When it comes to home renovation, you may be able to save some money by doing it yourself. But different projects may be harder to attempt and ultimately cost you more when you inevitably have to call in a professional. Knowing what you can and can’t handle on your own is the key to your project’s success. We want to help you figure that out by breaking down one of the biggest home renovation projects there is, a home addition.
Can I Handle a DIY Home Addition?
It’s healthy to know your limitations. When it comes to an addition, there will be many little projects that you could handle. For example, maybe you can’t handle the framing, but could you hang sheet rock and/or paint? See why it’s important to use your limitations?
Here are the areas that you’ll want to consider hiring help for when you are working on your home addition.
The Design
You may be a great artist or simply a person with a great eye for design. You know what you want, but it can be hard to actually put your design on paper. Lucky for you, architects and licensed contractors are here to help. They can draw your design and include specifications, all up to code. If you’re struggling to even come up with a good design but know you want a change, they can help you create something too. They should be able to help you submit the plan to your city or town’s building and zoning department to get it approved before work starts.
Permits
Not so much a need to hire out, but you don’t want to accidentally break the law and zoning code in your local area. A contractor should know the code and can help you secure the proper permits. If you are choosing the DIY route, be sure to reach out to your local government first to see what you need to do.
Excavation
It’s a whole lot more than simply digging a hole. The main risk is you hit something important and break it. Before you get started, call 811 –the national “call before you dig” hotline–to ensure you do not damage any underground utility lines. They will notify utility companies to identify where buried cables, electric lines, water, or gas lines are located on your property. The absolute worst thing you can do during your excavation is hit a utility line. Not only is that dangerous, but you’d have to pay for repairs and set your project timeline back.
Waste Management
Home additions, like any other major project, will create a lot of waste. Managing that waste is a project in and of itself. You don’t just have to fill up countless pickup truck loads and haul them to the dump though. Instead, you should consider using a dumpster rental. A local dumpster rental company can drop off a dumpster right at your location. All you have to do is fill it up and they’ll come dump it for you. A good dumpster rental company in Chesterfield will also know all of the regulations surrounding waste disposal to help you avoid fees and fines.
Electrical
You may be “shocked” to hear this, but electric work is typically best left to actual electricians. If that doesn’t describe you, you’ll want to hire this one out. A skilled election will make sure that your new addition is wired correctly and safely. Unlike some projects that might lead to a smashed finger or some stitches, messing up your electric work could lead to house fire or electrocution.
Plumbing
While not as inherently dangerous as electric work, you may still want to consider outsourcing your plumbing if you aren’t in fact a plumber yourself. You may be prone to some very costly accidents by attempting to plumb the addition yourself. Save yourself from broken pipes and flooding by calling an expert from the start.
Portable Toilet
Demolition and construction create waste both the project itself, and the people working it. Having a place to care of all your waste is crucial so you may want to consider renting a porta-potty too. The team here at redbox+ Dumpsters of Richmond actually has a special dumpster and portable toilet combination. This gives you two services in one invoice to keep it all simple for you. Plus, we’ll clean out the toilet when it’s full so that takes another thing off your already stuffed place. Trust us, you won’t find another dumpster with a porta-potty in Chesterfield.
If you are getting ready to tackle a big DIY home addition in Richmond or Chesterfield, let the team here at redbox+ Dumpsters of Richmond help with the waste removal. We have a vast inventory of dumpsters in a number of styles to fit the exact needs of your project. This includes Elite portable toilet/dumpster combo. Don’t worry about trips to the dumpster or any other waste management worries, just give us a call! Get a free estimate today by calling 804-455-8222.