Category Archives: DIY

Don’t Do It Yourself: Know your Limitations

Even if you consider yourself to be a reasonably confident DIY enthusiast there are always going to be certain tasks around your home that are best left to a professional.

You can’t expect to acquire all the skill and experience that is often required to tackle certain repair and maintenance jobs when it is not your usual job, so in order to avoid a potential DIY disaster, it would be good to know your limitations.

Here is a look at some DIY projects that you should think twice about before picking up your tools, including which plumbing jobs need a professional and when to think twice about performing a DIY electrical task.

Be wary of water

There are too many homeowners around who can tell you a tale related to a plumbing job that went horribly wrong and while they might be able to laugh about the ensuing water-based disaster now, it should serve as a warning that some plumbing tasks are too risky for the average DIYer.

Replacing faucets and shower-heads has the potential to go wrong but if you follow instructions and turn off the water supply before you start you should be ok to do this sort of work by yourself.

Where you should draw the line is when you are wanting to alter or expand the water supply lines in your home. This is the sort of job where you might want to get help at www.maplewoodplumbing.com/residential-plumbing/drain-cleaning/, for instance, as you could easily do a lot of damage in a short space of time and flood your home.

As a general rule when it comes to plumbing jobs, don’t attempt repairs or modifications when pipes are concealed behind walls and ceilings and avoid making any adjustments to the original pipework that carries the water around your property.

Let there be light

Another type of DIY job where a warning siren should be going off in your head before taking on a project that is going to stretch your skills and knowledge to the max is electrical work.

Again, like plumbing, there are certain regular electrical tasks that you can do yourself without too many issues as long as you are sensible and isolate the power before starting anything.

If you want to install a dimmer switch or maybe replace a ceiling light, those are the sort of DIY projects that should be well within your abilities, but if you are considering extending an existing electrical circuit or installing some new cables, do you really know how to do that safely and properly?

It is not just your personal safety that could be at stake when you make a mistake with electrical installation work, you will probably be risking violating building codes and you could even be heightening the risk of a fire in your home.

Keep it simple with electrical jobs and call in a professional for anything more complex.

Tree terrors

If one of the trees on your property has become overgrown and needs cutting back or down completely you might be tempted to dig out the chainsaw and set to work.

The bottom line is that tree cutting can come with huge risks attached and has the ability to be very dangerous when things go wrong, resulting in a potential personal injury and damage to your property.

The problem with tree cutting is that it looks inherently simple and that is what draws many DIYers into thinking that very little can go wrong when all they are doing is cutting through a chunk of wood with a chainsaw.

If you don’t know what angle and where to cut the tree you are running the risk of it falling onto you or your property. Using your chainsaw on a ladder or halfway up a tree is definitely ill-advised, so go ahead and do some minor pruning, but major tree cutting is often best left to a professional.

Working on your roof

When it comes to risky DIY jobs roofing is right up there as one of the most common ways to injure yourself and cause more damage to your home than there was before.

Roofers make it look so easy when they walk across the roof but that is because they are professionals and the combination of working at heights and on a slippery surface should give you enough of a clue that you might be better leaving it to a pro.

Knowing when not to do it yourself is a skill that every homeowner should have if they want to stay safe and avoid causing further damage to their home.

Benjamin Coles is a keen handyman and DIYer but he’s not daft and knows when to call in the professionals. He writes about how to know what you can do, and what you should leave well alone.

DIY, For the Home, Home Improvement

Creating a More Inviting Home Atmosphere

Anne Younger Leave a comment

All of us spend a great deal of time in our kitchens and bathrooms. Yet, it is these areas in our homes that are often neglected. Does it not make sense to create an environment that is conducive to comfort, efficiency, and inviting to guests? Home improvement may not be at the top of the to-do list that is attached to the refrigerator door with a magnet, and finances may be part of the reason, so why not start thinking about treating yourself with that income tax refund to some home improvements. Let’s take a look at some ideas.

