DIY projects are a great idea if you are say, painting a room, or building a birdhouse, but when it comes to actual remodeling, especially electrically, DIY is unsafe and can be extremely costly. Continue reading to learn more.
With economic times being what they are many people turn to DIY type projects to spruce up their home. Turn on HGTV and you will find about 10 programs per day on Do-It-Yourself projects showing a homeowner how to take their home from drab to fab in just a 30 minute program! There are 2 things that we often don’t recognize. #1 - The peopl on those shows are PROFESSIONALS not the average homeowner, and #2 - There are HOURS of footage taken on these projects, crammed into a 24 minute program (and still 6 minutes of commercials). It would take the average homeowner triple that amount of time just to make a materials list, never mind draw up a plan, move the furniture, set up the tools, begin the work and complete an entire project!
Here are the reason NOT to DIY...
1. Safety - Contractors are skilled professionals who are trained in their trade to perform the necessary work on your project in safe manner. Especially with electrical wiring. Because the risk for electrocution or fire hazard is so great, you should always hire a licensed electrician for your project.
2. Cost - People think that they are getting a great deal when they take on a DIY project when in fact, more often than not they are paying far more than they would have had they hired the right contractor from the beginning. Mistakes are very costly in home remodeling and one small mis-step could cost thousands to repair, and you would still need a contractor to come fix it.
3. Quality - When you are sick you go to the doctor. When you want to learn you go to school. So when you are doing a home improvement project, you should HIRE A CONTRACTOR! This will guarantee your work is done right.
4. Time - All of our lives are extremely busy. With work, kids and other priorities we are all lucky we are able to find a minute to ourselves. Let alone a week or more worth of time (uninterrupted no less!) to complete a remodeling project. But a contractor, whether it is an electrician or other trade, does this for a living so has at least 40 hours a week that they can dedicate solely to getting your project completed.
The moral of the story is, before you take on a DIY project consider the risks, which will usually outweigh the rewards. There are plenty of contractors that you can hire that will give you a great job at a fair price without any disruption to your life.
As always if you have any questions, please feel free to call your favorite local electrician. Consultations are always free and we are happy to help! Happy Remodeling!
Sincerely,
Kenny Corrao, Owner
Corrao Electric Co., Inc.
508.884.3003
