Dangers of DIY: When It’s Best to Hire a Professional

Professional repairs in action

While fixing your home yourself is certainly a satisfying experience, there are inherent dangers in some DIY projects. The savvy homeowner knows when it’s best to hire a professional. Consider calling in the experts before attempting the following types of repairs.

1. High-Elevation Tasks

Falls and slips from ladders and elevated locations such as trees and roofs can be more than uncomfortable — they can be fatal. Hiring a professional landscaper or roofing contractor who has the proper safety equipment for high elevations and knows how to work at heights is a much safer move.

2. Projects Requiring Power Tools

Unless you’re a pro who knows how to wield dangerous tools like power saws, it’s often best to hire a professional for projects that require equipment that could take off a limb or damage your eyes. Tool accidents in DIY projects often result from improper handling. Professionals like carpenters have years of experience and are much less likely to have an accident.

3. Electrical Work

If you haven’t been trained as an electrician, attempting electrical work is extremely risky. Potential dangers include:

  • Life-threatening electrical shock
  • Damage to the equipment you’re trying to install or repair
  • Power failures or fire hazards
  • Breaking wiring codes that could lead to costly fixes if you sell your home

Hire a licensed professional for your electrical projects to ensure safety and peace of mind.

4. Fixes Involving Toxins

Some DIY jobs require the use of chemical solvents or exposure to hazardous materials like lead and asbestos. A professional will:

  • Understand the risks involved and how to handle them safely
  • Have access to protective gear such as special dual-cartridge respirators to protect your lungs during work

5. Additional Benefits of Avoiding Unsafe Repairs

DIY projects can be dangerous not only during the repairs but also after they are completed. For example, if you attempt to fix a back porch but the repair fails, you risk causing harm to yourself or others.

  • Hiring a professional ensures the repairs are done safely and up to code.
  • Professionals will provide secure repairs that reduce the risk of injury or further damage.

While hiring professionals for certain home repairs can be costly, the safety benefits and peace of mind they offer are well worth the investment.


Julie Bawden-Davis

Julie Bawden-Davis is a bestselling journalist, novelist, blogger, and YouTuber. A prolific author, Julie writes in several genres. She enjoys creating page-turning suspense served up with a dose of romance, garden books that turn any brown thumb green, and spiritual books meant to enlighten and inspire. Widely published, Julie has written 45 books and more than 4,000 articles for a wide variety of national and international publications. She lives in Southern California, where she enjoys sunny, blue skies most days and year-round gardening. Julie gains inspiration from being surrounded by plants when she writes.