From a contractors point of view

There's a lot of things that we all take for granted in this world. A safe, warm home, the support of our families, a decent job, we all need these things.

As a contractor I have seen all of these things ebb and flow in many homes and many families, including my own. The DIY world has definitely created more than it's fair share of casualties, usually in the form of strained relationships (giant holes in walls tend to affect a person's disposition) but also, in some cases creating a genuinely unsafe environment for a family to live in.

I am a huge proponent of the DIY movement. I have always believed that a person should be able to take care of what is theirs. Usually these are skills passed down from generation to generation, as I learned, or through experience working as labors on job sites during our teen years.

The caveat- people should know their limits. I think that flying a helicopter looks pretty easy, pull the stick- go up, push it forward- go down. However, I realize that there are facets to flying a chopper that I don't have a clue about. I simply would not try to fly one without the tutelage of a professional pilot instructor. The same approach should be taken to some DIY projects.

I would like to propose a check list to all of the potential Do-It-Yourselfers. It will save your sanity, and your bank account when you have to call a guy like me in to fix it.

1: Will it kill me?

This is a good starting point- Electricity has a nasty habit of entering your body on the hand holding the pliers, and exiting on the hand holding the aluminum ladder. A very convenient path across your heart. At least your wife or husband will have the extra $50 you saved by doing it yourself to put toward your funeral.

Gas is better though, the improperly connected fitting will slowly leak into your home, causing a) an explosion, or b) carbon monoxide poisoning.

2: Will your wife kill you?

If you butcher a job, or find yourself in over your head, you will experience domestic discomfort. I have seen it as mild as "I told you so" to extremes like "You said you knew what you were doing! how the hell are we going to live with two feet of water in the basement..."

3: Do you know how to do it?

For real- not the kind of "knowing" that you get from HGTV. If it is a simple and safe task like a drywall patch, see #2 and proceed. If #1 applies, and you are unsure, call a pro.

I know a guy who tried to move a toilet 8" on his own. To keep it short, literally every piece of lathe & plaster in his house had to be removed, the floor was re-done, and the electrical was replaced. A plumber would have moved it for $500, with warranty.

Plumbing is the number one part of homes that we see done improperly by people who don't really know. This generally results in either a leak, that will ruin everything below the repair, or drains that cease to function, which is just really gross.

4: Is it legal?

Just about every municipality has by-laws related to buildings, plumbing, HVAC and electrical. Almost anything that you do that involves changing structure, layout, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or additional buildings/additions/decks will require permits and inspections.

Remember, all work done has to meet your provincial code, whether an inspection is required or not. When you go to sell your house, the next guy's inspector will likely pick up on any deficiencies. This will either lower your selling price, or cost you a boat load of money to have it corrected. Again, See #2

5: Will it really save me money?

This one is optional, but strongly recommended. Contractors usually pay less for material, don't have the extra cost of beer to work on a project, have the proper tools, and can get it done quickly. How much is it going to cost you for materials, time, trips to the store, dinners out while your kitchen is out of commission, etc.

Make a plan, add it up, get an estimate, and compare.

Remember, do it safe, do it right, and have fun.