Home Renovations – When to DIY and When to Hire
August 21, 2014
It’s easy to get over-zealous when it comes to renovating a new home. But sometimes you realize that you’ve bitten off more than you can chew and it’s time to call in the pros. Whether you’re searching for a dream home or you’ve just made the big move to Bay Area, take these tips on when to hire the work out and when to do it yourself.
Demolition. Most demo jobs are pretty simple, and you can handle them yourself. But – and this is a huge “but” – you need to check with an experienced contractor or handyman to know what you’re getting into before you bust out that sledgehammer. You don’t want to start busting down a wall to only to find out it was a load-bearing wall. Unless you’re a hundred percent certain that what you’re doing is safe, ask the right people a few questions first.
Painting. It’s likely that several of your friends will offer their services painting your house. But not everyone who says, “I’m a great painter!” is actually a great painter. Be wary if you’ve never seen a person’s work before. Rolling is typically easy enough for a novice, but trimming can be tedious and look sloppy if done by someone who’s inexperienced. Even if you want to do the painting yourself, it may be worth getting a quote on hiring a painter to do the trim, or at least buying a high-quality trim tape like Frog Tape.
Flooring. Unless you’re pretty experienced and have the right tools, laying flooring like laminate, hardwood, or carpet is best left to the professionals. Again, this may be something you can tag-team together with a contractor. If you find an independent contractor who is willing to work with you, you can feed them pieces while they do the actual floor laying.
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