8 Scary Ways an Untrained Worker Can Ruin Your Renovation

If you have a variety of renovations done to your home, they have to pass muster. They need to be inspected and conform to local building codes. If you attempt to make upgrades that don’t meet code, you’ll likely have a hard time selling your property and will be faced with a big repair bill to fix those mistakes.

Electricity is nothing to fool around with. A qualified electrician will make sure any changes that are made to your wiring will be safe. Even though it may look easy, there’s a lot of knowledge required when dealing with circuit loads and proper distribution, not to mention installation. Why risk a fire?

Poorly finished drywall can reveal itself long after any savings you’ve enjoyed are gone. Cracks, popped nails and poor taping jobs are easily avoided by getting an experienced tradesperson to do the work.

A leaky pipe can cause all sorts of damage before you’re even aware of the problem. Letting an untrained person work on your plumbing could cost you a fortune in repairs. If you want to make sure that water and sewage stay in the pipes, always consult an expert.

Another home repair that you might be tempted to do yourself is fixing the roof. Just getting up there is a hazard in and of itself, and a botched job can mean that you’re sitting in the rain in your living room. A leaky roof can equal thousands of dollars in damages, money better spent on doing it right the first time.

When an untrained worker isn’t as familiar with the tools required for the job, it can lead to wasted supplies like lumber and tile or, even worse, result in injury. Proper use of equipment and following safety guidelines is just part of the training pros get. Why waste money or tempt fate?

What’s that smell? Believe it or not, this happens quite often. Work is being done in an attic and an animal sneaks in. The inexperienced friend-of-a-friend doesn’t notice and seals things up. A few days later, you notice a smell in the house. Turns out the unlicensed worker left a surprise for you. And now, you have to spend your hard-earned cash on getting a decomposing animal out of your attic.

We all have grand ideas when it comes to renovating our homes. One thing we rarely calculate is the amount of time it will take if we’re trying to do it ourselves or plan to hire a less experienced worker. Something that might take a pro a few days can take you weeks or even months to complete. The solution? Hire a licensed tradesperson the first time and enjoy the peace of mind.