation, but that risk significantly increases if you’re not a licensed professional who knows what they’re doing,” says Ives.

You’ve resigned to the fact that you’re not the DIY home improvement type. But that doesn’t mean you can’t save some cash and do the demolition yourself – after all, how hard can it be to tear stuff down? It may even seem like fun, at least until you take a sledgehammer to a wall and destroy vital support structure or worse, hit electric wires. “This becomes costly for the client and can delay the project,” says Yoel Piotraut, managing partner at a kitchen and bathroom renovation company. “A contractor must be called. During demolition, it’s very important to be careful not to damage any parts of the space that will stay.”

“From a DIY cement wall collapsing on a neighbour’s driveway to repairing an above ground pool that collapses and floods a neighbour’s house, I’ve seen it all,” says Robert R. Pellegrini, Jr, president of a real estate law firm. DIY home improvement on a larger scale require more than just the right tools. “Many people who kick off a large DIY project don’t realise they need to check the property line – as a professional contractor would – and inadvertently compromise their neighbour’s land,” says Pellegrini. A DIY fail may cost you a good relationship and attorney fees. One homeowner, Pellegrini recalls, added a small addition that didn’t meet the required setback and was forced to demolish the structure after nine months of construction.

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 Source: RD.com