I confess that I tried to replace an entire light fixture on my own once. However, when I inspected the wiring, none of the wires were colour coded for live/neutral/grounding – they were all grey. I had no way to know how to connect the new fixture.
Long story short, I had to purchase a multi-meter to determine how to hook it up. I tested, I guessed, it worked, and I was very proud. Be assured, though, I do NOT recommend.
When homeowners are looking to fix up their space, the wannabe DIYer inside often comes out. Here are some stores and advice that share a light-hearted look at some of the thangs that might – and, for some people, inevitably will – go wrong as you attempt to maintain your home.
Philando Hill Jr, master electrician and virtuoso tradesman of Quarry Home Services, advised that whenever you are doing work that requires being up to code, call a professional.
He urged that mistakes happen because you might not fully understand the complete process or needs to your project.
“While there are some things that are simple to fix and fairly practical, like something you’ve seen on YouTube and you decide you can do it yourself and save some money, you have to remember that it might show you how to install something,” Mr Hill said.
“But it might not show you the rough-in part or what needs to be done prior to that point. It would be better to at least get a professional inspection first.”
For example, he was once called to address a mould issue in a home and discovered that the roof had multiple cracks in it.
An enterprising person, instead of repairing the cracks, had placed the roofing equivalent of a band-aid on all of them and painted it over. Close, but no cigar.
Another unfortunate incident was when he was called to replace a drain in a bathtub and discovered that there was no P-trap and not even a vent in the bathroom.
As that part is a critical component for health, safety and odour control in modern plumbing systems, making the replacement took more time, parts and money to be done right. Times and building codes have changed!
A common error that it related to painting your house.
“Painting a house is like painting your car,” he explained. “You have to clean it first! Clean, repair and seal the walls before you decide to put to paint or put anything on it that must bond to it.
“Inspecting and priming are crucial steps as well. People are just wasting money when they just paint a wall without doing the proper steps.”
When it comes to electricals, Mr Hill strongly discouraged people from doing anything on their own as the consequences of an error could be fatal. Always contact a highly recommended professional.
You’ll see the difference between what a professional like Mr Hill can do, compared to yourself. Maintain your space, but be safe out there, folks!
