Home Repair - When to Call in an Expert www.typennington.comty pennington

Posted by Ty Pennington on 01 Aug 2014 / 2 Comments

Ready, Set, Fix!

Have a project or renovation idea you’ve been wanting to tackle? Knowing what level of skill you have is the first step in determining how much help you’re going to need (or not) for your next home improvement job. Once you decide which of your jobs you can handle yourself, and which ones you absolutely cannot do, will help to minimize the mistakes or re-dos. And, let’s be honest, it will minimize your frustration too!

Today I’m sharing a list of some common home repair jobs and the appropriate level of homeowner expertise.

Do It or Screw It: Home Repair Jobs & Expertise (TyPennington.com)

Jobs for Meager-Beavers (beginner)

Drywall and plaster – repairing small holes
Unclogging drains, fixing running toilets and leaky valves
Painting, staining, applying polyurethane and varnish
Prepping – sanding and caulking
Replacing Window Panes
Installing subfloors

Jobs for Eager-Beavers (confident)

Drywall and plaster – repairing large holes and sheet installation
Replacing windows
Installing ceramic tiles and hardwood (tongue-and-groove) flooring
Installing copper and PVC pipe
Building a deck

Jobs for Reliever-Beavers (advanced)

Replacing windows and doors
Super-serious drain cleaning
Installing galvanized pipe (gas line)
Working on high or steep roofs
Dealing with the circuit-breaker or fuse box

So how do you size up? Share your home projects in the comments below!

Written by Ty Pennington

Ty Pennington is best known as the Emmy-award winning host of "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" and as the co-host of ABC Daytime's "The Revolution." He has been recognized as a home design expert, carpenter and leader in the field of volunteerism. TyPennington.com is a space to share his inspiration, design tips, daily musings and more. Ty can currently be seen on TLC's Trading Spaces.