When homeowners have the time and budget to tackle home improvements, they often take the Do-It-Yourself route. This helps reduce costs, make better use of their skills, and enjoy a productive activity during their free time. Now that we are still fighting a pandemic, DIY home improvements do make sense. We shelter in place to reduce the chances of getting the virus. With DIY projects, we can lessen our stress and not worry about hiring other people to work on the projects.
During these trying times, more homeowners are improving their homes. According to a survey, their main motivators for home improvements include health, safety, and comfort. But then, choosing the DIY path comes with risks that every homeowner needs to consider before choosing the DIY path.
When doing DIY home improvements, you will do all the hard work. This means if you are clueless on how to do the project safely and correctly, you might end up getting yourself hurt. The health and safety of your family members may also be at stake.
There are DIY home improvement dangers you may come across, like the following.
Exposure to Harmful Substances
The older your house is, the higher the chances of the house having been constructed with dangerous materials. This can include asbestos, lead paint, or even radon. Exposure to these types of substances can put your family at great health risk.
If you have a house that is at least 50 years old, the best decision you can make before you tackle any DIY is to hire a licensed professional to do a detailed inspection of your home. This way, you can determine if there are any harmful gases or substances present in your home before you do anything to it. Remember that these materials can impact your family’s health.
Many homeowners also fail to realize that a mold issue is not that easy to solve. If you are unsure about the extent of your mold problem, then it would be wise to hire mold remediation experts instead of choosing the DIY path. When removed the wrong way, mold can release spores in the air that can cause chronic diseases.
Safety Issues From Basic Tools
We use different tools to tackle varying home improvement projects. One reason contractors charge a professional fee is that they have, not just the skills, but also the right tools and equipment to get the job done. Even if you managed to get your hands on the right tools, many things can still go wrong.
The problem with accidents is that they can happen to anyone, including the pros. If the experts who have been using these tools for many years now still get hurt, what more if this is your first time using such tools? According to reports, ladder accidents are the highest in 2017 alone.
Each year, up to 200,000 emergency room visits are caused by accidents involving ladders alone. This means there is a one in 1,680 chance of needing an ER visit when ladders are involved in DIYs.
If you are not confident about doing the project yourself, then consider hiring the pros instead. You will have one less thing to worry about knowing you are safer while the job gets done. You also get to save yourself time and money for not having to invest more in case you needed the expert to fix your failed DIY.
Relationship Issues From DIY Home Improvements
Did you know that renovations can strain relationships? For some couples, a disagreement on how and what home improvement projects to take finalized their decision to file for a divorce. This is one thing every couple homeowner needs to consider before choosing a DIY home renovation.
When you DIY a home improvement, it usually takes longer to finish the project. There goes all the hard work, decision-making, and budgeting that can heighten the stress and anxiety between couples. And if things don’t go the way one partner wants it to go, there is a huge chance that this can lead to heated arguments.
As much as possible, both partners should work together to achieve a common goal. If they can’t agree on how to improve their home, they need to find a common ground and work through the renovation from there. For instance, they can each choose a room they can tackle to avoid mixing personal styles.
When decorating the house, an interior designer can help find a balance between what one partner wants and what the other needs. Hiring the experts takes away the responsibility in case the project goes downhill. The contractors can fix their mistakes and you won’t have to worry about your partner nagging you about the timeline and quality of work.
These are but three dangers associated with DIY home improvements. Sometimes, it is best to leave most of the hard work to the pros. This will give the family better safety, health, comfort, and even peace of mind.
Meta title: Dangers of DIY: How You Can Boost DIY Home Improvement Safety
meta desc: Are you planning to DIY your next home improvement projects? Learn why you need to rethink your decision and how you can ensure your safety during the renovation.
