9 Projects That Sound Exciting but You Shouldn’t Do

woman in a bathtub looking at remodeling project

While there are plenty of projects you can easily DIY, there are plenty of others you should never do yourself. Of course, some of this depends on your skill level.

If you are a plumber or a carpenter by trade, for example, some of these projects may actually be doable for you. But assuming a medium level of DIY skills, here are some projects you should stay away from.

1. Major Plumbing

While fixing a clogged drain or a sink that drips may be in the realm of possibility, you should never attempt to do large bathroom plumbing jobs without a professional. This includes but is not limited to moving a pipe or updating them.

No one wants a flooded bathroom and leaving the work up to professionals prevents that. Pipes can also be located close to electric wires which is a recipe for disaster if you don't know what you are doing.

2. Finishing a Basement

Finishing a basement is a lot more work than you may realize. It requires electrical work, framing, drywall, flooring, and in some cases plumbing. This project has to be done to code, codes which a professional will understand better than the average DIYer.

If it's not done to code, you will have to have all the work replaced by a professional, costing you more money in the long run than just having had a professional do it in the first place.

basement remodel with exposed wall frames and insulation

3. Roofing Projects

Unless you are a skilled professional or have years of DIY experience under your belt, you may want to stay off the roof. Climbing on to the roof and adjusting shingles can be a recipe for disaster without the appropriate ladder and safety precautions.

And if you improperly install shingles, you can cause a lot of damage to your home and major leaks. You may also void any warranty the roof may be under.

4. Tree Removal

Never remove a large tree yourself. If you don't know what you're doing, the tree could fall somewhere dangerous, like into your house, a car, or block the street.

Professionals know where to cut, branches to remove ahead of time, and how to control the tree's fall when cutting it.

5. AC Repair

While you may be able to do some basic troubleshooting yourself, some bigger AC repairs need to be left up to professionals. Improperly repairing the unit may result in more expensive issues down the road and may also void your warranty.

6. Paint Removal on Old Homes

While removing paint is a job many DIY aficionados can easily do, do not do so if your home is older. This is because the paint could be lead-based, which is extremely dangerous. Have your home tested for lead before you mess with the paint in any way.

7. Installing Skylights

person on roof installing skylight

Skylights are incredibly complicated to install. They are much more difficult than your typical window because of their placement.

To add one to your home, you will need to climb up to your roof and create a hole to which you add the skylight. Improper installation can cause leaks and hurt the structural integrity of your home.

8. Electrical Work

Unless you're an electrician, you should shy away from doing projects that involve a heavy knowledge of electricity. This includes installing a new electrical panel. If you do so improperly, you risk electrocution which could have serious health ramifications or even lead to your death.

Furthermore, there are a lot of safety codes in place when it comes to electricity. Doing something like an electrical panel installation on your own risks not being done to code.

If the city finds out, you will have to have all the wiring replaced by a professional, costing you more money than just having had an electrician do it in the first place.

Some minor garage door repairs may be doable for seasoned DIYers but more complicated ones should be left up to a professional. The project oftentimes requires specialized tools depending on what type of garage door you have.

These tools can get quite pricy, meaning it's often not cost-effective to buy the tools and repair the garage yourself.

If you don't know what you are doing, repairing a garage door yourself can also be very dangerous, especially if the door comes down while you are working on it.