Is It Worth Doing Challenging Home Renovations Yourself?

Home renovations can take a lot of work and effort. That’s why most of us would simply call a contractor and have them handle most of the physical labour and perhaps even the design stage. However, if you’re looking to save money, want to learn some DIY skills, or even just want a little more control over the project, there are a couple of good reasons to try and do it yourself.

But what if you come across something challenging? What if it’s a home renovation project that could take several weeks to complete or one that involves a fairly large monetary investment? Some renovations are difficult to perform and will be extremely demanding in terms of personal investment, so are these worth it or should you always resort to hiring a specialist?

What is considered a challenging renovation?

Before you decide to handle a renovation on your own, it’s worth asking yourself what counts as a challenging renovation. Some people believe that challenging refers to the amount of time it takes and the resources required. However, others don’t see that as a huge hurdle because it means they’re able to learn a lot of new skills along the way. Some people define challenging as something that could potentially damage your home if it’s done incorrectly, such as working with the electricity or your plumbing.

If a project is outside of your comfort zone in terms of knowledge, then it may be best to approach it with caution and consider a specialist. This is especially true if it’s potentially dangerous. However, if the challenge is simply in the amount of time and money you spend, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give it a try, especially if your goal is to learn new DIY skills or have more control over the project.

You Can Still Hire a Specialist for Certain Tasks

Many people get the idea that the entire renovation must be done by themselves without outside assistance or it should all be taken care of by a contractor. In reality, you can choose what you decide to take care of yourself. For example, you could call a concrete company to help you fill in the floor to a room that you’re working on or for your garage floor. However, the rest of the renovation, wiring work, and furniture arranging can be done by you.

In other words, if you’re concerned about something being challenging because of your lack of knowledge or tools, then you can always hire a specialist to help you out. It’s probably the best way to learn new DIY skills because you can watch and learn, and it gives you an opportunity to ask a few simple questions. However, do keep in mind that it usually is cheaper to hire a contractor to do more tasks, especially if they specialise in the things you need.

In short, you need to consider what you find to be challenging. 

Don’t be afraid to hire help when needed, but don’t shy away from trying something outside of your comfort zone.