If you are planning on doing a major remodel or building something on your own, knowing when to call the experts may save you a lot of money.
Knowing how to fix up your house on your own is a great skill to have, but it can sometimes get you into trouble.
If you are considering a major remodel, or maybe you are looking to build something like an ADU or an outdoor patio, if you are comfortable enough to try doing it on your own more power to you. But before you start cutting boards or taking a sledgehammer to the wall, you may still want to speak to a contractor first. No matter how skilled you are, it’s always a good idea to talk to a professional.
When a contractor takes on a job, no matter how big or small, assuming they have multiple teams they don’t just call up whoever is next in the rotation. They look at the job and bring in experts, even if they themselves have to bring in experts. Like most jobs, contractors tend to specialize. Even those that are considered generalists will hand over the tools to someone with experience in specific areas.
Beyond just the skills required, there are two other major reasons you may want to consider calling a contractor before you start work: cost and safety.
In terms of cost, there are several reasons to consider hiring a contractor to help you get started, beginning with the designs. When it comes to construction, a miscalculation of even a centimeter can cause major problems. If there is a problem and you are very lucky, you’ll catch it right away and it will only cost you a little money to replace the affected work. If it is a very minor issue that doesn’t appear right away, days, months, even years from now it could cause a major issue. If you are really unlucky, you might discover that there’s a problem but not know exactly where it is. At that point, you may need to start over completely.
Another issue is the materials you may use. For example, something as simple as choosing the wrong type of wood can be disastrous, and all it takes is a phone call to avoid it.
The bigger issue, however, is safety. Even if you are in construction, you can still get hurt. It just takes one second where you aren’t paying attention to drill through your thumb. Even if the injury is relatively minor – or at least not permanent – you’ll probably still be looking at hefty medical bills. That’s not to say it’s a good thing if a contractor gets hurt, but at least their insurance is better prepared to handle those claims.
If you are preparing to do any significant work on your house, set aside a few dollars and have a contractor help you make a plan, then follow it step by step. Make a schedule and stick to it. You could end up saving yourself a lot of money in the long run. At the very least, it’s worth a phone call.
If you’re thinking about some construction work and would like a second opinion, contact Fleschner Construction today. Even if you are planning on doing the construction yourself, it’s always good to have a little help.