When to send out the bat signal
Social media platforms have given homeowners the confidence to attempt their own home renovation projects, or “DIY” projects in the last couple of years. We think this is an amazing movement that has led to many people achieving the desired design of their home, without the large price tag! However, it is vital to understand the obstacles to most home renovation projects, and to know when to call a professional for help. Most construction professionals are in their field because they are good at working with their hands, they are strong enough to complete large tasks and they have the experience and knowledge to do them correctly.
First of all, projects that have to do with the electricity in your home have many dangers associated with them. If you are not careful, you could end up electrocuting yourself, or those around you. There is also the risk of accidentally shutting off the power to your home. If you are determined to do this yourself, learn all about the electrical box in your house. Where is it located? Did you turn off all power to the area you are working? These are all things to ask yourself before working with electricity in your own home.
Another element to look out for is the structural integrity of your home. If you are going to take down a wall to get the open concept living room of your dreams, first make sure that wall is not holding up the roof. I don’t think I need to explain why this could be extremely dangerous. Besides knowing whether a wall is load bearing, you should also know where the studs are in your house. If you are hanging shelves, or décor, or anything that will has any weight to it, you will need to drill into the studs to ensure it stays put!
Some home renovation companies get a bad reputation because they over charge on their supplies, and underdeliver on their promises. This leads homeowners to believe that they would have better luck just doing it themselves. While in some cases we believe this can be true, construction companies have a lot of insider knowledge that the average homeowner does not have. They are aware of all permits and inspections required by law for home renovation. They know which tools to use, and have all necessary tools on hand. Anything they can’t do, they hire out to subcontractors, meaning they have endless resources at their fingertips.
We are not telling you to stop doing your DIY projects, and hire everything out. We do feel that it is our responsibility to ensure that homeowners are renovating their home in the safest manner possible, and sometimes that means hiring a professional. Whether you hire Renovations Arizona for your next home project, or design and execute your own plan, the goal is always to ensure you have the knowledge and resources you need to finish the job.
