When to Use a Contractor and when to DIY

There are many decisions to make when considering any home improvement projects and for the home owner the most important one is deciding when to use a contractor and when to DIY (Do It Yourself). There is not one simple answer, each remodeling possibility has its own considerations.

Personal Skill Sets

Starting at the top lets consider the roof. Most people have the skill sets to replace shingles or even re-shingle the entire roof if you don't mind lugging the heavy bundles up a ladder. Installing chimney and vent caps, re-grouting or even mortaring in a loose brick in the chimney are definitely DIY.

If you need to replace structural components then there may be permit and licensing issues that only a contractor would be qualified to perform. Any remodeling projects that involve changing the roof line by, say, adding a dormer should involve a remodeling professional.

Interior Improvements

Remodeling interior rooms can involve moving or removing walls. A home owner bent on that sort of home improvement needs to know a bit about carpentry and if you can't tell a load-bearing wall when you see one it is time to call the contractor.

If you are handy around the house and want to do some work at that skill level then it might be best to have a remodeling professional design the project for you and then you will get a heads up on any part of the work that does not require a contractor.

Kitchen and Bath

Home improvements in the kitchen and the bathroom are the remodeling projects that get the biggest bang for the buck whether you are planning to sell or stay in your house. They also offer the greatest opportunity for home owners to get their hands dirty replacing fixtures and fittings, sinks, tubs and appliances.

Even replacing counter tops, cabinets and floor coverings or adding shelves and storage space is possible if you know your way around a tape measure. As always, when you get to the structural level it is time to get in touch with a contractor.

Plumbing and Electric

Plumbing and electric systems are so specialized and fraught with possibilities for catastrophe that unless you are working on the very periphery, fixing that U-shaped drain under the sink or replacing a burned out switch, then a contractor is the person you need to see.

Should you be wanting to re-route plumbing or wiring then definitely get a remodeling professional to design the layout because there are always permits involved and codes to adhere to.

Home Improvement Networking

Getting advice from people that have done or are doing similar remodeling projects can be invaluable, saving you time and money by avoiding common errors.

You can speak with other home owners for tips, encouragement and advice in a real-time format through the remodeling and home improvement network. Just search those keywords at any blog catalog on the net and you will find people blogging, uploading video of projects and networking in general about home improvement.