When to DIY vs When to Call a Professional

DIY can save you money. It can also cost you more than calling someone in the first place - in materials, in time, and occasionally in medical bills.

Here's how to decide what's worth tackling yourself.

The DIY Decision Framework

Before starting any home repair, ask these five questions:

1. Have You Done This (or Something Similar) Before?

• Yes → Good sign, you know what you're getting into
• Similar → Proceed with research
• No → Be realistic about the learning curve

First-time jobs always take longer than you expect. Sometimes much longer.

2. Can You Find Clear Instructions?

In 2025, you can find instructions for almost anything. But quality varies:

Good sources:

• Manufacturer instructions (always check these first)
• This Old House / YouTube pros
• Trade-specific forums
• DIY Doctor / Homebuilding & Renovating

Questionable sources:

• Random YouTube videos (check credentials)
• Social media tips (often oversimplified)
• "My mate did it" advice

If the best instructions you can find are vague or contradict each other, that's a warning sign.

3. Do You Have the Right Tools?

Be honest. "I'll manage with what I've got" is how holes end up in the wrong place.

If You Need...	Consider...
One specialist tool	Can you borrow or hire it?
Several tools	Add up total cost vs hiring someone
Expensive equipment	Probably not worth buying for one job

Buying a £200 tool for a one-time job rarely makes sense when a professional already owns it.

4. What's the Worst Case If It Goes Wrong?

This is the big one.

Job Type	Worst Case	Risk Level
Painting a wall	Have to repaint	Low
Hanging a shelf	Hole in wrong place	Low
Replacing a tap	Minor leak	Medium
Fitting a toilet	Major leak	Medium-High
Electrical work	Fire/electrocution	High
Gas work	Explosion/death	Extreme
Structural work	House damage	Extreme

Low-risk jobs are great for learning. High-risk jobs are where "saving money" becomes false economy.

5. What's Your Time Actually Worth?

A professional might charge £60-100 for a job that takes them an hour. You might save that money, but spend:

• 2 hours researching
• 1 hour buying materials
• 3 hours doing the job
• 1 hour fixing mistakes
• Plus petrol, stress, and a weekend afternoon

If your time is valuable, factor that into the equation.

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Jobs Worth DIYing

These jobs are low-risk, don't require specialist tools, and have good instructions available:

Almost Anyone Can Do These

• Changing light bulbs (obvious, but start here)
• Tightening loose screws (door handles, cabinet hinges)
• Bleeding radiators (YouTube video + radiator key)
• Unblocking sinks (plunger, then drain cleaner)
• Filling small wall holes (filler, scraper, sandpaper)
• Replacing toilet seats (two bolts, usually)
• Touch-up painting (small areas, colour matching)
• Hanging lightweight pictures (hook and nail)

With Basic Skills and Research

• Assembling flat-pack furniture (follow instructions exactly)
• Fitting draught excluders (peel and stick mostly)
• Replacing door handles (few screws, measure first)
• Simple fence repairs (replacing a broken slat)
• Fitting curtain rails/poles (drilling, level, plugs)
• Replacing shower head/hose (usually hand-tight)
• Installing floating shelves (level and rawlplugs)
• Unblocking toilets (plunger technique)
• Painting a single room (prep is everything)
• Replacing tap washers (turn water off first!)

With Experience and Proper Prep

• Replacing taps (isolation valves help)
• Fitting laminate flooring (measure twice, cut once)
• Replacing skirting boards (mitre saw needed)
• Building garden furniture/decking (plans + patience)
• Tiling a small splashback (start simple)
• Fitting a toilet seat with soft-close (slightly more complex)
• Replacing interior doors (fitting hinges correctly matters)
• Stripping wallpaper (steam stripper hire helps)

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Jobs to Think Twice About

These can be DIYed but have higher stakes:

Medium Risk - Proceed With Caution

Job	Risk	Why Think Twice
Replacing a toilet	Leaks	Water damage if connections aren't right
Tile cutting	Waste	Easy to crack tiles, expensive mistakes
External painting	Falls	Height = danger, weather matters
Fence replacement	Weight	Posts are heavy, concrete needed
Replacing door locks	Security	Wrong fit = door that won't secure
Plasterboarding	Skill	Finishing is harder than it looks
Outdoor electrics	Safety	Certification needed for new circuits

The "What Could Go Wrong" Test

Before starting a medium-risk job, visualise:

1. What happens if I make a mistake?
2. Can I undo it?
3. How much will fixing it cost?
4. Am I confident I won't make that mistake?

If you can't answer #4 with genuine confidence, consider getting help.

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Jobs to Leave to Professionals

Some jobs are dangerous, require certification, or will cost more to fix than to do right the first time.

