Should You DIY or Hire a Contractor? An Honest Guide

# Should You DIY or Hire a Contractor? An Honest Guide

Not every home improvement needs a contractor. And not every project should be DIY. Here's how to make the right choice.

## The DIY Decision Framework

Ask yourself these questions:

### 1. Is it legally required to hire a professional?

In Ontario/Ottawa, some work requires licensed professionals:

- **Electrical:** Licensed electrician for anything beyond swapping fixtures/outlets

- **Plumbing:** Licensed plumber for anything beyond fixture replacement

- **Gas:** Licensed gas fitter for any gas work (no exceptions)

- **Structural:** Engineer and licensed contractor for load-bearing changes

- **HVAC:** Licensed HVAC technician for system installations

If permits are required, the work often must be done by or inspected by licensed professionals.

### 2. What's the safety risk?

**High risk (hire a pro):**

- Working with electricity

- Working with gas

- Structural modifications

- Roofing (fall hazard)

- Asbestos or lead abatement

**Medium risk (depends on experience):**

- Plumbing

- Tile work (errors are permanent)

- Tree work with ladders/heights

- Heavy lifting or demolition

**Low risk (usually fine for DIY):**

- Painting

- Flooring installation

- Cabinet hardware

- Landscaping

### 3. What's the cost of failure?

If you mess up, what happens?

**Cosmetic failure:** Paint drips, uneven tile - you can fix or redo

**Functional failure:** Toilet that leaks, outlet that doesn't work - worse but usually fixable

**Catastrophic failure:** Water damage, electrical fire, structural collapse - very expensive and dangerous

As the cost of failure rises, hiring a pro makes more sense.

### 4. Do you have the tools?

Many projects require specialized tools. Calculate whether it's cheaper to:

- Buy tools you'll use again

- Rent tools for the project

- Hire someone who already has them

A single-use specialized tool that costs $300 might tip the math toward hiring.

### 5. What's your time worth?

A contractor might finish in one day what takes you four weekends. If your time is valuable (or limited), that matters.

Be realistic about your timeline. "I'll do it over a few weekends" often becomes "it took six months and isn't done yet."

### 6. What's the quality expectation?

For your primary living spaces where you see the work daily, quality matters more. For a basement storage room or behind furniture, good-enough might be fine.

## Projects Usually Good for DIY

### Painting

- Low skill requirement

- Inexpensive to redo if you mess up

- Time-consuming but not complex

- Tools are affordable and reusable

**DIY if:** You have time and patience

**Hire if:** Cathedral ceilings, elaborate trim, lead paint, or you hate painting

### Flooring (Certain Types)

- Vinyl plank: Click-together, very DIY-friendly

- Laminate: Click-together, DIY-friendly

- Tile: Doable but requires skill and proper prep

- Hardwood: Nail-down is challenging, hire for best results

**DIY if:** Vinyl or laminate over level subfloor

**Hire if:** Tile, hardwood, or subfloor needs work

### Landscaping and Gardening

- Most landscaping is labor-intensive but not technically difficult

- Errors aren't permanent (plants can be moved or replaced)

- Equipment can be rented

**DIY if:** You enjoy outdoor work

**Hire if:** Hardscaping (patios, walls), grading, or large tree work

### Cabinet and Hardware Updates

- Replacing cabinet hardware is simple

- Painting cabinets is time-consuming but doable

- Replacing doors (same size) is moderate difficulty

**DIY if:** Updating existing cabinets

**Hire if:** New cabinet installation

### Minor Plumbing

- Replacing faucets and showerheads

- Unclogging drains

- Replacing toilet fill valves

- Installing dishwasher (if connections exist)

**DIY if:** Simple replacements

**Hire if:** Anything involving supply lines, drain rerouting, or permits

## Projects That Typically Need Professionals

### Electrical Work (Beyond Basics)

- New circuits

- Panel upgrades

- Major rewiring

- Anything requiring permits

The consequences of electrical errors (fire, shock, death) are too severe.

### Plumbing Changes

- Moving drains

- Relocating fixtures

- Adding new fixtures

- Water heater installation

Water damage from plumbing failures is extremely expensive.

### HVAC

- Furnace replacement

- AC installation

- Ductwork modification

- Heat pump systems

System sizing, refrigerant handling, and gas connections require expertise.

### Structural Changes

- Removing walls

- Adding windows in load-bearing walls

- Foundation work

- Room additions

Structural errors can make your home unsafe or require expensive corrections.

### Roofing

- High fall risk

- Requires special equipment

- Warranty issues with DIY

- Ice dam and flashing details are technical

### Windows and Exterior Doors

- Proper installation prevents energy loss and water damage

- Warranty often requires professional installation

- Sizing and ordering mistakes are expensive

## The Hybrid Approach

Sometimes the best approach is strategic DIY:

**You do:**

- Demolition (save labor costs)

- Painting after trades finish

- Simple finishing work

- Cleanup and disposal

**They do:**

- Skilled work (electrical, plumbing, tile)

- Work requiring permits

- Work requiring specialized tools

Discuss this with your contractor - many welcome homeowner participation on appropriate tasks.

## Real Cost Comparison Example

**Project:** Bathroom renovation

**Full DIY:**

- Materials: $3,500

- Tool rental/purchase: $400

- Time: 6 weekends (48 hours)

- Total cost: $3,900 + 48 hours of your time

- Risk: Potential for water damage, uneven tile, plumbing issues

**Full Contractor:**

- Materials + labor: $15,000

- Your time: 4 hours for decisions

- Risk: Low (if contractor is reputable)

**Hybrid approach:**

- Contractor for plumbing, tile: $8,000

- DIY demo, painting, accessories: $800

- Your time: 16 hours

- Risk: Low (skilled work done by pros)

The hybrid approach saves $6,200 compared to full contractor, adds 12 hours of work compared to full contractor, but avoids the risk of DIY plumbing and tile.

## Final Advice

Be honest with yourself about:

- Your actual skill level (not aspirational)

- Your available time (realistically)

- Your frustration tolerance

- The true cost of your time

There's no shame in hiring help. And there's great satisfaction in DIY done well. Just match the approach to your actual capabilities and the demands of the project.