A great place to start researching ideas for home improvement projects is your computer or mobile device. Your ideas do not have to be limited to bathroom and kitchen home improvements at this site as they also offer ideas for new home construction, room additions, and the like.

Assuming you are ready to remodel your kitchen, the process involved begins with a decision on what style you prefer. Sites such as HGTV help you navigate through the options available to the discerning kitchen connoisseur who knows what they want as they prepare each meal and entertain family and guests. Sites such as this one not only offer plenty of photos to give the reader the visual, also equally important they educate you on the finer details of kitchen design and style.

I value the comforts of my bathroom, and I know you do as well. How efficient is your bathroom design, and is it inviting to you, your family, and guests? If you have doubts to the answer to these questions, why not take a look at a site for ideas to stir your imagination for a more inviting, comfortable, and efficient bathroom design. This Southern Living site offers the reader, similar to the other aforementioned sites, a variety of home improvement ideas to research with not only great photos but also educational information so the home owner can be armed with both ideas and facts.

Image Courtesy of oldenbuzz.com

Most people do not make a decision to remodel part of their home in one day and then the following day pay a contractor to begin the work. The efforts of putting careful thought and consideration into the decision’s that will be made concerning your home will pay dividends through the years as you enjoy the remodelled parts of your home.

DIY, Home Improvement

How to rid your home of mice

Anne Younger Leave a comment

Mice can seem like very inoffensive creatures, or on the other hand you may be terrified of them; neither of these is a good reason to ignore a potential mouse problem in your home. Mice can be very destructive and will eat through surfaces and wires in your home, potentially causing extensive damage. Another problem that mice can cause is that their excrement can contain bacteria such as salmonella.

There are methods you can employ to try and prevent mice from entering your home, and ways for you to attempt to get rid of them if they do get in. You can also employ the help of experts such as Fox Pest Control who can assist in ridding your home of mice.

What methods can you use to deter mice from entering your home?

One of the best ways to make your home unfriendly to mice is to make sure it is clean. Food should be stored in containers with air tight lids and all surfaces should be kept clean. If mice don’t have a food source they are not going to want to make their home in your property.

You also need to ensure that you restrict entry to your home by sealing any gaps through which mice can enter; don’t forget mice can squeeze through very tiny holes.

Peppermint is an excellent deterrent for mice as they cannot bear the strong odour. You can use peppermint oil around you home, or simply grow peppermint.

How can you get rid of mice?

Once you have mice in your home you will need to get rid of them as quickly as possible; generally the two most effective ways of doing this are with bait or with traps. There are of course potential issues involved in using either of these solutions. Different traps are available, from traditional mouse traps to baited traps and humane ones. The problem is that many people are terrified of mice and if this you, then you probably don’t want to come into close proximity with one in a trap, alive or dead. There are also dangers involved with using bait if you are unsure of how to handle it correctly. Some baits can be toxic to humans or pets.

Why hiring a professional can be a good idea

If you want to solve the mouse problem in your home it can often be wise to hire a professional exterminator; that way you don’t have to face doing any of the trapping or baiting yourself. The pest control expert will speak to you about your problem and examine your home for potential entry points and for evidence of where the mice are living, such as urine, feces and damage caused. They will draw up a plan to rid your home of mice, and to protect it against any further infestation. You will be safe in the knowledge that your home is a mouse free zone.

DIY

Homemade Laundry Detergent #DIY

Anne Younger Leave a comment

Having 6 people in our family (soon to be 7) we tend to have a lot of dirty laundry which means we go through tons of laundry detergent. Instead of forking over a bunch of money to buy bottled detergent or giant boxes, I thought I would give making my own detergent a try.

The cost to make the laundry detergent was approximately $8.11 and will last for at least 100 loads of laundry. I’ll take that savings!!

After using this detergent on a load (2 tablespoons of soap per load) of whites, I am super happy with the results and even happier that our whites are bright again!