Legally Requires Certification

• Gas work - Gas Safe registration mandatory
• New electrical circuits - Part P certification required
• Building near boundaries - Party Wall Act
• Structural changes - Building regulations approval
• Work on listed buildings - Planning permission

⚠️ Gas work by an unregistered person is illegal. There's no "I'll just do a simple job myself" exception. None. Ever.

Dangerous Without Training

• Roof work - Falls cause serious injuries and deaths
• Tree surgery - Chainsaw + heights = serious risk
• Asbestos removal - Fibres cause fatal lung disease
• Working in confined spaces - Different safety requirements
• High-level work without scaffolding - Ladders aren't suitable for everything

Usually Cheaper to Hire

These jobs have high skill requirements where DIY mistakes are expensive:

Job	DIY Mistake Risk	Fix Cost
Plastering	Lumpy, cracked finish	Re-plastering
Tiling (large areas)	Uneven, cracked, falls off	Strip and redo
Worktop fitting	Wrong cut, damaged material	New worktop
Carpeting	Lumps, joins visible, premature wear	Re-laying
Boiler installation	Illegal + dangerous	Professional install + repairs

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The Hidden Costs of DIY

When calculating "saved money", include:

Time

• Research time
• Shopping for materials time
• Actually doing the job time
• Fixing mistakes time

A job that takes a pro 2 hours might take you 8-10 hours.

Tools

One-time tools add up:

• Decent drill: £50-100
• Good hand tools: £100+
• Specialist items (tile cutter, pipe cutter, etc.): £30-100 each

Materials Waste

Pros buy what they need. DIYers often buy:

• Wrong size/type (return trips)
• Extra "just in case" (unused)
• Replacements for mistakes

Quality Difference

Sometimes DIY results look fine. Sometimes they look... DIY.

For your own home, that might be acceptable. For selling, renting, or showing off, the quality gap matters.

Stress

Some people enjoy DIY. Some people spend the whole time stressed about making mistakes. Know which category you're in.

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The Hybrid Approach

You don't have to go all-in either way:

DIY Prep, Professional Finish

Do the time-consuming prep yourself:

• Strip wallpaper → hire decorator to paint
• Clear garden → hire landscaper for the skilled work
• Remove old flooring → hire fitter for new
• Gut old bathroom → hire plumber for install

You save money on labour-intensive prep. They do the skilled work that affects the final result.

Buy Materials, Hire Labour

Sometimes professionals charge markup on materials. You can:

• Research and buy materials yourself
• Have them do the installation

Check first - some tradespeople prefer to source materials themselves (they know what works).

Get Quotes, Then Decide

Nothing wrong with getting a quote before deciding to DIY. You'll learn:

• What the job actually involves
• What it would cost to have done
• Whether your DIY estimate is realistic

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The Real Cost Comparison

Let's compare a typical job: Hanging 5 floating shelves

DIY Route

Item	Cost
Drill (if you don't have one)	£60
Spirit level	£15
Rawlplugs + screws	£10
Your time (3+ hours)	Priceless
Total	£85 + time

Professional Route

Item	Cost
Handyman (1-1.5 hours)	£60-85
Rawlplugs + screws	Usually included
Your time	Minimal
Total	£60-85

If you already own tools, DIY wins. If not, the maths gets interesting.

Now compare: Re-tiling a bathroom floor

DIY Route

Item	Cost
Tiles	£100
Adhesive, grout, sealant	£50
Tile cutter hire	£40
Spacers, float, other bits	£30
Your time (12+ hours over 2 days)	Significant
Risk of tile breakage/mistakes	£?
Total	£220+ plus time and risk

Professional Route

Item	Cost
Tiles	£100
Labour + materials	£200-300
Your time	Minimal
Guaranteed result	Included
Total	£300-400

The gap is smaller than most people think, especially when you factor in time and quality.

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Quick Reference: DIY or Call?

Job	DIY?	Pro?	Notes
Bleeding radiators	✅		Easy 10-minute job
Changing taps	Maybe	✅	Depends on access and experience
Assembling furniture	✅	Maybe	IKEA wardrobes can justify help
Painting a room	✅	Maybe	Prep matters more than painting
Plastering		✅	Skill gap is too big
Tiling	Small area	Large area	Splashback vs bathroom floor
Electrics	Minor	Major	Like-for-like vs new circuits
Plumbing	Taps	Toilets	Stakes get higher as you go
Gas work		✅	Never DIY. Ever.
Structural		✅	Engineer first, builder second

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Not sure if a job is DIY territory? Happy to give you an honest opinion - sometimes I'll tell you it's easy enough to do yourself. Call 01392 964094 or get a quote.