Logan Voss
A do-it-yourself project can save a lot of money—especially if you’re a small business owner or own your property. But when fines, accidents, injuries, and even death can occur as a result of trying to do too much, you need to call the professionals. You can do general upkeep on your own, but these are some projects that should never be DIY.
Fence Installation
Putting down a fence is harder than it looks. It takes a combination of geometric precision and hard work to install posts that are in perfect alignment, parallel to each other, and perfectly perpendicular to the ground, all while digging in soil that, whether too soft or too hard, may not be cooperative. Whether it’s at home or at your place of business, you can make a lot of mistakes by trying to install it yourself. When it comes to fencing, defer to specialists who have the right tools on hand and know the local laws that govern property variances.
Tree Removal
You cut the tree, and it comes down—how hard can it be? As it turns out, this process is considerably harder than it looks. Felling a tree takes concentration, calculation, and confidence, and the margin for error is razor-thin. If you make a mistake in cutting down a tree—one that affects its trajectory as it falls—that tree could hit fences, power lines, other trees, or even buildings, and the costs of the damage will be all on you. You’re better off paying the pros to take it down and deal with the resulting stump while they’re at it.
Anything Electrical
Unless you’re an electrician yourself, please, call the electrician. Anything less than professional expertise in this field could lead to disaster in your home or office. Of all the projects that should never be DIY, tampering in electricity’s domain is the most dangerous. Faulty wiring can cause electrical fires, which rage within the walls and often become uncontrollable and cause homeowners and property owners to lose everything. Working with the high voltage of your commercial space is especially dangerous, and electrocution can easily occur. Remember, “electrocution” doesn’t just mean electric shock, which can also occur; it’s a portmanteau of “electricity” and “execution.”
Certain Roofing Projects
To be clear, you can and should complete some roofing projects yourself. Cleaning those dead leaves and that accumulated grime from your gutters is an important part of maintaining proper drainage. When it comes to shingles or tiles, however, you don’t want to venture beyond the eaves. Ensuring proper placement of roofing material to prevent leaks and maintain a balanced appearance is what roofing pros are for. The worst-case scenario of a DIY attempt: you fall off the roof and void your home’s warranty in the process.
